Build your professional network on facebook via our app Go to app
 
 
 
Industry : Public Sector/Government
Functional Area : Leadership Styles
Activity: Question posted: 02 11 2011 06:38:40 +0000, 21 answers, 867 views, last activity 03 01 2011 11:52:48 +0000
 
 Refer 2065
Share
 
 
  Rate : 
 
 

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused.  Only one child played on the disused track, the  rest on the operational track.

The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?    

WHAT DECISION WOULD YOU HAVE MADE?????????????

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?

Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens.. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be   made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.

'Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right.'  

Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.....

 
 Top Answer :
Rating : +2 

Good one. An eye-opener. Sound logic. Philosophical too. Thanks Ms WW for reminding.



[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Report Abuse
by   Rajeev Sharma, Strategic Analyst, Columnist, Publishing  | 02 15 2011 17:58:19 +0000
  Answered by     Capt. V.S. Kartik, CEO/MD  | 03 01 2011 11:52:48 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Excellent analogy - but think of it this way (might help):

The many children playing on the track in use knew that it was active and were on the lookout for approaching trains from either direction so easily warned each other and kept out of harm's way. the single child playing on the disused track was blissfully oblivious to the sarrounding since he knew there was nothing to look out for!!!!

Situational awareness and heightened perception to danger can mostly avert any catastrophe

  Answered by     Jaygopal Raghavan, Marketing Manager, Landmark Group  | 02 23 2011 15:28:54 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Thanks Joydeep. Wonderful piece !

  Answered by     SR Sham Sunder, CEO/MD/Director Technoaid  | 02 16 2011 14:15:18 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Great.  Congratulations for the post.  One extra thought though...We need not think that the train is likely to run over the majority.  We have a driver whose job is to keep a watch and stop the train.  No time is end of road.  I strongly believe in this.  Also, believe in professionals.  In this case, the driver is the expert and professional

  Answered by     Neha Choudhry, Content Writer, Service Magic Info Jobs (for Atoot.com)  | 02 15 2011 17:41:09 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Thank you so so much :)

 

  Answered by     RENJITH K K, HR Officer, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited [HPCL]  | 02 14 2011 12:13:32 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Dear Mr. Murthy, You have come out with a good point. You have to think a lot before making decisions especially on the effect of your decision on the overall objective, your peers and team. Further we need to think about whether the decision does some value addition to the whole system. 

In the above example, if a person rightly thinks that the track on which one kid is playing is a nonoperative one and the other kids who are playing on the active track might know about the risk associated, he'll not change the system. Also another person who does not care about the system also does the same thing!! 

  Answered by     Mathew Cherian, Research Associate/Analyst, Western Michigan University  | 02 13 2011 16:06:17 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Situations like this usualy don't arise in real life situations I believe, since decisions sciences deal basicaly with 1) decisions of certainity 2) decisions under uncertainity. A country and its processes are designed for citizens to make 1)rational choices providing apriori rational outcomes which is called 'near foreseeability' of outcomes.

There exists decision making tools canned and ready to use for all situaitons of certainity and for uncertainity one uses probability theory to generate as much certainity, equity and fairnes so that rational outcomes are expected. Game theory and Decisions sciences with Operations research are certain decisons subjects one can choose from also may be probability theory and stochastic process.

The case presented is hypothetical to the extent that all the players are assumed to be rational, the chils playing rationalises that the train won't pass through his chosen track while the rest rationalises that when the driver blows the whistle they can clear the track.

There is a philosophical root too for this type of decisions, while the question arises whether the players are choosing 1)extreme pleasure or 2) fear of negative outcomes tantamount to 'sublime'. The former players tend to be neurotic analysis of which is purely in the relm of psychology while the latter can be analysed through Decision sciences and psychology.

  Answered by     nagesh rao, Freelancer, Freelancer  | 02 13 2011 14:54:21 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Yes everybody makes mistakes.  But one should learn from his/her mistakes & should not repeat the same mistake.  Thanks Kriti.

  Answer modified by     Lakshmi , Senior Program Manager, NOVELLUS SYSTEMS  | 02 13 2011 10:51:33 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Good one! Thank you Kirti.

 Although there wasn't a decision left to be made!

  Answered by     K Nageswara rao, Senior.Superintendent-production, Hindustan Petroleum  | 02 13 2011 08:23:38 +0000
[ Delete ]
[ Edit ]
Not Rated

Very good story it is. thank you for posting. But decision cannot be taken in this case, as we have thought of the result also.

 

 
Specialist in IT Recruitment
  • Create a confidential Career Profile and Resume/C.V. online
  • Get advice for planning their career and for marketing of experience and skills
  • Maximize awareness of and access to the best career opportunities
Viewers also viewed
In a recent study, it said that attractive women faced discrimination when they applied for jobs...
 
646 referals 71 arguments, 2152 views
borrower alone should be liable as he is the only beneficiary vs Guarantors should repay when...
 
1187 referals 19 arguments, 412 views
yes vs no
 
894 referals 12 arguments, 248 views
more...  
Unanswered Questions (27)
Sorry for disturbing you. I request to go through below write-up/profile as a short...
 
1 referals 0 answers, 0 views
Hi,  I need some information ..  How can you understand and control costs? and  Is there an...
 
1 referals 1 answers, 31 views
Hello sir, My name is rakesh and I've completed my system management and networking from NIIT...
 
1 referals 0 answers, 0 views
More From Author
Vinoy Ji a learned and pragmatic person should not have joined the debate on the wrong side. Let us give the fair sex, the freedom, security and support and see what happens. Nothing is going to change in a day! Let us support them for their fight in...
In India - Religion must stay away from politics. No place for religion or religious gurus in politics. No second thought about it !!
I am not fluent in Hindi. Being a Sanskrit student (in my child-hood days) I am able to read it and grasp the essence of it. Good and nice poem !!
more...