Conference 7.286::digital

4668.0. "A parable about Shaping behavior" by SHRCTR::SRINIVASAN () Sat Jun 15 1996 09:23

   
     ( From an editiorial in 23 May 96, "Machine Design" by Ronald Khol). 



     A parable about shaping behavior


     Once upon a time there lived a man named Clarence who had a pet 
     frog named Felix.  Clarence lived a modestly comfortable existence 
     on what he earned at Wal-Mart, but he always dreamed of being 
     wealthy.  

       "Felix!" he exclaimed one day.  "We're going to be rich!  I'm 
     going to teach you how to fly!"  Felix, of course, was terrified 
     at the prospect.  "I can't fly.  I'm a frog, not a canary!"

       Clarence, disappointed at Felix's reaction, told him: "Your 
     negative attitude could be a problem.  I'm sending you to class."  
     So Felix went to a three-day seminar and learned about problem 
     solving, time management, and effective communication--but nothing 
     about flying.

       On the first day of "flying lessons," Clarence explained to 
     Felix that their apartment had 15 floors and each day Felix would 
     jump out of a window starting with the first floor, eventually 
     getting to the top floor.  After each jump, Felix would analyze 
     how well he flew, identify the most effective flying techniques, 
     and implement the improved process for the next flight.  By the 
     time they reached the top floor, Felix would know how to fly.

       Felix pleaded for his life, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.  
     Felix doesn't understand how important this is thought Clarence, 
     but he was determined not to be defeated by a negative attitude.  
     So he opened the window and threw out Felix, who landed with a 
     thud.

       On the second day, Felix again begged not to be thrown out the 
     window.  But Clarence opened his pocket guide to "Managing More 
     Effectively" and showed Felix the part about how one must always 
     expect resistance when implementing new programs.  Out went Felix 
     from the second floor, and he hit the ground with an even more 
     painful landing.

       On the third day, Felix tried a ploy.  He asked for a delay in 
     the project until the weather was more favorable for flying.  But 
     Clarence pulled out a time-line, pointed to the third milestone, 
     and asked: "You don't want the schedule to slip, do you?"

       Felix knew that if he didn't jump today he would have to jump 
     twice tomorrow, so he jumped from the third floor.  On it went to 
     higher and higher floors, and Felix tried his best.

       By the seventh day, Felix no longer begged for mercy.  "You know 
     you're killing me don't you?" he said.  Clarence replied that 
     Felix's performance so far had been less than exemplary, failing 
     to meet any of the milestones he had set for him.

       Felix became resigned to his fate and said "OK, open the 
     window."  With that, he leapt out, taking care to aim for a jagged 
     rock that was sure to put him out of his misery.  He hit it 
     perfectly and was instantly dispatched from the mortal world. 

       Clarence was upset.  His project had failed to meet a single 
     goal.  Felix not only failed to fly, he didn't even take well to 
     training or setting goals.   And he didn't seem to understand when 
     Clarence told him to fall smarter, not harder.   Finally, Clarence 
     analyzed the process to determine where it had gone wrong.  He 
     concluded that he needed a smarter frog.


From an editorial in May 23, 1996 Machine Design by Ronald Khol.

    http://altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=q&what=web&fmt=.&q=%22
    You+know++you%27re+killing+me+don%27t+you%22
    
    Naughty, naughty, Mr. Khol... (unless of course you attributed it to
    wherever it originated in 'NetLand...)
    
    :-)
    

    In all fairness to Ronald Khol, he refers to the internet ( some
    unknown author, in his article. I did not publish the whole article !
     
    

    Good to know...  and in my .1 I expressed my hope that he'd done
    that... .1> "(unless of course you attributed it to wherever it
                 originated in 'NetLand...)"

    Beaaaauuuuuuutttttiiiiiffffffuuuuullllll.
    
    It's such a wonderful parable.  Now how high is MSO again?
    
    Mav

    
    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I have a little parable to share that may explain some of the
    problems..... look past the words and understand it's hidden meaning.
    
    A scientist was given the task of assessing some external stimulae
    to certain species for their effects......here's what transpired:
    
    The scientist took a frog as the experimental target.  The basic
    test was to find out what certain events would do to the frog's
    ability to jump on command.
    
    
    He placed the frog on the table and shouted at the frog: "leap frog"!
    	The frog jumped 16 feet.  Scientist enters into his log "when told
    	to leap, frog jumps 16 feet"
    
    	
    He then lopped off one of the frogs legs, he then  shouted at the frog: 
    	"leap frog"! The frog jumped 10 feet.  Scientist enters into his log 
    	"frog with three legs jumps 10 feet"
    
    
    He then lopped off another leg, he then shouted at the frog: 
    	"leap frog"! The frog jumped 6 feet.  Scientist enters into his log 
    	"frog with two legs jumps 6 feet"
    
    
    He then lopped off another leg, he then shouted at the frog: 
    	"leap frog"! The frog jumped 3 feet.  Scientist enters into his log 
    	"frog with one leg jumps 3 feet"
    
    
    He then lopped off the last leg, he then shouted at the frog: 
    	"leap frog"! The frog just sat there.....he shouted again "LEAP
    	FROG" again, the frog just sat there....over and over the scientist
    	kept yelling at the frog "LEAP FROG".....finally after about 10
    	attempts to get the frog to leap without success, the scientist
    	finally entered into his log:  
    
    
    
    	
    	FROG WITH NO LEGS IS DEAF!