Enigma Solution

Imagine watching a sporting match , say a game of cricket, where there are no announcements, or commentary or display boards giving any information. If all one sees is a lot of activity with players running all over the playing ground with someone bowling and some chaps batting, obviously it will be difficult to fathom what is really happening. If one has not even an inkling as to who is winning or losing and what are the runs or run rate required to win the match or wickets remaining etc, the game will in all likely-hood not sustain the interest of the spectator. Not only spectators but players too will soon get bored, and likely to lose interest in the game /match and of course the results. Unfortunately this is the same situation in many organisations. Many employees within organisations haven’t a clue on what is happening. Yet they are screamed at, lectured, and sent to motivational and training camps to get them to be enthusias...

                                       A second generation owner took over the reins of a company from his aging father as the MD (managing director).  The youngster was earnest and eager to ‘professionalise’. He had learnt that a flat structure was the best organisation type. What a coup it would be to kill two birds with one stone; to reduce costs and simultaneously employ fewer people.  People were dismissed, retired or coerced to leave.  Many people classified as 'flab' by the new boss were soon history. Lo and behold! Soon after this initiative, p ayroll costs went down and productivity went up as the fearful employees were working harder to avoid their head being on the chopping block.  About two years  after the  bloodbath  began, there was a crisis. The company was in dire straits.  Sales, quality and profitability had all plummeted a...

Imagine watching a sporting match , say a game of cricket, where there are no announcements, or commentary or display boards giving any information. If all one sees is a lot of activity with players running all over the playing ground with someone bowling and some chaps batting, obviously it will be difficult to fathom what is happening. If one has not even an inkling as to who is winning or losing and what are the runs or run rate required to win the match or wickets remaining etc, the game will in all likely hood not sustain the interest of the spectator. Not only spectators but players too will soon get bored, and likely to lose interest in the game /match and of course the result. Unfortunately this is the same situation in many organisations. Many employees within organisations haven’t a clue on what is happening. Yet they are screamed at, lectured, and sent to motivational and training camps to get them to be enthusiastic about an organisation for which they have little in...

Sincere, competent and reliable and conscientious, Derek D'souza was a good production manager.  One day Derek's boss the works manager opted to take up a job overseas. With a salary hike we promoted Derek our no 2 man to look after all manufacturing. Technically capable the indefatigable and sincere, Mr. D'souza took to his new role like a duck takes to water.  Derek faced many problems in discharging his new responsibilities well. Our organisation's performance on productivity and quality as did the morale of the team remained a concern. Six months after his promotion, a frazzled looking Derek came to see me. After the usual courtesies he placed an envelope in front of me. With apprehension I read the contents of the letter inside. Derek was resigning and wished to be relieved from his job at the earliest. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.   He said he could not handle the pressure.  What? Why? I threw many questions at Derek. I exper...