Monkey business

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on
a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go
to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches
the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with very cold high-pressure
water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same
result-all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when
another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to
prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it
with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the
stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him.
After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the
stairs, he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five
monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and
is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with
enthusiasm!

Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth,
then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is
attacked. None of the monkeys that are beating him have any idea why they
were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the
beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none
of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water.
Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the
banana. Why not?

Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around
here. And that, my friends, is how company policy begins.

Found all over the Internet.

Thanks Ivan, this made my day.