Critical Thinking

Your boss tells you he’s bought a new painting that he wants you to hang on the wall behind his desk in his office. The painting is contained within a frame. He then gives you the following instructions: 1.

The primary objectives are: a. do minimal damage in the quickest manner possible b. comply with all occupational, health and safety regulations – local, state and federal

2.

The secondary objectives are: a. your solution should allow the painting to be easily relocated b. the method of mounting should be esthetically pleasing

Microsoft wants to know if your solution: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Meets both primary objectives and both secondary objectives Meets one of the primary objectives and both of the secondary objectives. Meets one of the primary objectives and one of the secondary objectives Meets one of the primary objectives and none of the secondary objectives Meets none of the primary objectives and both of the secondary objectives Meets none of the primary objectives and one of the secondary objectives Meets none of the primary objectives and none of the secondary objectives

Your toolbox consists of: 1. A regular claw hammer 2. a box of 4d nails 3. a 2 oz jeweler’s hammer 4. a roll of duct tape 5. a sledge hammer 6. a roll of two-way tape 7. a cast iron frying pan 8. a carton of silly putty eggs 9. a railroad spike 10. a size 7, 3-inch high-heeled shoe with a metal tap 11. a box of 2d nails You quickly summon your support team to the conference room and confer with them. They proffer the following solutions: Jeff suggests using the cast iron frying pan with several of the 2d nails. Microsoft’s answer: Number 5 – meets none of the primary objectives and both of the secondary objectives.

Microsoft’s explanation: Jeff’s solution fails both of the primary objectives because it risks doing damage to the wall (objective 1a) and to his fingers which is a safety issue (objective 1b). The hanging of the painting using 2d nails would make it easy to remove and relocate elsewhere (2a). The hanging of the frame on nails hidden behind it does nothing to detract from the aesthetics of the painting (2b). My Answer: While a frying pan can be used to drive nails, if you miss the head of the nail and hit either your fingers or the wall, damage is likely to occur. Also, the 2d nails are a little short for securely attaching the painting. Danny suggests using the shoe and several of the 4d nails. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 1 – meets both primary objectives and both secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: Improvisation. A high-heeled shoe with a metal tap can be used in lieu of a hammer (1a). No OSHA violations (1b). The hanging of the painting using 4d nails would make it easy to remove and relocate elsewhere (2a). The hanging of the frame on nails hidden behind it does nothing to detract from the aesthetics of the painting (2b). My answer: While this is not the proper tool for hammering a nail, I can attest, from personal experience, that you can use a high-heeled shoe to securely place a nail. Use of 4d nails over 2d nails provides ½ inch of additional stability. Archie thinks that the jeweler’s hammer with the 2d nails should be sufficient. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 2 – meets one of the primary objectives and both of the secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: Archie’s solution fails objective number 1a because there are better tools which can do the job in less time because they are more efficient. This causes his solution to fail the second half of the requirement which is to accomplish the task “as quickly as possible”. The solution however meets requirement 1b. The hanging of the painting using 2d nails would make it easy to remove and relocate elsewhere (2a). The hanging of the frame on nails hidden behind it does nothing to detract from the aesthetics of the painting (2b). My Answer: While using a jeweler’s hammer may work, due to the size, or more specifically, the lack thereof, it would take longer to achieve the stated objective, because the head of the hammer is smaller than sufficient. Because of this, it takes more attempts to drive the nail home, thus more chances that if he misses the nail he risks doing damage to the wall with the hammer. Marvin wants to use a sledge hammer and railroad spike to mount the painting. Microsoft’s answer: You gotta be sh_tting me! Number 7 – fails both primary objectives and both secondary objectives. Microsoft’s explanation: Use of a railroad spike creates a problem while failing to solve the objective of 1a. Use of a sledge hammer contributes to and

compounds the problem created by use of the spike. Use of both would create a safety hazard (1b). This solution, even if implemented, would leave a gaping hole behind thus causing it to fail both objectives 2a and 2b. My explanation: Use of a railroad spike would more than likely put a hole in the wall and fracture the surrounding plaster. Missing the railroad spike while attempting to use the sledge hammer, could put an even bigger hole in the wall. And who’s going to hold the spike while Marvin swings the sledge hammer? Another safety violation. Either way, it would leave a mess behind causing a failure of both secondary objectives. Dan demonstrates how duct tape can be used to tape over the four corners of the painting by grabbing a book entitled “Object Orientation in Visual FoxPro’ and taping it to the conference room wall. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 6 - meets none of the primary objectives and one of the secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: While innovative, it doesn’t meet the requirement of 1a to do minimal damage. By taping over the painting itself, even if it’s just on the corners, the risk still exist of doing damage to the painting when the tape is removed (1a). The duct tape would not pass OSHA inspection due to the safety hazard it creates if the tape should suddenly give way (1b). While the duct tape would allow the painting to be easily relocated (2a), it fails the esthetics test (2b). My Answer: This solution would not only violate OSHA regulations it also runs the risk of damaging the painting. Lee suggests the use of the two-way mounting tape. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 1 – meets both primary objectives and both secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: None required. My explanation: This is a viable solution, however if the painting needs to be moved, the paint on the wall will have to be touched up because the two-way tape, when removed, also takes the paint with it. Morgan wants to stick silly putty to the back of the painting and attach it to the wall. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 2 – meets one of the primary objectives and both of the secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: This is the quick & dirty solution. If it weren’t for those dang health and safety regulations that have to be complied with, this would work. As such, the solution meets objective 1a (do minimal damage) but fails objective 1b (comply with all governmental codes). It meets both secondary objectives.

My Answer: While this solution would not mar the surface of the wall and allow the painting to be easily relocated, I doubt OSHA would approve. Besides, it has the added disadvantage (or advantage depending on how much you like your boss) of more than likely losing it’s grip and falling, perchance striking your boss in the head on its way down. Aisha suggests using the claw hammer to secure a 4d nail at both corners and two additional nails at equal distances from each. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 1 – meets both primary objectives and both secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: The claw hammer is the most efficient tool in the toolbox thereby meeting all requirements of objective 1a. The use of the 4d nails provides the most secure mount (1b). Additionally this solution would make it easy to remove and relocate the painting elsewhere (2a). The hanging of the frame on nails hidden behind it does nothing to detract from the aesthetics of the painting (2b). My Answer: I agree. Snoopy thinks the boss is lazy and should do it himself. Microsoft’s Answer: Number 7 – fails both primary objectives and both secondary objectives. Microsoft’s Explanation: In spite of failing to meet any the stated requirements Microsoft would like to know if you’d be interested in coming to work for them, uh I mean us. My Answer: Snoopy may have a point. Mari thinks that the whole team is in cahoots with the boss and they are all, in the very least, in violation of Title VII of the civil rights act, state and federal labor laws, as well as an assortment of other criminal codes including the Internal Revenue Code which prohibits intentional misclassification of workers, U.S. Code 18 Title Section 1030 of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and prohibitions by RCW 9A.46.110(1) against stalking by a third-party. Microsoft’s Answer: Prove It. Microsoft’s Explanation: We’re bigger than you and here at Microsoft we feel your pain. My answer: I rest my case.

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