After reading N.S.Ramanathan's article in IBNlive from Forbes India, one 'Indian techies working abroad on choppy waters'..... I found a new topic for my post.
Disclaimer: This post has no correlation to me being in US now or at on site on a Project....but the writer's thoughts on the realities I have witnessed over the years... This also have no reference to my organization or its employees....
Now towards the reality....
The fact is that the grass is always greener on the other side. Lot of the comments to the original post, says that the ultimate loser in the game of globalization, outsourcing and new visa reforms, is the common IT worker..this includes both Indians and Americans..
One side countries try to take cost advantage, use shared services, improved data centres and focus on cloud and other computing technologies that enhance the utility services... there by creating innovation, technology and new platforms for emerging markets.....
The other side, creeps in the economic imbalances, financial downfalls, manufacturing industries struggling to make domicile decisions and countries suffering from self-reliance. What every American today feels is what every Indian felt in 1940's.....Swadesh!.... We have read in our history, how the Nation boycotted foreign goods and called in for Indigenous products and industries to relive its original glory....Today, forget about the IT industry... at least 7 out of the 10 products that people buy in United States today is not manufactured here....Which means that it has become a buyer's market where close to 70-80% of consumer spending is driven towards a different country manufacturing the product. So it is not just the IT industry but the overall, consumer market have to be re looked just in case they do really want to bring jobs back and bring in more of consumer spending go back to the American grassroots....to rebuild economy, and go back to globalization than going towards centralization in States....
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Enterprise Project Management - Methodology
Projects are driven by people who efficiently manage projects using right tools.
Organization over the years build Enterprise Project Management methodology to handle a suite of projects with a uniformed governance. This method helps them to have a structure to handle all projects for all customers in an organization to handle from inception to closure.
A structured process attempts to solve most of the Project Management problems in a proven process, at the same time, there is a need to have a customized approach to handle project specific issues.
EPM ensures there is a structure providing guidelines, templates and checklist for every stage of Project. Same time, there should be an adequate provision for Tailoring and Waiver and extensively used by Project Managers using their logical thinking, project specific needs and expert judgement.
Decision Making, problem solving and effective attention to management of details should be inclined with the EPM and also consider the big picture of the Organizational Goals and Objectives. Tool should help project managers achieve their objectives and not complicate the process.
Hence EPM should be looked as an effective management tool than a cumbersome process built over the years in an Organization.
Organization over the years build Enterprise Project Management methodology to handle a suite of projects with a uniformed governance. This method helps them to have a structure to handle all projects for all customers in an organization to handle from inception to closure.
A structured process attempts to solve most of the Project Management problems in a proven process, at the same time, there is a need to have a customized approach to handle project specific issues.
EPM ensures there is a structure providing guidelines, templates and checklist for every stage of Project. Same time, there should be an adequate provision for Tailoring and Waiver and extensively used by Project Managers using their logical thinking, project specific needs and expert judgement.
Decision Making, problem solving and effective attention to management of details should be inclined with the EPM and also consider the big picture of the Organizational Goals and Objectives. Tool should help project managers achieve their objectives and not complicate the process.
Hence EPM should be looked as an effective management tool than a cumbersome process built over the years in an Organization.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
How to move folders in Sharepoint?
Go to the Action Menu on the sharepoint and click on the Explorer View.
In the Explorer view, you can drag and drop folders/ files to other locations or cut, copy and paste as needed.
Or use the "Content and Structure" tool in Site Settings
***IT tips are small tit-bits that usually hinder our quick work flow, and thought could help many people who use Sharepoint on regular basis****
In the Explorer view, you can drag and drop folders/ files to other locations or cut, copy and paste as needed.
Or use the "Content and Structure" tool in Site Settings
***IT tips are small tit-bits that usually hinder our quick work flow, and thought could help many people who use Sharepoint on regular basis****
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Celebration of Joy- Thanks Giving
India had been influenced by West over generations now and most of the lifestyles and our way of culture are slowly integrating with the global platform. Be it the education, environment, festivals or cultural integrity, today, India stands nowhere behind any of the generalized protocols of the world. Indian media and marketing have not left behind by bringing in the festivals of ‘Valentine’s day’, ‘Friendship Day’ and ‘Cancer Awareness day’ and so on. But one festival that is yet to reach our entire Indian shores and make an impact in the younger generation is ‘Thanks Giving”.
Gratitude
had been in our blood ever since Indian Civilizations emerged. We do thank people for their kindness, help,
care and affection in all ways possible.
To me, Thanks giving should be one festival that should integrate into
our lives, irrespective of the religion or nationality, because we should take
a moment to pause in life and explicitly express our solidarity and
thankfulness to all people who brought in the difference in our lives. Thanksgiving especially is a harvest festival
giving thanks to God for the harvest and primarily celebrated in US and
Canada. It also becomes an important day
to express gratitude to all things that brought happiness, all the moments of
trouble that we overcame, all the
strength that emerged by lessons learnt, and all the good people in our lives. We have local festivals like Sankranthi,
Pongal, Onam celebrating in similar lines and this urge is only towards a
common thread that can bind the entire nation in gratitude.
I
take this opportunity to thank God, my parents, my spouse and child, my teachers,
my friends and colleagues and all people who influenced towards the best in my
life so far and especially to Inner Wheel that makes us commit for a cause with
conviction, compassion and consistency.
---
Umasree Raghunath, Inner Wheel Club of
Madras South
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Response to Medical Emergencies...Thanks to 911
3 weeks gone from the time I wrote this post, and I justed waited for the right time to click on the "Publish Post" button.... my own experience and incident in Nashville in second week of July when I went on business trip. Now that I am back to action at both home and work, fully recovered and normal, I thought I need to publish this post now....For all my friends and family, I am fine, and just doing great as ever!
------0------0-------0------0-----0----
30000 feet above sea level, up in the skies , far above the clouds, sitting in the AAflight 882, I could think of nothing more than the human touch, of the events that touched my life since I started to Nashville. The beginning was like any other business trip I made in the past few years, and usual, family were with mixed thoughts to see me leaving for a week, this time, the shortest trip. All was fine the day 1, enjoying the connecting flights over Dallas, and wishing SRG from the skies of the Texas, and above, all it was such a fine flight. To me, being a lover of traveling and visiting new places, I could imagine all good things that I planned to do and exploring the Music City… and if time permits make a visit to Mphesis, to see Graceland…
Tuesday evening, returning from work, never expected the unfolding drama… the wet floor close to the car park of the Marriott hotels, and my thoughtless step made me meet with a unexpected accident, within a minute, I just went and hit the floor straight with my face down to the ground with rock surface, and my specs flew few feet away. I remember yelling in pain. Within seconds, I saw my Nigerian Cab driver Frank running to me and lifting me with such a care and also another guest of the hotel coming to pick my things that fell to the floor, my thought was where is my laptop. I just didn’t think that I was bleeding all over my face, and within seconds I saw the hotel manager and lobby attendant running to my aide with ice cubes. I didn’t realize till then that I was hurt, and hurt badly. They just managed to slowly lift me to the hotel lobby to a much comfortable place, and within 10 minutes, I saw paramedics of 911 respond. They were so quick, that I didn’t even realize that I needed them so badly till they started working on me quickly checking my pulse and other vital signs. They moved me with such a caution to let the parts of the body be there as is, whether broken, bruised or bleeding. I was neatly strapped to the ambulance stretcher and let inside and one of the paramedics picked my stuff carefully. Hotel manager Ted was quick to extend his card to be called in an emergency. Unlike in the accident scenes I have seen in the most of my life, the witnesses waited to give all information than running away. Mine was a very minor one, but the kind of caution, care and attention they showed made me salute them with gratitude. Within 15 minutes, I remember getting rushed to the emergency department of Summit Hospital in Hermitage, where doctors immediately attended. Cleaning up the wounds, and completely confirming that I haven’t broken any of my bones, except a bunch of my bunny teethes, and with gushes of cuts in the face, and broken lips and disintegrated mouth for a minute. .doctors gave back me a much awaited smile.
I never knew being organized helps to a great deal in personal life, every year at the starting of the new diary, I dedicate a page to fill in the emergency details including my contact list, insurance details and blood group, and my fullest wish to donate my eyes and organs in case of an eventuality. As the paramedic kept asking for my name, contact and date of birth and insurance details, all I did was to pull out the dairy from my bag and showed him. He looked at me with a strong surprise. His look had a question , “was I awaiting this to happen?” , I smiled, and told him that it’s my usual practice, especially I keep things handy when I travel. This not only helps ourselves but also makes life of people around us easy. They just didn’t have to call anyone till they were done with the complete medical procedures of fixing my torn skin on the face and doing first aid to my teeth. Suddenly after 3 hours of lying down in the hospital bed and letting the doctors do their duty, I realized, my specs gave up on me, and it’s broken. I obviously cannot make it to the hotel or the pharmacy to buy my prescription alone. A little bit of fear started to creep in, and that’s when the nurse came to me saying that I can go back home the same night after an hour. I told her that I am a guest in Nashville, and don’t have a home but a hotel room awaiting me, before I finished, another nurse came in to say that the hotel security would be on the way to guide me to getting back to the hotel. After an hour, Danny, the elder security of the hotel came to me and said that we can leave. I only saw our God, Lord Sai baba in his way he approached me, took me to the pharmacy to pick my medication and then slowly hold my hands to make me get back to my room. Ted, the manager was awaiting my return. He was so tired, but was so sure, that he desperately waited my coming back. After taking couple of details from me, to file an incident report, he dispersed by getting me milk and water. That’s when I really thought, am getting back to life. Suddenly, I saw my phone red button blinking, saying that I have close to 8 messages waiting. Hoops, I was so sure, that half the calls would be from my little girl. And yes, I tried to be careful not to narrate this whole episode to her and sounded normal on the call, but the minute, Raghu came on line, I could not hold back my tears. I had to tell him not to react but listen to my outpour. He said he would fly down immediately, but I had to stop him from scaring my girl. What a beautiful family, I know nothing will happen to me with them in life and around. Couple of desperate calls from my friend vk and pg, who were trying to touch base with me… and I felt my life so abundant….Sedatives and anestisia, made me slip down into sleep soon after passing on the emotional pain to my perseverant husband.
Next morning, I pulled my energies to mail to my boss and inform my client on the happening, as I don’t want them to search for me when I am on a business trip. Had not my specs given up on me, I would have mustered courage to push me to office, but alas, same time, didn’t want to scare people around with a swollen red face filled with bandages…. Thankfully, I managed to get both the specs and dentures leveled up the next day and again, slipped off to a long and much needed sleep. After a day, I had two choices, either to fly back, or continue with my agenda. Both had its own positives, first one basically will make my man comfortable to the fact that I am back home safe, and can get the required medical attention. Second option, will make my things planned on the trip happen, and also is an opportunity to gain respect with my new project team. I didn’t want to give up on the opportunity and decided to muster courage to continue with my plan. The takeaways are the fact, that no matter what woman goes through, we are also equally professional and tolerant, and keep professional calling above personal hindrances. For lot many people around me, believe that women employees, are not fit to work on tough situations and I always took every single opportunity to prove them wrong and prove us right that we are also professionals no matter what of the gender. Neatly, to me, it is the bonding time with the new client and new team and the team responded to me so well. People came forward to help with setting up the required infrastructure and also making me comfortable all through my remaining stay in Nashville. I always write in my blog and articles that no matter what managers have to be looking beyond projects and especially People. I am always blessed to have had and still have such managers who make my professional life more meaningful. My manager and the administration, friends and colleagues not only shared their empathy but also showered a high confidence and respect and much touching care and affection, that made my commitment stronger and fruitful. I was driven to a totally emotional imbalance when my elder sister cried over phone to hear about this incident, having known her as a strong professional herself and a very strong HR manager, I just didn’t expect this from her, but I think first of all, both my sisters are my best friends and great sisters that to them, what matters most is my well being. To me challenges, are always fun. They keep coming my way every now and then. I love fighting them out. And also moving forward. With such a beautiful bonding of family ties, strong support of my colleagues and ever pouring affection of friends and innate courage and strong will, I know, nothing would deter my determination and dreams.
Few best takeaways are the Western Values that we Indians need to really learn from:
1. Response to emergencies, no matter what act fast – to save that golden hour. Thanks to 911. Promote 108 in India and support NGO’s like Alert who are working for this cause.
2. Help unconditionally, don’t run away from responsibility. Thanks to Marriott
3. No matter, what race or country, be helpful and care. Thanks to Frank. I still remember the incident where accident victims are stolen of their things and are left helpless on the roads.
4. Have proper medical insurance. Thanks to SRG who takes care of our insurance details on the day 1 of our arrival in United States, only wish atleast 90% of Indians are driven towards this objective. Statistics show that less than 21% of Indians only have medical insurance.
5. Be Organized. Especially when you travel, keep your things organized and inplace updated, this helps none other than yourself…. Thanks to Thyself!!!
6. Manage things that are manageable. Don’t make personal hindrances reason for not being committed to professional calling. Be truthful and act appropriately
7. Communicate on time. Inform all people concerned of any incidents that may affect the business plans. Communication is vital when you are not available.
8. Limca Communication - This is giving a bad news in the most softest way possible, I think I goofed up here by describing the incident to my sisters,..Hoops!
------0------0-------0------0-----0----
30000 feet above sea level, up in the skies , far above the clouds, sitting in the AAflight 882, I could think of nothing more than the human touch, of the events that touched my life since I started to Nashville. The beginning was like any other business trip I made in the past few years, and usual, family were with mixed thoughts to see me leaving for a week, this time, the shortest trip. All was fine the day 1, enjoying the connecting flights over Dallas, and wishing SRG from the skies of the Texas, and above, all it was such a fine flight. To me, being a lover of traveling and visiting new places, I could imagine all good things that I planned to do and exploring the Music City… and if time permits make a visit to Mphesis, to see Graceland…
Tuesday evening, returning from work, never expected the unfolding drama… the wet floor close to the car park of the Marriott hotels, and my thoughtless step made me meet with a unexpected accident, within a minute, I just went and hit the floor straight with my face down to the ground with rock surface, and my specs flew few feet away. I remember yelling in pain. Within seconds, I saw my Nigerian Cab driver Frank running to me and lifting me with such a care and also another guest of the hotel coming to pick my things that fell to the floor, my thought was where is my laptop. I just didn’t think that I was bleeding all over my face, and within seconds I saw the hotel manager and lobby attendant running to my aide with ice cubes. I didn’t realize till then that I was hurt, and hurt badly. They just managed to slowly lift me to the hotel lobby to a much comfortable place, and within 10 minutes, I saw paramedics of 911 respond. They were so quick, that I didn’t even realize that I needed them so badly till they started working on me quickly checking my pulse and other vital signs. They moved me with such a caution to let the parts of the body be there as is, whether broken, bruised or bleeding. I was neatly strapped to the ambulance stretcher and let inside and one of the paramedics picked my stuff carefully. Hotel manager Ted was quick to extend his card to be called in an emergency. Unlike in the accident scenes I have seen in the most of my life, the witnesses waited to give all information than running away. Mine was a very minor one, but the kind of caution, care and attention they showed made me salute them with gratitude. Within 15 minutes, I remember getting rushed to the emergency department of Summit Hospital in Hermitage, where doctors immediately attended. Cleaning up the wounds, and completely confirming that I haven’t broken any of my bones, except a bunch of my bunny teethes, and with gushes of cuts in the face, and broken lips and disintegrated mouth for a minute. .doctors gave back me a much awaited smile.
I never knew being organized helps to a great deal in personal life, every year at the starting of the new diary, I dedicate a page to fill in the emergency details including my contact list, insurance details and blood group, and my fullest wish to donate my eyes and organs in case of an eventuality. As the paramedic kept asking for my name, contact and date of birth and insurance details, all I did was to pull out the dairy from my bag and showed him. He looked at me with a strong surprise. His look had a question , “was I awaiting this to happen?” , I smiled, and told him that it’s my usual practice, especially I keep things handy when I travel. This not only helps ourselves but also makes life of people around us easy. They just didn’t have to call anyone till they were done with the complete medical procedures of fixing my torn skin on the face and doing first aid to my teeth. Suddenly after 3 hours of lying down in the hospital bed and letting the doctors do their duty, I realized, my specs gave up on me, and it’s broken. I obviously cannot make it to the hotel or the pharmacy to buy my prescription alone. A little bit of fear started to creep in, and that’s when the nurse came to me saying that I can go back home the same night after an hour. I told her that I am a guest in Nashville, and don’t have a home but a hotel room awaiting me, before I finished, another nurse came in to say that the hotel security would be on the way to guide me to getting back to the hotel. After an hour, Danny, the elder security of the hotel came to me and said that we can leave. I only saw our God, Lord Sai baba in his way he approached me, took me to the pharmacy to pick my medication and then slowly hold my hands to make me get back to my room. Ted, the manager was awaiting my return. He was so tired, but was so sure, that he desperately waited my coming back. After taking couple of details from me, to file an incident report, he dispersed by getting me milk and water. That’s when I really thought, am getting back to life. Suddenly, I saw my phone red button blinking, saying that I have close to 8 messages waiting. Hoops, I was so sure, that half the calls would be from my little girl. And yes, I tried to be careful not to narrate this whole episode to her and sounded normal on the call, but the minute, Raghu came on line, I could not hold back my tears. I had to tell him not to react but listen to my outpour. He said he would fly down immediately, but I had to stop him from scaring my girl. What a beautiful family, I know nothing will happen to me with them in life and around. Couple of desperate calls from my friend vk and pg, who were trying to touch base with me… and I felt my life so abundant….Sedatives and anestisia, made me slip down into sleep soon after passing on the emotional pain to my perseverant husband.
Next morning, I pulled my energies to mail to my boss and inform my client on the happening, as I don’t want them to search for me when I am on a business trip. Had not my specs given up on me, I would have mustered courage to push me to office, but alas, same time, didn’t want to scare people around with a swollen red face filled with bandages…. Thankfully, I managed to get both the specs and dentures leveled up the next day and again, slipped off to a long and much needed sleep. After a day, I had two choices, either to fly back, or continue with my agenda. Both had its own positives, first one basically will make my man comfortable to the fact that I am back home safe, and can get the required medical attention. Second option, will make my things planned on the trip happen, and also is an opportunity to gain respect with my new project team. I didn’t want to give up on the opportunity and decided to muster courage to continue with my plan. The takeaways are the fact, that no matter what woman goes through, we are also equally professional and tolerant, and keep professional calling above personal hindrances. For lot many people around me, believe that women employees, are not fit to work on tough situations and I always took every single opportunity to prove them wrong and prove us right that we are also professionals no matter what of the gender. Neatly, to me, it is the bonding time with the new client and new team and the team responded to me so well. People came forward to help with setting up the required infrastructure and also making me comfortable all through my remaining stay in Nashville. I always write in my blog and articles that no matter what managers have to be looking beyond projects and especially People. I am always blessed to have had and still have such managers who make my professional life more meaningful. My manager and the administration, friends and colleagues not only shared their empathy but also showered a high confidence and respect and much touching care and affection, that made my commitment stronger and fruitful. I was driven to a totally emotional imbalance when my elder sister cried over phone to hear about this incident, having known her as a strong professional herself and a very strong HR manager, I just didn’t expect this from her, but I think first of all, both my sisters are my best friends and great sisters that to them, what matters most is my well being. To me challenges, are always fun. They keep coming my way every now and then. I love fighting them out. And also moving forward. With such a beautiful bonding of family ties, strong support of my colleagues and ever pouring affection of friends and innate courage and strong will, I know, nothing would deter my determination and dreams.
Few best takeaways are the Western Values that we Indians need to really learn from:
1. Response to emergencies, no matter what act fast – to save that golden hour. Thanks to 911. Promote 108 in India and support NGO’s like Alert who are working for this cause.
2. Help unconditionally, don’t run away from responsibility. Thanks to Marriott
3. No matter, what race or country, be helpful and care. Thanks to Frank. I still remember the incident where accident victims are stolen of their things and are left helpless on the roads.
4. Have proper medical insurance. Thanks to SRG who takes care of our insurance details on the day 1 of our arrival in United States, only wish atleast 90% of Indians are driven towards this objective. Statistics show that less than 21% of Indians only have medical insurance.
5. Be Organized. Especially when you travel, keep your things organized and inplace updated, this helps none other than yourself…. Thanks to Thyself!!!
6. Manage things that are manageable. Don’t make personal hindrances reason for not being committed to professional calling. Be truthful and act appropriately
7. Communicate on time. Inform all people concerned of any incidents that may affect the business plans. Communication is vital when you are not available.
8. Limca Communication - This is giving a bad news in the most softest way possible, I think I goofed up here by describing the incident to my sisters,..Hoops!
Watching B.R.Chopra's Mahabharat ....after close to 15 years again
Last few holidays, I spent my time watching B.R.Chopra's Mahabharat...in fact showing it to my child who was curious to know the characters of the great epic. I probably could not explain to lot of her questions and found it more interesting and easy to make her watch "Mahabharat" on YouTube. Believe me, the television scenes that I watched almost 15 years ago were so fresh and alive in front of me, and it is not about a sharp memory, but the kind of involvement we had those days to this great serial of all times in the history of Indian Television. As a strong believer, that "Kalachakram" will have answers to all questions, every time I saw the same repeatedly saying how the Past and our own destiny will impact our very future, is in fact a strong lesson to many of us as grown up adults today.
The epic with its poise and grandeur have every thing that no management institution can explain, it has every political angle of administration that no parliament today could adapt every bit of "Rajanithi" proclaimed years and years ago.
The most important takeaways any day of this great epic would be
- Dharmam (Justice)
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Trust
- Passion and Love
- Determination
- Truthfulness
- Tolerance
- Acceptance
- Perfection
- Timelessness
- Priceless
- Abundance
- Honour and Self-Respect
- Relationships
- Emotions
- People
- Borders and Wars
As a parent, I thought it is my responsibility to introduce this great epic to my child, for few reasons.
1. Indian History is not only the most ancient but also the most tolerant and politically strong heritage
2. Every problem will have a solution, and Mahabharat teaches you to think from all angles
3. Be it your relation, friend, or a teacher, if for Justice, it is right to fight against them. This is a very big lesson that today's world of selfish and greedily attitudes should learn from this beautiful history of all times
4. Truth alone wins. What ever may be the battles of life, stand by truth and it wins
5. Lot of lessons to handle relationships, emotions, patriotic feelings, war with wisdom and integrity to the land and the people, friendship and sacrifice, secrets and mazes of life, unwind at ease in Mahabharat, which will be difficult to explain to our modern day kids.
I have grown up watching this great epic, and I strongly believe that lot of my actions and judgements are purely driven by self-conscious effort of what I learnt from this great television serial. To us, it wasn't a serial, it was a visual way of teaching what no historical books or reading could have done. Swami Vedanta tries to explain "Bhagavat Geeta" in all his lectures. BR.Chopra ever lasting Mahabharat should be retelecasted for generations and generations for it is the core of Indian Heritage that all children should be exposed to. It is an immense treasure of knowledge that every parent should pass on to the children. For what stands as a testimony to the truth of life, is not the wealth but the wisdom we pass on to our generations to come. I would request all my friends and readers of this blog to attempt the same, for our children will find direction, a sense of responsibility, an understanding to the lives realities, and a sharp thinking capability to handle any life's given situation. With all gratitude to the whole team of Mahabharat who are for ever green in the Indian Television history, I end...
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