Often Smaller is better than Bigger

The manufacturer wanted to test a significant number of marketing techniques and tactics in order to understand the range of opportunities for influencing a variety of consumer segments. But one of its key retail partners was reluctant to undertake the months of effort that traditional multi-site, in-store pilot programs require. The high number of proposed initiatives (originally 50, subsequently winnowed to the 20 most promising) heightened the perennial risks of confusing customers with different messages in different stores and of tipping off competitors about the retailer’s plans. Furthermore, the retailer had recently hired a new category buyer, whose focus was rapidly increasing category sales—not turning its stores into a massive shopper-marketing laboratory.

Pasted from <http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Using_technology_to_improve_in-store_marketing_1976>

Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?

This is logical rather than lateral, but it is a good puzzle which can be solved by lateral thinking techniques. It is supposedly used by a very well-known software company as an interview question for prospective employees. Solution A square manhole cover can be turned and dropped down the diagonal of the manhole. A round manhole cannot be dropped down the manhole. So for safety and practicality, all manhole covers should be round.

Another answer is also that they can be rolled around to save lifting them.....

Pasted from <http://www.mycoted.com/Manhole_Covers>

Quote

I have made this [letter] longer, because I have not had the time to make it shorter.Blaise Pascal   (1623 - 1662), "Lettres provinciales", letter 16, 1657

Concise

My youngest son and I attended his high school's Jr. Class College Preparation Program. While the speaker was talking about the essay questions on college applications my son told me of his friend.

The friend applied to his number one choice. The application's only essay question was "What is your favorite word? And Why?

The Friends response "Concise. It is short."

He got in.

Quote

“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.”
Amelia E Barr. English born American Writer and Journalist, She wrote historical fiction such as Remember the Alamo (1888). 1831-1919

www.thinkexist.com