The Study Group Formation

The Study group formation was in full swing. Being a non IITian does help sometimes to create pretty diverse group and it did happen. Mark was able to join forces with Naga, Kapi and Whyve to form the study group but the big question was who would be the other 2 members. A question that could be answered only after the group preferences were out. At last the day came when the group preferences were out and people were fighting it out to get the best people on their side. Some (Spot Creatives) even came up with creative ideas of forming groups on the spot. But then it was too late to leverage these wonderful thoughts. The preference list was put up on the projected screen. Mark and Naga looked up the huge list and found that only 5 preferences were made for their group when all preferences of all the members were counted. A pretty dissatisfying number for sure. Mark and Naga decided to put their non IITian brains and look into the reasons.

Mark: I think we have fared pretty bad on the wanted list.

Naga: I do feel the same. it might be for 2 reasons. Either the prisoners dilemma completely took over and people opted for other groups or people did not have our groups as their preference at all.

Mark: I think most probably it is the second case.

Naga: Lets see whom we get in our groups.

Mark, Naga, Kapi and Whyve eagerly sat in the last row of the classroom for the process to begin. The spot creatives were still at work and weren't in a mood for letting the process to begin. Butterfly had decentralized his powers to the spot creatives to run the show and was lurking in the background with confused faces. At last the class had to intervene to get the processed started. Meanwhile Mark and Naga started looking into the preferences and found a something strange.

Mark: (Excited) Dude, Tofy has given our group as the second preference.

Naga: I too don't understand why she has given our group as the second preference. She might have thought about it before itself (tactical move funda.... )

Mark: (selective listening) I don't think so dude. May be she has a crush on one of our group members.

Naga: What?.. No way.. Although all of us might have a huge crush on her, there is no reason its gonna go the other way round. (Reality Check... Who r U?)

Mark: What about Whyve? (Evaluating alternatives)

Naga: I haven't seen her speaking to him. It Can't be. (Evaluative statistics available)

Mark: What about Kapi?

Naga: Listen, Kapi and Tofy are totally different characters in themselves especially in terms of being vocal. But then, there is still a small possibility.

Mark: Why do u think so?

Naga: She is the only good looking person in the group......!!!!

Mark: Seem like her first choice is not gonna work out and she is gonna be in our group for sure..

Naga: Ya, she will be

(Smiles on the faces of Mark and Naga)..

The group formation process did kick off and the group was formed with Mark, Naga, Kapi, Whyve, Tofy and Billow. The Drama didn't seem to end over there. Tofy wanted to form a group with Jury and didn't want to be Naga's group. It followed with a series of tactical moves from Tofy and Jury to get Tofy out of the group. A few of them have been listed below


Idea No 1: Give me your member. You are OK with 5 people (Please let me go)

Jury: You guys have a pretty strong group. Why don't you give us one of your members. We bad require the person

Mark: No way (reason implied)

Naga: That's not possible.. (reason implied)

Kapi: Only I know the bad effects of being in a group with lesser number of people (Genuine Reasons put forward)

The idea did not work out. Tofy and Jury were competing against marketers and were in no position market their idea. Meanwhile Billow was already become the part of the cult and was contributing his bit.

Idea No 2: Exchange offer.

Tofy: We can give you a guy with 4 years of work experience. Why don't you guys let me go instead?

Naga:  I have 5 years of Work experience.
Mark:  I have 4
Billow: I have 2

Tofy leaves without saying a word. (Learning: Never try to sell a meteor to a Dinosaur, it wastes your time and annoys the Dinosaur)

Idea No 3: Be genuine (with bit of pleading, remorse, empathy, tears, persuasion, threat etc.. More the number of people involved, better is the effect)

Jury: Please Mark. Try to Understand. We always wanted to be together......close friends........ only reason we still fighting...... only reason we are alive...... cant live without.... inseparable..... group incomplete without her... she is the group.... (Selective listening till this point. Mark didn't know what was happening after that)

Mark: I need to check out with the group before taking a decision.

Naga: (with a huge frown on his face) ...There is no point in having a person in the group who is not with us.

Kapi: I too feel the same

Mark: (sad) Okay..

Naga: There is no point in having huge expectations.......

The Cult got a new member in the form of VaVa. The members of the Cult were happy with the decision and left with smiling faces. On the way back Naga and Mark wanted to cheer up the mood.

Naga: Its good that she did not have to join us forcefully (Grapes are sour.. funda)

Mark: I too feel the same. There would have been a split in the group right away.

Naga: Ya, She would be on one side and the rest would be on the other...

Mark: Are you sure?????

Naga: Not Exactly..... :)