User talk:Moatar/sandbox

The Bake-off Theory
Bake-off Theory is basically a concept applied in technology and advertising which has been imported into human relations. It is a research comparison process where competing technologies are compared and the product or service is then chosen. This is sometimes also called technology bake-off. It is employed by (marketing) firms, in a slightly customized manner, who are reasonably happy with their advertising agency (for sake of simplicity I have assumed one agency) but are faced with a few niggles in its relationship. In order to bring that agency on track, generally a big contract is awarded to another agency [This is called Bake-off] with whom there is no long term association as is enjoyed by the existing agency with the firm. This normally takes care of the niggles and the relationship comes back on a smooth track. Very rarely we have seen failures in application of this theory. It is believed that the same theory could be applied to your relations in life e.g. friend, spouse, employer, etc. However, in my opinion, the risk involved in application of this theory to human relations is huge. Primarily the difference between two situation stems from the fact that while one is based on ‘money/profit’ while the other is purely emotional. This theory has the potential to trigger the wrong nodes of human emotions and can end up in a point of no return. Secondly, in the firm/agency relationship the gains are easily quantifiable (in monetary terms) while in human relations these gains are difficult to quantify thus the reasoning aspect may be missed out in situations which end up ugly. Thirdly, in the firm/agency relationship ego is overpowered by money/profit while ego plays a major role in human relations and has the tendency to overcome the non-quantifiable gains. My advice in applying this theory to human relations is based on caution and shall only be exercised as a last resort (when you are willing to let go that relationship) as such relations are built over time taxing your emotions and can be lost by a wrong move. While simpler ways exist (talking it out; an example) to resolve the conflict thus employing such tactics will always carry a far greater risk, which a risk-averse person like me would think a few times before treading on that path. But simpler ways have a very simplified assumption (the same assumption that the Bake-off Theory is based on) that the players involved in the situation will play the game by the book meaning thereby that they would lay their cards on the table because there is enough time spent in this relationship. However, all human beings are not as simple as the author himself.