A Petri Dish

Lean to DMAIC, evolved way !

2013-12-13T23:37:00.001+05:30

Working on a digital advertising product support process, am brought to remember Deming’s research on DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Inspect and Control) and its imperative in today’s digital business ecosystem. Firstly, I must admit, Deming’s work will always stay fresh irrespective of the tectonic shift in the businesses. The days when Deming wrote his research, the processes were very much physical and people made the process. The quality circles, PDCA, lean principles and Six Sigma all evolved out of the physical processes. The notion of physical being the involvement of human and the extent to which the process was built bottom up. Consider for example, a car assembly line which moves from station to station where at each station an operator works on a WIP product according to a SoP and the belt keeps moving. Lean principles meant that the inventory at each stations disposal had to be enough to carry on for two hours and the supply chain was managed for cost optimization. However, considerable time was lost for the inventory to be replenished from the warehouse to the stations at the end of each hour, so the solution came in the form of automated robots doing the rounds to carry the inventory. Smart isn’t it!!

The process above is still physical but strongly enabled by IT. But consider a case when interplay of all organization functions with the up to date customer voice will enable more smarter way of businesses, where all realms of digital business is at play making any process agile.

Consider the situation with new mobile phone launch, there are always reports of regions being short stocked leading to lost sales and vice-versa. I always, wonder, is the supply and demand numbers a wild card guesstimate. Is the number a guesstimate or result of an algorithm ? Trying to break it down, demand is driven by the marketing efforts, sales penetration and the buzz in the market for the launch. This could reflect in the CRM systems to the stickiness in the social media. Supply is regulated by various factors not limited to manufacturing capacity, inventory, shipping, regulatory etc. So, if the enterprise was digital, can the lost sales being avoided ? If business planning could drive close to reality demand numbers country by country driven by sentiment analysis of marketing campaigns backed by CRM data, can the lost sales be avoided?

Alter ego on social media

2013-11-24T22:52:00.001+05:30

With almost everyone with access to internet having some form or other social network, it becomes part of day to day routine of being online. Consider a scenario where the social gets booted off the social network? Assume a artificial intelligence bot which knows well about you is interacting on the social network on your behalf whilst you are busy golfing. Will this be the birth of new alter ego of the social automation ?

It's public news that Google has applied for a patent for its social media manager platform which learns about a user and impersonates him and calls out the master as when required for a more personalised messages are called for. This is what makes the alter ego notion in social media interesting ... isn't it?

All these while, an individual on LinkedIn would put forth an intellectual front and same individual on Facebook would let loose his inhibitions. So, as the social media platforms have come to become different places for an individuals needs, like Facebook = party, Twitter = suggestion box, Youtube = talent show and so is individuals personas.

While growing up, my alter ego used to be my buds who came second close to understanding me after my mother. But as things started going social, I noticed a new trend on the social world. The social profiles enabled people to come up with avatars where a new stronger, braver and improved self of one was on display on the social space, sometimes under the cloak of anonymity, creating a blank slate to reinvent by recreating a new story and projecting it on the small screen. This was achieved by means of jazzy pictures to cool 140 chars to what not. This sometimes went extreme where some avatars were under assumed names or a fake email address which allowed an individuals alter ego to grow, breed and lurk.

This is true to many concerned. So, when Google comes out with the artificial intelligence personal social manager, the notion of individuals alter ego will be know to Google. It's said " everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head, that story makes what we are". With every passing minute the software learns about an individual, the browser will write our story on our behest. Psst.. paranoia ... back to social hopping.

Center of Excellence, a parlance to non digital business?

2013-10-27T13:39:00.001+05:30

With ever increasing technology complexity and rate of change too fast for any one to apprehend, keeping tab on or for that note, even to notice the change became a challenge. The industry when faced with such a challenge, revealed a new means, an approach, a paradigm called CoE, Center of Excellence.

A CoE main charter included bringing together people from different facets of technology, departments or work streams to share best practices, provide a means to collaborate and exchange knowledge. For me, I draw parallel to the manufacturing way to quality circles. Irrespective of it, the CoEs did achieve their charter and mission.

Consider the days when the CoE were BIG, a one stop solution for all business challenges, a group of collaborators who were the team to go for any technical challenge, the teams collective knowledge was in sum large to drive results.

But, with the business going digital, should the CoEs change to the newer ways of working? The internet provides powerhouses of information, online groups provide the level of expertise the CoEs used to bring to the table and the web is innovating faster than what a CoE cannot. But, the issue of tacit knowledge was tough to replicate but in todays world, is there a way to do it? Maybe, use a hashtag to achieve it? Every expert working on a topic, is sure to build his expertise in daily operations, but expecting the expert to share his competence thru the CoE would mean a loss in tacit knowledge. Maybe, every conversation the expert has around a topic, add a # to get his views into a system, build a knowledge base? Given the present strength in analytics, guess thats possible?

Metadata trumping content - Change in business model for media

2013-10-24T22:23:00.000+05:30

I love the pulp and ink materials; but with phablets coming along, I moved to multiple publishing aggregator apps like Google Currents and Flipboard. It was exciting period but soon it dawned upon me, the rate at which I was consuming content, the content was not replenished at the same rate. The stories took time to change.

This replenishment rate drew my attention to the business model of publication houses. Earlier, it was journalism first; quality of content drew subscriptions which impacted the bottom line. Subsequently, the days when the publications moved online and charged a online subscription fees to permit access. These were the days where the business model of publication houses still had the journalism first mojo.

The momentum with digital media caught up and as ad networks sprung up, publication houses got drawn into a vicious circle of content driving advertising; in other words - metadata ( read keywords) driving advertising revenue. The publication houses needed more metadata to drive more page landings and in turn attract more advertisers. These might have led to journalism taking a lower priority in business model whereas digital monetizing took the pole position.

This change in dynamics of publishing has left me bored, less engaged and looking for that elusive refresh option - serve me new content.

Thinking around or aloud - The thought process?

2013-03-22T14:16:00.001+05:30

I have been encountering a new jargon in modern 'big data' world, 'thought process'. Every time I encountered this, I wondered, what is to do with thought process. Was it just another fancy word or was it an art? Is there a actual way we think our way thru. Isn't the brain waves dance around and we call it thinking. Or maybe, there is something similar to rationale, logical to a processual thinking.

As i reflected upon, imagine one's career. As it progresses, if one chose to move from a layman to a manager, one makes a transition from task oriented jobs to decision making profiles. Be it business roles or managerial positions, there are some who end up in management where all that goes on is pure communication and to communicate well, one needs a proper thought process. Yes, I also managed to figure out the meaning of thought process.

It all starts with assimilating all information around a particular action, understand to the point and drool around the periphery, let it ferment and question options over and over. By a time, clarity seeps in, subsequently shape it and bingo, there is clarity in thought, where a rosy picture is painted in ones mind on how to act, communicate and achieve a management activity. The entire process of assimilating to construction can be called thought process.
I believe decision fermentation' is key in here. Quick decision making is paramount; provided if a decision is needed by blink of an eye, like while driving where a bad move can cost a life. However, a decision in an organization where the outcome will be on fore in months down the calendar, why push thru? Take time, let it ferment.
So, can I say, there are two fronts to a decision making, one being the way ideas and thoughts are structured and other being the way these thoughts are constructed into a ddecision. Can this constitute the thought process? Or is it my perception of thought process? Well, everyone brain is wired differently, so why not?

Lean software development - its a tool

2013-03-11T22:51:00.002+05:30

Look at lean software development as a tool; a process to take software to customers more quickly, keep the turnaround time minimal and improve time to market. DO not take it as a means to reduce costs. Software development is on the other end to manufacturing which cannot be compared. Software does not have a concept of inventory but has opex. These have to be approached differently, maybe, apply the learnings, but do look at it from a fresh perspective.

So as to go with the definition of lean, one cannot do away with software system test and have developers very their own piece of software and call it lean. I would call it 'fatboy slim' as the amount of quality debt would be too high for recovery later on.

I completely agree with the main agenda of lean, that is to create value. There is no point developing a superior splash screen for two months whereas a bare minimal software which can automate three days work into overnight work is splendid for a customer. He would pay and more, he would sponsor the development. Why not?

So, to start with going lean-

1. Have sensible people on board - people who understand, appreciate and enjoy working.

2. Have a unsaid routine. Not a system where a person is needed to supervise all the 8 hours of work

3. Have smart sales force; who just dont yap, but talk and loop back the customer needs.

4. Have a motivational manager who orchestrates the customer talk to end product.

5. Keep looking at the process, make subtle changes, cut the noise, even if its white noise and go for lean.

B2B marketing insights - How

2013-03-09T23:41:00.000+05:30

While creating a product predominantly or solely for consumers, the marketing team becomes strategic. Enter the 4 or n P or equivalent C analysis to focus groups etc. to derive the insights into customer. Seems simple but there are numerous cases where product launches backed by such data have bombed on the shop floor.

What's more concerning to me is the B2B cases. I seem to not being able to understand or derive a common understanding on how to derive insights? The sponsor who buys the product might or will never be the user in large scale system deals. The end user is the one who defines the usability. Add software component, it becomes even more complex. How can one understand and develop insights into how the software would be used ?

If I were to release or follow the minimal marketable product philosophy, what features will majority of my customers would be keen to buy? There can various forms of data capture but need that imagination to solve business critical issues and still be able to come up with a software in quick time. Or do we always do customized product for each customer at a premium? Am still looking for answers.

Know your inventory, be ready to follow up - cash on delivery

2013-03-05T16:21:00.002+05:30

I had always been a shopper who wished to hold the product, feel it in hand before making any purchase. My purchasing cycle would start with some online reviews, comparisons and have few options on top my mind before I step into a showroom to explore more.

For a change, needed a phone in a hurry as a gift and couple of showroom didn't have the HTC Explorer, the starting Android range on sale. So, checked up prices online and viola, found good deal on Snapdeal. The offer was tempting with 3 days to delivery and a voucher for a Rs 400 discount. It was worth the buck and I placed an order.

My previous experience with Flipkart had been excellent in terms of delivery timeline and schedule commitment. So, thought, Snapdeal would emulate it and should get to goods in time for the gifting purpose.

It's been more than 15 days and I am still tracking it down. Firstly, the 3 days to shipment was a pure marketing message with no inventory to back it up. Post orders, the overall aggregate of orders for the phone were placed with the vendor. Vendor took his time and then, in some Snapdeal algorithmic order the phones were dispatched. Only after my continuous pestering did my phone get shipped. From shipping, if its cash on delivery, guess, it moves thru their channel partner Bluedart. I have been chasing up Bluedart for past 3 days and still no sings of it. Every time I get the promise of on priority delivery but ...

Let's look at how Snapdeal could have avoided an SLA breach.
Before all, we need to know the basis of operating model here, Snapdeal is a mere marketplace. It is a site which connects buyers with sellers and nothing else. So, Snapdeal does not have inventory. All the promise of "Ships in 3 days" are dependent on the participating vendor. However, Flipkart has inventory and hence, the promise is kept.

1. The product is ordered. if it was working on zero inventory or JIT philosophy, intimate the buyer the product will be shipped from vendor in week x and expect delivery in week y.

2. The system is IT based and hence, a product can be tracked from factory to buyer. If customer loyalty is paramount, given an update if the delivery schedule is out of order.

3. If inventory is not maintained, JIT cannot be guaranteed, then give a tentative timeline than a definitive 3 day shipping promise.

4. Keep the online system updated on order status. A message that reads shipped does not mean anything.

If one has payed up by card, the last mile inventory vendors come in. The logistics seem to be managed out of Delhi, so if any order placed in South India, expect a week before the goods move. The last mile inventory could have been zone based or with certain networked tie ups. With such low margins, the shipment will only move from Delhi to Bangalore not on priority but on low cost options.

So, e-commerce is excellent way out; but do plan how and when. It's simpler to walk in to Croma to buy that gadget than spend weeks on follow up.

#Snapdeal service review, cash on delivery

Be part of Bangalore growth process

2013-03-04T20:39:00.003+05:30

Since I set foot on Bangalore in early 2000 to pursue my studies, I have involuntary being part of growth of the city and have reached a point in time when I feel tired. One after other projects started and I along with the Bangalore junta went along "swalpa adjust maadi".

With every initiated infrastructure project, I used to feel happy looking at the project end date and the the image the city municipal would portray of. Still remember, when the Hebbal flyover was started, the newspapers carried the ad with the flyover standing amidst the lake. Felt like Shanghai !!

But as every project completed, the bottleneck shifted and new projects started to ease the newly created mess. Its been over 10 years but still my hope for the city which is free of development projects, where I get to breathe free air and move without bumping around in my vehicle and no need to honk.

Flypass construction on ORR, Nagavara

But it was I again who felt happy with infrastructure in Germany but what I realize Germany went into development long ago and people in the post world war era would have shared the same feeling as mine for the present day comforts.

Irrespective of pros and cons, the speed of development is the pain point. Government projects take time for fund approvals to contractors delaying to make that extra buck. Add government changes it makes it even more cumbersome.Am bearing for it all to help the next generations to have fun .

Adieu mail

2013-02-27T15:07:00.000+05:30

Regular day, as a friend needed help to draft an adieu mail for her. She was leaving the organization after 9 long years. I must admit, it would be a mixed bag feeling but as I started to pen down a simple mail

"Am excited and look forward for my sabbatical break as my long drawn stint with X which lasted for over 9 years draws to a close tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow happens to be last working day!!!

It was a pleasure to work with you & the time spent has been enriching, full of accomplishments and I leave satisfied.
Thank you for your support and cooperation.I go back taking with me lots of memories, friends and a hope to be back soon.

Give a shout out to mobile or drop a note to @gmail.com

sign off .."

But I finished, an awkward feeling set in. Gone are those days prior to India's economy opening up where people stuck to a company, set up employee welfare societies, had more of a community feeling. I have grown up in such an environment and I still feel warm thinking of those days. Today, I myself have set to become a job hopper.

Like the way polio awareness drive has succeded

2013-02-24T20:15:00.000+05:30

Every quarter, I see a mark on our door with alphabet P followed by date and a code. Though the scribble leaves me annoyed but it leaves me feeling proud of the initiative government has over the years, importantly the drive went on even on successive government changes and the scheme never got bogged down by scams where health ministers made millions by siphoning off drops vials. Or did they ?

Nevertheless, its surely a pride. Studying in primary school, school kept stressing on impacts of polio and the pictures of crutches left a mark on us as young kids. Today, as I see fewer and fewer crutches, I am happy the way the move has been. I really hope the latest drive on malnutrition tastes the same success.

Bangalore and its central business district

2013-02-23T23:01:00.003+05:30

Enter narrow lanes bustling with auto rickshaws, two wheelers, street hawkers men pulling carts and loads of pedestrians. One can be sure its the central business district of Bangalore. The area around cotton pet, sultan pet, mamool pet and the pete list goes on. In local language, pete means town and as Bangalore grew, these pete have been engulfed and the city planners have no option but let the struggle its way thru. Add all commotion and loads of busy shopoholic pedestrians one word to describe it, chaotic frenzy. To add, one can't walk free and has to keep an hand on ones backpocket to avoid being nipped off the wallet.

Suddenly, of all the hustle and bustle, one can start feeling vulnerable. It suddenly dawns upon, what if a bomb rips off. It's such busy areas the common people are targeted. The system simply cannot frisk each and every soul walking in and out. One cannot stop but feel vulnerable.

But of all, its business as usual. Every street specializes in the type of wholesale items being sold, be it stationery, dry fruits, clothes to electronics. The best place to shop and let loose.

Think like a program manager - skills needed

2013-02-19T23:27:00.001+05:30

This is the first part of the set of two posts. I call this a preamble as I am trying to understand what program managers in a R&D project do, are expected to do and what one ends up doing will come as a second part, when I have gone thru the grind of it.

As I start, I approach with enthusiasm and optimism. I look at it and say, here is a program that needs to be taken to market for sale. There are stakeholders, R&D, product managers, quality managers and multitude of managers. So first impression is to get the intricate parts of the program under control like

Stakeholder management - Understand the role of each stakeholder, his influence on the program and who's who registry
Governance - Program management is an necessary evil. In an R&D too much of management nuisances can be an impediment. Hence, drawing a line to limit oneself is key still keeping program under check.
Metrics - This is key. How can one know if we are on track or not? Assume driving to a holiday. Looking at the car odometer, one can ascertain the distance covered to distance to destination. In an R&D, it could be a mirage. Taking in answers like features completed can be a all together mirage of what underlying exists and what was needed. The classic problem. So, picking up what to monitor is key.
Reporting - THis is more from keeping communication clean. Keep all on the same page as a program manager needs to interact with them again and again. Keep the communication going, giving all the birds eye view on whats happening in the program.

First week, this is what my thoughts are. Pretty sure, in practice, things would be most dynamic.

Think out of the box

2013-02-14T23:00:00.000+05:30

Read an interesting article in YourStory.in today. It was about the new paradigm shift in thinking. It drew attention to what, till date, MBA folks termed 'think out of the box'. The article paused and offered an alternative view, 'dissolve all the boxes'.

I always, till now, applied this principle of thinking outside the box for radical ideas to innovating in 'my' space. With the new found inspiration, it dawns upon, I was still a rookie looking for innovation well within 'my' space. I was thinking like a technocrat. Probably, there is something for me which I can excel than being a technocrat. Services industry is big business and there is always scope to do well, make some money and still be responsible to the society that nurtures it. The idea of dissolving the boxes, makes me to a step aside, not walk the path of my chosen profession, or professional education, but do an identity check, seek what one can excel for, maybe, a different scope of affairs await. Bingo !

Nokia Lumia 800, Windows Mobile, classy and fresh

2012-11-30T22:44:00.000+05:30

Of course I work for Nokia and love the company for that. When it comes to technology, I have tried the current breed of technology platforms for curiosity. Maybe, the engineer in me, draws me to it.

On the flip side, I also try to figure out how each platform is marketed, sold and then engage the customers.

Mac is currently the cult and Android the commodity. Nokia had to let go Symbian and Meego, but then came the Lumia series. Lumia 800 is extremely good. The hardware, the touch and feel, the way it operates is simply fresh, crisp and refreshing. I had got stuck with the heavy widgets of Android, needed frequent restarts to get the phone working smoothly again, too many options, commands and wonder what to do with so many customizations where it runs on mA battery and not AC outlet.

Good news for me is the progression of Windows 7.5 Tango operating system to something like 7.8 and 7.x. But, one thing bothers me, Windows is always had their classic issues of compatibility of their own platforms and it continues. One will encounter, 89072EFD kind of errors while one tries to sync exchange servers. This is insane that Windows mobile does not accept 2003 exchange server and I had to figure out a way to download 2003 certificates on my phone. The crazy issue is 3G data will stop working while phone will continue to work on wifi if Windows live sync is on. I am not able to rationalize it but once I got Hotmail out, 3G internet was back on.
Nokia hardware definitely deserves a applause. It's slightly heavy than Samsung Galaxy, but that slight weight should not matter when we have anyways decided to carry slabs in our pockets. The camera is splendid and with Nokia's creative studio app, it compliments it well. I was amazed with the panaroma clarity Lumia produces.
The drawback windows Mobile OS has it's lack of multitasking. I agree only junkies will run multiple threads at the same time, transforming their smartphones into a laptop.
The silly but must have requirement is to support voice and data simultaneously guess, this needs more antennas on the phone.

Apart from these minor issues, the phone and the user experience is simply amazing.

Android: Disruptive in nature or is it just a wave?

2012-11-25T22:23:00.001+05:30

Over the years, a lot has been written, researched and published around disruptive technology. There are lot of examples, excuses and explanation on how disruptive technology changed the business landscape.

In years gone by, Caterpillar took over excavator business, Wal Mart broke Sears, Goodyear lost on radial tyre and Xerox lost to Canon. The reason bundled out - the businesses were looking at serving the current customers, looking at organic growth. Hence, by a large consensus in the academic world, disruptive technology does not focus on current customers but looks way beyond, bets on inputs from futurology.

Lets looks at Android. It had a hush hush launch. Adoption was more from geeks and alas.. in years it overpowered and revolutionized the mobile market. Firstly, Android comes from the house of Google. It comes with a reputation. Google probably, let it's entrepreneurial spirit lead the business case rather than listening in to marketing or finance. The Android OS was it designed for current customers ? or did Google have a long term strategy for having their own hardware business. One for sure, they were set to give iOS a run for its money.

Android redefines disruptive technology. It did not aim at creating a market place or acceptance. But, they targeted penetration as it had other business to sell on & around Android. Like, I pass on a fabulous looking glass to pedestrians on a hot humid day and down the lane, strategically place vending machines. Glass was free but pay for the drink. Doesn't it work?

Rather than targeting users, Android was sent packed to phone manufacturers. Now, wonder why not take an OS and save cost of developing one in-house ? Companies like HTC who until now supplied hardware to brands, started assembling phones themselves bundled with Android. Taking away the complex part of OS opened up avenues for manufacturers who simply have to source parts, assemble, bundle Android and ship it at a premium. This saw rise of multitude of small and medium players, penetrating the mobile users with Android. In time, Android rose and continues to do so.

Yes, Android has a large user base, but these users are first time smartphone adopters to users in the lower end of pyramid. The decision makers, folks in business still rely on iOS and to some extent, Windows. This is particularly noteworthy, all super fabulous apps are first launched on iOS and later followed up on Android, very carelessly done. An app crash on iOS is taken seriously, a crash on Android is ignored. Best case, Facebook on iOS gets a five star reviews but on Android, it's pathetically bad.

So in a way, Android is still disruptive. No denying the fact and credit to Google. Still, iOS and Windows have their due place, that too the coveted place in the userbase. Let's see how ex-Nokia's Sailfish and Firefox change the landscape.

Unorganized workforce in Bangalore

2012-11-21T12:57:00.000+05:30

My routine morning drive to work takes me through the industrial hub of Bangalore, Peenya. Once, Peenya industrial estate happened to be Asia's largest hub but let the past be so, I don't think we are anywhere close to it now with China galloping in manufacturing sector.

Nevertheless, India moved on the services industry but clearly lagged behind in the R&D sector as we clearly lack the intuitiveness, rigor and discipline. My route in dotted with many small scale industries ranging from spare parts production to garments. The workforce are ferried by private mini buses to custom made trucks where the floor on the truck is lined with a seating mat to accommodate the workforce. The work alarm kicks off and people rush in. The key element is the people who work are driven by family commitments and every penny contributed goes towards a better living. The seriousness is paramount as people wait minutes before they are picked up as they cannot risk arriving late at work. Once, the gates are closed, anyone arriving past it stands to lose the day's pay. On the positive side, the employment benefits them with provident fund, government provided medical insurance plans etc. but the rules are laid out and cannot be nudged.

Moving on to the organized sector in Bangalore, our esteemed IT services hub. Pick any IT services company, it's purely knowledge driven. It's considered as high skilled labor. But as India's output grew, the strategy from being quality IT services provider moved to become quantity of resources provided. The wrong notion of body shopping cropped up, which by very virtue hurts people's sentiments. It's the number games as trade pundits judge performance based on the number of resources added per quarter. Anyways, that's the services business and it will go on in such a fashion. The time each resource spends on productive work is questionable and sometimes appalling. One always gets to see in thousands whiling time around in cafes, smoking bays or just trying to find their right partner for life. For a practical person, it seems weird, one gets hefty paycheck to while around whereas, it's heartening to see a man being paid meager 100 Rs for a days hard toil of lifting hundreds of cement bags.

Pay parity in unorganized sector is a challenge and it definitely needs attention to provide a simple life to the needy ones. On the well organized sector, the recruitment process has to focus on quality than quantity to kick that complacency out of job and create a notion of job security is linked to performance and not having people on bench and market it as strong resource pool.

Learn to close it before starting. Buying property in Bangalore

2012-11-09T14:20:00.001+05:30

Buying a property in Bangalore is not just a challenge but a dream that can stay elusive for long if one does not know how to close it before starting on it. From my personal experience, learning the tricks is key before embarking on pulling the last strings on the property. The real estate mafia have firstly bloated up the prices even when there is no proper water supply or even sewage system does not exist. Add lack of civic amenities and no proper infrastructure even still one ends up coughing up so much more than a common PAN holder can achieve. Wonder what makes PAN card holder important here?

The rules are stringent for citizens who follow rules and still abide by them when they know its an uphill task to buy an property without exploiting the loopholes in the system. It's easy breezy for those who deal with unaccounted money day in and day out. The seller is always interested in accepting cash, unaccounted for. As a salaried person, one is forced to pay as accounted in the form of a bank procedures. The tussle always leaves the salaried person flummoxed. It stares to become "how can I achieve this feat"?

The nationalized banks follow the rules by word and the private ones are around just to exploit the needy when they are turned away due to tough laws. The private housing funding comes from loop holes in the system and if one knows to play it well, it's a easy step in but an deadly sin thereafter.

Language as means and Kannada

2012-11-01T22:27:00.001+05:30

Its 1st of November when a fraction of Kannada enthusiastic celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava. Sadly, I am forced to write it as a fraction because the system has set aside a day as government holiday where thanks to auto drivers people are reminded its Rajyotsava. Else, it passes as a day of frolic and nothing about the language, even the local channels air random movies and pass it as a regular day.

Bengaluru and Kannada;

At the end of day, each individual should feel proud to be a Kannadiga or someone who knows the language. They must flaunt knowing the language. Irony is most flaunt speaking other languages as they pick up from their friends from other language background rather than getting them to speak ours.

Take for an instance, during a conversation in English, one commits on a grammatical error, he immediately looks around to see if none noticed. The same fellow will be least concerned with Kannada though it might be his mother tongue. Though I being a non native language speaker, our families have lived here for generations and we cherish the language. It's sad when someone introduces me at workplace as a person who speaks Kannada.

The system, people apathy, media ignorance, activists wrong doing are all culpable to the current state. People should love to speak than do it in fear. Activists fail to give them a joy of speaking the language but instill fear. It aint the remedy.

It's time, government, media, people and activists try hard to instill pride than fear. Make language attractive, give it style and joy. Also, maybe, its time to deploy the carrot and stick policy with language as well.

Business processes are key

2012-10-24T18:21:00.002+05:30

It's known for manufacturing industry to have a process in place to take raw materials into finished goods. The Japs made their culturally driven processes into de facto standards in industry. Organizations started to realize and moved into what became business process reengineering (BPR).

BPR research led to organization reorganizations, introduction of IT systems and importantly, work split into core competency and periphery work.

All these are widely discussed and known. However, when it comes to knowledge industry, it is hard to visualize as the requirements are intangible. Bundle this with a scenario where software and hardware goes hand in hand. There is a supply chain to handle and software delivery to be managed. Now, software when seen an tangible is easy breezy to deliver. Put in agile way of working or waterfall model, one will have certain number fo requirements to delivery as part of a delivery package.

Alas, the processes are so dispersed the customer value is almost certainly lost in the process of development, delivery and customer deployment. Dealing with B2B software delivery, there is a basic software component and features specific to each business needs. The basic software has to evolve at a pace the delivery is on time to business need. Having a process is quite a challenge, taking business voices from all regions, bundling them into must have features as basic software and value added features which are optional ones. For all these to work, voice of customers have to be captured and there is a need to have a process to take requirements to the engineering team working on the components. It seems easy to put the process on paper, but putting it into practice is not just a challenge but a stumbling block for all B2B software businesses.

Is brand Kingfisher undoing for Indian business

2012-10-23T20:58:00.002+05:30

Well, Siddarth Mallya got his 18th birthday gift as an airlines. It didn't even last till he stepped into his next stage of life. Guess, he was too busy to notice the bottom line of his empire. Apathy being, father Mallya was busy himself too.

It's a mixed feeling of perdition; a strong sense because I have been taking pride in India shining. The pace with which home grown companies have grown into conglomerates and have pitched their presence in the west, reversing the trends. It was all pride until Kingfisher happened.

Indian brands like Tata, Aditya Birla, Reliance, Adani, Coal India, Infosys, Wipro and list goes on who have not just made a mark on global business circles, but made an impression. An staunch image that goes beyond just being remarked as an Indian company but an institution known for board rooms games (recent bid by Tata hotels for a US chain) to Adani setting up a coal mine in Australia. West started recognizing what was the nation made of. The wealth maps started making a reversal.

Nevertheless, Kingfisher business structure is questionable. It's widely known aviation industry is volatile, Kingfisher ignored the warning signs. Oh no.. the decision makers were involved in merry making leaving the organization to self organize, self heal and self propel.

Indian consumerism

2012-10-18T13:28:00.002+05:30

We mulled over FDI in retail, fretted that corner mum & pop stores might become a part of history. We believed Indianism in consumerism will stay and flourish. The days were to change but the changes have been swift.

With Indian companies growing to become multinationals, acquisitions, mergers and JVs, international brands made inroads more easily than they would going single. Honda split from Hero to compete as a player, M&M launched it's South Korean vehicles in India, Bajaj brought it's Australian counterpart's products to India and list goes on.

We still go gung ho about international sounding brands. Consider, ITC or Wipro consumer products like soaps or shampoo, they give a internal sounding brand name to attract consumer loyalty. Vivel is indeed completely Indian and Yardley was a brand acquired from UK, never know, products made in India.

The advertisements aired also carry the message of imported quality and what not. Wonder, don't Indian's know US imports all its clothing requirements from Bangladesh, Turkey and India. So why would an American brand export clothes to India ?

At the end of it all, an western sounding name to imported from tag helps boost sales and Indian consumerism will lavish in the myriads of sales tactics for long.

Ganesha as King of the Lords

2012-09-19T22:51:00.000+05:30

Well, India is known to have multitudes of Gods. Government has never constituted a committee to count them down.

Ganesha, King of the Lords

Irrespective of beliefs, divided over names and all the fuss over regions, come September and the entire nation unites to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi. It's not a national wide event, but the sheer popularity Lord Ganesha beholds.

Ram, Krishna and Shiva are more powerful and superior in terms of prowess. But, the legend has to it has to be Ganesha's blessings before embarking on any new start. But, retrospect on the kind of social image the superior lords carry, Sri Ram is the hero of truth, Krishna is a creator and Shiva as destroyer. But Ganesha is cool. He is a brand in himself, a style icon, a picture of elephant head and a human torso, with bulging tummy with curvy trunk, he adorns t-shirts, window panes, home and office interiors and all possible places. There is never a place where one cannot spot a Ganesha idol, be it a swanky office or a busy highway.

Ganesha popularity never ceases to amaze. He is brought home in all shapes and sizes, to silent coming to noisy welcome to drums and loudspeakers, silent prayers at home to noisy way at community pandals. It always make me feel, Ganesha is my God and your God too. Estyle different hei !!!

Social media led organizations

2012-09-16T00:31:00.002+05:30

Watching the good old hit movies, Rang De Basanti, led me to relate the social media led organization culture.

The movie is a classic. The movie's penultimate scene reflects on a imaginary Bhagat Singh enquiring about a sapling where his dad explains, one small seed sown, bears fruits for generations. RDB did just that to social media for movies. Till date, the stills from the movie are shared on Facebook and the intent was there when the movie ended on a note, a small step is towards a leap. It did spark a move in the social media centered around government apathy, probably it was not the movie but it was time for the social media to come abuzz.

Reflecting back, Nokia released it's big bet Lumia 920. Few days on, an official apology centered around ethical use of images etc. Now, though it did not make center news, however, the news rolled all over the social media. Like, I mentioning it here. Add it as a hit !!

The social strategy cannot be chartered. The top honchos of consulting wing cannot swoop down the company and lay the game rules of how, when, what to do on social media. It sparks itself. It's a matter of time. Probably, best consultative advice would be, dont do anything stupid !!!!!!

Yes, the social media is vital to an organizations business, brand and importantly takes the products and services to people. But overdoing is equivalent to spamming, thought one following a corporate account on Twitter wishes to know interesting facts, not advertisements about themselves.

There is a thin line, so the marketing team, HR, legal everyone who claims a stake in the organization should put their thoughts on what should constitute a social media policy. Like, some of famous banks are still not on Twitter and they have a reason to do so. If they are able to keep their customers informed, shareholders updated, do they need a social media policy?

Wonder, when it is a B2B model, how can a social media have an impact on an organizations brand? The products or services should speak for themselves. If it's a product, some positive reviews and if its a service, a press release stating how the service helped the organization in its quest. This speaks volume rather than putting up the similar and mundane one liners on social media day in and day out.

Window

2012-09-03T14:43:00.002+05:30

Window ! What comes to your mind when you hear the very common word 'Window(s)' ?

Its a very common word and many interpretations can be drawn about what windows would a author mean ?

I have tried to put across some of the interpretations. I have tried hard to be realistic; but don't know if i have succeeded. I really wanted to know if this exercise was worth a blog ; so o posed the same question to my mom. Spat came the answer decorative window or a Windows computer. WOW ! my first experimentation with interpretations of words by people with different mindsets indeed does bear some fruit if not a miracle...

For her; housekeeping and some surfing the net being the routine, she attached the word window to the the two references. Just ponder over what would a south Indian women, a investment banker, a cricketer, a doctor, a teenager ... would relate to the word 'window'.

A teenager would love to have a window to gaze around, yup ! for the obvious. south Indian women would refer to a saree attire with a window. That would be hard to visualize, but give it a try. For a investment banker it would mean a strategic window. For a cricketer a window of opportunity to take a single and see his mate struggle to survive the bowling. For a doctor, it would mean the dormant period of any malignant tumor.For a business leader, it would be window of investment, in M&A a window of divestment period when the market is right for selling and list can go on....