Work towards a Solution ONLY if there is a Problem!

In our day to day functioning we are very eager to showcase our problem solving abilities to our bosses, colleagues and sub-ordinates even before we have ascertained that there is a problem.

The following story is one such instance. Read, imbibe and enjoy !

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay and sat down and the next day and the next.

This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, Karate & Judo. By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!"

The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass."

Management Lesson:

"Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one."

“If were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it,” Albert Einstein said.

At MRCC, we heed the ‘problem’ when tackling innovation projects. Indeed, when developing new services, processes or even businesses, we are rigorous in defining the problems that we are attempting to solve and articulating why those issues are important.  With this strategy, we ensure innovation initiatives are aligned with their strategies.

We believe in asking the right questions to tackle the right problems.

Well here’s a sneak peek at MRCC’s approach towards defining a problem & reaching the opportune Solution!

- MRCC Corporate Communication Team