Process and Result

Dear Friends ,

I had gone to a factory of a multinational company . I was being shown around the factory by the manager there . The factory was huge , and large tracts were left open for vehicular movement inside the production shed . The flooring was shining epoxy finish and one cleaner was cleaning it .

He had a large cloth with him . He would dip that cloth in a bucket of water , squeeze it , mount it on a flat edged mop and then move the mop on the floor . He would go say tem paces in a straight line , then turn around , keeping the mop pressed to the ground and come back to the starting point , then mover again . This was a serpentine movement . Thus continuing , he
would clean up a patch of floor and then move to the next . The cleaner was doing his job in very dedicated manner and with full concentration .

I asked the supervisor , if the cleaner was making any mistake . The supervisor watched and immediately pointed out that dustmarks were getting left on the ground , even at the end of the first turning while the cleaner was dipping the cloth at the end of seven rounds . This meant that the six rounds that were being taken were a waste . The floor was remaining dirty . The supervisor asked the cleaner to change the water , clean the cloth and come back again to clean the same area .


The point to ponder was , why the worker was making the mistake ?

On probing I realised that the worker had been explained the process . This is the way it is to be done. But not the result ! This is what is to be the result was not being told .

Does that need to be told ? Yes , as per the Japanese system of 5 S in force in the said company it needs to be told , The result is to be shown first and then the process that achieves the result .



Regards ,

Anand

Passengers and Cotravellers Part II

Dear Friends ,
This is a sequel to my earlier article Passengers and Cotravellers which can be read at the following address . http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Ghurye1.html .
I was travelling in Delhi by road . I noticed that a pair , a girl and a boy were riding a bike . The boy was driving while the girl was riding piillion . Generally there are two distinct styles of riding pillion One where the pillion rider sits horse saddle style with one leg on each side of the bike and holds the mid section of the rider or the side bars of the bike for support . Second where the pillon sits with both legs on one side of the bike completely square with the rider. In this case the pillion hols the midsection of the rider with right hand and the carrier of the bike by the left hand for support .

In case of horse saddle style , the rider and the pillion work as one uinit , moving together with the bike . In the square style , when the rider brakes , the pillion tends to push against the back of the rider . The rider and the pillion are distinct entities in this case . The rider is free of the pillion .The first position is better than the second in that both are movingin unison and the rider has better judgement while riding . In the second case , majority of the weight is on one side and the rider has to compensate for the same . He has to be especially careful while taking turns and negotiating potholes . A big jerk to the motorcycle and the pillion can just slide off the seat . This position is suited for short distance low speed city travel and when the pillion rider is wearing a saree or lungi or sarong . ( A dress in which legs cannot be put on either side of the bike )
The pair which I saw was different .

The pillion lady was sitting with both her legs on one side of the bike , her shoulders were parallel to those of the rider , she was sitting quite close to the rider and holding him across the shoulders. This means her body was twisted at the waist and already some of her seat was off the sitting . Let us see the drawbacks of this style . In this case the chances of the pillion sliding off the seat are much higher than the earlier two cases . She is already in a sliding position . Secondly , if she slides or if her position becomes unstable due to some reason , she is certain to pull the rider alongwith her . Lastly with her head on the shoulder of the rider , she is providing additional distraction . This can be called as the negative passenger .

We have seen in the earlier article - the cotravellers are active passengers joined to the rider by an invisible bond . Their aim is to travel , and travel together . The general destination being the same the individual destinations may be different . Still travelling itself is a common passion and is one of the many things which are common. Cotravellers all travel together . The boundaries of the groups are not closed but open and inviting. Anyone can join in and join hands . They prepare their food together , share their resources , share their experiences , learn from each other , and enjoy themselves heartily . If it is cold , they huddle together , if it is hot they fan each other . If they see the scenery from the windows , they enjoy it , and also show it to others , and also want to know how the others see the scenery . They have belongings , only to make the combined travel easier , bearable , and not for taking along , not for possession and not for being proud of . These are utilities , to be used , nurtured and then passed along , cherishing only the relationships with the fellow cotravellers . It is difficult to be a cotraveller , but once you are one , it is immensely enjoyable.

A passenger is a passive cotraveller . He does not take any active interest in the travel . His aim is to reach the destination only . He does not add any imporvement to the process , not does he try to make the process more effective or efficient . He is like a person who has hired a taxi . With hiring the taxi his responsibility is finished . He now indulges in his favourite past times , till he is told that the destination has arrived .
A third category is now getting added with the negative passive cotraveller . This cotraveller increases the burden on the system without adding any advantage. It increases the load on the system , at the same time making the system unstable and to some extent dangerous . A negative passenger is a potential danger to the system and needs to be taken off at the earliest opportunity .

We are cotravellers sometime , passengers sometime , negative passengers sometime and riders sometime. the success lies in increasing the durations of riding and being cotravellers and reducing the instances of being passengers and ridding off the negative passengers .


Regards ,

Anand