Worker, Artisan and Artiste

      Three men laying the bricks: In management experts talk about three types of employees. They are workers, artisans and artistes. We will distinguish the three types of employees with the help of an example. 

Three people were laying bricks. One management expert approached the first man and asked him “what are you doing?” The first man snapped and said “can’t you see. You *** ****, I am laying bricks” thus rumbling he continued setting the bricks haphazardly. This man is a worker, one who works with his hands only. These type of people rarely go up in life and always end up cursing their luck. One make his own luck. Only a bad musician blames his tools.  90% of all employees are workers.

When asked the same question the second man scratched his head and said “well I am part of a team that is building a straight wall” Thus dismissing off the management expert he continued in his pursuit of a building a straight. This type of employee is a Artisan, one who works with his hands and head. These types of employees are smart but limit their gamut operations to immediate work. Artisans like potters, carpenters, masons learn the trade over generations and become experts in narrow areas of expertise. 9% of the employees are artisans.

The third man wiped the sweat from his brow and his face broke into a huge grin “I am part of the team that is building a great university. Bright students from all over the country will come to this university. The university will impart quality education and turn these bright young people into entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs will set up industries and drive this country down the path of progress”. While this man was speaking there was pride in his voice and a quiet confidence. He was convinced that he is a part of the bigger scheme of things. This type of employee is an artiste, one works with his hand, head and heart. Only 1% of the employees are artistes.

      25 x 4: way of learning. There is saying in Sanskrit which goes like this. 25% of the knowledge will come from the teacher. 25% of the knowledge comes from library work.  Another 25% of knowledge comes from group work that is discussing with classmates and friends. The last 25% of the knowledge come from the mother of learning which is the real time practical knowledge that comes from working in the field.

Generally the teacher teaches only 25% of what is supposed to be taught. That is 6.25% of the knowledge. The students rarely do little or no library work, they do not have any work experience or do any group work. Effectively 75% of the knowledge is lost. Out of the 6.25% that is imparted by the teacher only 25% is remembered that is 1.56%. Out of this 1.56% is remembered only 25% of it will be remembered by the time the student comes out of the examination hall which is 0.39% of all the knowledge that can be acquired.

“Education is what you remember about a subject after you have forgotten what has been taught in the classroom”