A Basket-case Study

An old case study that was written a couple of years ago soon after the Foundation Course (FC) & Phase I:

Far across the oceans, in the distant Polynesian archipelago, there is the Mountainous Island of Yaess. This island is inhabited by a young migrant population. The ruling elite class also consists of immigrant population but of a different manufacturing date.

The story of the Yaess Island could be summarized as the perpetual struggle between the progressive and forward-looking administration and the regressive non-responsive citizenry. Citizens often alleged that the powerful ruling bourgeoisie wielded enormous unaccounted power, which was obviously untrue.

For instance, the Yaess administration was supplying hot water to the citizens once a day through Mark II pumps. As the Administration was very reform oriented, it wanted to introduce Mark III pumps which would supply water only once in a month. This would reduce water consumption greatly, thus contributing to the progress of the Island. The then Home Minister, Dr. Bakosh said in a press release that there was some resistance to Mark III pumps as the superstitious and traditional citizens did not adopt innovative measures such as bathing once a month.

Ignorant and unintelligent citizens often alleged the government of the Island to be very harsh on their basic civil liberties. One of their major complaints was the compulsory frog-hunting exercise undertaken in the early morning. This was being criticized by the Atheist & Rationalist Association of Yaess Island (ARAYI) as being superstitious and unscientific. Mr. Max D.D.T, President of the Association wrote to the Indian Hunter’s Union (IHU) complaining against the lead hunter, Mr. Shambhu. The first premise of this hunting exercise is that all human bodies are manufactured alike under factory specifications. Second premise is that compassion and usage of courteous language are cardinal sins. Martyrdom on the hunting grounds is the desired goal.

As per the law of the Island, criticism of the ritualistic frog-hunting is blasphemy. This has been specifically mentioned in Kon Duct Smruthi, the Ancient scripture dating as early as 1950 A.D. It also mentions that Frog hunting in the early morning makes your kidney hyper-functional and the pancreas muscular. The corpus callosum becomes Medulla Oblongata and the Oesophagus becomes the vertebral column. Elders in the island fondly recollect these sessions with goose pimples and tears.

Similarly, compulsory kangaroo riding is criticized by some intellectually challenged citizens. They have demanded that they be acquainted with more ‘mundane’ skills like bike riding taking into consideration that an astonishing number of the citizens didn’t know such skills. Lord Yarajesha, the Minister of Defence investigated this and found no merit in such arguments. He concluded that a proper understanding of the Kangaroo psychology would be very helpful as most people have basic underlying kangarufication in their psyche. The supplementary report by Lord White Tender said that riding a difficult animal like kangaroo helps one overcome fear. Infact, he recommended that in future compulsory riding on bear, tiger, lion and hippopotamus should also be introduced to cater to the needs of the fast changing globalization era. Enlightened citizens like Mr.Enemynta and Prof. Icepeak were thrilled to hear such proposals. Dr. Infinite Shiney, another prominent citizen and also a prominent medical professional hailed this decision on medical grounds.

Meanwhile, many misers amongst the citizenry led by Mr.Silver Shiney protested against rising food prices. The mid-day meal scheme was in quandary. H.H. Princess Sunken Emajinason, Minister of Food & Civil Supplies denied this. Prime Minister Sultan Ouou Lockkuar prepared detailed Excel sheets to study this allegation. Since Excel work sheet is extremely suited for this, the research work is expected to be completed by the very next decade. As luck would have it, Lord Srikrishna, the just, did not shower much blessings or rain in the Island for the sixth consecutive year. In short, rising prices and food shortage coupled with drought made the population rebellious.

However, petty talk over price rise and failed crops is considered unbecoming of a Yaess Islander who should not be worried of small things such as food, shelter and clothing. He is after all, the cream of the world. Such petty issues are for the beggars and the underprivileged wretched lot. But the sad part is that the non-progressive citizenry never rose above their petty concerns.

Meanwhile, there occurred a large scale infiltration of the Island by elderly migrants which resulted in acute shortage of essential commodities and basic facilities in the tiny Island. Many were rendered homeless and many lost their belongings to the invaders. Service-delivery deteriorated badly.

Another contentious issue facing the Island nation is the objection raised by fashion-ignorant citizens who termed the official dress code of the Islanders as ‘very very funny’. Subsequently, Lord Chou Oprah Commission was appointed which conducted a detailed inquiry and submitted the report thus:

“It is astonishing that the dress code has been termed ‘funny’ while the whole intent has been to bring in a grave mood by designing the attire modelled on an undertakers’ dress. We also note that the other option modelled on the Butler’s uniform has unfortunately failed to catch the imagination of the islanders. The Commission recommends that no change be allowed in the dress code and that it should be enforced more stringently. We need to perfect the dress code. The Commission is optimistic that in the near future we will achieve 100% dress code compliance. After that we will try to think about minor issues such as moral and ethical codes.” There was widespread rioting after the submission of this report and an agitated Ayyangar youth, Selvan L.Y Goodlaugh attempted self-immolation to demand statutory protection for mundu. Security proceedings were initiated against him by the District Magistrate, Lord Clockaani, under section 107 Cr.P.C as he threatened to set the whole of the island on fire. Finally, the issue was settled with Dr.Vaasu of the Paavaada Mundu Kazhakam (PMK) being nominated as a member of the Dress Code Implementation Committee.

It has to be noted that the past history of the Island has also not been very peaceful. The general public was so immature that it revolted in December 2007 A.D. Though the coup resulted in the overthrow of the then Prime Minister Lord Skylite Amberor, there were 107 casualties in the battle. Two contemporary historians Ms.Happyi and Ms.Happita have recorded the troubled times in their classic work titled “Post-modern positive trends in post-coup society-A Postscript”. This publication marked the paradigm shift in the administrative thought prevailing in society. The leftist progressive Intellectual, Prof. Murugan soon demanded that a study be made into the oppression carried out by the petty bourgeois over the citizens. The new post-coup administration decided to undertake a fresh look into the whole issue.

Soon, 8 study groups were sent out far across the distant lands to study and analyse how the citizens could be coaxed into accepting the modernisation programme of the Island administration. A comparative approach would then be made to find solutions to the problems faced by the administration and the citizens in this endeavour. The groups soon returned with lots of T.A Bills and a few diary notes.

Now the Administration appointed a Special Commission to go through the notes and inquire if there was any problem in the system which made life difficult for the citizens. And if at all there was some problem, should it be rectified?!

The Commission observed,

“The profound view of this Commission is that life should be made as difficult as possible with increasing degree of torture such that on a later date when one looks back, you tend to feel good about the past. This feeling would emanate from the sheer feeling of relief. The emphasis is not to enjoy the present. Enjoy only the past. This is a quasi-intellectual, quasi-cerebral exercise. These tortures have to go on as it maintains the relevance of the Island administration. The Philadelphia-Minnowbrook line of thought has not forsaken the “relevancy factor.’ While there are so many other ways to remain relevant and important, this is the easiest/shortest way. As efficient administrators, one needs to follow the shortest path. Time-motion studies are guiding us in this regard.”

The challenge before the Island administration is not just to modernise the administration, but also to process re-engineer the citizens’ thinking process. This would result in the transformation of Yaess Island to e-Ass Island by developing knowledge-torture linkages resulting from widespread automation and implementation of innovative programmes like e-danda.

The Officer Trainees are to carefully read the above case study and divide themselves into 91 groups and discuss strictly within their groups as to how a change could be brought in the Island.
The questions to be considered are:

1. What are the innovative forms of e-torture which are practically implementable in the Island of Yaess?
2. What steps do you suggest to make the citizens more torture-friendly?
3. Design a replicable model based on the above case study using MS Excel, MS Project and MS Swaminathan with interpolation of MS Paint in Oracle based exhaustive Data Mining architecture.

You will be judged and evaluated on the actual change/torture that is made possible.