After the Super Bowl game last Sunday night, CBS-TV debuted their new 'docu-reality' show 'Undercover Boss', a show that takes the CEO's of large, well-known firms, disguises them (if you can call a three-day growth of beard a 'disguise') and places them in various front-line and entry level type positions in their own organizations. The employees do not recognize the CEO, and theoretically treat him/her just like any new recruit. The first episode featured Larry O'Donnell, CEO of Waste Management.

The angle of course, is that the CEO will really learn what it is like to do the real work of the organizations, gain more of an appreciation for the employees on the front line, and see firsthand the effects of at least some of their corporate mandates, strategies, and decisions. And in fitting the classic TV formula, the CEO emerges a better person, vows to correct or reverse some obviously silly decisions or policies, and even rewards some newly discovered top performers with additional pay or promotion.

Many writers and bloggers have taken issue with the show and the concept - Wally Bock called in 'A Repellant Piece of Trash', Kris Dunn questioned the wisdom in thinking you could truly understand and address issues in a 60 minute reality show, and Laurie Ruettimann wanted to see the CEO give a dressing-down to an ineffective or clueless executive.

Most of the other comments and opinion pieces I read were along those lines, and broke down more or less into one of the following areas of complaint:

Only a clueless CEO would agree to do the show

This is sort of the 'Biggest Loser' argument. You don't volunteer yourself and your company for such scrutiny unless you are so out of touch with your workforce that subjecting them to this show actually seems like a good idea. Only people with an admitted and obvious weight problem volunteer for the Biggest Loser weight-loss show, so companies that sign up for Undercover Boss must have something inherently wrong with them to participate. Although the benefit and value of hundreds of mentions and brand placements in an hour of prime time TV is pretty compelling I would imagine.

It is not fair to the employees

The rank and file employees profiled on the show, at least at first, had to be misled as to the identity of the CEO and the presence of the TV crews following him around.  And even after the fact, once they were let in on the ruse, most certainly had to approve and authorize the release of the footage including them to the show.  Were they pressured to do so?  Did they have a choice?  Could you possible imagine the driver of the garbage truck withholding permission to air his discussions with the CEO? Did these folks get paid anything to be on the show?

Reality TV isn't real at all

The CEO is set up to be the 'star'.  He or she gains some credibility as being 'for the people', takes a few lumps, shows some leadership when called for, hands out some $$$, and emerges on the other side no worse (and maybe better) for wear.  At least from the first show, it all seems too scripted and meant to play like a good TV show.  And that is what it is, a TV show, not the 'real world' of work with all its complexity, nuance, and often boredom.  No six-hour annual budget planning strategy meetings are likely to make the show.  It might be better drama to 'disguise' one of the rank and file employees as a new member of the executive team and have them sit in on a board meeting and just be open and honest with the leadership.

I have mixed feelings on Undercover Boss. I like the idea of profiling and exposing more of the hard day to day work, that many frontline employees endure every single day.  The efforts that route drivers for Waste Management take to deliver the brand to their customers every single day deserve more recognition than it typically receives. But I wonder if their needs would not have been better served by a more thorough, open, and persistent process of communication and feedback, not what on many levels appears like a publicity and attention-seeking play.

What do you think, did you see Undercover Boss and what is your take on the show?