I like the article, and the message it's trying to get across.
This is one of those problems that a lot of organizations have, and that has a straightforward solution... but people don't apply!
I've found it one of easiest ways to boost productivity in any environment: eliminate decisions that don't produce artifacts.
If it wasn't written down, it might as well not have happened. Informal discussions and watercooler brainstorming is all fine and dandy, and I'm the first one who's not letting it go... but any practical work has to have outputs down - and in creating that hurdle, you're already more than halfways towards removing most inane arguments (what bike-shedding usually is).
The cost of participation needs to always be just a tad too high for knee-jerk reactions to be worth it :)
