The Financial crisis creating jitters in the economies across the world, a sinking feeling seeps into our minds. Is this just the beginning or is this the end …. not of the crisis but of many businesses associated with it! Whatever it is, one fact is crystal clear. This is an era of versatility, blends, quality, creativity, innovation, changes and of how we are prepared to adapt to such changes. Major investment banks like Lehman brothers, Merrill Lynch, American International Group etc. down in the dust only gives further importance to the intangibles, qualitative, indirect & transforming!
Only if we could align these intangibles strategically with the tangibles & quantitative profits!
The question is .... How? Is it possible to align Non-Business functions in an organisation with profits & core business strategy?
Fortunately, the answer is Yes! …. And unfortunately it is not a cakewalk for the organisations. Further this process cannot be simply copied from one organisation to other. This is the beauty of intangibles. They are like the flowers in your garden. They need to be diligently nurtured until they blossom, and only a few flourish!
The need of the hour for organisations is to focus on their Non-Business functions such as Corporate Communications, Branding, Human Resources etc. and slowly but steadily align them with their core business strategy. The results shall surface the power of the intangibles.
TCS had everything well in place. A market leader with a solid campaign of "Beyond the Obvious", until swiftly arrived a herd of organisations like Infosys, Wipro, Satyam, HCL etc. and they too started delivering "Beyond the Obvious"!
It is easy to tread on a path once made and that’s what was exactly happening with TCS. It took Infosys just 20 years to reach where TCS took half a century. TCS had made the path for others to tread. But a pioneer has to be special, it must have the foresight to feel the jitters before they actually arrive, it must have the patience, diligence and maturity to believe in the powers of intangibles …. And that’s what exactly TCS did!
Thus, arrived the "Experience Certainty" campaign! It took a great deal of effort from the Branding & Corporate Communications team to re brand TCS both internally & externally …. But they did and are reaping its benefits by leading from the front, not only in the tangible profits but also in the intangible drivers & enablers which are nothing less than silent killers for the competitors!
Look what the mighty Apple has done to the world! Its core competency lies in Classical Marketing, which most organisations consider as an overhead. With cheaper, equally attractive and technologically advance products available in the market from other brands, the world craves for Apple. This is the beauty of intangibles. The amazing product has the power of strategically aligned equally amazing intangible branding & marketing.
Attrition is striking all IT companies hard. Talent Retention becoming increasingly important for organisations to make their quantitative profits, they have realised the importance of innovation in HR processes and aligning them with their core business strategy.
Marketing is no longer an overhead, Branding is no longer a secondary issue, Corporate Communication is no longer just Public Relations, HR is no longer only common sense …. And I am talking about purely technology based organisations!
The sooner your organisation realise this, the better …. Jitters are no longer giving you a second chance!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Developing Transforming Policies And Not Merely Surviving Ones
Separation hurts….but sometimes it doesn’t. You Survive….but is survival the only intention?
Almost every IT company has a policy asking its lowest 5-10% performers to separate each year. These are the same associates who were hired by the same companies after their diligent Entry processes. They soon get a decent job with salary hikes in competitive or even better companies. This naturally makes us ponder over….are they really incompetent? Or Are they competent only till the interviews and gradually lose the zeal to perform? Or Are they among those who like to Hop and Jump a lot and have excelled the art of interviewing rather than the art of performing? Whatever it is, we can clearly see 3 facts:
1. These people do not perish after being fired….but they Grow!
2. Their competencies are better than many of the “Performing & Loyal” associates of the Organisation.
3. Something is wrong in their Relationship and Attitude towards current organisation.
Now let us focus on the strategy and policy of IT companies for this issue. These “Low Performers” are fired every year. We find it easier to find a replacement. We are constantly hiring. We have a smooth and constant “Talent Flow”. So far So Good, but I am sorry to say that I see this as an easy way out of the situation.
It is easy to Avoid than to Transform!
We at IT-BPO companies excel in Transforming client businesses, let us come together and see how to Transform Ourselves.
On analysing the behaviour of these “Low Performers” it is visible that these either run on 5th gear or reverse, there is no middle way for them. Hundreds of “Loyal Associates” are actually running consistently on 2-3 gear and surviving. But, is survival the only need?
The “Low Performers” have the guts to be in a situation detrimental to them. We need their guts, We need to channel them in the right direction, We need to enlighten them, We need to make sure they are up there at 5th gear and not merely surviving like the “Loyal Associates”.
Yes! We need to Transform them in order to Transform Us. And to do that we need to transform our policies and strategies and work hard not only while hiring but also while retaining.
Developing Transforming policies is the key. Let us not be attracted towards immediate gains but focus on the long term development and we shall soon realise that profits are just by-products and in any production, by-products are the largest in quantity!
Almost every IT company has a policy asking its lowest 5-10% performers to separate each year. These are the same associates who were hired by the same companies after their diligent Entry processes. They soon get a decent job with salary hikes in competitive or even better companies. This naturally makes us ponder over….are they really incompetent? Or Are they competent only till the interviews and gradually lose the zeal to perform? Or Are they among those who like to Hop and Jump a lot and have excelled the art of interviewing rather than the art of performing? Whatever it is, we can clearly see 3 facts:
1. These people do not perish after being fired….but they Grow!
2. Their competencies are better than many of the “Performing & Loyal” associates of the Organisation.
3. Something is wrong in their Relationship and Attitude towards current organisation.
Now let us focus on the strategy and policy of IT companies for this issue. These “Low Performers” are fired every year. We find it easier to find a replacement. We are constantly hiring. We have a smooth and constant “Talent Flow”. So far So Good, but I am sorry to say that I see this as an easy way out of the situation.
It is easy to Avoid than to Transform!
We at IT-BPO companies excel in Transforming client businesses, let us come together and see how to Transform Ourselves.
On analysing the behaviour of these “Low Performers” it is visible that these either run on 5th gear or reverse, there is no middle way for them. Hundreds of “Loyal Associates” are actually running consistently on 2-3 gear and surviving. But, is survival the only need?
The “Low Performers” have the guts to be in a situation detrimental to them. We need their guts, We need to channel them in the right direction, We need to enlighten them, We need to make sure they are up there at 5th gear and not merely surviving like the “Loyal Associates”.
Yes! We need to Transform them in order to Transform Us. And to do that we need to transform our policies and strategies and work hard not only while hiring but also while retaining.
Developing Transforming policies is the key. Let us not be attracted towards immediate gains but focus on the long term development and we shall soon realise that profits are just by-products and in any production, by-products are the largest in quantity!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Making Money out of Nothing!
BERMUDA TRIANGLE MYSTERY: CASE FLIGHT 19
• A fleet of 5 flights disappeared in the waters.
• No wreckage discovered.
• Last few conversation among the fleet pilots, the army base and an isolated helping Radio person recorded.
• The Fleet in charge pilot refused to accept the directions given by the Radio Person.
• The Fleet in charge pilot kept on saying “Compass showing wrong direction and he is flying over the Keys of Florida” which was miles away from where he actually was.
COMPLEX SOLUTIONS
For 60 years researchers kept on coming up with Complex solutions for this complex problem. Solutions such as presence of Methane Hydrates, Gulf Stream, Freak Waves, Deliberate acts of destruction, Earth Magnetic field variations just to name a few.
However, the mystery Lived ….
COMPLEXITY SIMPLIFIED
After experiencing the complexity of the complex solutions now let us experience the lightness of simplicity, obvious and the extreme power of the not so common “common sense”. Let us do this not out of our will or out of our desire to free oursef from the complexity but out of the results of years of exploration & research into the Flight 19 case.
The actual reasons for that disaster were so simple that they will haunt the complexity out of your brains. Those were:
1. Bad Weather
2. Multiple Similar Islands
3. Human Error
4. Mental Breakdown of the pilot
The pilot believed in what he wanted to see and not in what he was actually seeing. This made him believe that the Compass was not working properly and for 60 long years researchers kept on investing time, money and energy in unravelling a possible Earth’s Magnetic Field anomaly in the Bermuda Triangle which actually never existed!
BERMUDA TRIANGLE- THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
You all will be not shocked but enlightened to know about the millions of dollars which business gurus are making out of the Mystery.
1. Hundreds of Best Sellers sold- writers, publishers making millions
2. Hollywood Block Busters- movies on the Triangle.
3. Hundreds of Videos sold- Discovery, National Geography.
4. A new Sport, A new trend, A new hobby, A new Business - Adventure Tourism popping up!
THE MYSTERY STILL LIVES – WHERE, HOW & WHY?
Inspite of research disapproving anything paranormal and mysterious….the Mystery grows with time. What drives this mystery? What feeds it? Lets answer these….
Where it lives?
The Mystery lives….not in the Bermuda triangle, not in those evil waters but in our mind. It lives in us, it lives with us and it grows beyond us!
How it lives?
The Business gurus promote anything which promotes the mystery. The world is promoting such mysteries. The world is forced not to end such mysteries by people who benefit out of it. They drive it, they feed it because the need it!
Why it lives?
The Mystery lives because of 2 major reasons:
1. To excite the hunger of Humans for anything mysterious and paranormal. To feed their desire for adventure, awe, surprise and flush the adrenaline out of their glands.
2. To satisfy the needs of the Business gurus to make “Money out of Nothing”.
It is a symbiotic relationship between them and the people. Their satisfaction of making money is achieved by feeding the hunger of our blood for the rush of adrenaline.
OUR LEARNING
1. KISS rule: Keep It Simple….Stupid!
It simply educates us not to look for complex solutions for complex problems. Instead, believe in the power of simplicity. Free the complexity by thinking the obvious first and using the not so common “Humble Common Sense”. Use this rule to solve your Personal as well as Business problems.
2. Human Behaviour – A Business Perspective.
Understand the Human Nature, know what excites them because the end consumer for any business is Human. Do this and you will unravel, not any mystery, but the art of making money out of nothing!
• A fleet of 5 flights disappeared in the waters.
• No wreckage discovered.
• Last few conversation among the fleet pilots, the army base and an isolated helping Radio person recorded.
• The Fleet in charge pilot refused to accept the directions given by the Radio Person.
• The Fleet in charge pilot kept on saying “Compass showing wrong direction and he is flying over the Keys of Florida” which was miles away from where he actually was.
COMPLEX SOLUTIONS
For 60 years researchers kept on coming up with Complex solutions for this complex problem. Solutions such as presence of Methane Hydrates, Gulf Stream, Freak Waves, Deliberate acts of destruction, Earth Magnetic field variations just to name a few.
However, the mystery Lived ….
COMPLEXITY SIMPLIFIED
After experiencing the complexity of the complex solutions now let us experience the lightness of simplicity, obvious and the extreme power of the not so common “common sense”. Let us do this not out of our will or out of our desire to free oursef from the complexity but out of the results of years of exploration & research into the Flight 19 case.
The actual reasons for that disaster were so simple that they will haunt the complexity out of your brains. Those were:
1. Bad Weather
2. Multiple Similar Islands
3. Human Error
4. Mental Breakdown of the pilot
The pilot believed in what he wanted to see and not in what he was actually seeing. This made him believe that the Compass was not working properly and for 60 long years researchers kept on investing time, money and energy in unravelling a possible Earth’s Magnetic Field anomaly in the Bermuda Triangle which actually never existed!
BERMUDA TRIANGLE- THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
You all will be not shocked but enlightened to know about the millions of dollars which business gurus are making out of the Mystery.
1. Hundreds of Best Sellers sold- writers, publishers making millions
2. Hollywood Block Busters- movies on the Triangle.
3. Hundreds of Videos sold- Discovery, National Geography.
4. A new Sport, A new trend, A new hobby, A new Business - Adventure Tourism popping up!
THE MYSTERY STILL LIVES – WHERE, HOW & WHY?
Inspite of research disapproving anything paranormal and mysterious….the Mystery grows with time. What drives this mystery? What feeds it? Lets answer these….
Where it lives?
The Mystery lives….not in the Bermuda triangle, not in those evil waters but in our mind. It lives in us, it lives with us and it grows beyond us!
How it lives?
The Business gurus promote anything which promotes the mystery. The world is promoting such mysteries. The world is forced not to end such mysteries by people who benefit out of it. They drive it, they feed it because the need it!
Why it lives?
The Mystery lives because of 2 major reasons:
1. To excite the hunger of Humans for anything mysterious and paranormal. To feed their desire for adventure, awe, surprise and flush the adrenaline out of their glands.
2. To satisfy the needs of the Business gurus to make “Money out of Nothing”.
It is a symbiotic relationship between them and the people. Their satisfaction of making money is achieved by feeding the hunger of our blood for the rush of adrenaline.
OUR LEARNING
1. KISS rule: Keep It Simple….Stupid!
It simply educates us not to look for complex solutions for complex problems. Instead, believe in the power of simplicity. Free the complexity by thinking the obvious first and using the not so common “Humble Common Sense”. Use this rule to solve your Personal as well as Business problems.
2. Human Behaviour – A Business Perspective.
Understand the Human Nature, know what excites them because the end consumer for any business is Human. Do this and you will unravel, not any mystery, but the art of making money out of nothing!
Monday, June 30, 2008
From Flow to Pool - an Innovative Approach
Invention, Innovation, Creativity, Passion, Attrition, Aspiration, Services, Products, Bench, Research, Grass, Billings, Profits – All are cordially invited to join me relate these! This is the beauty of relationships. Touch one and the other either blossoms or sleeps.
Indian IT Industry, a magnet for young graduates few years back now seems to be a rusted Iron. 4 years in same company sends strong signals to peers about ones in competency in the Market. Employees feel drained, more by seeing their peers switch jobs and move up the ladder than by actually disliking their present jobs. This is the beauty of relationships.
The grass is always greener on the other side. A services lad aspires to work for an esteemed products company. While a Product guy is lured by an exciting, dynamic Services career. They both see value at each others place. This is the beauty of relationships.
“On Bench” – a word with different meanings for different people. To some, it means Frustration. To others, it is a paid vacation. Some use it to enhance their skills by engaging themselves in various Certifications while others motivate themselves to intentionally remain On Bench to prepare for an upcoming Post Graduate entrance exam! Indeed, a versatile word “On Bench” – it overwhelms me with its variety of effects on one and all.
Attrition, a word so common now that it can be added to the Indian vernacular dictionaries, is found to be in a complicated relationship with all that is said above. “On Bench” period and experiences play a major role in employees either leaving company or getting fired. Recently 500 associates getting fired from TCS made headlines in all leading dailies. A majority of them were either “On Bench” during that period or recently allocated after a long “On Bench” experience. “On Bench” is a point of disengagement of an employee from his Organisation. It is the most critical time for both. Let us make the most of this moment of truth.
Now, let us interestingly combine all these and think from the perspective of a Services Company with the sole intention of making its employees believe that the Grass is actually greener on their side. At any given point of time, the largest project in any IT Services company is that of “On Bench”. I propose to use this huge talent pool as a strength rather than a weakness. Let us harness the tremendous strength of “On Bench” employees by making them work on In-House Products. Let us get rid of this term “On Bench” from the IT Industry. Lets begin today by calling this pool of talent as “On Products” instead of “On Bench”. This shall cater to the needs of numerous employees to work for a Products company. This shall give the bright minds Time & Space to Innovate and Invent. This shall pave way for a normal Services company to establish a strong Research & Development centre. This shall be the beginning of the numerous Products from an otherwise Services company and who knows that in future “On Products” becomes the leading revenue generator for the same.
“On Products” is certainly a non billable project but so was “On Bench”. The benefits of “On Products” can be reaped in the long run when the products are created and ready to be customized for different clients. I have a model in mind of how to implement this proposal. Most importantly “On Products” is a low risk initiative and different models can be experimented in the beginning.
In the present scenario, all leading IT companies are focusing on attracting new talent with little or no focus at all on retaining existing talent. Organisation and employee goals are getting segregated. HR, instead of working to amalgamate these goals, are forced to meet Organisational goals at the expense of employee’s goals. This is the moment of truth for HR only if they could revive the Synergy of the employees and the organisation!
Innovation is the answer.
Believe me, there is no shortage of talent. It is just getting transferred from one organisation to another or getting wasted somewhere. Big companies are surviving the flow of talent by virtue of their well established processes which makes the flow smooth and clears the passage of any blockages. But is surviving the only Intention? Small/Medium size companies are more keen to develop a pool rather than a flow for you can deep dive in a pool to find a hidden treasure somewhere which is just not possible in a flow.
We Invent to create a new world and we Innovate to make our existing world better. Let us all say that I shall Invent one day, let me start by Innovating today!
Indian IT Industry, a magnet for young graduates few years back now seems to be a rusted Iron. 4 years in same company sends strong signals to peers about ones in competency in the Market. Employees feel drained, more by seeing their peers switch jobs and move up the ladder than by actually disliking their present jobs. This is the beauty of relationships.
The grass is always greener on the other side. A services lad aspires to work for an esteemed products company. While a Product guy is lured by an exciting, dynamic Services career. They both see value at each others place. This is the beauty of relationships.
“On Bench” – a word with different meanings for different people. To some, it means Frustration. To others, it is a paid vacation. Some use it to enhance their skills by engaging themselves in various Certifications while others motivate themselves to intentionally remain On Bench to prepare for an upcoming Post Graduate entrance exam! Indeed, a versatile word “On Bench” – it overwhelms me with its variety of effects on one and all.
Attrition, a word so common now that it can be added to the Indian vernacular dictionaries, is found to be in a complicated relationship with all that is said above. “On Bench” period and experiences play a major role in employees either leaving company or getting fired. Recently 500 associates getting fired from TCS made headlines in all leading dailies. A majority of them were either “On Bench” during that period or recently allocated after a long “On Bench” experience. “On Bench” is a point of disengagement of an employee from his Organisation. It is the most critical time for both. Let us make the most of this moment of truth.
Now, let us interestingly combine all these and think from the perspective of a Services Company with the sole intention of making its employees believe that the Grass is actually greener on their side. At any given point of time, the largest project in any IT Services company is that of “On Bench”. I propose to use this huge talent pool as a strength rather than a weakness. Let us harness the tremendous strength of “On Bench” employees by making them work on In-House Products. Let us get rid of this term “On Bench” from the IT Industry. Lets begin today by calling this pool of talent as “On Products” instead of “On Bench”. This shall cater to the needs of numerous employees to work for a Products company. This shall give the bright minds Time & Space to Innovate and Invent. This shall pave way for a normal Services company to establish a strong Research & Development centre. This shall be the beginning of the numerous Products from an otherwise Services company and who knows that in future “On Products” becomes the leading revenue generator for the same.
“On Products” is certainly a non billable project but so was “On Bench”. The benefits of “On Products” can be reaped in the long run when the products are created and ready to be customized for different clients. I have a model in mind of how to implement this proposal. Most importantly “On Products” is a low risk initiative and different models can be experimented in the beginning.
In the present scenario, all leading IT companies are focusing on attracting new talent with little or no focus at all on retaining existing talent. Organisation and employee goals are getting segregated. HR, instead of working to amalgamate these goals, are forced to meet Organisational goals at the expense of employee’s goals. This is the moment of truth for HR only if they could revive the Synergy of the employees and the organisation!
Innovation is the answer.
Believe me, there is no shortage of talent. It is just getting transferred from one organisation to another or getting wasted somewhere. Big companies are surviving the flow of talent by virtue of their well established processes which makes the flow smooth and clears the passage of any blockages. But is surviving the only Intention? Small/Medium size companies are more keen to develop a pool rather than a flow for you can deep dive in a pool to find a hidden treasure somewhere which is just not possible in a flow.
We Invent to create a new world and we Innovate to make our existing world better. Let us all say that I shall Invent one day, let me start by Innovating today!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
A day with the Founder - Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman NASSCOM & CEO Zensar Technologies
Believe me or not, something unheard is happening at ZCBI. I could feel it right from day one. It kept on growing in volume and intensity with each passing day. It started with the breath of few individuals, soon it turned into the air of Innovation and now it is no longer a mild breeze, it is a strong Wind. Yes! The Wind of Transformation has begun! It is a Wind which both the ZCBIians and the Corporates have felt alike. They have begun to experience it, enjoy it and sail with it.
Call it the first destination or the beginning of a journey, on 10 June 2008, ZCBIians were enriched and enlightened by none other but the founder of this Concept ZCBI, the Mastermind behind this Epitome of Innovation, Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman NASSCOM & CEO, Zensar Technologies.
Fun at heart, follower of intuitions and passionate about enjoying every moment at work, Dr Natarajan believes in listening to his heart. He is a sailor in this sea of life and hates wasting fuel going against the stream. Probably, he is a strong believer of the ‘Law of least Efforts’ which says that you achieve utmost success when you seem to apply the least efforts, the enjoyment in the journey is so extreme that it overwhelms the burden of the efforts!
The Big day started with the celebrations of the first 50 days of ZCBI. ZCBIians presented the journey so far to Dr Natarajan who was highly impressed by the ‘Ehsaas’ Social initiative and the advent of ZCBI into Secondlife, an online Virtual World, as well!
There is something at ZCBI which compels its visitors to follow the Mantra of Success – Doing things differently and Dr Natarajan was no exception. To everyone’s surprise Chairman of NASSCOM started his lecture not by speaking about IT, US, Europe or Asia-Pacific but by speaking about Rural India. He asked us that how many have spent a decent part of their life in small towns of Rural India. To Dr Natarajan’s surprise there were many of us who had absorbed the Purity of Rural India in our childhood. This was something unique we shared with Dr Natarajan, himself coming from a small town of Bihar and an introvert in the early days of his life, we were overwhelmed by his strong connection with his roots.
Dr Natarajan now fired a question at us ‘What is NASSCOM and its purpose of existence’. Multiple answers soared from all corners of the classroom and each covered just some aspects of this huge body. Dr Natarajan explained that the prime purpose of any big coalition is to share and comprehend the best practices with each other and NASSCOM does the same. It is a platform for the IT & BPO Industries to Learn, Share, Enrich and Grow together. He went on to ask the reason behind the success story of Indian IT industry during its early days. There were many answers and someone popped up with the Y2k solution but Dr Natarajan wanted an answer that would appeal to his ‘that sense’ which all of us have in plenty but tend to use it least because we feel it is common, yes indeed it is common but didn’t Abraham Lincoln once said ‘God loves common people, that is why he makes so many of them’. Yes! Dr Natarajan appealed to us to use the immense strength of our common sense and trust the wonders it can create. He went on that during 1980’s a strong trend began when students from IITs and other premium institutions went abroad, particularly to the US for higher studies and work. Strong presence of Indians in US and other foreign countries helped the IT industry to grow exponentially. This is the power of Collaboration and indeed it is much common than solving the mighty Y2k problem!
Dr Natarajan went on to apprise us about the company he currently heads, Zensar Technologies. He said that in order to achieve success it is extremely important to be Original and Differentiate yourself from the crowd. Zensar Technologies differentiates itself from the rest by believing in Constant Innovation, ZCBI being a classical example. Dr Natarajan informed that Zensar Technologies focuses on Process and Business Model Innovation. He added that the Business Models keep on evolving and need Constant Innovation. It started with TCS’ Onsite Offshore Model, followed by Infosys’ state of the art facilities in India better called the Global Development Centres and currently Zensar Technologies latest Business Model is a revolution in itself for the industry. Dr Natarajan informed about the Innovative practices that Zensar Technologies follows in People Management as well. Encouraging Women Leaders, Zensar Technologies is indeed a People Oriented Organisation.
However, one needs two hands to clap. Let one hand be that of the Associates & other of the Organisation and Zensar Technologies shall never stop Clapping. The essence of this was pointed out by Dr Natarajan saying that even if on one morning you feel not going to Zensar, you better quit!
Indeed the ‘Law of Least Efforts’ shall be followed by all Zensarians - Amen!
Call it the first destination or the beginning of a journey, on 10 June 2008, ZCBIians were enriched and enlightened by none other but the founder of this Concept ZCBI, the Mastermind behind this Epitome of Innovation, Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman NASSCOM & CEO, Zensar Technologies.
Fun at heart, follower of intuitions and passionate about enjoying every moment at work, Dr Natarajan believes in listening to his heart. He is a sailor in this sea of life and hates wasting fuel going against the stream. Probably, he is a strong believer of the ‘Law of least Efforts’ which says that you achieve utmost success when you seem to apply the least efforts, the enjoyment in the journey is so extreme that it overwhelms the burden of the efforts!
The Big day started with the celebrations of the first 50 days of ZCBI. ZCBIians presented the journey so far to Dr Natarajan who was highly impressed by the ‘Ehsaas’ Social initiative and the advent of ZCBI into Secondlife, an online Virtual World, as well!
There is something at ZCBI which compels its visitors to follow the Mantra of Success – Doing things differently and Dr Natarajan was no exception. To everyone’s surprise Chairman of NASSCOM started his lecture not by speaking about IT, US, Europe or Asia-Pacific but by speaking about Rural India. He asked us that how many have spent a decent part of their life in small towns of Rural India. To Dr Natarajan’s surprise there were many of us who had absorbed the Purity of Rural India in our childhood. This was something unique we shared with Dr Natarajan, himself coming from a small town of Bihar and an introvert in the early days of his life, we were overwhelmed by his strong connection with his roots.
Dr Natarajan now fired a question at us ‘What is NASSCOM and its purpose of existence’. Multiple answers soared from all corners of the classroom and each covered just some aspects of this huge body. Dr Natarajan explained that the prime purpose of any big coalition is to share and comprehend the best practices with each other and NASSCOM does the same. It is a platform for the IT & BPO Industries to Learn, Share, Enrich and Grow together. He went on to ask the reason behind the success story of Indian IT industry during its early days. There were many answers and someone popped up with the Y2k solution but Dr Natarajan wanted an answer that would appeal to his ‘that sense’ which all of us have in plenty but tend to use it least because we feel it is common, yes indeed it is common but didn’t Abraham Lincoln once said ‘God loves common people, that is why he makes so many of them’. Yes! Dr Natarajan appealed to us to use the immense strength of our common sense and trust the wonders it can create. He went on that during 1980’s a strong trend began when students from IITs and other premium institutions went abroad, particularly to the US for higher studies and work. Strong presence of Indians in US and other foreign countries helped the IT industry to grow exponentially. This is the power of Collaboration and indeed it is much common than solving the mighty Y2k problem!
Dr Natarajan went on to apprise us about the company he currently heads, Zensar Technologies. He said that in order to achieve success it is extremely important to be Original and Differentiate yourself from the crowd. Zensar Technologies differentiates itself from the rest by believing in Constant Innovation, ZCBI being a classical example. Dr Natarajan informed that Zensar Technologies focuses on Process and Business Model Innovation. He added that the Business Models keep on evolving and need Constant Innovation. It started with TCS’ Onsite Offshore Model, followed by Infosys’ state of the art facilities in India better called the Global Development Centres and currently Zensar Technologies latest Business Model is a revolution in itself for the industry. Dr Natarajan informed about the Innovative practices that Zensar Technologies follows in People Management as well. Encouraging Women Leaders, Zensar Technologies is indeed a People Oriented Organisation.
However, one needs two hands to clap. Let one hand be that of the Associates & other of the Organisation and Zensar Technologies shall never stop Clapping. The essence of this was pointed out by Dr Natarajan saying that even if on one morning you feel not going to Zensar, you better quit!
Indeed the ‘Law of Least Efforts’ shall be followed by all Zensarians - Amen!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Guest Lecture: Mr. Bala, CFO Zensar Technologies
Just a few days old or would you like to call it a few days new…. conventions are something not meant for the ZCBIians! It has the most unusual classroom I have been a part of so far. It is a classroom without any walls, boundaries and limits. It is filled by the most unusual people I have met so far. They know how to dream with open eyes. They breathe the air of Innovation and one cannot stop thinking that they were born to Transform!
An MBA designed for the Industry, ZCBIians had there second talk with Mr Bala, CFO Zensar Technologies on 26 May, 2008. The first being at the time of admissions when the applicants were scrutinized by Mr Bala along with other leading industrialists, executives and academicians from institutions like IIM. Compromise is something unheard at the ZCBI. We believe in having a batch of 80 strong rather than 100 on compromise of quality.
Be ready for surprises at ZCBI or where else would you find a CFO talking for 2 hours and not a single word on finance! He shared with us something much above the curriculum, course and finance. He shared with us his experiments with life. How he reached the top of the corporate ladder without a formal MBA degree speaks a lot for him.
The session started at 5:30 pm after the daily lectures. It was not pre-planned and we all received a mail at ZLCMS at 3:00 pm. We expected it to be a finance/IT centric lecture, because that is what conventions say and Mr Bala, not having studied at ZCBI, should follow these conventions. However, as you enter the campus of ZCBI you can feel the urge to break free and let your creative, energetic, passionate and true side unfold and blossom into a flower never seen before. Probably Mr Bala had experienced similar urge that he started with the most unusual introduction.
He randomly picked candidates and asked them to name the city they belong to while he guessed the state. Mind you, he missed no single candidate but his knowledge of geography was put to a tough test as we have candidates from all over India, right from Jammu to Kerala at ZCBI. Next, was a question left open by Mr Bala “Define a Manager” and we had all possible definitions from all corners of the classroom. Mr Bala refused to accept any one of them. He then moved on to fire another question on us. “Define Love”. The class was all out to answer this question which was so close to its heart. Again Mr Bala refused to accept any one of them. He reasoned that Love has no distinct definition and so does a Manager. He winded up the definition by saying “A true manager is the one who performs the most daunting tasks with limited available resources and most importantly without complaining”
Next was a session on the significance of money in one’s life. All had different views on this. Mr Bala then suddenly asked “How many of you drink Tea” All hands were up. Now he asked “How much sugar do you add to it”. Promptly came the reply that enough sugar to enjoy the cup of tea. Now he added “The same goes for money as well. You should have enough to enjoy the cup of life!” He explained that money should not be the sole and primary motivating factor to work. He went on to give examples of some great men he met when he was in Kolkata. They worked for Mother Teresa. He asked us that what made them work so hard. It was a cause, a mission they had in life. So strong should be our cause and mission that other motivations become just like the sugar in a cup of tea. This is the beginning of the path of success.
He then went on to share with us something very close to him. His personal experience in corporates and how he went on to become a CFO without any formal MBA degree. He has worked with multiple RPG group companies and was instrumental in getting them out of crisis situations. It is during these crisis times when people either perish or leaders are born. Unlike other associates, who shied away from immense risk and effort, he stood strong and ensured that these companies make profits again. Mr. Bala apprised us that Patience, Excellent Communication skills, Passion, Self Motivation, Dedication and Commitment are essential to achieve success. He then quickly fired a question asking which quality it is that enables a successful person sustain his success? It is the mighty “H” which stands for Humbleness which is as essential as the rest in order to give sustainability, respect, meaning and truth to our success in life.
Now we know exactly what makes Mr Bala what he is today!
An MBA designed for the Industry, ZCBIians had there second talk with Mr Bala, CFO Zensar Technologies on 26 May, 2008. The first being at the time of admissions when the applicants were scrutinized by Mr Bala along with other leading industrialists, executives and academicians from institutions like IIM. Compromise is something unheard at the ZCBI. We believe in having a batch of 80 strong rather than 100 on compromise of quality.
Be ready for surprises at ZCBI or where else would you find a CFO talking for 2 hours and not a single word on finance! He shared with us something much above the curriculum, course and finance. He shared with us his experiments with life. How he reached the top of the corporate ladder without a formal MBA degree speaks a lot for him.
The session started at 5:30 pm after the daily lectures. It was not pre-planned and we all received a mail at ZLCMS at 3:00 pm. We expected it to be a finance/IT centric lecture, because that is what conventions say and Mr Bala, not having studied at ZCBI, should follow these conventions. However, as you enter the campus of ZCBI you can feel the urge to break free and let your creative, energetic, passionate and true side unfold and blossom into a flower never seen before. Probably Mr Bala had experienced similar urge that he started with the most unusual introduction.
He randomly picked candidates and asked them to name the city they belong to while he guessed the state. Mind you, he missed no single candidate but his knowledge of geography was put to a tough test as we have candidates from all over India, right from Jammu to Kerala at ZCBI. Next, was a question left open by Mr Bala “Define a Manager” and we had all possible definitions from all corners of the classroom. Mr Bala refused to accept any one of them. He then moved on to fire another question on us. “Define Love”. The class was all out to answer this question which was so close to its heart. Again Mr Bala refused to accept any one of them. He reasoned that Love has no distinct definition and so does a Manager. He winded up the definition by saying “A true manager is the one who performs the most daunting tasks with limited available resources and most importantly without complaining”
Next was a session on the significance of money in one’s life. All had different views on this. Mr Bala then suddenly asked “How many of you drink Tea” All hands were up. Now he asked “How much sugar do you add to it”. Promptly came the reply that enough sugar to enjoy the cup of tea. Now he added “The same goes for money as well. You should have enough to enjoy the cup of life!” He explained that money should not be the sole and primary motivating factor to work. He went on to give examples of some great men he met when he was in Kolkata. They worked for Mother Teresa. He asked us that what made them work so hard. It was a cause, a mission they had in life. So strong should be our cause and mission that other motivations become just like the sugar in a cup of tea. This is the beginning of the path of success.
He then went on to share with us something very close to him. His personal experience in corporates and how he went on to become a CFO without any formal MBA degree. He has worked with multiple RPG group companies and was instrumental in getting them out of crisis situations. It is during these crisis times when people either perish or leaders are born. Unlike other associates, who shied away from immense risk and effort, he stood strong and ensured that these companies make profits again. Mr. Bala apprised us that Patience, Excellent Communication skills, Passion, Self Motivation, Dedication and Commitment are essential to achieve success. He then quickly fired a question asking which quality it is that enables a successful person sustain his success? It is the mighty “H” which stands for Humbleness which is as essential as the rest in order to give sustainability, respect, meaning and truth to our success in life.
Now we know exactly what makes Mr Bala what he is today!
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