# Do any major organisations follow Irving Janis' recommendations about "Devil's advocates" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-major-organisations-follow-irving-janis-recommendations-about-devils-advocates/788547 "2017-06-09T21:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-major-organisations-follow-irving-janis-recommendations-about-devils-advocates/788547/1 "2017-06-09T21:34:25Z")
I was reading this article about the [Battle of Midway](https://warisboring.com/hubris-led-to-the-japanese-fleets-doom-at-midway/) and how the unquestioning acceptance of the Japanese admiral’s plan led to the Japanese defeat. And read this snippet: > [@](#): > > Irving Janis, the godfather of the concept of “groupthink,” exhorted the leadership of any group to designate a devil’s advocate, and to make that person’s professional advancement, awards and other career incentives contingent on executing the contrarian function with vigor and resolve. I’d heard of Irving Janis and the concept of Groupthink, but not this particular recommendation. Does anyone actually do this? (other than, I guess, the Catholic church that came up with concept of “Devil’s Advocate”) Is there a role at any major organisation who’s job, bonuses, etc. literally depend on being a contrarian that opposes everything that is suggested? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-major-organisations-follow-irving-janis-recommendations-about-devils-advocates/788547/2 "2017-06-09T22:07:08Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I’d heard of Irving Janis and the concept of Groupthink, but not this particular recommendation. Does anyone actually do this? (other than, I guess, the Catholic church that came up with concept of “Devil’s Advocate”) Even the Catholic Church doesn’t do that anymore. Pope John Paul II effectively eliminated this office in the church in 1983 (after only 404 years). He greatly reduced the powers & authority of the office. It was formerly involved in the process of evaluating a person for sainthood (‘canonization’) and was the side charged with arguing against. Since its’ elimination, people are being named as saints 20 times faster than before. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-major-organisations-follow-irving-janis-recommendations-about-devils-advocates/788547/3 "2017-06-09T22:20:25Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Even the Catholic Church doesn’t do that anymore. > > Pope John Paul II effectively eliminated this office in the church in 1983 (after only 404 years). He greatly reduced the powers & authority of the office. It was formerly involved in the process of evaluating a person for sainthood (‘canonization’) and was the side charged with arguing against. Since its’ elimination, people are being named as saints 20 times faster than before. Did the last Devil’s Advocate mount a spirited contrarian opposition to the Pope’s decision to sack him? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-major-organisations-follow-irving-janis-recommendations-about-devils-advocates/788547/4 "2017-06-10T15:14:30Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I’d heard of Irving Janis and the concept of Groupthink, but not this particular recommendation. Does anyone actually do this? (other than, I guess, the Catholic church that came up with concept of “Devil’s Advocate”) Is there a role at any major organisation who’s job, bonuses, etc. literally depend on being a contrarian that opposes everything that is suggested? I finally know what I want to do with my life.