On last weeks show The Apprentice, the Ladies team was heavily criticised for using their feminine charms to gain an edge in business. Tasked with buying fruit and veg to sell and generate the highest return, they obtained free fruit by using tactics which included a neck massage for a vendor. The comments of Sir Alan Sugar have been followed-up by much brow furrowing and chest beating by commentators and the press.

As potential future leaders they need to be aware that the current climate does not allow much leaway for this type of behaviour. In an environment where looking at someone in a way that embarrasses them constitues sexual harassment, modern business people need to be meticulous in their conduct as well as relying on a certain degree of robustness in those around them. Brand reputations and careers are at stake. This has been the focus of the debate.

For me however, it was the differences between the problem solving approaches of the two teams that marked them appart. The men decided that the task was about buying low selling high. (Did I say Paradigm) in buying mode, they engaged in the macho activity of table-slapping negotiation, false commitments and playing vendors against each other. The ladies asked questions and found that there was a lot of fruit available that was classed as supermarket rejects (straight bananas!!!) or that would not last until the next day. They got that fruit for nothing and only had to pay for a small amount of their purchases. By not following their plan of having two sales teams, the men also had a less efficient sale machine than the ladies.

In such a simple task it is easy to assume that there is only one set of tactics to support the strategy. The ladies showed that even on a market stall there is an opportunity to find a fresh angle and that the best ideas are the new and different ones. No amount of talented execution by the men could beat the ladies because of their original approach.

So inspite of the dangers of doing what they did in the current moral climate, I thought they were very considered and effective and that must be more important, even in the real world.