Please explain – comment by CEO Craig Robertson

In the spirit of Year 12 exams underway across the country, a small essay exercise follows.

Read below and answer the questions that follow.

In a faraway land not too long ago lived a happy and prosperous people. They had come from around the world over many years to settle and enjoy the land’s rich reward.

Crops were bountiful, the land brought forth gold, silver and other rich ores. All enjoyed its largesse. Families grew. Each aspired for a small allotment of land and a house with a bedroom for each child, a room in which the family could mingle and a cave of some form for the father to retreat for peace and quiet from the ravages of family life.

Wise forebears made sure the people could decide every three years who should govern them. This made the rulers of the land kind, in the main.

But there was a necessary passage for any who wanted to live in this wonderful land they called Demandere. Rolling hills, lush from regular rain and bright sunshine, with beautiful outlooks made the lure great but the passage was dangerous, as Demandere was nestled high above treacherous rocky cliffs.

There were few pathways to Demandere. The paths Hard Work and Application were quite a climb but were safe and success was assured. The other – Priviligium – was somewhat easier but it had a narrow entry at the bottom of the cliffs that few could find.

The journey is the key to success in Demandere, many said. Regardless of the path taken, a prosperous life awaits as a reward for the climb. It didn’t matter if someone worked with their hands or were kind-of-heart and cared for fellow Demanderians, or brought their head to tasks in analysing, synthesising and writing solutions. Everyone shared prosperity and it was a happy place.

The kind rulers wished more could complete the journey. With climbs so difficult they formed a new industry to help everyone who wished to embark on the journey. Soon it was known as the Supplere Sector. Suppleres were separated into teams depending upon the pathway they served.

As time passed, Demandere changed. Those who came via Priviligium got bigger houses with better views. They felt that their contribution deserved more recognition.

Many believed this to be the case, so it was understandable that the rulers invested to make Priviligium a safer passage – strong foundations plus handrails and lights to guide the way. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough funds left for Hard Work and Application and they fell into disrepair. They became perilous. Several fell to crippling injuries.

Success grew more elusive. Hard Work and Application didn’t prove to be paths to Demandere and success. Even if someone made it, the reward seemed hollow because Demandere was changing. The nice houses and beautiful views went to those arriving through Priviligium because Demandere rewarded people who were good with their head as well as their heart and not so much those who worked with their hands.

Desperate to solve the dilemma, the rulers, asked for more suppleres to help people up the Hard Work and Application path, thinking that would solve the problem. Some new suppleres convinced many to take short-cuts, all in the name of innovation, with terrible results. Fewer still completed the climb.

Still no change to the Hard Work and Application pathways.

The rulers held the view that the journey was immaterial. All the effort goes into describing the destination. “Surely then the many and varied suppleres would fall upon the secret to successful passage,” they said.

Meanwhile, Priviligium is safe and assured. Those on that pathway are given the knowledge from their suppleres to navigate the path. Each step brings understanding and builds a scaffold for success in Demandere.

The good hearted suppleres for Hard Work and Application persevered and prepared people for the passage as best they could, taking extra effort to pass on the knowledge and capability for them to navigate the climb. Yet money from the rulers to help the suppleres in this important task kept falling while the expectations for entry into Demandere kept growing.

“A stronger sense of what’s needed in Demandere will do the trick,” the rulers said. They specified more – ‘demonstrate this, do that, find someone to do it with’ – all in the hope it would prepare people for entry.

But still no work on the pathways Hard Work and Application, so much so that they almost became impassable.

It seemed Priviligium was the only path to success. Those relying on Hard Work and Application gave up their dreams.

It seems the rulers were blinded by the destination and blind to the journey.

Questions

1. In your view what is the root cause of the limited success via Hard Work or Application?
2. Who should be held accountable for the poor state of Hard Work and Application paths – the rulers or suppleres?
3. Explain what you think will be the implications of more people missing out on access to Demandere?
4. Who has responsibility for rectifying the situation – the rulers in Demandere, the suppleres or the people?