Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
(OP)
Does anyone know the term for the following scenario?
Person A asks person B for a solution to a problem.
Person B has an interest in promoting solution x; although solution y would be more favourable for person A.
Person B presents person A with solution x which they know is not favourable to person A along with solution z.
Solution z is intentionally poorly designed by person B that person A sees solution x as being a favourable solution, unaware of solution y which would ulitmately be more favourable.
I have come across it a few times in my career so far but have never learnt the term for it, I presume it has one as it is clearly used as a business strategy (with morals of which I presume often come up in the Ethics and Business Practices forums).
Person A asks person B for a solution to a problem.
Person B has an interest in promoting solution x; although solution y would be more favourable for person A.
Person B presents person A with solution x which they know is not favourable to person A along with solution z.
Solution z is intentionally poorly designed by person B that person A sees solution x as being a favourable solution, unaware of solution y which would ulitmately be more favourable.
I have come across it a few times in my career so far but have never learnt the term for it, I presume it has one as it is clearly used as a business strategy (with morals of which I presume often come up in the Ethics and Business Practices forums).





RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
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RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
f-d
ípapß gordo ainÆt no madre flaca!
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
but seriously you have to be politic in working with others.
if your boss tells you to prepare a particular solution to the problem, and you do something else ... expect fireworks.
if your boss gives you a problem and suggests a solution, and you do something else ... defend the immediate question "what was wrong with my suggestion?"
if you boss gives you a problem, and you think he'll favour a particular solution ... then providing that solution (so long as it is a good one) will probably win favour !
if the boss's preferred solution had clear problems (once you get into the details) then explaining these problems may create changes to make a workable solution.
Remember there are many ways to skin cats (but cats like none of them).
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
Is solution z presented as a comedy act, or was it made to look serious? One brainstorming strategy is to present all ideas, no matter how obviously idiotic. It may turn out to not be idiotic, or it may inspire a good idea from someone else. If person B is aware of solution y, then there may be some nasty office politics going on.
--
JHG
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
what are the differences between x, y, and z ? is one easier to accomplish today ? yesterday ?? (ie this is how we used to do it. yes, but we don't have the skills today or yes, but we can't certify that today) is someone getting kick-backs ?? if they all reasonable solutions to the problem, what's the issue ??
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
My company has paid a suppier for generation of two concept designs, the concepts are complex enough to warrant payment for concept generation. I was presented with X and Z and paid the supplier for them with the intent being I then select one of the two for manufacture and then pay the same supplier to develop and manufacture the chosen solution.
I have no idea if they have independently generated and discarded Y by themselves but I know it exists because I have a piece of equipment which solves a similar problem which looks far simpler and cheaper than both X and Z.
Had I presented Y and asked for something similar, it wouldn't have been a problem but I discovered Y already existed after being presented with X and Z.
The solution will probably be to pay for X and Z's concepts (the both meet the design brief really), disregard them, present Y and ask for that.
I think we can call this "Picking up the straw herring by the shenanigans"
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
If you ask them to design a vehicle to transport people on the ground, but don't say it should have four wheels like a car (Y), I guess you'd get designs for a tank (X) and a hovercraft (Z).
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
A similar concept is the decoy effect. In that case the customer can see all the options, but is induced to an option they wouldn't have chosen by the introduction of third option.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decoy_effect
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
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It's finding someone you can't live without
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
While 'bamboozled' doesn't exclusively apply to this case, I would certainly suggest this is a case of 'bamboozling'.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
My initial, snarky response was going to be, "Short sighted."
But then I read your own reply, saying:
- you considered the problem and solution "complex enough to warrant payment for concept generation" after, presumably, doing due diligence
- you were unaware yourself of an existing, supposedly superior solution until after you reached the point of seeking outside help
So I would have to withhold judgement without more information.Only a terrible and/or desperate (and hence, likely terrible) businessperson would act in that way. I'm a consultant, and if the best way to serve a potential client is to refer them to someone else or explain why they don't need me, that's what I will do. Just as I will help them to understand the problem or scope of challenge they face if they are unaware of that.
- Rob Campbell, PE
Learn precision engineering at practicalprecision.com
RE: Presenting an awful idea to make a bad idea look good.
Had a manager ask me for recommendations on a fix. I gave him 3 or 4, intentionally leaving out 1 or 2 that were discussed (but not well thought of by the team).
He asked me why I left those out.
My response: "Cause you might select one of them."
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