Robots? Our New Masters!

The 21st century has already seen patterns of human extinction thanks to ‘man-made’ technology. With the rate at which technology is evolving, the day is not far where robots will be the only non-‘living’ things that walk the earth.
Technology has no doubt made an immense impact on our lives, but the purpose of technology is to enhance our life and not replace it. We have computers working for us, replacing manual jobs, automated machines running to complete tedious and monotonous work. All this is fair, but the problem arises when we sit in the lap of luxury of technology, when we take advantage of the technology at our disposal. People often misuse technology for selfish reasons and that’s the biggest challenge and danger technocrats face.
Invention and innovation are inevitable, but what is not is the excessive use of it. What defines ‘us becoming slaves to technology’ is our use of it in daily life. For example: Using a calculator to add up less than 5-6 numbers or using a motor vehicle to go to a nearby vendor. These normal tasks do not require any sort of man-made technology, but God given brains and legs. If we need technology for such trivial tasks, we soon will make ourselves slaves to technology. Therefore, the more sensible thing to do is to use technology when and only when needed, and use technology in important tasks where human life is subject to danger and the only solution to a problem is technology.

It's In You!

Leadership is defined as the ability to motivate and lead a team of people to perform a task efficiently in a specific time frame. From this definition we can get two qualities that is the ability to motivate and the ability to lead, but there is much more to leadership. A lot of people misinterpret leadership with dominance, which is not true. If a person can cohesively drive his team to complete a task, he is a leader in his own way. Leadership is the art of making the impossible ‘I-M-possible’.
History shows that leadership is the pioneer quality which has driven many movements and initiatives to a fairy-tale ending. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader for our national movement for Independence. He used simple but yet effective techniques to bind the people of India to fight the British for Independence.
For every activity there is a need for a leader to give direction to the team in order to keep with the objectives of the task. A team without a leader is the same as a ship without a captain hovering around the ‘cape of good-hope’. It is obvious to say that the team and the ship are sure to sink. Therefore, a leader is critical in guiding a team to the finish line.
Leadership is an inborn talent which is difficult to acquire, although not impossible. Learned people are not necessarily leaders but what makes them a leader is how they communicate with people and how best they achieve their tasks in hand utilizing their scarce resources.

Bad News Women... Online Shopping is here!

With the world, now at your desktop or rather at your ‘palm’s top, shopping has never been easier than this. Online shopping has reached levels where even properties are transacted wirelessly, which is what online shopping is suppose to do in the first place and has achieved this successfully. Venture Capitalists are always interested in companies which offer products and services online, and this has help realize many ideas into profitable ventures. Although many critics believe that e-commerce and m-commerce are just extensions of “mall shopping”, little do they realize the bulldozing effect that online shopping has created. Some might justify their point by saying that no one is so desperate to buy a t-shirt or a computer over the phone, but that’s not even the point. M-commerce can be used to book tickets for a film, to pay for parking, and things that need to be done when you’re on the go. If fraud is the concern for many, statistics show that online fraud is much less in comparison to shop lifting and other related offences.
However, these are excuses and reasons for being pessimistic and taking a 1939 approach to the advances made in the 21st century.
If companies like Amazon, e-bay, and other shopping portals can make big money out of this and grow at a faster rate than companies with traditional outlook, there is enough reason to believe that all will be done with. Also, if there was no online shopping, there wouldn’t be AdWords, and if there were no AdWords, how would Google generate revenue?

Oh No Not another one! -Advertisements

In today’s world, advertising has become such a commonly used word, that it has made go to the limits of saying, “There is no market for your sorrows. So never advertise your feelings!” Advertisements are being made for every product in the market, irrespective of there being a market for it or not. This is because the consumption patterns are such, that it influences the buyer to purchase the product, although it may not be of any use to them. Some call it the western effect, in which the people buy products because they are consumed in western countries, but how does an average Indian know that, it is through advertisements!
No wonder today, many advertising giants rope up celebrities to endorse products from-hair oils to underwear and vests. This is because there is also a fan following, and a general tendency to consume products that our favorite cricketer or actor endorses, so at least the advertisers think! Little do the advertisers know their statistics, according to which it is only the rural sector that has the tendency to fall for this trap, and with increase in urbanization and no communication infrastructure available in rural areas all their efforts are but in vain.
The day won’t be far when the “office of profit” bill (which is being currently debated in the parliament) will be scraped to not only allow politicians to endorse products but also promote political campaigns through the medium of advertisements to gain votes. The influence of this is yet to be seen.

Twenty -20 or 50-Fifty

It is often said that change is inevitable - be it technology, business practices or for that matter cricket. Yes! Cricket. T-20 is the newest form of the gentleman’s game with changing rules and attitudes. From the traditional clap of hands for a spark of a moment to cheerleaders with pom – pomps through-out a match. The pace has changed, it has now become a 6-sixes in an over game from a 6 consecutive maiden over’s game.
The success of the game in its formative stages was skeptical, but with the, recently concluded, first T-20 world cup the hopes of its survival looks bright. Most international players from the past and the present were apprehensive of the new format but all of those have been blown away with sixes that were hit in the entire tournament. The number is an astonishing 197 sixes in just 21 games at an average of approximately 10 sixes a game. This is more than double the number in a limited overs game and thrice in a test match. Not only was the highest number of sixes hit by Yuraj Singh but also the longest one. He now holds the record for scoring 36 runs of one over, the maximum anyone can.
The victorious Indian cricket team, now, the world champions of the T-20 format were received with a prolific welcome. The board of control for cricket in India (BCCI) announced humongous sums of prize money to every player for their performance. This new vibrant team India is now set to extend their dream run in the longer versions of the game, and more importantly put in spirited performances in every match that they encounter.

"Bing "! What?

For many people their role models would range from cricketers, celebrities, national and even international figures both from the present and the past, but my role model is a fictitious character from a very famous soap opera ‘friends’. His name is Chandler Bing, although a fictitious character, he brings about the meaning of what life is really meant to be - ‘fun’. He has an amazing sense of humor and spontaneity, which is inspiring and his subtle sarcasm just brings alive his character. Humor is a gift and talent which only some people can carry off and he is definitely one of them. I want to become like him in real life so that I bring laughter and happiness around me. Apart from being humorous, his sarcasm steals the show, the way he makes the most serious of things trivial is an art on its own, if I can be half as good as he is I will consider my self lucky and talented. He is not only funny and humorous but also a very loyal friend to both Ross (His best friend from college) and Joey (his flat mate). He is one of those who go out of the way to help his friends and that’s something I adore in him as these days there are only a few who are so loyal . These prominent characteristics of Chandler makes him my role model and because he is someone who does not exist in real life becoming him would make it even more special.

A memorandum, a statement of expenses and incomes or a financial forecast - these terms are usually associated with ‘budget’. Usually, these pre-determined figures are representatives of money which each individual sets to plan the future, but a budget can also be in terms of ‘time required’ to complete a task. It is not only individuals but also organizations and nations that need to set budgets to work with. Nations prepare budgets on an annual basis for the growth and development of their country and organizations prepare them for new and existing projects they have.
A benchmark of sorts, a budget most often than not gives direction to a planner. This is because most budgets that are set are over-shot which causes a crisis. It’s a generally accepted principle that while setting a budget you should overestimate expenditures and underestimate incomes, this will help you in overcoming difficulties.
Even a budget, when set comes with conditions which need to be adhered to. There are instances when contingencies may arise that are inevitable to ward off, such as a medical emergency in an individuals case, a war in the case of a nation and a fire in a factory in the case of an organization. In such situations an ad-hoc interim budget is prepared as a damage controller. Hence, budget as a tool is an effective technique for all classes of people – rich or poor to categorically plan for the future. If everything goes according to plan, then the result is a surplus in your bank account and more reserves for a better future.

Regretting Something? Think Again...

To bash up my friend, to back answer my teacher… these are not regrets, these are Missed Opportunities. A regret is something you should have done in the past which would affect your present or your future, and should also be backed up by ethics. The two Missed Opportunities that I have mentioned have no ethical bearing.
My biggest regret is that I didn’t join the cricket academy in school per my mom’s instructions. Although I was very fond of cricket, I enjoyed playing tennis and I was good at the game. But I always wanted to be a professional cricketer and play for the Indian national team. Every time I picked up the bat to play there would be a rush of blood thorough my body. I was good at the game and this I realized it when I begun playing for my college team. I had learnt the game watching endless hours of my icon, Sachin Tendulkar at his best, and with net practice and fitness training I was sure to get better. I also realized that I was not only good at playing the game but also at the strategies of the game-the field settings, important decisions at the toss and team selections, etc.
But this I realized in college, when I was 18, and a little late to change career graphs from management to sports. None the less I still am an ardent cricket fan and also play the sport for my company and who knows with luck I might Get There!

India and Mission 20-20!

From the traditional weekly bazaars to the e-choupal, India has not only moved from an agricultural economy to a services economy but services have moved into the agricultural sector, which is evidence enough to show the direction of ‘Independent India’.
With the ‘onset’ of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization) in 1991, there has been a downpour of investments into India, though limited to services and infrastructure but also beneficial to agriculture and allied activities. The real answer to this unprecedented growth from the agricultural sector to the services sector has been an increase in urbanization.
With urbanization and urban consumption at an all time high, the primary sector has needed to increase its overall efficiency in production and distribution, the solution for which has been provided by the services sector in the form of SCM (Supply Chain Management) and other services. The benefits have been multi fold, not only affecting the process but also the input as the farmers too gain by seeking competitive prices for their produce through innovative schemes like the e-choupal.
After sixty years of independence, India has ploughed its way into limelight with a growth rate hovering around the 8% mark, with emphasis more on the progress of the tertiary sector, with companies like Infosys, Wipro, TATA, ITC and many others contributing to this growth, the benefits of which have befallen on the agriculture and secondary sector.
So the real question is not the move from an agricultural economy to services economy but the coordination of the two in India’s growth.

A Stich in Time...

‘I will do it tomorrow’, ‘I don’t have enough time’, ‘there is so much work, and so little time’… these are often complaints you here not only from students but also from working professionals in organizations. Little do they realize the reasons behind these cribs and complaints and on much investigation they understand that there is nor too much work nor too little time. It’s all about time management.
Time management is an art which some people have and others learn, but this an essential virtue though not shown on a paper written resume but shown on the character of the person. Often people forget small yet such critical aspects of a persons work style, which makes all the difference in the career ladder. Time management is not only about multi-tasking but also about how u complete tasks on a priority basis in order to avoid hindrance in further work flow. The best way to master the art is to practice it, like other forms. If you plan your day, schedule your work and more importantly execute what you have planned and scheduled, it will go a long way in improving ones time efficiency. Planning doesn’t mean setting tasks that are required to be completed in a given time, but it’s the methodology in which these tasks are set and a realistic time allotted to complete them and when this done is done the executions follow through on its own, except on contingencies. Once you get into the schedule, it becomes an habit, an habit which will remain for life!

The day I graduated !

After being a college student for three years, my graduation day was one of the best and worst days of my life, ‘best’ because I was entering a new world of opportunities and ‘worst’ because life is not going to be the same. Although there was a hint of excitement, the sudden transition of college life into work life was difficult to digest.
Everyone of the graduating batch made lot preparations for the day, the guys had their suits ready, the girls their sarees, and those who were going to speak on the occasion had their speech ready. All of us had the traditional gown and cap to compliment our attire.
The day was special for a few because the academic and other achievements of the year were to be awarded. I too received an award for ‘corporate excellence’ for working as an intern in the last year.
An auditorium was taken on hire for the occasion. The event was planned and organized by our juniors, and backed up by the college management. The hard work of our juniors showed as the decorations and arrangements made in the auditorium looked spectacular. Parents and other honorable guests were invited to make the event even more special for the graduating batch. Some valuable advice was given to us by experience professionals of the industry and life ahead of college. The entire day went of well and we are grateful to our juniors for making this day a memorable one for us.

My First Worst Interview !

Tense, anxious, nerve-racking! No, no I’m not talking about a nail-biting cricket match between India-Pakistan but about my first interview for a financial analyst job at J.P Morgan and Chase Company, an international giant in the field of finance. After two rounds of preliminary written test, we went through three excruciating rounds of interview with the HR manager, Process Manager and Country head of the company.
I was surprised that I actually had the skill to be this articulate, for all I did was gave the same answers to all them in ten thousand different ways! This being my first interview for a ‘real job’ I was not only terribly nervous but also excited to get this job. The first round was an ice-breaker which calmed all nerves that the candidates had and also set the tone for the remaining two interviews. The second round of interview was a technical one with emphasis on our competency in accounts, which the job demands. As a finance student I was extremely confident of my basics and did really well in this round and I was sure of getting into the next one. With the first two interviews over and done with, I was brimming with excitement and confidence for the final interview round. But this was not to be, because I was made to wait until midnight for the ‘worst interview’ of my life. The confidence that I had was crushed by the Country Head as he bombarded me with questions, which I assumed to have answered pretty well.
If you are still wondering if I got the job, well! You know where I am!

Is too much emphasis placed on grades in our educational system?

‘Burning the midnight oil and racking your brains to study a subject’, has this is what education come to today in a country that prides itself of the best scientists and businessmen-India? I think so!
Unfortunately, in India, education has come to mugging up some subject matter and vomiting it in the exams without any sense of understanding. This is for the sole reason of achieving good grades, be it in school or in college. There is unnecessary pressure put on students to perform well by teachers and families. Tuitions are resorted to and exorbitant tuition fees have made middle class families alter their budget. The purpose of education that is - to impart knowledge has been lost in the midst of unhealthy competition. Little do parents and teachers realize that grades only get you a job but what gets you on top is your performance. Fear of failure and embarrassment causes students to resort to suicide, which is on the rise among the teenagers. A recent survey shows that when students are made to learn in an environment conducive to enhance their capabilities they are better performers than those who are subjects to the traditional Indian method. Only when the teaching methodology moves from text book learning into practical learning will the students perform better. Also students will learn how to live a life of character as Swami Vivekanda has rightly said, “Education is not about how to earn a living but how to live a life of character.”

Customer Satisfaction

Imagine contacting a telecommunication company call center for a problem that you have been facing for over a week and this has not been rectified as yet, would this be ensuring customer satisfaction? I think not!
What makes good customer experience or a bad one is not only how great your product is but also how great your service is. Even if a company has the best of products and the best marketing strategies, it stills needs to be backed up by world class customer service. If the customer service is of mediocre level, it dampens a company’s image which is hard to regain in this competitive world.
Customer satisfaction has become the focus point of all companies as one wrong move hampers the bottom line of every company. Customers are the biggest promoters of a company as they through word of mouth give more business or reduce business. It is said that it is three times more expensive to gain one new customer than to retain an old satisfied customer. If a customer is satisfied then they are bound to continue using products of a company and this can be achieved only through excellent customer service. It is of no wonder that, today, companies have huge budgets in training their employees to ensure customer satisfaction. The service sector, especially, needs more importance for customer service as they are in direct contact with a customer. A customer is said to be ‘sovereign’ and therefore should be treated like a king.

Business outsourcing

Business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and medical transcription services (MTN) these are only a few components that make up a multi-million dollar industry of outsourcing, at least, in India. These are not only lucrative opportunities for foreign multi-national corporations but also for the host country in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI) and for providing jobs.
Business outsourcing is a perfect example of a win-win situation, where in both countries involved stand to gain in the deal. A multi-national sets up its off-shore operations in another country, which is invariably a developing country. This is because the resource base is larger and available at a cheaper rate than in the home country. The home country gains with the increase in investment and job opportunities.
These being on the positive side, now, let us look at some of the negative effects of outsourcing. When a multi-national sets up operations it needs to take into account hindrances that it might face in terms of cultural differences, legal considerations and hiring problems among many others. There is also the problem of outlay of a huge investment which is associated with certain business risks. The host country also faces problems because of the unorthodox work timings with office hours beginning at six in the evening and going on until dawn. Also, the difference in work styles poses as a cultural problem due to emotions attached with the employees. As the saying goes, ‘one man’s food is another man’s poison’ so is the case with business outsourcing.