1. Read
the Cartoon given below carefully. This is the assignment for you in
groups three members each. Task given to your group is to switch over from left side of the valley to the
right side of the valley by taking the support of the pole as shown in the cartoon. Direct jumping and attempts are considered FATAL and not welcomed at all.
2. Assignment evaluation :
2.2 Each of the students are assigned to write a blog on their learning related to crossing the valley.
3. Think like a manager and answer the following questions while writing the blog.
Mission : Crossing the valley with the support of a pole and taking all three people minimum effort.
Coordination:
Members cooperation are put in systematic way so that the result of
crossing the valley is achieved. Cordi nation is not cooperation. It is
one more thing in addition to the cooperation. Management is more
concerned with coordinating the cooperation of the individuals so that
over all result is achieved.
Crossing the Valley - Cartoon as a case for learning management lessons
Dr Mandi,
Professor of Dhandha @ NITIE Mumbai
Introduction
This pictorial is - ambiguous, invokes thinking, allows to open up
the thought process. This can be used as good learning material. Dr Mandi used this as a learnign material. He developed a framework on how to interpret this pictorial.
Cartoon Theme : Three member crossing the valley
Anonymous cartoon, author states that it is not created by
him and not knows who made it, but only using as a prop for creating learning
Three members
crossing the valley
Pictorial cartoon is give above. As shown in the cartoon, it
was a deep valley and THREE people have to cross the valley from left side of
the valley to right side. Shortest distance between two sides of the valley was little more than one step for a person but
less than two steps’. Cartoon indirectly hints that with the simple act of
jumping it is impossible to cross the valley without fatal consequences. As
depicted in the cartoon, three people with the support of a straight pole cross
the valley.
Challenge in the
cartoon is :
You are the MANAGER assumed the task of helping the three
people in crossing the valley. You need to come out with a well conceived
management plan for this to happen. Try to answer the following questions:
1.
Design
the step by step process of crossing the valley ?
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Sketch is given in the next page -
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C - B - A Positions and Task
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C
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B
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A
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1
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^^^ ___
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1C
Safe
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1B
Safe
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1A
Safe
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2
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_^^^___
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2C
Pull Down
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2B
Fulcrum
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2A
Half Safe
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|
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3
|
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3C
Pull Down
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3B
Fulcrum
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3A
Hanging -
UNSAFE
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|
|
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4
|
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4C
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4B
Fulcrum &
Halfsafe
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4A
Half Safe
Pull down
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5
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5C
Carry
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5B
Hanging- UNSAFE
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5A
Carry
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|
|
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6
|
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6C
Half safe
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6B
Fulcrum &
Half Safe
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6A
Pull Down
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|
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7
|
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7C
Hanging- UNSAFE
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7B
Fulcrum
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7A
Pull Down
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8
|
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8C
Half Safe
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8B
Fulcrum
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8A
Pull Down
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9
|
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9C
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9B
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9A
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Safe
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Safe
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Safe
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2.
Illustrate
the 8 Step work process that is involved in crossing the river. Develop systematic task processes that are involved.
-
8 step crossing process
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Tasks and roles - Three people take variety of
roles as they cross the valley. They change their roles in tandem with given accuracy.
-
Technical arrangements needed - Strength of the
pole, creating the markings on the pole to help the persons to know where to
catch the pole
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People Competencies that are needed - Skill and
competencies than the will and way to do.
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Traning inputs that are needed
Physical drill, Cooperation and coordination,
Motivating the people right kind
of slogans
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Principles that need to be kept in mind :
The factors viz., ‘Physical
stamina’,
Need for extra infrastructure for
crossing the valley are made irrelevant.
Three people crossing the valley practice at NITIE Mumbai
3.
Illustrate
the task roles for THREE people in crossing the valley
4.
Compare
and contrast the three member roles - A Vs. B Vs. C .
Job
of Person A: Jobber A is the first person
who undertakes the work. And other two will follow him / her. Being the first
person to undertake the job he may be called ‘ DISCOVERER’ who is said to be
assuming additional effort in assuming the work.
Job
of Person B: Jobber B follows his fore walker i.e/. Jobber A hence Jobber B is follower. Comparatively, Jobber B’s
job is less risky compared to Jobber A
and more risky compared to Jobber A.
Job
of Person C: Similar to Jobber B, Jobber C
will follow his / her fore walkers in crossing the valley. Comparatively , Jobber C’s job is
less risky compared to Jobber B and Jobber A.
5.
What
are the salient features of the above action plan ?
While drawing the above action plan two
important principles are kept in mind for the safety of the people crossing the
valley in an excellent manner.
ONE - If one carefully observe the designing
of crossing the valley plan, all the time,
TWO full persons equivalent are involved in crossing. Third person does not have role at any given time.
Further, work process is so designed that at max. ONLY ONE
person equivalent at any given time was not steadily ( RISKY) based on.
Further, work process is so designed that at any given time FOUR legs are bearing the load of one person. Designing such a plan is most efficient and effective given the situation. It is providing enough safety for
the people to cross the valley .
TWO
- Overall, each of the three persons were undertaking equal and similar
work without any variation / difference. Equal work and Similar work is the NORM that is followed in designing the work process in this case..
However,
important point to be noted is that all though same and equal work is being
done by the three people, the sequence of the same work varies among the same
three persons. This variation in distribution of work has its own implications
for the individuals.
THREE:
Making the physical stamina of people irrelevant in crossing the valley : Focus
of the work design used here was to develop a work system where people’s
stamina is not important.
6.
Similarity
and differences of Roles of three people
Category
of tasks
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Similar
Cluster of TASKS
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Role Defination
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Safe
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1A,
1B, 1C
9A,
9B, 9C
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Half safe
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2A,
6C …
4A,
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Hanging &
Unsafe
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3A,
5B, 7C
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No
Effort; Depends on other members
-
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Fulcrum & Half safe
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4B,6B
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Effort
is needed to maintain fulcrum ; Depends on others
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Pull
down
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-
Others
depend on
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7.
What is the plan to allocate the tasks among
the three people?
Overall, sum total of total tasks, burdens
and responsibilities that are shared by the three people is equal. However,
there are variations among the roles of A, B and C in assuming the roles.
Accordingly roles are assigned.
8.
What kind
of training you think is needed to prepare the three people to assume
and enact their roles as enunciated in the action plan. Design a training plan for the same.
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Understanding the nature of people’s contributions - Cooperation - for crossing the
valley
-
Persons contribute their cooperations for the
completion of task
-
Understanding the need for synchronization -
Coordination of cooperation
-
Practicing the
synchronization of their efforts (equi-length steps and eqi-speed steps
and steps in tandem ) through physical drill
-
Practicising each of the steps by the three
people separately and together
9.
Illustrate the importance of Conceptual - Human - Technical skills in completing the task.
Conceptual
skills - Imagining the ‘ Unimaginable as Imaginable’. Contributes immensely
towards EXCELLENCE
Human
skills - Influencing, communicating to people .. Makes it possible to
realize what is possible.
Technical
skills - Task planning,
10.
Is
there any role for the subject called ‘MANAGEMENT’ in completion of this task? What is that role
envisage it?
There involves the Management which brings
in the vitality in the present case. Management may include the following
-
Visualizing the
impossible to be possible
-
Make happen the impossible a possible
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Detailed and meticulous planning of the task and
roles
-
Allocating the tasks and training the people
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Motivating the people to take up the task and
achievement of excellence
11.
Describe
the MANAGERIAL EXCELLENCE with reference to the task given.
Managerial Excellence = Managerial
Efficiency X Managerial Effectiveness
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Excellence is a combination of three words -
Effective Grand Surprise. Three people
crossing the valley satisfies the three words
‘ Effective Grand Surprise’.
12.
Identify the limitations a typical MANAGER
face in undertaking the task.
·
Fatal nature of the task
·
Resource constraints
·
People limitations
13.
Write
an appropriate caption for Crossing the Valley cartoon
SKY
WALK -
People
in general walk on a plain and safe land. It is unimaginable to think people
can walk in the sky without any grounding. The plan drawn for this cartoon
makes the fatal task into a cake walk. Hence it is labeled as SKY WALK.
14.
Try
to suggest suitable alternate methods ( with the given limitations) for crossing the valley
15.
? ?