| Author | Message | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2865 Registered: 1-2001 |
Since there are still multiple Lateral Adventures being solved I will keep working on mine and kill time with this one. As you will read, this deals with a real company that was mentioned in recent news reports, so feel free to participate if you are unaware of these reports but avoid early $poiling - thanks! I heard on the news that a certain company is asking its employees to change their work habits in a way to better suit their customers. Ironically, this change may cause customers to complain but the company hopes they will understand that it is in their best interest. Personally, I believe that this company is becoming more like another one that is in a completely unrelated market, may or may not serve common customers, and is the butt of numerous jokes for the work habits of its employees. So, can you figure out what the first-mentioned company is, what the un-related company is, and their lateral connection? HINT: There is a humorous element involved | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6496 Registered: 4-2010 |
"If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten." Is either company related to electronics? To computers? To food? Is the change in work habits related to another country? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3477 Registered: 9-2009 |
Does the first company: make a product? Provide a service? Interact with customers: in person? On the phone? through the internet? Through other mass media? Same questions for the second company. Do you think the first company will be the butt of numerous jokes as a result of this? Will the company actually become better at serving customers after the change? Airliners relevant? Will the customers save money from the change? will the company save money? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2868 Registered: 1-2001 |
"If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten." But we know that this doesn't always work either - at least in the case of Maximus (from 'Gladiator') Is either company related to electronics? No To computers? No To food? #1 Yes, #2 No Is the change in work habits related to another country? No Does the first company: make a product? Yes, and... Provide a service? ...this as well (at the same time) Interact with customers: in person? Yes On the phone? through the internet? Through other mass media? No to these Same questions for the second company. The second company does not make any product, they only provide a service. They interact with customers in person, on the phone, and through the internet as well as mass media. Do you think the first company will be the butt of numerous jokes as a result of this? Hard to say - I guess that depends on how many people make the same connection that I made and think that the same joke applies Will the company actually become better at serving customers after the change? Good q - they honestly think they will, but at this time they have their customers and critics doubting Airliners relevant? No Will the customers save money from the change? No will the company save money? No | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1913 Registered: 7-2009 |
Company #2 sounds suspiciously like Google...is it? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2871 Registered: 1-2001 |
Company #2 sounds suspiciously like Google...is it? No, neither company is related to computers or electronics | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6503 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is company #2 a helpline? Is company #1 a restaurant? A manufacturer? Of food? Drink? Alcohol? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2885 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is company #2 a helpline? No Is company #1 a restaurant? Technically yes, but I don't know that I've ever heard anyone refer to it as this A manufacturer? Yes, technically Of food? To a small degree (but it's not made on-site), mainly...Drink? ...this Alcohol? No | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6508 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the drink a juice? Tea? Soda? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2886 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the drink a juice? Tea? Soda? It's none of these | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6513 Registered: 4-2010 |
Water? Lemonade? Coffee? Hot chocolate? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2888 Registered: 1-2001 |
Coffee? Yes - are you surprised? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6522 Registered: 4-2010 |
No, and well I shouldn't....*sigh* Starbucks? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2893 Registered: 1-2001 |
Starbucks? Yes | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6575 Registered: 4-2010 |
Fancy names of coffee sizes relevant? Is the change related to serving coffee? Employees forced to change behaviors - baristas? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2896 Registered: 1-2001 |
Fancy names of coffee sizes relevant? No Is the change related to serving coffee? Yes, this is part of it Employees forced to change behaviors - baristas? Yes, precisely these employees | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6602 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the customers' orders relevant? Changing the way they ask for the orders? Change (as in money) relevant? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2898 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the customers' orders relevant? Yes Changing the way they ask for the orders? No Change (as in money) relevant? No | ||
| Bentarm (Bentarm)
New member Username: Bentarm Post Number: 1740 Registered: 6-2001 |
Is the service provided by company 2 entertainment? Aol? Disney? Dreamworks? Is it an American company? A financial service? Is it a bank? an insurance company? The starbuck's change. Do they intend to serve coffee slower? faster? to offer more choices? fewer choices? Does it relate to serving any other things? Hot chocolate? cake? cold drinks taken from a fridge? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2900 Registered: 1-2001 |
What's new, Bentarm? Long time no type! Is the service provided by company 2 entertainment? No (other than providing fuel for jokes, but this isn't their intent) Aol? Disney? Dreamworks? None of these Is it an American company? Yes, it's American, but Yes-ish on "company" A financial service? Is it a bank? an insurance company? None of these The starbuck's change. Do they intend to serve coffee slower? YES faster? So NO to offer more choices? fewer choices? Neither Does it relate to serving any other things? No, just their specialty coffee drinks Hot chocolate? cake? cold drinks taken from a fridge? So none of these | ||
| Bentarm (Bentarm)
New member Username: Bentarm Post Number: 1742 Registered: 6-2001 |
Hi, I'm good, still plodding away at writing up my PhD, and yes, it has been something of a long time... Is the other company the postal service? UPS? Is it relevant why Starbuck's is planing to serve coffee slower? To make it look as though their stores are busier by increasing the length of the lines? To make it seem less like 'instant' coffee? | ||
| Bentarm (Bentarm)
New member Username: Bentarm Post Number: 1743 Registered: 6-2001 |
Is the other company some other government-run semi-independent thing? A university? The IRS? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2901 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is the other company the postal service? YES UPS? So no Is it relevant why Starbuck's is planning to serve coffee slower? Not really - now that it's been discovered that the companies are Starbucks and the USPS the thing left to discover is the common business tactic and why it's funny To make it look as though their stores are busier No, however...by increasing the length of the lines? ...this is what their customers and critics fear will happen. To make it seem less like 'instant' coffee? Not exactly but you have the right idea. | ||
| Bentarm (Bentarm)
New member Username: Bentarm Post Number: 1746 Registered: 6-2001 |
The jokes about the USPS - related to postal workers working slowly? being lazy? going on killing sprees? Not having the best interests of the customer at heart? Are the longer queues that will develop in Starbuck's relevant? Do their tend to be long queues in US post offices? relevant? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2902 Registered: 1-2001 |
The jokes about the USPS - related to postal workers working slowly? being lazy? Yes - both going on killing sprees? No, no, no Not having the best interests of the customer at heart? Yes, this aspect to a lesser degree Are the longer queues that will develop in Starbuck's relevant? Yes Do their tend to be long queues in US post offices? YES relevant? Yes | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 1923 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is Starbucks going to start brewing one cup of coffee at a time? That would certainly slow things down! | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2904 Registered: 1-2001 |
Is Starbucks going to start brewing one cup of coffee at a time? No but you're OTRT (think 'specialty coffee drinks') That would certainly slow things down! And the kicker is they know this will happen... | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 677 Registered: 9-2010 |
Frappucinos involved? (*is craving double chocolate chip frappucino now...* *has no chance of getting one* *sigh*) | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2905 Registered: 1-2001 |
Frappucinos involved? (*is craving double chocolate chip frappucino now...* *has no chance of getting one* *sigh*) I don't think so, the only drinks mentioned are the hot ones | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6616 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do they brew the coffee slower? At a lower temperature? Is the intent to keep the customers waiting? To get through the queue faster? Wait - do they request that people not order specialty drinks? With those really long names? Like "half-caf double venti extra-whipped macchiatto no foam"? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2907 Registered: 1-2001 |
Do they brew the coffee slower? At a lower temperature? Not these, but the idea of "slower" is OTRT (and think 'specialty coffee drinks') Is the intent to keep the customers waiting? Not the intent, no, but a consequence that they feel will be understood by patrons To get through the queue faster? NO - in fact, their motivation for this change is nearly an exact opposite of this! Wait - do they request that people not order specialty drinks? With those really long names? Like "half-caf double venti extra-whipped macchiatto no foam"? No, not this | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6618 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do they want the customers to have to wait in line longer? To have shorter lines? To have multiple lines? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2909 Registered: 1-2001 |
Do they want the customers to have to wait in line longer? No, they realize though that this change will lead to this but that patrons will appreciate the change so they'll accept the longer wait time To have shorter lines? To have multiple lines? No | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6620 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are they taking more care in preparing the coffee? Getting the customers' orders exactly right? Because the customer is always right (except when they're not)? | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2911 Registered: 1-2001 |
Are they taking more care in preparing the coffee? YES Getting the customers' orders exactly right? And yes Because the customer is always right (except when they're not)? Perhaps this IS Starbucks' motivation and yet is NOT that of the USPS, but will we ever know for sure? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6623 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do they have a special "section" for specialty drinks? For normal drinks? Me is thinking of the Starbucks Express prank.... | ||
| Ixoye724 (Ixoye724)
New member Username: Ixoye724 Post Number: 2912 Registered: 1-2001 |
-- -- -- NON FAT GRANDE SPOILER -- -- -- Starbucks is changing the way their baristas prepare specialty coffee drinks (lattes, for example), allowing them to make at most 2 drinks at a time. They feel this will allow the baristas to focus more on the drinks and make them fresher and allow them to complete all the prescribed stages of drink preparation. Of course, this means that service will be slower so lines will be longer as customers wait to order. Compare this to the (in)famous US Postal Service, which is notorious for long lines, slow counter service, and is rumored to have either lazy employees or union workers who refuse to work faster despite long lines. So I wonder...as Starbucks implements this change, will they become the butt of jokes like the USPS? For example: I remember when the Postal workers started a slow-down strike for a pay raise. They had to call it off -- nobody noticed. What's the difference between a chess player and a postal worker? A chess player moves every now and then. Only time will tell... Very nice job of quickly solving this one to all who participated! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6630 Registered: 4-2010 |
Good puzzle, and good jokes! How are pi and a line at the postal service alike? Both are totally irrational and go on to infinity. | ||
| Gregoryuconn (Gregoryuconn)
New member Username: Gregoryuconn Post Number: 83 Registered: 9-2010 |
Balin, I laughed at your joke about long orders. You should hear my mom's "venti half-caf latte with three-quarters half-and-half and one-quarter whole, with restretto and no foam. And there's no such thing as double venti. That would be 40 ounces. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 6642 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hee hee, I was actually thinking of a couple "Pearls Before Swine" strips when I guessed that - that's my favorite comic strip. Customer: "Hi, I'll have a tall mocha-latte non-creamer dairy style decaf cappucino." *blank staring* Rat: "Say 'one regular coffee' or I punch you in the head." | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 689 Registered: 9-2010 |
My mother: Venti skinny vanilla latte with one Splenda. Much easier than when I had to remember to say, "Venti nonfat sugar-free vanilla latte with one Sweet&Low" (She changed sweeteners after learning about the 'skinny' thing, because my father informed her that Sweet&Low and aspartame can cause cancer. Never mind that he equated them, when aspartame is Equal, or NutraSweet, don't remember which, but she avoids those too when we go out. Still drinks diet soda though. Ick.) |
