Problem Solving

Recently we were shown a toy and supposed to identify the problem and then solve it.

Often during the course of life a lot of problems present themselves, and then not so often there are problems that really test us. We normally solve these problem through our experience and judgement and move on to the next one in line, 'coz believe it or not, there IS a line, whether we see it or not. So in a sense we all are managers by birth. But a true manager is one who can not only solve the problem presented to him, but can also identify the problem that might not be so obvious, or even anticipate the problem before it comes into being.

I believe that is the sole purpose of the course I am going through here.

Anyways, back to the interesting puzzle. We were taken to the terrace and asked to look around and, no prizes for guessing, people had already noticed the hanging wooden toy from a distance.

A child might enjoy playing around with it, but leave  it to Prasad Sir to find teaching in everything. So we were told there's a problem hidden.

Being bright students that we are (:P), one of us quickly suggested that we try to take the ring off the toy.

And then the fun began. People did try, got bored and went off. Now don't underestimate the curiosity of India's future leaders, 'coz a lot of them came back later and solved it.

Here's how I did it. To remove the ring:

• Raise the ring as high as it would go and hold it there.
• Move one of the wooden squares to the other side by passing it through the slit in the top part.
• Bring both the squares together by moving the thread.
• One of the balls will still remain stuck after its square block is taken to other side.
• Lower the ring, tilt it and remove through the slit and the ball.

And to assemble the toy back:

  - Pass the ring through the slit back onto the square

                                     

  - Raise the ring as high as possible.

  - Pass one of the wooden squares through the slit and to it's correct side.

So it can be said that it's not  only important to be a goode problem solver, but an excellent identifier as well.