By Basab Pradhan, via 6ampacific.com
http://6ampacific.com/2010/06/02/it-services-companies-should-empower-middle-management/
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Business of Politics
Not much noticed news now a days is the Rajyasabha elections in India where Mr. Vijay Malya is competing and he is contesting with support of political parties.
If you look at the history, business men have been part of India politics, be it Mr. Bajaj, Mr. Anil Ambani. I do strongly support involvement of such business leaders in political debates where it is necessary.
During my stay in Singapore few years back one of the things I learnt about how Singapore government works. It is full of corporate leaders and government exactly works as a corporate office. I was told the Prime Minister himself owned a company as CEO and he bought in best practices to his government as well.
Though in India context I never heard about a business leader talks about any important national issue, however the parliament gives an opportunity and provides a medium to express such things.
I am not sure if things will change in near future with Indian politics, but we can hope that a corporate government style of functioning comes to India where everything becomes efficient.
If you look at the history, business men have been part of India politics, be it Mr. Bajaj, Mr. Anil Ambani. I do strongly support involvement of such business leaders in political debates where it is necessary.
During my stay in Singapore few years back one of the things I learnt about how Singapore government works. It is full of corporate leaders and government exactly works as a corporate office. I was told the Prime Minister himself owned a company as CEO and he bought in best practices to his government as well.
Though in India context I never heard about a business leader talks about any important national issue, however the parliament gives an opportunity and provides a medium to express such things.
I am not sure if things will change in near future with Indian politics, but we can hope that a corporate government style of functioning comes to India where everything becomes efficient.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Air India, Doordarshan and Other Public Sector Companies
The recent Air India accident in Mangalore and subsequent strike of Air India Unions asks one question. Do any employee unions can call for a strike when a company is going through bad phase of recovering from the worst accident after two decades? I am not asking the legality of this strike, but asking this question from morality point of view.
All public sectors companies run or take help from tax payer’s money. And over the decades this tax money has been spent in most irresponsible way. When the concept of public sector was conceptualized; it was meant for providing better service to the consumers.
Slowly; after realizing the service level of India Airlines and the uncertainty of its operations; we have started giving up on it and have started joking around. And once Air India used to be national pride and I guess we started looking at more service providing public sector airlines rather than sticking to national pride and it makes sense.
More fundamentally, pubic sector is unable to cope with private sector competition. Air India is now irrelevance as it’s share in passenger traffic keeps dropping over the years. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) runs second rate gift shop and hotel booking services. Doordarshan is massive embarrassment, which is not even taken seriously by rest of the broadcasting sector. Nobody thinks Doordarshan will ever beat Zee, Colours, or Star Plus, that’s not even an option. We never think of Air India being in the top league of airlines.
In every case, it is massive waste of tax payer’s money which is justified in the name of national pride and social obligations. But is that worth of it?
It appears that there are more politicians involved in this, who have no professional experience in running such businesses. And more ever, such public sector companies appear to run for politicians; who gets benefited in all deals these public sector companies make.
This is shear example of lack of accountability for tax payer’s money.
All public sectors companies run or take help from tax payer’s money. And over the decades this tax money has been spent in most irresponsible way. When the concept of public sector was conceptualized; it was meant for providing better service to the consumers.
Slowly; after realizing the service level of India Airlines and the uncertainty of its operations; we have started giving up on it and have started joking around. And once Air India used to be national pride and I guess we started looking at more service providing public sector airlines rather than sticking to national pride and it makes sense.
More fundamentally, pubic sector is unable to cope with private sector competition. Air India is now irrelevance as it’s share in passenger traffic keeps dropping over the years. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) runs second rate gift shop and hotel booking services. Doordarshan is massive embarrassment, which is not even taken seriously by rest of the broadcasting sector. Nobody thinks Doordarshan will ever beat Zee, Colours, or Star Plus, that’s not even an option. We never think of Air India being in the top league of airlines.
In every case, it is massive waste of tax payer’s money which is justified in the name of national pride and social obligations. But is that worth of it?
It appears that there are more politicians involved in this, who have no professional experience in running such businesses. And more ever, such public sector companies appear to run for politicians; who gets benefited in all deals these public sector companies make.
This is shear example of lack of accountability for tax payer’s money.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Emerging and Changing India
Last weekend I had been to Bangalore and Chennai for business trip. Incidentally I had been to these two places exactly nine years back. I went through memory lane after visiting few places; which I used to visit, like Marina beach in Chennai, old office, MG road in Bangalore etc.
In a ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ style, went to a much happening sports bar in Bangalore and did clubbing. Oh yes, it was a great fun to be there, off course without drinks.
But; I could observe the changes happening in these two cities and that is quite noticeable.
First is the infrastructure: this has dramatically improved compared to my last visit. Roads, plans for metros, office and residential spaces; all seems to have changed. Though traffic has increased in exponential proportionate. Quality of transport has improved; you will get far better connectivity now days. I guess this is true with any city in India now.
Second difference I could see is Hindi. We could communicate with all local people in Bangalore and Chennai, which was a near impossible some time back. Clubbing was full of Hindi songs in Bangalore and never ever faced issues in communicating. I am not making a generalized statement like Hindi is now being accepted; but the point is ability to communicate at least. This might be because faster changing mix of north/south where people are migrating for jobs and education. It’s true with north part as well; we have best south Indian hotels in Chandigarh now who serve authentic south Indian food.
I liked this fact where India is seems to be changing and I am really happy about how economical growth has bought changes to all parts of India. There could be sections of society where this has not reached yet, but this change would reach that section as well. Off course I am not making the statement India is changing only looking at Bangalore and Chennai, I am aware of changes happening in rural India as well.
By end of the day; if a country progresses the individuals progress as well!
In a ‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ style, went to a much happening sports bar in Bangalore and did clubbing. Oh yes, it was a great fun to be there, off course without drinks.
But; I could observe the changes happening in these two cities and that is quite noticeable.
First is the infrastructure: this has dramatically improved compared to my last visit. Roads, plans for metros, office and residential spaces; all seems to have changed. Though traffic has increased in exponential proportionate. Quality of transport has improved; you will get far better connectivity now days. I guess this is true with any city in India now.
Second difference I could see is Hindi. We could communicate with all local people in Bangalore and Chennai, which was a near impossible some time back. Clubbing was full of Hindi songs in Bangalore and never ever faced issues in communicating. I am not making a generalized statement like Hindi is now being accepted; but the point is ability to communicate at least. This might be because faster changing mix of north/south where people are migrating for jobs and education. It’s true with north part as well; we have best south Indian hotels in Chandigarh now who serve authentic south Indian food.
I liked this fact where India is seems to be changing and I am really happy about how economical growth has bought changes to all parts of India. There could be sections of society where this has not reached yet, but this change would reach that section as well. Off course I am not making the statement India is changing only looking at Bangalore and Chennai, I am aware of changes happening in rural India as well.
By end of the day; if a country progresses the individuals progress as well!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Restructuring Indian Post
One of the oldest organizations in India is Indian Post; which is operating since post independent era. The biggest advantage Indian Post has is its reach. Every small village in India has a post office situated at the center place. Over these years, Post has been working in more traditional way of delivering the mails and register posts.
If we try to think beyond the traditional way of delivering the mails and think towards building it as a financial institute which delivers the banking and financial services to the rural Indians through its sheer reach. The economics of Microeconomics can be better accomplished through Indian post. Why can’t we convert post in to Indian Postal Bank?
Post can be converted in to financial services arm where the investment, insurance, debt funds and other financial products can be sold. But it is extremely important to note that these products are being sold to rural India and caution should be exercised while selling them. It’s not easy to sell mutual funds to a farmer!
Indian government releases so many products to rural and semi-urban citizens; why can’t we route them through post? This will ensure that there will be crowd getting pulled in to a post office and build set of products/services to be sold in post. It could be stationary, or greeting card or some on the counter medicine. Just sell what sells!
It needs a drastic change, I know this fact. But, it has to work like a corporate and come up with more diversified offerings according to geography and local conditions.
A drastic thinking is required?
If we try to think beyond the traditional way of delivering the mails and think towards building it as a financial institute which delivers the banking and financial services to the rural Indians through its sheer reach. The economics of Microeconomics can be better accomplished through Indian post. Why can’t we convert post in to Indian Postal Bank?
Post can be converted in to financial services arm where the investment, insurance, debt funds and other financial products can be sold. But it is extremely important to note that these products are being sold to rural India and caution should be exercised while selling them. It’s not easy to sell mutual funds to a farmer!
Indian government releases so many products to rural and semi-urban citizens; why can’t we route them through post? This will ensure that there will be crowd getting pulled in to a post office and build set of products/services to be sold in post. It could be stationary, or greeting card or some on the counter medicine. Just sell what sells!
It needs a drastic change, I know this fact. But, it has to work like a corporate and come up with more diversified offerings according to geography and local conditions.
A drastic thinking is required?
Sunday, May 09, 2010
The HP Way!
One of the turnaround stories I like is of HP. In last 5 years that company has transformed itself in to more profitable company and poised to hit big growth considering the recent acquisition in network and mobile computing space.
Net income during last five years has been up an average 18 percent per annum and raced ahead 25 percent in the first quarter of 2010.
All this is thanks to dramatic cost-cutting, the standardization of large-scale purchases like semiconductors and brutalizing culture of accountability for every penny in and out. This is the culture CEO Mark Hurd has bought in.
HP’s chief has also imposed a ruthless efficiency at the highest level. By packing board and top management with more business type executives than engineers and inventors. He has remade HP more in its own image of people who thrive on dissatisfaction and thirst for expansion. You see it reflected in Aug 2008 $13.9 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems and recent $2.7 billion grab of 3Com, the Chinese networking company.
Size matters in this business. With expansion of computer networks and data customers need a vendor that can manage many aspects of many businesses and help them to run efficient operations. Clients don’t want to deal with dozens of companies anymore. The new titans of the one-stop world include Oracle, which recently added to its database empire, Sun Microsystems maker of computer servers. IBM, the longtime consulting, software and mainframe power house; Cisco systems, now with servers built in to network and alliances with data storage giant EMC and virtualization software maker VMWare.
HP quickly saw the need to get in to services and the EDS deal boosted the much required image change and helped HP to offer software services along with servers. With recent purchase of 3Com, HP will be in to networking and handset business, thus providing complete range of services.
What really motivate me about this is the vision HP had towards making a success out and the way in which they went to implement it. It has been case study to many research papers.
Result of visionary leadership!!
Net income during last five years has been up an average 18 percent per annum and raced ahead 25 percent in the first quarter of 2010.
All this is thanks to dramatic cost-cutting, the standardization of large-scale purchases like semiconductors and brutalizing culture of accountability for every penny in and out. This is the culture CEO Mark Hurd has bought in.
HP’s chief has also imposed a ruthless efficiency at the highest level. By packing board and top management with more business type executives than engineers and inventors. He has remade HP more in its own image of people who thrive on dissatisfaction and thirst for expansion. You see it reflected in Aug 2008 $13.9 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems and recent $2.7 billion grab of 3Com, the Chinese networking company.
Size matters in this business. With expansion of computer networks and data customers need a vendor that can manage many aspects of many businesses and help them to run efficient operations. Clients don’t want to deal with dozens of companies anymore. The new titans of the one-stop world include Oracle, which recently added to its database empire, Sun Microsystems maker of computer servers. IBM, the longtime consulting, software and mainframe power house; Cisco systems, now with servers built in to network and alliances with data storage giant EMC and virtualization software maker VMWare.
HP quickly saw the need to get in to services and the EDS deal boosted the much required image change and helped HP to offer software services along with servers. With recent purchase of 3Com, HP will be in to networking and handset business, thus providing complete range of services.
What really motivate me about this is the vision HP had towards making a success out and the way in which they went to implement it. It has been case study to many research papers.
Result of visionary leadership!!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Building performance driven company
Since we are almost building our BU (business) from the scratch; one of the important things we are thinking about is to build a performance and data driven company. The idea is to encourage risk taking ability and true performance and discourage the false claims.
We have a real long long way to cover, but good part is that we have understood the need for building such organization.
In my opinion building such an organization is not simple job and it needs a lot of courage from the management to call spade as spade. The challenge is to ability to measure the performance and communicate the result to all involved, especially who are not performing. One of the fundamental things we are trying to do is to set up a data driven performance measurement system where each one’s performance will be measured quantitatively, thereby reducing the relative performance grading.
Incidentally, I was talking through some of my friends who have been discussing the recent changes in their organization which appears to be based on the performance and to reward recognition. My intention is not to debate on which is good or bad; but to highlight a corporate truth which is a bit hard to digest sometime.
The hard part of building this kind of company is to have the leadership team which is performing and pumping in the required energy to rest of the team. It’s important to underline the fact that being in management position will not take my neck out of the block. I need to walk the talk and start performing in order to build a team which is performing.
I happen to visit one of our customer’s offices recently while in Norway; it is a consulting company. What impressed me about them is the array of systems and processes which are aimed to improve the performance of the organization and ability to encourage performing. It was really amazing to see a company of little over 250 consultants having such an attention to details. I would call that as a performance driven company, where everyone is accountable for his/her part of the business. Everyone is measured by some or other results which are directly linked to performance on the organization as a whole.
However, this post being posted in the time of appraisal and salary revision cycle is just a coincidental.
We have a real long long way to cover, but good part is that we have understood the need for building such organization.
In my opinion building such an organization is not simple job and it needs a lot of courage from the management to call spade as spade. The challenge is to ability to measure the performance and communicate the result to all involved, especially who are not performing. One of the fundamental things we are trying to do is to set up a data driven performance measurement system where each one’s performance will be measured quantitatively, thereby reducing the relative performance grading.
Incidentally, I was talking through some of my friends who have been discussing the recent changes in their organization which appears to be based on the performance and to reward recognition. My intention is not to debate on which is good or bad; but to highlight a corporate truth which is a bit hard to digest sometime.
The hard part of building this kind of company is to have the leadership team which is performing and pumping in the required energy to rest of the team. It’s important to underline the fact that being in management position will not take my neck out of the block. I need to walk the talk and start performing in order to build a team which is performing.
I happen to visit one of our customer’s offices recently while in Norway; it is a consulting company. What impressed me about them is the array of systems and processes which are aimed to improve the performance of the organization and ability to encourage performing. It was really amazing to see a company of little over 250 consultants having such an attention to details. I would call that as a performance driven company, where everyone is accountable for his/her part of the business. Everyone is measured by some or other results which are directly linked to performance on the organization as a whole.
However, this post being posted in the time of appraisal and salary revision cycle is just a coincidental.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Volcano, the uncertainty, the feeling, the chaos and a friend I explored
I have come to Norway for a business trip; entire top management team is here and we are stuck because of Volcano. We don’t know when we are flying back; our CEO had some urgent meetings in North America, tried to get out of Europe, but got stuck in Munich airport. It is chaos everywhere.
But its fun, we could able to laugh on this situation and try to keep ourselves motivated.
I met someone during these days, like a friend whom I have been missing, a person whom I can talk openly and share my feelings. It’s like returning to my college days all of a sudden. A smart, emotional, energetic, simple person having lot of thoughts in mind; with whom I can laugh openly. I have mentors in life who guides me; have team members who work with me, but what I was missing is a friend who can stand beside me.
One question, can someone talk that non-stop? I thought I talk much!!!
Our discussions have been around the corporate life, business models and simple principles of life, may be ordinary topics from all the angels. But the energy my friend brings in to the discussion it truly amazing. I am feeling like why I didn’t meet this friend earlier?
I am not sure what my friend thinks about my involvement; but I guess we have quickly stuck the wavelength match and I was amazed to see another person who is so close to my thought process, in spite coming from totally different background. We could able to relate to each other very well. It’s just a great experience. Sure we have different thoughts on few topics, but we agreed to disagree which rarely happens in life.
But life is all about such green spots where you will feel ‘life is beautiful!!’
But its fun, we could able to laugh on this situation and try to keep ourselves motivated.
I met someone during these days, like a friend whom I have been missing, a person whom I can talk openly and share my feelings. It’s like returning to my college days all of a sudden. A smart, emotional, energetic, simple person having lot of thoughts in mind; with whom I can laugh openly. I have mentors in life who guides me; have team members who work with me, but what I was missing is a friend who can stand beside me.
One question, can someone talk that non-stop? I thought I talk much!!!
Our discussions have been around the corporate life, business models and simple principles of life, may be ordinary topics from all the angels. But the energy my friend brings in to the discussion it truly amazing. I am feeling like why I didn’t meet this friend earlier?
I am not sure what my friend thinks about my involvement; but I guess we have quickly stuck the wavelength match and I was amazed to see another person who is so close to my thought process, in spite coming from totally different background. We could able to relate to each other very well. It’s just a great experience. Sure we have different thoughts on few topics, but we agreed to disagree which rarely happens in life.
But life is all about such green spots where you will feel ‘life is beautiful!!’
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Leadership Lessons from India: A HBR Review Paper
This month’s Harvard Business Review runs a review on ‘Leadership Lessons from India’; how best Indian companies drive performance by investing in People.
This survey was conducted across all sectors like Relience, Wipro, TCS, Bharati Telecom, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, Aventis Pharma and many others. Interestingly none of the companies who are interviewed suggested that their companies had succeeded because of their own cleverness at strategy or even because of the efforts of the top team. They didn’t mention skills in financial markets, merger and acquisitions or deal making talents that western CEOs often claim as important points. They put entire success is because of employees.
The leaders of Indian’s biggest and fastest growing companies take an internally focused, long –term view and put motivating and developing employees higher on the priority list than short term shareholder interest. And it appears that this is a more Indian model and which seems to be working very well for all these companies.
It is interesting to note how Indian CEOs focus more on involving employees in building the strategy and involve themselves in motivating employees. Unlike western CEOs who leave the business unit heads or cost center owners to decide on the strategy and measure the heads based on the financial performance; Indian management seems to be involved in designing the strategy and periodically check if they need any help. Also, they act as mentors to all next generation leaders there by helping them to groom up to next level.
There are couple of other things which needs worth mentioning; ability to create a sense of mission through transparency and accountability and level of communication with-in the companies. It seems amazing everyone works towards a common goal. And Indian companies seem to engage all possible technologies to communicate to employees, be it formal open houses, social network sites etc.
It reminds me one story, which U.S president Lyndon Johnson loved to tell about asking a truck driver who worked at NASA in the 1960s what his job was.
The driver’s response “I am helping to put a man on the moon”. Such is the power of empowering the employees.
I learnt a lot from this article.
This survey was conducted across all sectors like Relience, Wipro, TCS, Bharati Telecom, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, Aventis Pharma and many others. Interestingly none of the companies who are interviewed suggested that their companies had succeeded because of their own cleverness at strategy or even because of the efforts of the top team. They didn’t mention skills in financial markets, merger and acquisitions or deal making talents that western CEOs often claim as important points. They put entire success is because of employees.
The leaders of Indian’s biggest and fastest growing companies take an internally focused, long –term view and put motivating and developing employees higher on the priority list than short term shareholder interest. And it appears that this is a more Indian model and which seems to be working very well for all these companies.
It is interesting to note how Indian CEOs focus more on involving employees in building the strategy and involve themselves in motivating employees. Unlike western CEOs who leave the business unit heads or cost center owners to decide on the strategy and measure the heads based on the financial performance; Indian management seems to be involved in designing the strategy and periodically check if they need any help. Also, they act as mentors to all next generation leaders there by helping them to groom up to next level.
There are couple of other things which needs worth mentioning; ability to create a sense of mission through transparency and accountability and level of communication with-in the companies. It seems amazing everyone works towards a common goal. And Indian companies seem to engage all possible technologies to communicate to employees, be it formal open houses, social network sites etc.
It reminds me one story, which U.S president Lyndon Johnson loved to tell about asking a truck driver who worked at NASA in the 1960s what his job was.
The driver’s response “I am helping to put a man on the moon”. Such is the power of empowering the employees.
I learnt a lot from this article.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
What I am up to?
It has been a real busy schedule for me these days. Last couple of weekends I have been traveling and weekend before that was busy with board meeting.
Last two weekends I have seen close to 2500 KMs of India and traveled through different parts of 7 states. (Chandigarh (UT), Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh). Had been to places like Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Deharadoon). Planning to Amritsar and Wagha border next weekend.
This is incredible traveling and I am feeling charged up to see so much of India!
I will be traveling to Norway for a business trip on second week of April for a customer seminar. (BTW, the new business plan I submitted was approved and I am going for next level discussions, which is good)
In summary; it will be busy summary and planning to continue my Bharat Darshan!
Last two weekends I have seen close to 2500 KMs of India and traveled through different parts of 7 states. (Chandigarh (UT), Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh). Had been to places like Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Deharadoon). Planning to Amritsar and Wagha border next weekend.
This is incredible traveling and I am feeling charged up to see so much of India!
I will be traveling to Norway for a business trip on second week of April for a customer seminar. (BTW, the new business plan I submitted was approved and I am going for next level discussions, which is good)
In summary; it will be busy summary and planning to continue my Bharat Darshan!
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Kahani Yek Company Ki
I have been thinking since quite some time; why companies fail? Few established companies, who appear to have solid track records, credibility, move in to the phase where everything becomes fragile.
Is it failure of leadership? Failure of strategy? Failure of execution? Failure of Understanding the customers? Or it is mix of all?
I would like to take a case study of Shri Balaji Telefilms, a company which produced popular TV serials like “Kyounki Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi” and “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki” etc. Ekta Kapoor whipped Shri Balaji Telefilms in to a production frenzy of TV soaps and made families adjust their evening schedules to her show timings. In those days, every TV channel wanted to work with Balaji and it appeared the success is eternal.
This appears to be the case with most of the companies, where everyone feels the success and start thinking the success story would continue with the same pace.
Balaji Telefilms started thinking that the show it has been producing has eternal appeal and failed to notice audience tastes were changing out of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law stories. This is the example of missing understanding of your customer needs and changing your game plan as per that.
On top of this, there was no brake on spending, which resulted in reducing the profit margins, which is the failure of execution. As if this was not sufficient; Balaji screwed Star TV; who owned stake in Balaji telefilms in that time and Star and Balaji used to work as captive vendors. This is clearly a failure of strategy and looking at the bigger picture.
Idea of having Shri Balaji Telefilms as case study is not to project it as a failed company. Good part is, they realized it and started taking steps which would eventually re-build it to a successful company. But the question is, why companies get in to this stage where they start falling apart?
My take is, failure of leadership!!
Is it failure of leadership? Failure of strategy? Failure of execution? Failure of Understanding the customers? Or it is mix of all?
I would like to take a case study of Shri Balaji Telefilms, a company which produced popular TV serials like “Kyounki Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi” and “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki” etc. Ekta Kapoor whipped Shri Balaji Telefilms in to a production frenzy of TV soaps and made families adjust their evening schedules to her show timings. In those days, every TV channel wanted to work with Balaji and it appeared the success is eternal.
This appears to be the case with most of the companies, where everyone feels the success and start thinking the success story would continue with the same pace.
Balaji Telefilms started thinking that the show it has been producing has eternal appeal and failed to notice audience tastes were changing out of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law stories. This is the example of missing understanding of your customer needs and changing your game plan as per that.
On top of this, there was no brake on spending, which resulted in reducing the profit margins, which is the failure of execution. As if this was not sufficient; Balaji screwed Star TV; who owned stake in Balaji telefilms in that time and Star and Balaji used to work as captive vendors. This is clearly a failure of strategy and looking at the bigger picture.
Idea of having Shri Balaji Telefilms as case study is not to project it as a failed company. Good part is, they realized it and started taking steps which would eventually re-build it to a successful company. But the question is, why companies get in to this stage where they start falling apart?
My take is, failure of leadership!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Sweet Success!
One of the biggest industries in my part of the country is Sugar. In childhood I knew only two industries, sugar and milk industries. Co-operative sugar mills have been established and have been doing really well in producing the sugar there by creating wealth for thousands of farmers.
But recently, Sugar has been seen as a big corporate initiative and Renuka Sugars (www.renukasugars.com ) is making big inroads and recently made two big acquisitions in Brazil and thereby creating a big wave. It’s been seen as a global player now!
Mr. Narendra Murkumbi, an IIM Ahmadabad graduate has seen the vision of making it big in Sugar and he and his mother did wonderful things together in establishing the company. Narendra is the public face of the company and based out in Mumbai. And his mother has been a relationship person and keeps a very close association with farmers and she is based out in Belgum, Karnataka.
Narendra has been known for thinking outside the box and thinking big. (Narendra dissolved his earlier company which was having 50 crores of turn over saying that is small thinking) The kind of the culture they have built in the company is of innovation.
Sugar is predominantly non-predictable business where a lot depends on the external factors. Factors such as crop condition in countries like Brazil and Chili, condition of monsoon, India’s agriculture policies; all pay an important role in deciding the profit margins. But, what Renuka Sugar’s have proved that, innovative thinking, global presence and shear execution efficiency can change the rule of the game.
This is truly a rare picture of stability in a cyclical industry!
But recently, Sugar has been seen as a big corporate initiative and Renuka Sugars (www.renukasugars.com ) is making big inroads and recently made two big acquisitions in Brazil and thereby creating a big wave. It’s been seen as a global player now!
Mr. Narendra Murkumbi, an IIM Ahmadabad graduate has seen the vision of making it big in Sugar and he and his mother did wonderful things together in establishing the company. Narendra is the public face of the company and based out in Mumbai. And his mother has been a relationship person and keeps a very close association with farmers and she is based out in Belgum, Karnataka.
Narendra has been known for thinking outside the box and thinking big. (Narendra dissolved his earlier company which was having 50 crores of turn over saying that is small thinking) The kind of the culture they have built in the company is of innovation.
Sugar is predominantly non-predictable business where a lot depends on the external factors. Factors such as crop condition in countries like Brazil and Chili, condition of monsoon, India’s agriculture policies; all pay an important role in deciding the profit margins. But, what Renuka Sugar’s have proved that, innovative thinking, global presence and shear execution efficiency can change the rule of the game.
This is truly a rare picture of stability in a cyclical industry!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
When Google Runs Your Life
Your day begins with a wake-up call with your Google Android phone. As you run to the shower, you hit Google News and check headlines, then Gmail. Your first appointment of the day is moved to a location, which you don’t know. No worries, Google Map would help you locate the exact place where you want to go. Quickly update your expense report- including the sales presentation, using Google Template. Your Boss wants to discuss the group’s contribution to a marketing idea being discussed; Google Groups would help you to consolidate the ideas.
Someone wants a documented to be updated; you will update the common document using Google Document. And in addition to this you can do many work related searches throughout the day, including checking the stock price, get some code, get some query answered, download games; all using Google’s search engine!
And a little creepy, perhaps. Google wants to own your every walking minute online- at home, while in transit, at your workplace, wherever you happen to be. It makes connectivity so easy, through desktop, laptop or mobile phone. How much easier the life would be using Google Application that allows us to instantly share Google calendar, spreadsheets, memos, reports, email, corporate blogs, presentations and much much more.
I happened to meet a senior executive at Microsoft, who shared what Google is trying to do with the information on the web and largely how it will shape up the way in which we are doing computing. Google is trying to a methodology where it will stream the entire operating system when we connect through cloud computing. A good connectivity would ensure you have a small universe of Google computing power downloaded to your Net Book.
With this, no longer would you get pestered with notices on your PC to download an operating system to upgrade or extend the subscription of your web security. You wouldn’t worry much if your computer get stolen or fell in the bathtub. These net books are just like office furniture, if you don’t like them anymore, throw them out and start using a new one.
How cool that would be?
Someone wants a documented to be updated; you will update the common document using Google Document. And in addition to this you can do many work related searches throughout the day, including checking the stock price, get some code, get some query answered, download games; all using Google’s search engine!
And a little creepy, perhaps. Google wants to own your every walking minute online- at home, while in transit, at your workplace, wherever you happen to be. It makes connectivity so easy, through desktop, laptop or mobile phone. How much easier the life would be using Google Application that allows us to instantly share Google calendar, spreadsheets, memos, reports, email, corporate blogs, presentations and much much more.
I happened to meet a senior executive at Microsoft, who shared what Google is trying to do with the information on the web and largely how it will shape up the way in which we are doing computing. Google is trying to a methodology where it will stream the entire operating system when we connect through cloud computing. A good connectivity would ensure you have a small universe of Google computing power downloaded to your Net Book.
With this, no longer would you get pestered with notices on your PC to download an operating system to upgrade or extend the subscription of your web security. You wouldn’t worry much if your computer get stolen or fell in the bathtub. These net books are just like office furniture, if you don’t like them anymore, throw them out and start using a new one.
How cool that would be?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Blue Ocean Strategy: Applied to IT Services in IONNOR
I tried to do a mapping of ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’ to IT Services Business Unit in IONNOR and presented to executive team during a weekend meeting.
Just to set the context;
• This is just an internal presentation, to do a SWOT analysis between the market leaders in Nordic region, TCS and Cap Gemini
• The comparison was focused on the strengths and weakness of each company.
• IONNOR has been clubbed with ErgoGroup in arriving at this strategy.
In and all, it helped us a lot in framing the strategy for this year and identifying the focus areas which we need to take care on urgent basis.
It is so powerful that, with-in few minutes the strategy shaped up and we were in discussion as how to create a new market place where we are playing on our strengths and mitigating the risks.
It gives a lot of confidence and feeling of big league.
Just to set the context;
• This is just an internal presentation, to do a SWOT analysis between the market leaders in Nordic region, TCS and Cap Gemini
• The comparison was focused on the strengths and weakness of each company.
• IONNOR has been clubbed with ErgoGroup in arriving at this strategy.
In and all, it helped us a lot in framing the strategy for this year and identifying the focus areas which we need to take care on urgent basis.
It is so powerful that, with-in few minutes the strategy shaped up and we were in discussion as how to create a new market place where we are playing on our strengths and mitigating the risks.
It gives a lot of confidence and feeling of big league.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The vision behind Apple’s i
I am writing this blog from Oslo, Norway. Reached here through Vienna, Austria. I am currently traveling to meet customers.
Seven years ago, the globally recognizable boss of a certain giant technology company spoke often of the touch-screen “tablet” computer whose development he championed. This pet project was going to change computing for millions of people.
The man was Bill Gates, and the product was the Tablet PC – a device that, while still on sale, has fallen into the limbo reserved for failed electronic gadgets. This week, when Steve Jobs of Apple ended months of feverish speculation by unveiling his own company’s tablet machine – branded the iPad – the echoes were hard to ignore.
Tablets (bigger than a smartphone, smaller than a laptop, and without a keyboard) have been the graveyard of personal computing. If Mr Jobs, 54, can succeed, it will open a new phase in a comeback career. Behind the simple lines of the iPad lie a technological mastery, aesthetic flair and marketing savvy that have long set the Apple chief executive apart.
That is exactly the vision behind Apple’s i
Seven years ago, the globally recognizable boss of a certain giant technology company spoke often of the touch-screen “tablet” computer whose development he championed. This pet project was going to change computing for millions of people.
The man was Bill Gates, and the product was the Tablet PC – a device that, while still on sale, has fallen into the limbo reserved for failed electronic gadgets. This week, when Steve Jobs of Apple ended months of feverish speculation by unveiling his own company’s tablet machine – branded the iPad – the echoes were hard to ignore.
Tablets (bigger than a smartphone, smaller than a laptop, and without a keyboard) have been the graveyard of personal computing. If Mr Jobs, 54, can succeed, it will open a new phase in a comeback career. Behind the simple lines of the iPad lie a technological mastery, aesthetic flair and marketing savvy that have long set the Apple chief executive apart.
That is exactly the vision behind Apple’s i
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Creating Competitive Advantage in Business
As part of new year resolution of developing strategic mindset :-), I have been reading few books which would help me to develop the required mindset of thinking a bigger picture. Recently I completed one such book which helped me to understand how the strategy can be developed.
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Marketspace and Make the Competition Irrelevant. The book, which debuted in 2005, is a must read for any corporation today. Resting upon four “formulation principles” and two “execution principles,” Blue Ocean Strategy teaches the reader to create uncontested market space and break away from bloody competition by strategically moving into the area the authors call the “Blue Ocean.”
The book is intricately designed to walk through the process of its six principles and teaches the reader how each principle is able to reduce risks inherent in any new strategy. Blue Ocean Strategy is not only a book to read but a strategy to adopt and implement for corporations that are determined to succeed in the long-run.
Based on in-depth study of number of leading industries, the authors remind us that in emerging business scenario there is no permanent great company or industry or market or business alliance , instead success comes from being proactive and anticipating cultural, socioeconomic ,environmental, technological advancement and adapting new frameworks and analytical business tools to develop Blue Ocean Strategy.
I was so much impressed by this book, I choose to present this during this month’s ‘Executive Management Meeting’. I have also decided to apply these principles to by Business Unit. Watch this space to hear how it has shaped up and how it is really helping me.
Yet another book which I picked up and which is running good is, ‘Creating Competitive Advantage: Give Customers a Reason to Choose you over your competition’. It is also impressive book, explaining how we can create competitive edge and grow the business.
What I found out from these books is; all the good companies do adopt new business models; change them and build new ones.
That is the difference between good companies and great companies!
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Marketspace and Make the Competition Irrelevant. The book, which debuted in 2005, is a must read for any corporation today. Resting upon four “formulation principles” and two “execution principles,” Blue Ocean Strategy teaches the reader to create uncontested market space and break away from bloody competition by strategically moving into the area the authors call the “Blue Ocean.”
The book is intricately designed to walk through the process of its six principles and teaches the reader how each principle is able to reduce risks inherent in any new strategy. Blue Ocean Strategy is not only a book to read but a strategy to adopt and implement for corporations that are determined to succeed in the long-run.
Based on in-depth study of number of leading industries, the authors remind us that in emerging business scenario there is no permanent great company or industry or market or business alliance , instead success comes from being proactive and anticipating cultural, socioeconomic ,environmental, technological advancement and adapting new frameworks and analytical business tools to develop Blue Ocean Strategy.
I was so much impressed by this book, I choose to present this during this month’s ‘Executive Management Meeting’. I have also decided to apply these principles to by Business Unit. Watch this space to hear how it has shaped up and how it is really helping me.
Yet another book which I picked up and which is running good is, ‘Creating Competitive Advantage: Give Customers a Reason to Choose you over your competition’. It is also impressive book, explaining how we can create competitive edge and grow the business.
What I found out from these books is; all the good companies do adopt new business models; change them and build new ones.
That is the difference between good companies and great companies!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Give me some sunshine, give me some rain, I want to grow all again!
Honestly, I am still in hangover of the movie, 3 Idiots.
It touched me, it made me to think, it made me to laugh, took me down the memory lane (10 years back to my IIT days), it made me to do a bit soul searching. It is hard to explain what exactly I felt, because so many things happened to me, all at same time.
The important message it gives about our grading system and one’s ability to question the current status. The actual implementation of education reforms might be far away from reality in current India, but it at least makes us to think about the need to think out-of-the-box.
The story telling has been powerful, through series of well thought characters. Most important question being asked is about human relationships and pursuing one’s dreams.
Throughout the movie I felt; only Chetan can raise such question and the plot of the movie and the subject is pretty much belongs to him. With due respect to the ability of Mr. Hirali’s story telling, but in my opinion, Chetan’s idea has been adopted to this movie completely and obviously some changes are made to add melodrama and emotions.
Anyways, it is a complete movie and certainly it has asked a very good question. But, personally for me, it opened my book of memories and time I had in IIT. First thing I did after watching the movie, is call my hostel mate, who was my close friend!
Give me some sunshine, give me some rain, I want to grow all again. Want to go back to 1998 and start all over again!
It touched me, it made me to think, it made me to laugh, took me down the memory lane (10 years back to my IIT days), it made me to do a bit soul searching. It is hard to explain what exactly I felt, because so many things happened to me, all at same time.
The important message it gives about our grading system and one’s ability to question the current status. The actual implementation of education reforms might be far away from reality in current India, but it at least makes us to think about the need to think out-of-the-box.
The story telling has been powerful, through series of well thought characters. Most important question being asked is about human relationships and pursuing one’s dreams.
Throughout the movie I felt; only Chetan can raise such question and the plot of the movie and the subject is pretty much belongs to him. With due respect to the ability of Mr. Hirali’s story telling, but in my opinion, Chetan’s idea has been adopted to this movie completely and obviously some changes are made to add melodrama and emotions.
Anyways, it is a complete movie and certainly it has asked a very good question. But, personally for me, it opened my book of memories and time I had in IIT. First thing I did after watching the movie, is call my hostel mate, who was my close friend!
Give me some sunshine, give me some rain, I want to grow all again. Want to go back to 1998 and start all over again!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Expectations From the New Year
We are entering in to a new year now and I had a look at my New Year resolutions I made last year. Surprisingly, I have stick to the resolution I made. Still doing my fitness routine quite regularly. Had a good year in business and even in my new role started off good with new line of businesses and putting the puzzle pieces together for a profitable growth. I was quite regular with my blogs and self improvements.
This year, I would like to set aside some expectations/to-do-lists rather than setting the resolutions.
1)Build the profitable business: Need to work on this, need to think on new role I am in to and build a bigger portfolio.
2)Bigger Picture: I need to really work on this; I need to think big, really big. I need to see a bigger picture and act in a bigger way. I have the problem of thinking shallow and acting low.
3)Aggressive: I need to work on being more aggressive rather than taking things lying down. Be it business, customer, team or my financial goals.
4)Self Control: I need to learn how to be more patience and take things a bit relaxed way. Nothing happens by being impatient.
5)Time with family: I expect this year provides me a good opportunity to be with my family and have fun.
6)Do something crazy: Wanted to do some crazy stuff this year, hope this year gives me an opportunity. Some of the wish list were, seeing Himalayas, Taj Mahal, A Desert and experiencing Punjabi culture; are being fulfilled this year.
7)Financial Planning: Take control of money, understand the value of it. Plan it.
I hope this New Year brings a lot of changes in me and my career. I will be working on these points.
Off course, my favorite things; exercise, reading, writing and networking will be continued.
This year, I would like to set aside some expectations/to-do-lists rather than setting the resolutions.
1)Build the profitable business: Need to work on this, need to think on new role I am in to and build a bigger portfolio.
2)Bigger Picture: I need to really work on this; I need to think big, really big. I need to see a bigger picture and act in a bigger way. I have the problem of thinking shallow and acting low.
3)Aggressive: I need to work on being more aggressive rather than taking things lying down. Be it business, customer, team or my financial goals.
4)Self Control: I need to learn how to be more patience and take things a bit relaxed way. Nothing happens by being impatient.
5)Time with family: I expect this year provides me a good opportunity to be with my family and have fun.
6)Do something crazy: Wanted to do some crazy stuff this year, hope this year gives me an opportunity. Some of the wish list were, seeing Himalayas, Taj Mahal, A Desert and experiencing Punjabi culture; are being fulfilled this year.
7)Financial Planning: Take control of money, understand the value of it. Plan it.
I hope this New Year brings a lot of changes in me and my career. I will be working on these points.
Off course, my favorite things; exercise, reading, writing and networking will be continued.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The year that has been!
In 4 days from now; we are bidding goodbye to year 2009 and to the decade.
The past year has been full of happenings; year started with Satyam scandal; where probably most big scandal of India Inc has reported. This followed by quick action by government and all ended good with TechMahindra taking over. But it has created bigger impact.
This year also saw series of steps from governments all over the world to arrest the recession impact. It is quite clear that, this kind of stimulus packages helped world economy to revive itself towards end of the year. The tax payer’s money was used to revive companies and at end it made a lot of sense. Though towards the year end, Dubai world scared with the recession danger, but it saw some quick action from government.
This year also means bankruptcy of GM, Chrysler, and few other crown jewels of the industries once upon a time. There was strict cost cutting measures all over across industries; which led to hiring freeze and cut on salary and bonus. I guess, there are some companies which quickly understood the sentiments associated with this kind of cost cutting and took action to prevent it turning in to negative impact, some fail to understand which saw sudden jump in attrition.
From political front; general elections in India gave a more stable government and there was a change in US political scenario as well. Which, I would believe should lead to better ties between two countries leading in to more streamlined business relationship.
From personal front, there has been a change as well. And this is an extremely good change for me and family. Looks like it was much needed change and happened at right time.
Wishing you all a happy new year!
The past year has been full of happenings; year started with Satyam scandal; where probably most big scandal of India Inc has reported. This followed by quick action by government and all ended good with TechMahindra taking over. But it has created bigger impact.
This year also saw series of steps from governments all over the world to arrest the recession impact. It is quite clear that, this kind of stimulus packages helped world economy to revive itself towards end of the year. The tax payer’s money was used to revive companies and at end it made a lot of sense. Though towards the year end, Dubai world scared with the recession danger, but it saw some quick action from government.
This year also means bankruptcy of GM, Chrysler, and few other crown jewels of the industries once upon a time. There was strict cost cutting measures all over across industries; which led to hiring freeze and cut on salary and bonus. I guess, there are some companies which quickly understood the sentiments associated with this kind of cost cutting and took action to prevent it turning in to negative impact, some fail to understand which saw sudden jump in attrition.
From political front; general elections in India gave a more stable government and there was a change in US political scenario as well. Which, I would believe should lead to better ties between two countries leading in to more streamlined business relationship.
From personal front, there has been a change as well. And this is an extremely good change for me and family. Looks like it was much needed change and happened at right time.
Wishing you all a happy new year!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Evolution of Social Networking Business
One of the recent trends; which is very popular and money earning, is social networking business. When the concept came in to action first, it was kind of rewriting the Internet business book where a whole new market was developed.
When the concept started, it was used among friends/college kids to just be in touch and share some pictures/videos and let others comment on that. But, soon the business side of this concept came out. Now all social networking sites have evolved as major business networking sites. This allowed social networking to evolve as a business model and soon all these networking companies started making money by building revenue models around it.
For example, if I have a business and wanted to sell something, now I need not to have a full fledged website; I can just create Facebook/Orkut/Some other social networking page, where by subscribing to different groups I can make my business really popular. I can come up with different promotions, webcasts, and whitepapers there by really diverting the traffic to my business/social site.
This is something new concept.
You can do much more than just getting connected using professional networking sites like LinkedIn. It allows you to subscribe to user groups of your interest and thus participate in the discussion, or you yourself can initiate the discussion and allow others to comment on this. Personally speaking I got a job offer from LinkedIn; which got materialized eventually. These networking sites give you such a powerful media to express yourself.
It is quite interesting as how the money is getting generated in this business; for example there are three revenue models for LinkedIn.
1)Subscription: There are few services; which are still needs subscription, like to find out who really accessed your site. Individuals like you & me doesn’t need this. But, it comes real handy for business to know who accessed their site as they might be their potential customers. Thus this subscription helps.
2)Advertisement: They sell ads to different business and thereby making money
3)Selling Services as SaaS (Software as a Services): LinkedIn sells the services as software to companies to allow them to create site and allow employees to be part of it. This gives companies to establish the platform for employees to share ideas and be connected. Sometimes companied will form Alumni sites which might help them to attract old employees back.
One thing for sure, these networking sites have changed how we spend time on Internet now days.
When the concept started, it was used among friends/college kids to just be in touch and share some pictures/videos and let others comment on that. But, soon the business side of this concept came out. Now all social networking sites have evolved as major business networking sites. This allowed social networking to evolve as a business model and soon all these networking companies started making money by building revenue models around it.
For example, if I have a business and wanted to sell something, now I need not to have a full fledged website; I can just create Facebook/Orkut/Some other social networking page, where by subscribing to different groups I can make my business really popular. I can come up with different promotions, webcasts, and whitepapers there by really diverting the traffic to my business/social site.
This is something new concept.
You can do much more than just getting connected using professional networking sites like LinkedIn. It allows you to subscribe to user groups of your interest and thus participate in the discussion, or you yourself can initiate the discussion and allow others to comment on this. Personally speaking I got a job offer from LinkedIn; which got materialized eventually. These networking sites give you such a powerful media to express yourself.
It is quite interesting as how the money is getting generated in this business; for example there are three revenue models for LinkedIn.
1)Subscription: There are few services; which are still needs subscription, like to find out who really accessed your site. Individuals like you & me doesn’t need this. But, it comes real handy for business to know who accessed their site as they might be their potential customers. Thus this subscription helps.
2)Advertisement: They sell ads to different business and thereby making money
3)Selling Services as SaaS (Software as a Services): LinkedIn sells the services as software to companies to allow them to create site and allow employees to be part of it. This gives companies to establish the platform for employees to share ideas and be connected. Sometimes companied will form Alumni sites which might help them to attract old employees back.
One thing for sure, these networking sites have changed how we spend time on Internet now days.
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