Imagine this...
You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. It's raining heavily when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
- You could pick up the old lady because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first;
- Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.
- However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.
He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
Thanks
From United States, Cambridge
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3You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. It's raining heavily when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
- You could pick up the old lady because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first;
- Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.
- However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.
He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
Thanks
From United States, Cambridge
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Touched heart.....
Well, when I was thinking to choose one of the three, I think in that thinking process I may have crossed the bus stop without picking anyone. But really, it is out of the blue, and if in life this type of situation comes, then it can be handled.
Manav Bansal
email: manav_bsl@yahoo.com
From India, Chandigarh
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Well, when I was thinking to choose one of the three, I think in that thinking process I may have crossed the bus stop without picking anyone. But really, it is out of the blue, and if in life this type of situation comes, then it can be handled.
Manav Bansal
email: manav_bsl@yahoo.com
From India, Chandigarh
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Believe it or not, the same question was asked in my HR class. I gave the same answer thinking that I was making fun, but I received appreciation from my faculty. Hehehe... got away with luck! 😂
From India, Madras
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From India, Madras
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Dear NKTiwari,
Thank you for this piece, but there are some assumptions in this. If there is only one person in the car, there is no need for a choice. Be it as it may, I would rather save a life by picking the old woman. To our candidate friend, what if the old friend couldn't drive? All our reactions are still imaginary. To be very sincere, one is dead to be confused initially when faced with the reality of making a choice due to some indicators and interferences. Once more, it's a good puzzle. Well done.
From Nigeria, Abuja
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Thank you for this piece, but there are some assumptions in this. If there is only one person in the car, there is no need for a choice. Be it as it may, I would rather save a life by picking the old woman. To our candidate friend, what if the old friend couldn't drive? All our reactions are still imaginary. To be very sincere, one is dead to be confused initially when faced with the reality of making a choice due to some indicators and interferences. Once more, it's a good puzzle. Well done.
From Nigeria, Abuja
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Hmm...
As someone pointed out, the answer the applicant gave has many assumptions, with the most glaring being the fact that he assumes his friend can actually drive a car. But I suppose that's thinking on your feet in an interview, right? Was that the purpose of the question? To ascertain the thought process of the applicant? To see if the person has any moral values?
Almost everyone would give the 1st choice as the answer, but that doesn't mean they aren't as good as or even better than the one being chosen.
In a real-life situation, we have to make hard decisions based on little or no information at all, and we have to make those decisions fast. Personally, I would not want someone on my team to make those kinds of decisions based on assumptions that may not be true at all... but that's just me.
Just the same, thanks.
From Malaysia, Kuching
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As someone pointed out, the answer the applicant gave has many assumptions, with the most glaring being the fact that he assumes his friend can actually drive a car. But I suppose that's thinking on your feet in an interview, right? Was that the purpose of the question? To ascertain the thought process of the applicant? To see if the person has any moral values?
Almost everyone would give the 1st choice as the answer, but that doesn't mean they aren't as good as or even better than the one being chosen.
In a real-life situation, we have to make hard decisions based on little or no information at all, and we have to make those decisions fast. Personally, I would not want someone on my team to make those kinds of decisions based on assumptions that may not be true at all... but that's just me.
Just the same, thanks.
From Malaysia, Kuching
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Free your mind from the shackles of conservative thinking patterns! Learn to believe that there is a better way of doing something or approaching a dilemma than what comes to your mind first! Do not let the options given to you bind you; literally read between the lines! It is like giving a creative person some material and asking them to create something - one will always come up with something unique! Let's learn to make creative thinking a part of our lives! This is what I understand about "thinking out of the box". What about you?
Love, Gouri
From India, Pune
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Love, Gouri
From India, Pune
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answer by the applicant was gr8. But lets discuss about a situation when the Old frn of his dnt knew how to drive the Car then what probably he would have done .
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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On second thought, I would take the old lady to the hospital myself.
When it comes to priorities, the manager should focus on where the priority or critical work lies. If one has three tasks at hand, it is advisable to attend to the most critical task personally and delegate or address the others based on their order of priority.
In the scenario mentioned above, the protagonist wasted his efforts trying to handle all three tasks simultaneously. Does that approach also seem sensible or is it a viable solution?
Regards, Pradeep
From India, Delhi
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When it comes to priorities, the manager should focus on where the priority or critical work lies. If one has three tasks at hand, it is advisable to attend to the most critical task personally and delegate or address the others based on their order of priority.
In the scenario mentioned above, the protagonist wasted his efforts trying to handle all three tasks simultaneously. Does that approach also seem sensible or is it a viable solution?
Regards, Pradeep
From India, Delhi
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But a good manager delegates responsibility to the most suited individuals or teams. Also, a good manager ensures that the benefits are maximum.
In this scenario, the buddy who saved your life is probably the most experienced with being a hero. The outcome is:
1) The lady gets saved by an able savior.
2) You get to play hero to your love by telling her (I'm a guy, so I'm looking at it from my perspective) that you trust your friend to be better in this kind of situation... (humility wins big time).
3) And of course, you get to rock with the love of your life, with the rain and everything. Even better if she is wearing white. (If she is the love of my life, she'll always wear white when it rains.)
From India, Madras
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In this scenario, the buddy who saved your life is probably the most experienced with being a hero. The outcome is:
1) The lady gets saved by an able savior.
2) You get to play hero to your love by telling her (I'm a guy, so I'm looking at it from my perspective) that you trust your friend to be better in this kind of situation... (humility wins big time).
3) And of course, you get to rock with the love of your life, with the rain and everything. Even better if she is wearing white. (If she is the love of my life, she'll always wear white when it rains.)
From India, Madras
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Dear,
I agree with this answer, but if we think about it in another way, the guy whose car was there can also take that old lady to the hospital. Because as his friend who saved his life, will be his good friend. According to me, as a good friend, he will consider the situation of his friend that beside him, somebody needs him the most.
Apart from this, the person who loves you and is your partner will definitely be with you at that time and forever and ever.
Thanks,
Akangi
From India, Calcutta
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I agree with this answer, but if we think about it in another way, the guy whose car was there can also take that old lady to the hospital. Because as his friend who saved his life, will be his good friend. According to me, as a good friend, he will consider the situation of his friend that beside him, somebody needs him the most.
Apart from this, the person who loves you and is your partner will definitely be with you at that time and forever and ever.
Thanks,
Akangi
From India, Calcutta
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