SHARED THOUGHTS. … 18/06/2011.
Given below are beautiful two illustrations …
a. This is a story which widens the process of thinking for solving problems
b. Technical Skill is the mastery of complexity, while Creativity is the mastery of simplicity.....
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Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer
had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a
village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the
farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's
debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer
and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the
cunning money-lender suggested that they let
providence decide the
matter.
He told them that he would put a black pebble and a
white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl
would have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she
picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and
her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the
white pebble she need
not marry him and her father's
debt would still be forgiven. But if she
refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown
into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the
farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent
over to pick up two
pebbles.
As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that
he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into
the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from
the bag. Now, imagine you were standing in the
field. What would you have done if you were the girl?
If you had to advise her, what would you have told
her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black
pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a
cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice
herself in order to save her father from his debt and
imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above
story
is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate
the difference between lateral and logical
thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved
with traditional logical thinking. Think of the
consequences if she chooses the above logical
answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out
a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it
fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it
immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me, "she said."But never mind, if you
look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be
able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed
that she had picked the white one. And since the
money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl
changed what seemed an impossible situation into an
extremely advantageous one.
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only
that we don't attempt to think.
had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a
village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the
farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's
debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer
and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the
cunning money-lender suggested that they let
providence decide the
matter.
He told them that he would put a black pebble and a
white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl
would have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she
picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and
her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the
white pebble she need
not marry him and her father's
debt would still be forgiven. But if she
refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown
into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the
farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent
over to pick up two
pebbles.
As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that
he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into
the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from
the bag. Now, imagine you were standing in the
field. What would you have done if you were the girl?
If you had to advise her, what would you have told
her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black
pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a
cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice
herself in order to save her father from his debt and
imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above
story
is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate
the difference between lateral and logical
thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved
with traditional logical thinking. Think of the
consequences if she chooses the above logical
answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out
a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it
fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it
immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me, "she said."But never mind, if you
look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be
able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed
that she had picked the white one. And since the
money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl
changed what seemed an impossible situation into an
extremely advantageous one.
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only
that we don't attempt to think.
==============================================
Right thinking!
ONE of the questions asked in an IIM entrance interview.
Interviewer said "I shall either ask you ten easy questions or one really difficult question. Think well
before you make up your mind!"
The interviewee thought for a while and said," My choice is one really difficult question."
"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice!
Now tell me this, what comes first, male or female?"
Interviewer said "I shall either ask you ten easy questions or one really difficult question. Think well
before you make up your mind!"
The interviewee thought for a while and said," My choice is one really difficult question."
"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice!
Now tell me this, what comes first, male or female?"
The candidate was jolted into reality as his admission depended on the correctness of his answer,
but he thought for a while and said," It's the Female sir!"
"How?" the interviewer asked.
"Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!"
He was selected for IIM!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Both of above contributed by (late) MB.Menon. 16/8/04).
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Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Mohandas.
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