Speaking of explaining things, I've been sent off to what I call Problem Solving School on three different occasions. These are seminar type gatherings put on by the BIG name universities in exchange for BIG checks so they can keeps their tuition rates for the kids low. Somehow that never seems to work out.
At any rate, just about the very first thing you get drummed into your head is to make sure you know what the REAL problem is----lest you expend valuable resources trying to solve symptoms---or apparent problems---a BIG NO-NO!!!
So--once upon a time we had checkered top straps, and if I'm reading this right, we ain't got none no more---a sure enough problem---or is it?
NO---it isn't! What it is, is a symptom of the REAL problem. The REAL problem is we have this here company that used to do their damnedest to make the best possible product for the price---figuring that was the key to lasting success---and it sure enough looked like it was, 'cause that's what they did for better than 100 years---and they were still around. Then, somewhere around the hundred and first year they got it in their head they might could do some better if they cut their costs---a little---here and there.
That seemed to work out okay, 'cause the folks that were buying their stuff kept right on buying it. Then they decided to try cutting their costs a little bit more, and as time passed, a little bit more---and a little bit more---and a little bit more.
Now some of the folks that'd been buying their stuff stopped buying it, but some other folks coming along had heard good things about their stuff; and they started buying it---so it all evened out enough to suit them---and they kept right on cutting their costs.
Then one day, they decided to stop checkering top straps on some stuff where checkered top straps were damn near a trademark. It remains to be seen how that's going to be perceived, but they figured some more folks were coming along, and they'd never know the difference.
Well, maybe---and then again, maybe not. It ain't likely the maybe not eventuality has sunk in yet, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Ralph Tremaine
Problem Solving School Graduate----three times---got him a BS, then an MS (More of the same), and finally a PhD (Piled higher and deeper)
