The Human Pillar

This is a simple experiment to understand the difference between the new management and the old style of management. The task is to make a pillar with cubes provided. The only rule is that the cubes have to be placed one on top of the other and also that cubes have to be placed one after another.

Scenario 1:

In this a person has to first make an estimate of how tall he can construct the pillar and then go on to build the same.

Scenario 2:

In this case two persons will do the same job but one person will be blindfolded and will do the job and the other person will assist him in the same.

To every ones amazement the single person was able to make a pillar of 22 blocks and the two people were able to make a pillar of 24 blocks.

The learning from this activity as illustrated below that provide a clear-cut distinction between the two schools of management.

Parameter	Old School Of Management	New School Of Management
Work	The entire work is done by just one individual.	Work is shared between two persons. The physical work is done still the one individual but the work/effort in terms of strategy to place the blocks, directions for placing the block etc is transferred to the other person.
Division of Work	One person is loaded with the entire work.	The technical and the functional work are separated.
Skill	If a single person is performing the activity, a high level of skill is required from him.	When two people are performing the job low skill if required effectively from each individual.
Innovation	Innovation can come from just one individual.	Innovation can come from the “performer” as well as the “supervisor”.
Productivity	Productivity is low.	Productivity is high.

Thus finally we can see that the new school of management, the segregation of the technical and the functional aspects make it easier for management to help the organization/business in the following manner:

1.       Productivity is improved.

2.       Innovation can be channeled and segmented.

3.       Crystal clear definition of roles and responsibilities of the employees.

4.       Top down approach followed.

5.       Standards process can be put in place.

6.       Since each step is divided into Activity à Task à Element , it is easy for analysis.