Some people (their companies aren't likely to be a pleasant place) like motivational posters from the beginning and even if the business goes well. Therefore I'd qualify the symptom: motivational posters are a bad sign as part of an attempt to renew management style and inject new energy, which is itself an indication of helpless desperation.

I would find it hard to stomach working surrounded by motivational posters.

It sounds like somebody has a case of the Mondays!

I upvoted you, but I would say Dilbert Calendars and the like are a better indicator.

Dilbert calendars are healthily cynical, not elements of denial like non sarcastic motivational posters.

I don't think I have ever before heard the expression healthily cynical. I have heard of healthy skepticism, but not of healthy cynicism.

Military generals and ops people can have healthy cynicism about the probability of any new technology being bug-free.

Be honest about what could happen vs. being delusional about what is wanted to happen. Basically, a variant of hope for the best prepare for the worst. Sarcasm is a great way to do that.

I don't know if I'd agree with that - I haven't worked at a company that uses them, but I have seen them all over Facebook, and they don't look like they're failing anytime soon so far.

Those posters aren't for motivation. They're propaganda. You don't see the Soviet inspiration in bold type on a reddish background?

EDIT: Lol this clearly made some people mad.

I would prefer actual Soviet propaganda posters on the wall over motivational posters. They'd be more entertaining.

The similarities are striking, and their intent is literally the same.

Oh it gets even better. You can't even find the best ones in online pictures I think. They have an auditorium with floor to ceiling banners everywhere with those slogans (and those are the bold white font on red background I was referring to). All that's missing is Stalin preaching from a podium. Zuck pontificating on the "knowledge economy" does give him a run for his money though.

And lest anyone mistake me for a hater, let me be clear that I have a tremendous amount of respect (even awe) for the information empire they've managed to build. I do question its value however. I know few (if really any) people for whom Facebook has been, on balance, a positive influence in their lives.