The first time I played this number* was in March 2023, prompted by press reports that the venerable House of Tatas had a failure rate of 50% on the housings they were making for Apple phones.
A couple of years ago, in this documentary I was watching, this engineer interviewed said something to the effect of "these little things can be catastrophic at some point". She then dropped a spherical metal ball at different places on the floor and saw where it rested. Then rolled it across the floor a few times. A simple low cost, low tech way to ascertain if the floor was indeed flat or in some other case, sloping into the exit point. This principle holds for the whole city as well. Another documentary on Benguluru's floods, illustrated how the natural drainage, went right across the city that is now through completely constructed areas. I guess its a lot easier saying "climate change" and too much rainfall than saying "we didn't roll a ball". A lot of this doesn't cost money. It costs some thought and some time. In many such matters, "pass mark" or "80%" isn't good enough. Only 100% is.
Thanks, Pras - I made this remark elsewhere: climate change, unprecedented cloud bursts...these may be true, but cannot become alibis for shoddy municipal engineeering
This is highly reminiscent of the Chinese idea of "Cha Bu Duo" (差不多) culture in China. In fact, take the article below, swap in Indian place names, and you have copy of 2017 China in 2024 India. Or 1850 France or 1900 USA.
The cultural switch to craftsmanship over "good enough" is hard, it takes takes time, and it is easily lost. (see: most 21st Century Western government bureaucracies) But don't worry, we'll get there if we keep insisting on it. And we must.
I’ve struggled with this 19-20 attitude for years, primarily with my staff and vendors. I can’t recall how many times I’ve said “उंनीस-बीस नहीं चलेगा। उंनीस का उंनीस, और बीस का बीस चाहिए”
Unees-bees is the difference between politicians of one party in comparison to the other. And as a result we are a nation stuck between unees-bees. Anything that the authorities do makes only a marginal difference - just unees-bees !!
I work in a team of Indian , Chinese and European programmers and the same is just starkly visible there too . I would say the Chinese and us Indians are quite similar . Most of us are more worried about getting things done than getting things right , like every project is some homework from school . And the Europeans and their work just stands apart in sheer thought they put into something no matter how trivial .
So well put Mo, thanks for enriching us with your choice of topics
19-20 is all around us and instead of benchmarking developed practices we find faults in them on account culture, biases to justify our existence and practics.
All we need to get to the developed side is to apply science, have the right intent and skill up with tools and do away with the primitive practices!
A couple of years ago, in this documentary I was watching, this engineer interviewed said something to the effect of "these little things can be catastrophic at some point". She then dropped a spherical metal ball at different places on the floor and saw where it rested. Then rolled it across the floor a few times. A simple low cost, low tech way to ascertain if the floor was indeed flat or in some other case, sloping into the exit point. This principle holds for the whole city as well. Another documentary on Benguluru's floods, illustrated how the natural drainage, went right across the city that is now through completely constructed areas. I guess its a lot easier saying "climate change" and too much rainfall than saying "we didn't roll a ball". A lot of this doesn't cost money. It costs some thought and some time. In many such matters, "pass mark" or "80%" isn't good enough. Only 100% is.
Thanks, Pras - I made this remark elsewhere: climate change, unprecedented cloud bursts...these may be true, but cannot become alibis for shoddy municipal engineeering
Lol, so we have gone from "but Nehru" to "but Toronto". I say thats progress.
That's a positive way of looking at it, Punit!
This is highly reminiscent of the Chinese idea of "Cha Bu Duo" (差不多) culture in China. In fact, take the article below, swap in Indian place names, and you have copy of 2017 China in 2024 India. Or 1850 France or 1900 USA.
The cultural switch to craftsmanship over "good enough" is hard, it takes takes time, and it is easily lost. (see: most 21st Century Western government bureaucracies) But don't worry, we'll get there if we keep insisting on it. And we must.
https://aeon.co/essays/what-chinese-corner-cutting-reveals-about-modernity
I’ve struggled with this 19-20 attitude for years, primarily with my staff and vendors. I can’t recall how many times I’ve said “उंनीस-बीस नहीं चलेगा। उंनीस का उंनीस, और बीस का बीस चाहिए”
Unees-bees is the difference between politicians of one party in comparison to the other. And as a result we are a nation stuck between unees-bees. Anything that the authorities do makes only a marginal difference - just unees-bees !!
The maldy is now an epidemic!
It is a long, long path.
I work in a team of Indian , Chinese and European programmers and the same is just starkly visible there too . I would say the Chinese and us Indians are quite similar . Most of us are more worried about getting things done than getting things right , like every project is some homework from school . And the Europeans and their work just stands apart in sheer thought they put into something no matter how trivial .
Very interesting, Tarun.
Thanks
So well put Mo, thanks for enriching us with your choice of topics
19-20 is all around us and instead of benchmarking developed practices we find faults in them on account culture, biases to justify our existence and practics.
All we need to get to the developed side is to apply science, have the right intent and skill up with tools and do away with the primitive practices!
Thanks, Leo.
Unfortunately, this is a multi-generational task.
Our 'leaders', instead of setting benchmarks, are full of Whataboutery.