Jugaad Management

'Jugaad', very commonly and regularly used term in India. In fact it is said that most of the things happen in India is the result of 'Jugaad'. Governments survive on 'Jugaad'. Commonwealth Games will be hosted by India later this year. The success of the games will depend on 'Jugaad'. 'Jugaad' is basically a quick fix especially in bad situations. Interestingly many companies today consider 'Jugaad' as new management style. I came across the new offer by Tata Docomo, one can pay Rs. 20 for a day and he/she gets 200 sms free. Whenever customer wants to avail the sms service he/she has to pay Rs 20 and get 200 sms pack for a day. Again 'Jugaad'.

Few examples of Juggad Management

1. A Dhaba (road side restaurant) in Punjab uses a washing machine to make lassi.

2. A Scooter is modified and converted into Floor Mill.

3. A bicycle is used as sprinkler in a farm

Many more of these little tricks or Innovations are very common in India. Companies may find solution in 'Juggad Management' to beat competition, reduce the costs or even manage resources more effectively.

Jugaad Management may finally get the deserved attention and due credit.

'Go Beyond' MBA

If I have to ask a question to my dearest students, why would they take up professional education (MBA, Engineering, Medicine etc)? I am sure most of them would tell me that they can expect a good job. Jobs are plenty and candidates seeking the jobs are also plenty yet we find students wondering for a job and companies trying hard to get the suitable candidates. This clearly shows that there is a huge gap between what is expected and what is available.

Students must realize that they may not get a job of their choice only because they have a degree from a govt. recognized and university approved college. They must possess the right skills required for the job, application of the concepts that they learn and anticipation for the futuristic technologies.

Students must choose the school, university or college based not only on affiliation and govt. recognition but need to look at the curriculum, faculty and right exposure. Indian School of Business (ISB, Hyderabad) is the best example of such B school. Everyone can not enter ISB but there are other colleges and B schools who will equip you to be future leaders. There are courses with industry support e.g. TV18 group supports post graduate program in Media and Entertainment, Indian Institute of Banking and Finance supports PG program in Banking and Finance. One must 'Go Beyond' the conventional courses and acquire new skills.

All the best.

Responsible Bad Shah?

Mr. Shahrukh Khan was interrogated at Airport in USA in a closed chamber for about an hour and a half, breaking news of all the news channels in India.  A same thing appears in the next day news papers on front page.  Independence Day celebration, Hon. Prime Minister’s speech is on page 2.  The Badshah gives it a communal color by quoting: “ they detained me because of  my name is Khan”. This I think is ridiculous and very impulsive reaction from a responsible individual who calls himself the king of bollywood.  There were similar events in the past and people like Hon.  Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Mr. George Fernandis, Mr. Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mr. Amir Khan and many more were questioned in USA.  People having surname Patel do not get USA visa easily. But I do not remember any body in the above mentioned list has ever given such an impulsive reaction and made it a sensitive communal issue even if it is one.  I do condemn the interrogation but on the other side we also need to understand that the irresponsible comments and blowing the issue out of proportion could make the matter worst and toxic for the secular fabric of our great nation. We already have it too many problems to solve.

We also can not forget that after 9/11 America did not even have a single incident of terror attack whereas we celebrate when do not have such major incident for 100 days. The difference is the security checks that are in place there and lapses in India. There no one is VIP and we have too many to handle.  We need be more rational rather than just making it an emotional issue and branding everything communal.  As a nation we must protest such act by USA or any other nation. No one has a right to insult our respected citizens but just associating these things with communalism should be stopped. We will only suffer from this.

Few days before Mr. Mahesh Bhat and Mr. Imran Hasmi had made allegation about an apartment in Mumbai and branded it as communal. Two days later, the members of the same apartment filed complaints about these two, after that no news from these celebrities and self proclaimed victims.

One needs to be very careful and responsible before making any public statements. We definitely have freedom of expression but while exercising these rights we also need to remember out duties and responsibilities. The news channels seem to be forgetting basics of journalism and after TRP’s and catching eyeballs. Controversies have become new mantra of publicity.

Sensationalizing the Information

Since last four days all the news channels are behind a breaking news that is of Mr. Shiney Ahuja alleged raped his maid. For next few days they will show all the drama unfolding, creating breaking news every now and then and one fine day will forget and will be behind something else. The journalist on national channels debating the laws related to rape cases, asking experts in the field of law about fate of Mr. Ahuja. This is all beyond imagination. Few days before one idiot from bollywood created a scene on ramp (same person gets Padmashree Award) that became a breaking news and we found people defending the ugly act on national news channels. Lot of things happening around deserve simple condemnation are made complicated, discussed, debated and sometimes supported. I wonder: is this meaning of journalism? Not a single media is unbiased and just restricts itself as a medium of information. Last week I read a news in one of the highest selling local news paper about the owner of rival news paper alleged threatening someone without naming him, but they made it so obvious that everyone understands it and finally passed expert comments about the persons character. While doing that somehow I felt they also forgot the ethics their profession. The same media few months back had declared Arushi’s father, Dr. Rajesh Talwar (if you remember the case of honor killing according to the news channels) a killer even before the investigation was over by police. Same thing is happening in all the cases, the media has become a judge and passing a judgment about all that is happening around.

The media today has not remained only a medium of information but they have become moral police (forgetting their own morality). They do not have independent opinion about the issues but full of bias. Of course this bias is understandable as they all are revenue models and doing it for profit.

We had years of state owned television channel telling us pro government news and information and now we have 100 odd independent news channel (it has become oxymoron now a days) sensationalizing the information to market their channel.

Can Indian ever get the matured and truly independent version of the news? This is the question that remains unanswered.

Ethics and Politics

“The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions gives beauty and dignity to life” (Albert Einstein).

The question is raised time and time again, whether morality should not be the life-artery of good organization. Nevertheless, world-wide crime and white collar crime in particular seem to be at the order of the day. It would appear that morality is considered in theory only.

When we look at the political outfits in our country I doubt whether these people even are familiar with the terms like morality or ethics.  The party manifestoes have becomes just one more documents. I think we do not need the manifestoes we need report cards. No alliance is based on ideologies. Mr. Amar Singh talking about some sting operations carried out by Mr. Sanjay Dutta on one of the union minister. He does not make it public so that he can bargain with Congress for criminal cases against his party chief. On the top of that he also admits the same on national TV. Mr. Varun alleged made provocative statements, he is put behind the bars and booked under (IPC 307) attempt to murder case and NSA is used against him. May be this was right thing to do in given situation. But when Mr. Lalu talks about running a roller on Varun, Mr. Vaiko threatens bloodshed if anything happens to LTTE chief, Mr. D. Shriniwas says same thing what Varun has alleged said, no action is taken against these three gentlemen. The question is : If the law is same for all then why is this discrimination? That means something is wrong somewhere. Like this and many incidents are happing every day. That is why the question whether morality is considered only in theory.

This could be very pessimistic view of Indian political scenario but the solution does not lie in not voting. The real solution is voting responsibly.  

Politics of Reliefs

Today was the last day of 14^thLok Sabha. It is may be just a week before notification for general election by CEC. Mr. Finance Minister cum Mr. External Affair minister cum Mr. Proxy Prime Minister (Mr. Pranab Mukharjee) announced Rs. 30,000 Cr . tax relief, Mr. Home Minister announced 6% hike in DA (on the same day when the inflation recorded at the lowest level in the last 12 months), Mr. Petroleum Minister is hinting one more price cut and Mr. Commerce Minister announced some relief for exporters by announcing a duty cut. All this could have and should have been done earlier and not on single day. Now that the elections are near, we may see another round of these popular announcements happening. Though these steps are necessary there is a grey side to this as well. Fiscal deficit is going to be really something to be seriously worried about.

It is very difficult to understand why you need to hike DA of central government employees; when 30% to 40 % salary hike was given to them (6^th pay commission) not long back. When the price of crude oil has stabilized at around $40 since last two months and already prices have been reduced twice in the last month, was one more price cut required? Of course I am happy personally with the price cut but may be it is not good for the country’s financial health.

The question is how long our governments are going to politicize the reliefs given to common man without rationale behind it. The bigger question is how long we, the people of this great nation being fooled by our governments.

 

Youth and Poverty

The whole world today is fighting the recession. The impact of this unprecedented situation can be seen on the Indian youth as well. When see the young generation, they give me an impression that most of them have not done shopping for a long now. Some people I find them wearing younger sister’s top and jeans which is either very tight and most of the times short. Poor kids have to either wear it as low waist or short. The case is not different as far as boys are concerned. They also have content with shirts of father or younger brother so either it is too loose or a short for them.  If somebody gets new shirt stitched he makes it sure that it is not too long in fact it is about 6” less. Girls whenever a Kudata is stitched make sure that it is as short as possible.  When I see them, I am reminded of an old movie Golmal. The protagonist in the films when asked by the boss: “why do you always wear short kudata?”  He gives the boss a philosophical answer: “If all men start wearing the kudata which is short by 6” it can solve the clothing problem of millions of people in the country”.

I think the youth today is inspired by similar kind of thought and have taken up the task of fighting against the recession and poverty. Indeed a noble cause. But as all the wars ask for sacrifice this one is also tough on these kids. They are not getting a right fit dress or something that suit them and end up being wardrobe tsunamis. I pray for the success of the mission that these people have undertaken.