AIR CRASH EXERCISE

An aeroplane with 75 passengers on board developed engine trouble while flying over the jungles of Assam. The pilot managed to send out an SOS message just before the plane crashed into the jungles. It was around 3.00 p.m.

All members of the crew were killed except the pilot and there were in all seven survivors. You are one of them. There are two women survivors, one of whom is badly injured and is losing blood fast.

The plane exploded shortly after crashing but some of the survivors had managed to retrieve some items before the explosion. They couldn’t, however, retrieve any food or water.

The pilot had taken a bearing just before the engine trouble developed. He reckons that the plane crashed about 100 kms from the nearest inhabited area. To reach it, would mean marching through the thick forest with heavy undergrowth, crossing streams, and fending off wild animals that abound in these jungles.

After recovering from the shock, the survivors began discussing what to do. Should they stay put? Should they march towards the nearest civilization?

It soon became apparent that no agreement was being reached by the survivors. In fact, there seemed to be a struggle for leadership, some friction was developing, and the group realized this might jeopardize all of them.

Since you had remained the most calm and objective, the group agreed that it would abide by your decision as to who should be the leader. It was also agreed that you couldn’t choose yourself as leader.

Given below are some details about your co survivors. Read them and then and then decide, whom would you choose as Leader.

Captain Sundar is the pilot of the aeroplane. He has managed to retrieve some maps before the aircraft exploded. He is 44 years old and takes his duties very seriously. He feels that as captain of the plane, the survivors are his responsibility and should listen to him. He hopes that his SOS was heard and wants everyone to remain near the aircraft wreckage till a rescue team arrives . His personality type is ESTJ.

Miss Moses is 22 years old, a botanist who has studied the flora of Assam. She is a gentle person, not comfortable with friction being generated and a bit of pacifying type. She has managed to retrieve a first aid kit and some tarpaulin from the aircraft. She had been a girl guide at the school. Her personality type is ENFP.

Rajkumar comes from an aristocratic family. He is 35 years old and has kept himself very fit by playing polo. He has captained his polo team to many victories. He was going to a place in Assam on a fishing trip and has managed to save his rods and fishing tackle from the flames. He is very sociable. He believes that ‘Leaders are Born’ and assumes that the others will listen to him. He would like the group to march on to the nearest village under his guidance. His personality type is ESFJ.

Shanthi Lal is 48 years old, a bit stout and likes his food and drink. He has managed to retrieve his bottle of brandy, cigars, and lighter from the aircraft. He is a self made businessman who had managed to gradually develop a vast business empire. He is humorous but can also be very tough being used to commanding and co-ordinating, he also tried to get the group to listen to him. His personality type is ENFJ.

Mohinder Singh is a hunter by profession and had been asked by the Assam Government to track down a rouge elephant that was destroying crops. He is 28 years old, generally quiet but capable of losing his temper violently. He has managed to retrieve his rifle and some cartridges and wants the group to head for civilization. His personality type is ISTJ.

WHOM WOULD YOU CHOOSE AS A LEADER?

From Bio data and observation of behavior From Personality type: ENFP

STRENGTHS STRENGTHS:

*She knows the flora of Assam. Can forage for edible mushrooms, berries, roots and flowers. •Gentle person who can pacify others.•Her bid to leadership may not be contested. The Inherent chivalry in men may permit her to lead them•As a woman she can understand the needs of theInjured woman and nurse her.•Her retrieval of first aid kit shows her altruistic nature.

WEAKNESSES

*Not comfortable with friction.* Young person.* Her gentleness can be exploited.

MISS

MOSES

RAJKUMAR

MOHINDER

SINGH

•Sympathetic and gentle•Ready to help•Charming and well liked•Warm and enthusiastic•Does everything to avoid conflict and Disharmony.

WEAKNESSES:

*Prioritizing *Time management because of the inability to say no.

From Bio data and observation of behavior From Personality type: ESFJ

STRENGTHS: STRENGTHS:*Physically fit *warm hearted*Very sociable, *Talkative and popularFeels responsible for leading others. *Does nice things for others

*Open to other’s opinion

WEAKNESSES: WEAKNESSES:*Arrogance of pedigree and wealth *Sensitive to criticism

* Should recognize the value of conflict andvalue of detailed analysis of problems.*Should look at facts in disagreeable situations.

From Bio data and observation of behavior From Personality type: ISTJ

STRENGTHS: STRENGTHS:*Hunter by profession and can protect othersFrom wild animals. * Serious and quiet*generally quiet but capable of losing temper if Occasion demands it. * Ability to concentrate ( essential for hunting)

* Likes t work independently and privately* Readily accepts responsibility

WEAKNESSES: WEAKNESSES:*Arrogance of pedigree and wealth * can become too preoccupied with his

inner life.* Lack of deep understanding of others* Lack of appreciation of others.

From Bio data and observation of behavior From Personality type: ENFJ

STRENGTHS STRENGTHS:

*Senior most in age. Can capitalize on the naturalReverence paid to age and seniority. •Self made business man. High self esteemEnterprising and calculated risk taking.•Humorous but tough. Experienced in coordination.*Retrieved brandy etc probably to -build a fire or as a medicine to the injured woman -light cigar to prevent mosquitoes near the injured -lighter for all the above

WEAKNESSES

*Liking for food and drinking

SHANTILAL

CAPTAIN

SUNDAR

•Feels real concern for what others Think, feel or want•Ready to help•Can lead a group discussion with ease & tact•Tends to focus on the best qualities in others •Can engage Singh to protect group, RajkumarTo fish and feed the group*Moses to nurse and forage for food and water*get the services of the captain in organizing Themselves.•Persuasive speaker.

WEAKNESSES:*over emphasis on personal feelings and Relationships when objectivity is warranted.

From Bio data and observation of behavior From Personality type: ESTJ

STRENGTHS: STRENGTHS:*Retrieved air maps which he only can read In case of a decision to march.*Duty conscious and responsible for the survivors•Taken a logical decision to stay near wreckageThe woman may have spinal injury and willCollapse if shifted, heavy undergrowth and streamsMay not be negotiableSome possibility of rescue*During his training period might have been Trained to handle such emergencies. WEAKNESSES:*Authoritative•Has a need to dictate to others •People might have lost faith in him and may blameHim for crash (for not getting the engine checkedProperly before flight)*Makes assumptions about SOS and may endangerThe lives of others with his false optimism.

*Practical and Realistic*Responsible and orderly•Can be tough when they need to disciplineOthers*Normally use past experience and solid Facts to solve problems.

WEAKNESSES:*Human considerations may be neglected•Difficulty in acknowledging the contributionsOf others.

BUILDING A COMPLEMENTARY DYADIC TEAM.(a case study)

Suresh Nadkarni enjoys his job as general manager (projects) in a progressive industrial company. He likes the fact that each project has a beginning and an end so he can plan and schedule accordingly. Nadkarni takes great pride in staying on schedule and meeting deadlines. Even his office reflects his orderly approach to life, with everything in its own space. Nadkarni’s boss appreciates his organization and attention to detail, but he sometimes questions his creativity and ability to handle change. Nadkarni is an ISTJ.

When Deepak Roy requested a transfer to the department of projects, he became Nadkarni’s assistant. In his previous job, Roy was considered creative and competent. Even though he had only recently graduated from an IIT and an IIM he was entrusted with several major assignments, and his earlier boss was very pleased with his work. Roy was excited about his new job and felt that it would make the best use of his talents. Roy is ENFP.

However Suresh Nadkarni’s and Deepak Roy’s different approaches to work quickly became apparent. Nadkarni wanted to develop a schedule and detailed time table for each project. It was important to him to get something on paper. Roy, on the other hand, bounced from idea to idea, keeping his options. He liked to capture “The Big Picture” rather than get bogged down in too many details too soon. When Nadkarni insisted that they set a specific schedule for their latest project, Roy responded, “just tell me the final due date, and I will have it completed by then. No problem”

Nadkarni agreed to try Roy’s approach. But he soon found himself increasingly annoyed at Roy and the way he worked. He felt uncomfortable not knowing how things were progressing. Even though Roy always said everything was going well, Roy’s disorganized office drove Nadkarni crazy. Halfway through the project, Nadkarni decided he could not continue to work in this way. He called Roy into his office and handed him a schedule for the rest of the project. He said he expected a weekly update and wanted to see the work completed to that point.

Roy threw up his hand and said he was working on all parts of the project simultaneously. He said there was no way he could conform to Nadkarni’s schedule and that if he did, it would ruin the creative process. Nadkarni replied that Roy would either adhere to the schedule or look for another job.

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION:

1) Differences in personality type can be seen as complementary or as irreconcilable. How was itseen in this case?

2) What are the salient behavioral characteristics of Nadkarni (ISTJ) and Roy (ENFP)?

3) Can you list the different set of strengths and developmental needs of each person bringing to the work place.

4) To make the relationship work, perhaps each man must make concessions and accept that there are many ways to get a job done.Can you suggest what concessions each man should make?

BUILDING A COMPLEMENTARY DYADIC TEAM.(a case study)