Walking back from the "End State"

Currently, I ve an assignment that is much bigger than what I ve ever dealt with in my professional life. So, I am feeling much like how Nillekani might have felt being given the UIDB job. Just in a different scale may be ;)

Last few weeks I am completely lost about even where to start, as the problem definition is so vast.

Whatever I think of, has been thought of by someone already. Whatever I feel is a gap, has no money in it, for the business to be sustainable. But, just staying away from all the money, schedule, business viability, I do see 10-15 yrs away, entire country / region needing a solution that should start being in place from now.

The need is clear. The problem definition is crisp. There is only going to be increasing need for this. Then why does not it fit the standard business plan criteria to get funded and started ?

Trying out a complete new approach ! Dream the "End State". Scenario 2020 for emerging country like India. Then walk each block of that desired end state from 2010, without thinking Money / P&L for now !!

Will update how it goes :)

Addiction to Nagging Nannies !!

I see kids growing up with constant reminders.

Early morning rush to school, screams by mom/dad - "brush properly. Don't waste breakfast, did you finish breakfast ? Its 7:30A already ... you should better be dressed, school in 15 mins" etc.

At work I see the so called program managers sending day in day out reminder mails, which are becoming more and more machine like, script like ! - "You the have such and such action item to finish by ".

And things get done.

So, I went in to analyzing, what value add does this nagging reminders really have ? Does it irritate the people who are already doing their job as if they own it ?? Does it help the rest of the people who would slow down if there is no reminder ?

One interesting thing I found out is - there is a certain level of addiction built in to all to these reminders. People / Kids being screamed at, being nagged, have grown dependent on this. Just like say nicotine addiction. If you let them go, they would not be able to complete their own work in time as back in their mind they are waiting for that nagging, that scream.

I am going to take this risk and try it on my kids this week. Wont push them to complete their morning routine. And if the miss school bus that is fine. They should realize this and get the ownership of their own actions.

Experiment with family first. Then it would come to work !!!

"Loading" and "Productivity"

After measuring productivity quarter over quarter, for a large pool of young and skilled engineers, I see a pattern which may not be too obvious.

It was known that if the "loading" is less, productivity will be less.
Meaning, say you have 5 things to get done with 1 person's help.

We assign 1 item out of the list to the person. Wail until that is done to assign the next one etc. The productivity will be lower than assigning 2 from the task list together.

Logic: Person has to do certain level of multitasking. When stuck on one task because of external dependencies can work on moving the 2nd item. etc.

Now, when we stretch this, assign all 5 tasks you know of for the person at once without serializing or prioritizing them, or telling each one is critical.

The productivity of this model becomes lowest.

This one is more tricky ! Here the reason of losing efficiency is no longer because of "idle cycles because of waiting on external dependencies". It is more behavioral !

Human being tends to "procrastinate" when there is "too much" to do !

Right when I think I am getting to the right level of loading for optimal efficiency of the work force, my trainer at the gym broke the news to me - "If you overwork, you ll feel so sour that you wont come to gym for 3 days, and that will make you achieve less result. If you work out too mildly, your body would stay lazy and feel no need to build more muscles."

Hmmm.. this is not new !

Gen Z - Idiots !

Time to practice Picture Composition for my 8 yr old. And here is the picture that was given to write a 10 sentence story.

We all know how the story should have gone ! And here is how it went :)

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The Two Friends
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Once up on a time there were two friends. "Chatur" the Tortoise and "Rancho" the Rabbit. They wanted to go to the nearby temple. Chatur said to Rancho, "I am very slow. Can you put me on your back and run ?". Rancho carried Chatur and started towards the temple. But on the way there was a river. Then Rancho said, "I can not swim. Can you put me on your back and help me cross the river ?". Chatur took Rancho on his back and they both crossed the river and went to the temple.

One more "money" mantra !

This is taking the "money" theme to a certain extreme.

My kids school came up with a rate chart a month ago, that looks like this -

"Forgot to do home work - Rs. 50 fine"
"Forgot book at home - Rs. 50 fine"
"Dirty shoes - Rs 25"
" Wrong socks - Rs 25"
"hair not combed properly - Rs. 25"

etc.

For all these, when we were kids, we had to stand separately in assembly or max kneel down.

Even schools are getting innovative in business of money making ! Not sure what the kids will learn. Here the punishment is given to the parents.

My 8 yr old, when he forgets to pack the right book - I pay Rs 50 next day.

Taxing financially to inculcate discipline among toddlers. Taking it too far.

Economic bent to traditions !

Having grown up in the land of rituals, traditions and so called culture, I ve accepted few things as norm without questioning them.

However, I see financial viability changing some of that.

Recently I ve attended 2 marriage parties, in southern part of India (this part abides by tradition more than the other parts of India) where "Reception" is done the night before the actual "Marriage". This used to be a NO-NO not so long ago in India.

Being inquisitive, I asked the reason. And figured - the party halls are given for booking for 24hrs starting mid-day to next mid-day. And going over it would cost twice.

So its economical to do the reception on the first day evening and marriage in the following morning and get out of the party hall after that.

So, it may not be only money, its availability of the party halls to. So money and availability has been able to change the thousand year old custom !

Economy is the only true religion left !

Its the "change" and not the "net" value ...

Everyday we walk in to our work place with huge digital displays showing company's stock price.

That's one of the ultimate metrics of effectiveness of our work - agreed ! And lot of us who have this stock in our portfolio through ESOP/ESPP or RSU do pay enough attention to this one.

One thing interesting I noticed today though ! When the ticker is in RED we get that feeling, "MAN something went wrong". Even the very next day if it is green we feel happy. Even if the net value on the green day is less than that of the red day. See the pictures. Cropped to hide identity of blogger's employer.