The Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement.

Why this matters here

Harvey’s Abilene Paradox describes groups that collectively choose a course few or none prefer because each member misreads others’ willingness as commitment and no one wants to break the apparent consensus. Trust Beyond Similarity uses that pattern where groups are rewarded for staying aligned: agreement comfort travels until disagreement finally appears on the whiteboard. Harvey names mismanaged agreement; the book asks what trust must do before difference can correct rather than merely unsettle.