Quick Thinking: Choosing a Line in which to Wait
At Busy Warehouse Stores or Supermarkets
When I was writing my post on The Best Times to Think, it occurred to me a there was a quick thinking example I can share — an example that was not about quick thinking, but rather a thinking example that I can explain quickly. Here goes:
Look Beyond Just the Number of Shoppers in a Line
When I pick which line to wait in at say, Costco, I don’t make my decision just by looking at the length of each line (e.g. how many people are queued up in each line), I also take into account the fullness of their shopping carts.
A slightly longer line with half-empty carts will take less time to process than a shorter line whose carts overflowing with STUFF.
The Simple Math to Choosing a Line
Obviously, I want the line where the number of shoppers times the number of items is smallest overall. (Sometimes I’ll also glance at the cashier to gauge his or her level of competence).
Hope that helps.
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Other posts you may enjoy:
- Quick Thinking: Driving Safely
- Quick Thinking: Reusing Paper Bags for Composting
- Quick Thinking: Recycling Plastic Saves Oil
- 5 Simple Ways to Improve Critical Thinking Skills
- What is Critical Thinking?
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