FILE No.8Unsolved
On Monday morning, I, a section manager, heard a rumor from a colleague in another department: "This branch is apparently closing next month." I checked with headquarters, which said no closure was planned.
I interviewed my six staff, one a day from Monday to Saturday, asking, "Have you heard that this branch is closing next month?" For those who had, I also asked when and from whom. Their answers are in the interview record.
As far as the six interviews can trace, who first brought the closure story into this department?
If you get stuck, open the hints one at a time, in order.
Did Morita, interviewed Monday, know the rumor?
When and from whom does Ishikawa say he heard it?
In which part of the interview did Morita first hear the rumor?
As far as the six interviews can trace, who first brought the closure story into this department?
Choose the answer closest to the truth.
The manager (me)
The answer is “the manager (me).”
In Monday’s interview, Morita said, "I’m hearing it for the first time right now." For Morita, the manager’s question was the first information. Before leaving that day, Morita told Ishikawa. In Tuesday’s interview, Ishikawa said, "I heard it from Morita before leaving yesterday." After that the story passed from Ishikawa to Tashiro, from Tashiro to Yoshino, and from Yoshino to Sakai. Matsuoka had not heard it until the interview. The manager had told a specific story within the question. As far as this record can trace, the manager was the first to bring it into the department. Who originally made up the rumor cannot be identified.
In looking for the person who spread the rumor, you look only among the six interviewed. It is hard to notice that the questioner, the manager, was the first to pass it on.
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