During holidays, your dreams are much more lucid when you sleep on an unfamiliar bed. One night, I dreamed half of a Columbo episode. A damn mosquito woke me up at 05:30 before I could resolve how the detective solved the case. Another night, I came up with this 'management question' discussion topic thingy whatever, as part of a job interview I was dreaming I was having. I was going to post it on ILE, but hey I'll repost it when it's back up. here is the preview!
There are three terriers, Imogen, Mikey and Suzie. One is to be sent to an old lady as a pet. The decision on which one, is to be based on which is more efficient. So the three dogs were raced, to the end of a large field and back. Mikey won, so was sent to the old lady.
Six months later, Mikey died.
This situation has been sent to you for comment.
What would your comment(s) be?
― M Grout (Mark Grout), Tuesday, 15 August 2006 15:40 (seventeen years ago) link
Did the lady outlive the dog, or did they pass around the same time? That is, was the six month timeframe useful in any way?
I'll second George. Wouldn't "ability to provide companionship" be a better criterion?
― patita (patita), Tuesday, 15 August 2006 18:08 (seventeen years ago) link
The job was the usual "IT consultant i.e. System Analysis" I used to do on contract basis.
You actually have sussed out what my perspective on the situation was. The scenario as presented has many flaws inherant. The question is basically to analyse the flaws, and present comments based on who you may be presenting it to. Also, based on what role you could be taking.
The old lady presumably wants a new dog. (caveat emptor, but hey)
The project manager wants shooting for deciding the dog should be chosen on 'efficiency' grounds.
The technical team want shooting for deciding that racing the dogs was a good test for efficiency.
Basically, the dog needs better and clearer criteria for selection. Health, age, temperament.
That's it, I guess.
(Wonder if I got the job?)
― M Grout (Mark Grout), Friday, 18 August 2006 15:07 (seventeen years ago) link