Three Idiots crossing valley.

Everyone has come across the word “Jugaad” and almost everyone has come to associate the word with management. Why? Well, understanding us humans can be no science, in spite of the mightiest attempts at making it one. Imagine a manager trying to understand egos and human nature for hundreds or thousands of employees. Not a possible task, right? But, it is made possible with a plethora of examples not just in India but across the world where organizations have prospered without any boundaries. How is it achieved? Perhaps, the answer lies in creating a base, a system or a design to which every employee of the organization must conform to. The system or design itself stems from the vision, mission and the derived organizational goals to be achieved. And in this context, an ideal case of an organization would be where every employee is satisfied, all roles are designed equally strong and are similar in terms of efforts or risk and interdependence among the roles is the maximum and finally, the organization achieves its goals. The above lines are quite abstract to read but could be realized better with the pictures below.
 
So, how does the team of three cross a valley that is wider than a step and narrower than 2 steps put together? Answer: Step by Step. From the picture on top, when the first person sets foot on the valley he is at half risk. Why so? Well, one of his steps is in air and the other on land and the next step takes him to the full risk stage with both feet in the air. While the first person is at risk, the other two persons behind him cover up and ride the proverbial tide. The same sequence is followed till all the three cross over from one side to the other completely. It is a trivial march past of sorts, if you come to imagine it that way. Don't believe me? A summary of the step by step analysis is shown in the table below. Let me tell you that this is something you can definitely try at home! But, what is so special about it all?
 
Forget about "Two states" because the above table has four of them described below:

• Safe - Both the legs of the person are on land
• Half Risky - One leg in the air and the other leg on land
• Full risky - Both the legs are in the air without any support
• Safe - Both the legs have full support

  Persons	First Person	Second Person	Third person
  Step
  1	Safe	Safe	Safe
  2	Half Risky
  3	Full Risky
  4	Half Risky	Half Risky
  5		Full Risky
  6		Half Risky	Half Risky
  7			Full Risky
  8			Half Risky
  9	Safe	Safe	Safe

 1) At the first instance , the first person would take a step forward and would have one feet in the air while the other one is on the ground. (Half Risky).

2 )  In the second step the first person would be fully in air and his weight would be supported by the rest of the two persons.

3) In the next step , the second person would be have his front leg in air while the back leg on ground whereas the first person would have his front leg on ground and the back leg in air ( Both in half risky state) .

4) After this step, 2nd person would have both the legs in the air while the 1st person would have reached the other side of the valley and would be safe by now.

5) In the next step , the 2nd person would be in half risky state as one of his leg would be in air while the other one on ground and also the 3rd person would be in the same state.

6) In the subsequent step 2nd person would land on the ground on the other side of the valley whereas the 3rd person would be completely off the ground and his body weight would be on 1st and 2nd person.

7) Following that the 3rd person would now be in half risky state as he puts one of his legs on ground while keeping the other one in air.

8) Finally the 3rd person would also land both his feet on the ground and would be in safe position as would be the other two.

In the exercise, each member has the same sum total of total tasks, burdens and responsibilities with the functioning of the organization independent of the physical ability of a single team member. Again, an ideal scenario! Not every member in the team would take the initiative to go first and not everyone in the team would be upbeat about following anyone else. Yet, the show has to run and the team has to do its job and this is where a manager comes in.


Imagine yourself being one in that team of three. Where would you like to be in positionally? Well, in any case just a mere thought should tell you that the person leading the queue is leading from the front and bears the brunt of the risk in terms of conquering something new or overcoming the fear of the unknown. However, if he gives up after he himself has crossed the valley, then the team would fail in its objective to cross the valley together. Hence, the leader or Discoverer has to compromise on his self goal and lead the two followers across. Now, wouldn't it be ideal if each role in an organization can be crafted as in the above case with similar risks borne by everyone and expect everyone else to follow the Discoverer thereby satisfying every employee?

Well, we certainly cannot have an organization designed to satisfy every employee but we surely can have a design and fit employees into the roles designed such that the fit is appropriate and correct. Pretty much like fitting shoes to one’s feet! Of course, one’s feet to change in size or form. But, one cannot expect the shoe to change itself to fit our feet again!