What Is Silver Bullet Syndrome?

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
A group of business people attend a seminar.
Image Credit: Benis Arapovic/Hemera/Getty Images

Silver Bullet Syndrome is a management or development malady first described in computer programming, although the syndrome is not confined to workers in that field.

Advertisement

Definition

Video of the Day

Silver Bullet Syndrome is the belief that the next big change in tools, resources or procedures will miraculously or magically solve all of an organization's problems. This assumption is almost invariably erroneous.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Origin

The term is thought to be a reference to the silver bullets carried by the radio-television western hero the Lone Ranger. His appearance in town invariably led to the removal of the crooked mayor, brutal sheriff or other villain, almost always with but one shot fired.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Example

Management's insistence that installing the latest web-based customer relation management system will immediately pull the division out of its downward spiral – like magic.

Advertisement

Advertisement

references

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...