Ek Ruka Hua Faisla - This is not the science, where everything is certain!

Recently out Professor provided us a wonderful opportunity to explore the practical applications of Team and group behaviour aspects..

This movie depicts a story having a jury consisted of 12 members from diversified background. Jury is given a responsibility of discussing about a boy who is blamed as murder of his father. Out of these 12 jury members, 11 members are on one side of the decision ‘blaming the boy to be a murderer’ and one member on the other side contemplating- “there is no significant proof against the victim”

The case against the boy, in starting, looks irrefutable and indomitable, as there is a witness in the form of an old man who claims to have heard the incident and another woman who claims to have seen the actual act of stabbing. Plus there is the murder weapon - a knife - that was found at the crime scene, seemingly implicating the boy without any fragment of doubt. But all is not what it seems like.

This “Mujhe kuch pata nahi lekin……Maan lijiye ham galat hue to” attitude of this one person begins the discussion forward for bringing in the common consent.

Since the jurors have no link with anybody and anything involved in the case, they are called on for the verdict on the grounds. They are instructed to remain in an enclosed room until they reach on a consent- deciding if the accused boy is guilty or not.

I strongly recommend all to watch this movie keeping in mind 

Reference to the role of group processes and process facilitation in making team an effective medium of change: Overall we can first realize after seeing the movie that the following points were illustrated


1.      Planning of strategy by the initiator about case discussion


2.       Implementing the strategy by the person who was handling and controlling G.D


3.      Dissatisfaction of one person leads him to convince the other team




·         Effective medium of bringing change in people mindset – Give chance to all and introspect all the reflections, positive conflict environment, having faith in team, learn from others and communicate in their terms, share other people’s experiences- concerns, difficulties and hopes


·         The lead character is under significant pressure from his fellow jurors, but he is determined to explore all of the evidence before he reaches a conclusion. It shows how the courage of convictions can make one win the odds


·         Timely decisions - Important decisions should be given time - In the movie, a boy’s life is in the balance – if found guilty, he will be executed. Lead character wants to talk things through, not to rush to a snap


·         Composure, Clarity and Focus approach even in the midst of all of the emotions can give rise to the rationale decision making skills


·         Art of influencing others - Protagonist builds alliances – often by the force of his arguments, sometimes by listening to the others


·         Benefit of accepting uncertainty - I appreciate most the way he (lead character) acknowledges his own uncertainty. He can’t be sure if the boy is guilty or not, he demonstrates his principled approach, but not a dogmatic one


·         As a result, they achieved a transition from communication to conflict management despite of different people, different background, different profession, Different age group and most importantly different mindsets


·         I learnt building good relationships can be a good strategy before conflict occurs. We should respect individuals and respect differences for a win-win situation


·         It is very important for a leader to LISTEN. Unless one will not listen to other, it is difficult to understand the theme of the going discussion. “Jaisa Desh, Waisa bhais” it is important to adapt to different situations as per the people around.


·         Focus should always be on solving problem and not people. Else one can just be pankaj Kapoor personality in real life.


·         Many a times, it is better to think about TODAY, Present, here and now. It saves on time and stays us focus for achieving the results.