Forced Relationships

My last Views "Highly Successful Companies and You," stimulated some interest in "Forced Relationships." One of the conversations resulting from the Views brought back memories. I was asked about one of my most memorable experiences with "Forced Relationships." It had to be one of my first encounters with the concept, even though I had no idea at the time what a "Forced Relationship" really was.

The scene was 1952, early punch card tabulation systems. Computers in industry were unheard of at the time. I was in charge of data entry for our consumer research. At the time, we were using 027's from data entry (key punch machines) and 101's for tabulation (statistical sorters). It was just the start of using binary data entry with punch cards, up to this time data entry was almost exclusively alpha-numeric.

I had just taken over the data entry responsibility. As a first step, I decided to learn the job by working in each area of responsibility. In the data entry stage, as a key puncher, I had difficulty keeping track of where I was without using my left hand (actually a finger on the hand) to mark the area on the questionnaire. But I had to use my left hand to hold down the "multi-punch key" on the keyboard. If I had a third hand, it would make the task considerably easier. My solution came on a visit to Sears. They had a sale on their new electric sewing machine. What was of interest to me, was the stop-go switch, a foot pedal. I went to a Singer Sewing Machine Store to purchase just a pedal (Sears did not carry separate pedals). I went to work the next day and split wired the multi-punch button. Great success, production rose 300%. But I got into trouble with IBM. It seems we rented the machines and they did not take kindly to my tinkering with their equipment. But they did eventually let me wire all the ones we rented.

It is one of my fondest memories of creatively getting into trouble.

The "Forced Relationship" approach can be a great tool when looking for solutions to a specific problem, and it can also be a useful tool in brainstorming sessions.

Another thought this is another good example of personal experience opening up opportunities for improvement.