Chapter 88: Systems Of Direction

*…another factor in the effectiveness of both decision-making and law enforcement is entrenched interests and their associated corruptive influence.*

*These originate from a simple principle: In any large formal organization of people, there will generally be two types of people of consequence—those who are motivated to help fulfill the purposes of that organization and those who work for the structure and institutional power of that organization.  Over time, the latter group comes to dominate the management structure of the organization, due to their interests and personal direction, combined with the fact that the people who actively wish to fulfill the purpose of the organization will be reluctant to give up those direct duties.  This is not always a bad thing—a truly gifted organizer can have a multiplicative effect on the efforts of the organization—but in general, the end result will be that the people invested in the institutional power of the organization will gain control of it and dictate the functions of it.  And it is rare that such individuals will give up control over the resulting fiefdoms, even if their refusal to relinquish control ends up damaging the actual effectiveness and goal-fulfillment of the organization that they command.*

*So doctors who wish to heal will go on with the treatment of patients—and above them will be doctors who are less concerned about the patients, but more concerned with the health of their hospital's finances (and possibly their own).  And government officials who wish to aid with the welfare of their communities will be examining roads and homes and food and other infrastructure, but their superiors will be more concerned with the power of their offices.*

*If left alone long enough, such systems often breed literal dynasties of institutionalists through nepotism—indeed, we get the word* nepotism *from the Latin word* nepōs*, for nephew, noting how the Popes of the Catholic Church would elevate their nephews and other blood relatives to high offices in the Church's bureaucracy, including that of cardinal—who then, in turn, would elect the next Pope from among their number, perpetuating the system.  Meanwhile, far below them in the hierarchy were the humble parish priests, administering to their flocks.*

*This tendency of all organized systems of management must be actively guarded against in order to diminish corruptive effects on the efficacy and speed of decision making, as such individuals often form bottlenecks in the decision-making process, either through incompetence or through willful obstinacy. Considerations of law enforcement are also paramount, as being in a position of power often gives them significant chances for corruption and self-dealing, which are often acted upon.*

*—Nationbuilding: How People Move, Talk, Think, Organize, & Structure Themselves, 1888, Amsterdam University Press*

## Major Events

* Fishwings meets Munia and agrees to take her to Berk.
* Sigurd leads a work crew in preparing Constantinople's Broodery.
* Sophia gives Sigurd an invitation for dinner with her family.
* Drago reports to the Pecheneg Khagan the success of their dragon-capturing.
* Ruffnut tries to convince the healers to reveal the secret of Nadder venom, but is voted down.
* Sigurd, Gunnar, Heidrun, Dogsbreath and Inga have dinner with Sophia's family, and meet Alexios Makris, senior assistant secretary of the Office of Barbarians and Sophia's father.
* One day before Yom Kippur, the Jews on Berk visit Dror's grave.
* Stoick asks Esther to teach Duke William Norse.
* Fishlegs discuss with Hakon and Gunvor about building a university at Vedrarfjord. Hakon approves.
* Hakon and Gunvor meet Pádraig, who offers to help improve on the Bed and Food Rights system.

## Characters

### Humans

* Fishwings clan Ingerman
* Haytham Abu Muhsin
* Munia (first appearance)
* Sigurd Spiteloutsson
* Sophia Makris
* Drago Bludvist
* Pecheneg Kagan
* Kurya, the Kagan's son
* Khurşӑ
* Ruffnut Thicknutsdóttir
* Nanna clan Hofferson
* Gothi Hiccupsdóttir
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Gudmund Hallvarsson
* Dogsbreath Rolfsson
* Inga Roswynnsdóttir
* Alexios Makris (first appearance)
* Leo Makris (first appearance)
* Michael Makris (first appearance)
* Various other Makris family members (first appearance)
* Basir Al-Andalusi
* Hiba
* Esther bat Rivkah clan Haddock
* Bladewit Drorsdóttir
* Stoick the Vast
* William of Normandy
* Sarah bat Lital
* Hákon Mortensson
* Fintan mac Ionatan
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Fishlegs clan Ingerman
* Brother Pádraig (first appearance)

### Dragons

* Drago's unnamed dragons
* Inkpot

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph mentions that the bottom of the church-hierarchy are the parish priests tending to their flock. The chapter shows one of them, Padraig, meeting Hakon and Gunvor to offer his services in administering Food and Bed Rights.