I received an email from my friend quite some time ago and the content was pretty interesting. Credits go to Chee Hong as I do not know who the original author is.
Once upon a time, a man in a hot air balloon realized that he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted. "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The woman below replied. "You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 50 and 51 degrees north latitude and between 114 and 115 degrees west longitude."
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the woman. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I've no idea what to make use of your information. The fact is, I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything, you've delayed my trip."
The woman below responded, "You must be in management." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, you've managed to make it my fault!!"
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Engineer vs Management
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4 comments:
well, what an interesting story. I'm not in management but I'm now in the same condition with the balloonist. :)
aichoon: Hmm... I do not think that you are at such a high position at the moment. :) You are just lost at a T-junction with 2 ways to go.
Well, no matter you are an engineer or in management, everyone also have the own responsibility and perspective. So as long as you feel that what is right and reasonable, go a head to do it...no matter where you are and who you are...However, don't blame anyone after you made your decision.
mayfang: Yeah, I agree with you. Everyone is to be responsible for their own actions and the consequences of these actions as well. But sometimes you ended up as the victim and that is exactly when you feel like choking someone. :D
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