Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Being worldly wise
When I was younger, I remember my elders sometimes mention the word"worldly wise". To me, at that time,it sounded no different from "wise". According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, worldly wise means: "possessing a practical and often shrewd understanding of human affairs". Wise means "characterized by wisdom : marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment".
Recently one of our managers two levels above my manager from a different location was visiting us, and during a meeting with the project managers he asks us -"Do you think it is beneficial for me to also meet the designers?",to which one the project managers replied. "Absolutely without question! The designers have not seen you and you meeting them will help them attach a face to a name".
Just after the visiting manager departed, during an informal conversation over a cup of tea, this project manager says -"Our employees don't really care who the manager two/three levels above them are, as long as they get a good salary to take home".
This is the truth. The previous statement by this project manager was a worldly wise statement.
Now, because of the worldly wise statement made by this influential project manager, we would have this visiting manager every three months addressing 300+ people for 1.5+ hours. That is a lot of wasted time.
So, being worldly wise and wise are contradictory. A wise decision would lead to sound judgements beneficial for the majority. A worldly wise person does not care about having a sound decision, as long as his interests are taken care of.
Corruption is rampant in India because people are being worldly wise, both bribe givers and takers. Unless the judicial system ensures swift and severe punishments for bribe givers and takers, this will remain a worldly wise thing to do.
China recently executed its ex - Food and Drug chief on corruption charges.The execution was carried out in under 2 months of the conviction.
Recently one of our managers two levels above my manager from a different location was visiting us, and during a meeting with the project managers he asks us -"Do you think it is beneficial for me to also meet the designers?",to which one the project managers replied. "Absolutely without question! The designers have not seen you and you meeting them will help them attach a face to a name".
Just after the visiting manager departed, during an informal conversation over a cup of tea, this project manager says -"Our employees don't really care who the manager two/three levels above them are, as long as they get a good salary to take home".
This is the truth. The previous statement by this project manager was a worldly wise statement.
Now, because of the worldly wise statement made by this influential project manager, we would have this visiting manager every three months addressing 300+ people for 1.5+ hours. That is a lot of wasted time.
So, being worldly wise and wise are contradictory. A wise decision would lead to sound judgements beneficial for the majority. A worldly wise person does not care about having a sound decision, as long as his interests are taken care of.
Corruption is rampant in India because people are being worldly wise, both bribe givers and takers. Unless the judicial system ensures swift and severe punishments for bribe givers and takers, this will remain a worldly wise thing to do.
China recently executed its ex - Food and Drug chief on corruption charges.The execution was carried out in under 2 months of the conviction.
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