Plaigarism and the Information explosion...

Two years back, when I came across this company, which was utterly chaotic in terms of functions and processes, I wanted to write about how this organization was 'Thriving on Chaos', but as I generally dwell over the idea for few days, I discovered, the great Tom Peters has already authored a tome titled 'Thriving on Chaos'. Bah! my idea was taken already...

My friend Andy had just joined an IT org, which promotes their own social networking site - My Roob. Well, I am registered on most of the famous social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook, hi5 among others, I've always taken extreme care that I should not click on ads, as they result in irritating pop-ups, and that caught me thinking, a significant lot in this world perhaps may carry the same mentality. The question here was, if everyone was so cautious about all this, how exactly do these sites make their money, and there are so many new ones that start-up, and even get the capitalist funding... This idea too, I had found existed on the net, here's the link -Social Networking Remains Hot

Just a few days ago, I had a thought of writing about the 'People over Process' philosophy that companies claim to practice; and I personally perpetuate that idea too. But, Urggggh! I found a blog with almost the same words... perhaps it was better too... In case you wanna read it, here's the link - People over Process.

I'm wondering now, how many of the stuff I had written about are already existing on the internet? Would I be caught for plagiarism? I know the images may be copyrighted, but... what of an idea?

Last of all thoughts, what extra-bit of difference am I making, if most of the ideas already exist? Perhaps that's why research scholars religiously practice 'Survey of existing Literature' before commencing a research project.

Can 'Jugaad' Kill India?

I just hope someone doesn't sue me for Blasphemy and Treason against my nation. But, maybe you'll agree with me at some level with this argument of mine.

First, let's understand what is Jugaad? A colloquial Hindi word, which means 'a quick fix' to anything. For example, if I got caught for over-speeding, and am liable for a heavy penalty; Jugaad in this situation means 'to find a simpler and less costlier means of fixing the situation." So, Jugaad takes a new meaning in different situations, but the bottom line remains - 'a quick fix', or 'finding a shortcut'. It certainly means a solution, but a temporary and short-lived one... for the time being.

Now, I've heard this term Jugaad, from few corporate leaders in their presentations, and even news channels who claim it as India's strength. But I fail to understand how easily they happen to promote this Jugaad culture by raising a favorable voice - Here's my case against Jugaad! How do so many small IT companies get to thrive on softwares? IT's Jugaad! Most of the Software installed is Jugaad! How do so many second-class businessmen get government licenses and all? It's Jugaad! How do so many law-breakers find means to work out a way? It's Jugaad? How do miserly Lala (miser) companies show-off swanky offices and executives? It's Jugaad! How does an incompetent guy get into a good job? Jugaad!

Huh! Many ways of Jugaad, and many ways Jugaad can help you thrive.

Most of Indian businesses, from the small home offices, to the large corporates, a majority of them survive on Jugaad. Not only them, but large organizations have made paths to Jugaad in mainstream management. The way Indian corporates are into Jugaad, it's perhaps counted among skills and competencies employees need to have. They want seasoned 'Jugaad' professionals.

I certainly do not think, that this Jugaad culture is applicable to India alone, but, if this remains the way we do business, and manage our work, it certainly can be disastrous. Cos, Jugaad is a short-term, even a momentary strategy, and will uncover its disgrace sooner or later. If one moves out of India and explores the more developed nations, we can see how Jugaad is simply not done; there's not future in doing 'Jugaad'... and Jugaad actually becomes our way of life and business... INDIA will die! Jugaad will kill it!

This is open for debate...

How unfair are we?

The world, they say is unfair...

But, we're so consciously so unfair to one another.. and that I wonder if God would forgive us for our unfair acts that we so willingly and knowingly commit...

What is the world if it were not for us?

Beware of the Strategy man...

He's fully aware of his own personality, and also the the impact he has on those around him. He's a man driven with ambition to achieve his dreams. It matters not to him, whether you win or he wins. All that matters is whether he's winning it or not. All that he speaks, the harshest word, the humility in his deepest voice; every gesture, every act, whether humble, kind, inspiring or even threatening is not an accident or by chance. They've been fashioned to make and leave impressions, to meet an end..., a detail of a very calculative step.

It's a fragment of a larger well-thought of plan. The strategy man...

Condoms and Corporate!

Crazy idea, eh? Well, it came to me through corporate folklore about a person whom I've never known. Here's the exact statement made by the victim in the narrative: "These bastards have used me like a condom."

A little thought o'er the statement makes me recollect the famous Madhur Bhandarkar's Bollywood movie 'Corporate', where the so very beautiful Bipasha Basu transformed into a similar use-and-throw thing... For that... well, condom makes an excellent metaphor.

I've seen decades of 'valuable' experience being debased with one letter (obviously, here I am not talking of non-performing employees). Oh yes, e-mail these days do a better job and also can help avoid a personal confrontation. And if it's to be done sooner, an SMS comes in handy; Even the chat messages on MS Communicator, or other clients do a good job by leaving an offline message if one doesn't want to take the pain of writing an e-mail.

What to say? I can only recall these wise words of another businessman turned Chief Mentor of "Love your job not your company, because you never know when it stops loving you." What I admire most about it is, the essence verbalized out of, God knows how many years of corporate experience.

If you want to follow the Leader speak, here's it in Narayan Murthy's words "Love your job not your company", at least if you don't want to be treated like a Corporate Condom!