Some of these are random, but interesting observations. May be America has made me notice things that I took for granted before.
1. There is a lot of inefficiency, everywhere. I see 5-8 people seating around chatting, the moment I land in Mumbai Airport. On the other hand, private corporations want efficiency, so they will just not have employees, but keep the customers waiting. The longer lines, everwhere,
including lunch halls is common.
Another observation is that in my compay there are 3-4 distinct lunch halls. There is no work-flow, time & motion study. People use same route to go in to Wash Basin, exact same route to come out. The result is longer lines to wash hands after a spicy, aromatic Indian food. Nobody has thought that one should have entrance and exit separate.
2. Obsession with Security. The current security level in my company is weird. You can not get work done. I am not only unable to access the net sites needed for my work, but simple Yahoo mail, google email can not be accessed. I understand, many indian working kids abuse the office computers, but having senior management not being able to copy using USB drive is unaccetable.
3. Bus Routes. I have been using Bus. The company expects that most of the people will come to office at 9.00 and get out at 6.15. I am not sure, how a dual-shore company, where working in us timezones is expected, I am not sure how can one expect leads, manager not on call.
4. Fruits - I grew with notion that one gets Apples only when you are sick. Now I found lot of fruits, everywhere, seasonal and non-seasonal. The road-side sellers as well as big markets in focused areas. Also, like indigeneous ideas, the roadside shops sell assorted fruits (A banana, an apple, a Chicku). It was impressive to see the easy and cheap access of fruits to everybody.
5. Laptop Supermarkets - I went to 2 Laptop Supermarkets - a good, posh, upscale markets, where knowledgeable sales people (Kids!) were selling 8-10 brands of laptops to parents, college going kids and business people alike. The markets are focused, much bigger than the ones I have seen (Fry's Electronics Laptop section, Best Buy), one market is as big as a regular best buy shop. It was pleasant surprise.
6. Airconditioned Bus - There is Mercedes Benz School, it has a Airconditioned bus for all kids to reach to school. This was even unheard of in US. But I guess, money can buy you any privileges in India.
One common theme though, there is hope everywhere, every place, I have yet to meet somebody who is complaining. People may be lazy, not working, but they are not hopeless, scared but very optimistic.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
TRansition Blues #3: Uncertain Life
US life is very predictable, you can plan up-to minutes and still manage to maintain the schedule. INDIA is totally reverse and I am surprisingly adjusting to unpredictability very nicely.
Today, just a rumor initially that there are riots and curfew in Pimpari (near Pune), then by afternoon a full blown topic of discussion, by 4.00 - a managers meeting resulting in decision that we should let people go home. The bus schedule was decided to be preponed.
Now, here I am, running a global project, supposed to deliver something, lost more 1/2 part of my productive day, just because somebody defaced a statue in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, few thousand miles away from Pune. I just agreed with the fact and hurried home.
Two observations:
1. I now understand, why many times my Indian counter parts could not meet commitments.
It is just not in your control how your day will be. The above example is an extreme, but I can
find more than 10 situations where life is controlled by everybody else other than you.
2. I am still Indian - at core :-). Today, I was calm, cool, found ways to reach home safely.
I am comfortable with the ambiguity in my life - at work, at home, in banks, every where.
You need to be brought up, grown up in India to develop the necessary patience.
I hope to continue writing more on my transition in coming days
Today, just a rumor initially that there are riots and curfew in Pimpari (near Pune), then by afternoon a full blown topic of discussion, by 4.00 - a managers meeting resulting in decision that we should let people go home. The bus schedule was decided to be preponed.
Now, here I am, running a global project, supposed to deliver something, lost more 1/2 part of my productive day, just because somebody defaced a statue in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, few thousand miles away from Pune. I just agreed with the fact and hurried home.
Two observations:
1. I now understand, why many times my Indian counter parts could not meet commitments.
It is just not in your control how your day will be. The above example is an extreme, but I can
find more than 10 situations where life is controlled by everybody else other than you.
2. I am still Indian - at core :-). Today, I was calm, cool, found ways to reach home safely.
I am comfortable with the ambiguity in my life - at work, at home, in banks, every where.
You need to be brought up, grown up in India to develop the necessary patience.
I hope to continue writing more on my transition in coming days
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Transition Blues #2, Good things
Transition Blues continues ....
I found some changes with respect my work and people around me, thought you might find these observations interesting.
1. People start late. The commute distance, public transport and overall traffic makes people reach office at 9.00 or after that. It is not possible for them to start early. They do go home late, at least after 8.30 in evening.
2. Companies provide good food. Last 1 week, I found high quality food, with multiple choices, in company cafeteria. I have been eating diet mean - Fruits, Small Sandwitch, a glass of buttermilk. It is pretty acceptable that people will ask for such food.
3. Cell Phone variety - The Cell Phone types available in India are at least 10 fold more than anything I had seen in US over last 10 years. Cell Phone are available, everywhere. The coverage is spotty, but wherever it is, it is better than land lines. I am extremely happy to see the usage and cost. It is cheaper than US or land lines in India.
4. Professional Behavior - Contarary to belief, I found a good Interior decorator & architect, who provides project consultancy, only. I also found few financial planners, willing to work on hourly basis. Moreover, I found a consultant who did my Salary fitment, by charging me fixed fees. So, overall, there is a need and acceptance to service jobs. It is interesting to see it improving. I agree that percentage may not be large, but it is there.
Overall, it has been a really good week, more as I observe and understand,
Ankush
I found some changes with respect my work and people around me, thought you might find these observations interesting.
1. People start late. The commute distance, public transport and overall traffic makes people reach office at 9.00 or after that. It is not possible for them to start early. They do go home late, at least after 8.30 in evening.
2. Companies provide good food. Last 1 week, I found high quality food, with multiple choices, in company cafeteria. I have been eating diet mean - Fruits, Small Sandwitch, a glass of buttermilk. It is pretty acceptable that people will ask for such food.
3. Cell Phone variety - The Cell Phone types available in India are at least 10 fold more than anything I had seen in US over last 10 years. Cell Phone are available, everywhere. The coverage is spotty, but wherever it is, it is better than land lines. I am extremely happy to see the usage and cost. It is cheaper than US or land lines in India.
4. Professional Behavior - Contarary to belief, I found a good Interior decorator & architect, who provides project consultancy, only. I also found few financial planners, willing to work on hourly basis. Moreover, I found a consultant who did my Salary fitment, by charging me fixed fees. So, overall, there is a need and acceptance to service jobs. It is interesting to see it improving. I agree that percentage may not be large, but it is there.
Overall, it has been a really good week, more as I observe and understand,
Ankush
Transition Blues #1
Today is end of first week after moving back to India. Thought, I should take stock of my 'transition blues'. What am I missing? What have I learned?
Here are my transition on blues:
1. I miss the ability to work from home. I have to be stuck to office to get anything done. The phone connectivity or Internet connectivity is not as good as it is in US.
2. I am really appreciating the limited resources companies provide in India. The team I am working with is working with serious limitations compared to US. The access, the transportation, the desktop machines (very poor configuration), overall limitations, the team is still delivering very high quality work. I am unhappy about the constraints.
3. I am already hating the commute time. Currently, I spend 1 1/2 hour, one way to commute to my office. I used to commute more time, more distance in US, but I could complete calls, at least focus on driving. Currently, I am unable to use Cell Phones in BUS (yes, I am using Bus to go to office), or, in Car (Occasionally, driver drops me in office)
4. Sugar, Sugar, Sugar - The Indian Diet, Tea, Coke/Pepsi, Coffee anything else, is full of Sugar. You can not live without Sugar. I am realizing that I need to watch-out, if I do not, the tri-glycerides and cholesterol will take its toll.
5. Last but not least, I am poor. I have realized, after a trip to Nashik, with my Architect. People have developed taste for new, better life style and are throwing money in buying the most expensive items in house. People are not only misusing the available facilities, but are building houses, just to show off. But, business people have lot more money than any salaried employee.
Overall, it has been a fun week, enjoyed every bit of it. The Transition Blues, I guess will be there, can not avoid it :-)
Here are my transition on blues:
1. I miss the ability to work from home. I have to be stuck to office to get anything done. The phone connectivity or Internet connectivity is not as good as it is in US.
2. I am really appreciating the limited resources companies provide in India. The team I am working with is working with serious limitations compared to US. The access, the transportation, the desktop machines (very poor configuration), overall limitations, the team is still delivering very high quality work. I am unhappy about the constraints.
3. I am already hating the commute time. Currently, I spend 1 1/2 hour, one way to commute to my office. I used to commute more time, more distance in US, but I could complete calls, at least focus on driving. Currently, I am unable to use Cell Phones in BUS (yes, I am using Bus to go to office), or, in Car (Occasionally, driver drops me in office)
4. Sugar, Sugar, Sugar - The Indian Diet, Tea, Coke/Pepsi, Coffee anything else, is full of Sugar. You can not live without Sugar. I am realizing that I need to watch-out, if I do not, the tri-glycerides and cholesterol will take its toll.
5. Last but not least, I am poor. I have realized, after a trip to Nashik, with my Architect. People have developed taste for new, better life style and are throwing money in buying the most expensive items in house. People are not only misusing the available facilities, but are building houses, just to show off. But, business people have lot more money than any salaried employee.
Overall, it has been a fun week, enjoyed every bit of it. The Transition Blues, I guess will be there, can not avoid it :-)
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