Change Mangement / Strategy implementation

Have been reading up the latest book from Kaplan and Norton called Strategy Maps. Seems a real interesting concept - connection between intangible assets and value creation. Also talks about implementing strategy with sustained value creation based on management of 4 internal processes that are operations, customer relationships, innovation and regulatory & social processes. Anyway, I've just started on it, but I think its an extremely cool concept.
Apart from that, I've been a spectator to change management (though it being done in a very crude manner) wherein the management is trying to introduce hierarchy in de-centralized management situation. The company has already lost a valued employee (important since the organization is about 30 member strong with 'aggressive' growth plans) and has visibly upset atleast a third more of the remaining. One thing visible to me as an outsider is the fact that the only people who raise voice in change management situations are those concerned about the organization while those who resist it, don't talk about it but fill the grapevine. Unfortunately, the management in this organization thinks that the best way is to support those people who do not say anything or resist change, that obviously in this case are those without opinions which means that the organization now lacks people with leadership capabilities. Its the same situation wherein the CEO has a board of directors who don't oppose anything he/she says. We all know, from existing data that these organizations don't move forward a lot. In this situation, I felt that those valued employees should have been used as vehicles for bringing about the change, rather than treating them without confidence. Now the management is aware of their performers losing interest in the organization and are trying hard to retain them. I'm waiting to see what happens next.
Other than that work is going on smooth. And yeah, Bangalore is getting with interest all the rainfall due till 2004. What a season it has been!! Rains started in April and has been going on, which has definitely brought out the pit falls in the city corporation on maintainance of roads, sewage, traffic load, etc.. But then, on second thoughts, I love the rain (except when it traps me and gets me wet). I guess, I better get back to work soon, else I might never leave for home today.

Whats with ability when number of years count??

This is one thing I've always wondered about - who looks at ability when they go by thumb-rule that if you have spent a number of years, you are automatically blessed with ability. Maybe thats why people like Narayan Moorthy had to move out and start out on their own. Its probably the "most st###dest" thing a manager can do. Its soon going to be difficult to keep the ability within the same organization. I'm not advocating that all resposibility be give to the able guy without the years under his belt, but then keep the person involved.
HBR quotes:
"To manage is to bring out the positive energy that exists naturally within people. Managing thus means inspiring and engaging, based on judgement that is rooted in context".
This context shouldn't be the biased to number of years. Anyways I am tired of being work that is only technically challenging and keeping me away from my skills that I believe are more people oriented. I came back to my first employer with the hope of started indulgement in management skills, but unfortunately no one believes in givng me a chance. Maybe I too should step out and try doing things out on my own. Or maybe I should be patient, a virtue that conviniently avoided by me all the time. But you know what, I just might make a good manager, and some one else might crib about me :)
My wife would definitely like a better say in this regard!!!!!

Vote for the guy who conceptualized 'weekends'!!

What a weekend!! First I get to sleep the whole of saturday......I watched 3 Asterix VCDs (I am a vivid fan of bookish-cartoons) but then so flushed out from last 2 weeks work that the only time I was awake was to change the CDs!! Then I was again awake when my wife took me out to lunch with another of my MBA batchmates at this restaurant called 'Woodys'. But then apparently it was a bad day - slow service, extremely salty raitha and more over high priced and less quantity food. Then back to sleep before we visited my colleague's house (who are also from the place as my wife and hence they hit off pretty well). This colleague of mine has been a terrific inspiration for my work because her charm can transport you away from the stress and tensions of work, refresh you and then get you back. It would be terrible for me to have to see her go away to take care of her son, but then I've never always got everything I want (as is the case with most humans). She's always a special source of inspiration for me and she's like a elder sister to me always. And then of course we went to a cousin's place to coolect a few things sent by my mother-in-law. She sent 'kajoo'-burfi, a sin which I willingly indulged in inspite of my target of weight loss. That night I drove on the ring road with loud music, I was extremely happy for no reason - what a feeling!!
The previous nite(friday) I managed to get out of office finally at 9:20 PM and join my wife (who waited me for .5 hrs more than the scheduled time). Then I had to take her out to dinner and listen to her talk, since I was unable to do it all week. So finally as we finished the butter chicken, sindoori kabab and kerala parotas, she was back to her jolly self. We even called up the 'Pari' of our MBA group and she was chirping at her happiest yet. Yeah, no doubt, she's deep and badly in love with an architect. True, there are all the signs of it shaping into one of the bollywood block-busters, but here too, the hero-heroine will definitely triump. I would also love to play a part to see them succeed.
And sunday, the day my friend came back from Shangai, we played tennis with the new chinese rackets and then had masala-dosa's at home. He also has brought close to a 100 DVDs from China. Wondering how much time we might take to see all of them. I also decided to buy a DVD/MP3/CD player and have it installed in my new house. It will be wonderful to have to listen to music (surround sound, mind you!!) in my study and read all those books!!
So what a terrific weekend!! Now on this monday morning, I need to take rest from my weeekend!! When is that concept going to be implemented??

Facts that haunt and a nice one

Boy it was a hectic night - first fight the sleep, in the process do the work and then realise after one hour that the code is not working because of a spelling error?!! Anyways now that is the past, a milestone reached (not exactly successfully since I'm still slogging at it, but not a worry) and time to worry about where my ife is going.
Thats comes to who I am and what am I good at. A mechanical engineer, armed with a MBA (not to forget that its a diploma) doing the work of software development with a little bit of here and there activities of project management. Compared to my friends and backed by the records of "Rank-Holder" (though personally it means nothing more than a piece of paper issued by the university (and of course the medals) which no one even considers worth looking) in both BE and MBA, I seem to be working for a pittance compared to many of batch mates. Not that I dislike my work (its challenging and engaging), but should I be earning more that what I currently do. And the nature of work, according to the market (for my qualifications), says I should be that high-flying executive having meetings after meetings and making decisions for my company. I do believe that I have what it takes to do it and also know my limitations. But what happens to the part when I am supposed to get the right opportunity? Did the script-writer of my life actually forget to put that part in? My uncle says "Look for a God-Father (a.k.a mentor) in the organization since God-Father also look out for God-Sons". But why would someone even think about mentoring me when they all are busy fighting the part scripted for them. And if I'm to find someone who is not in the rat race, either I should be introduced to their leagues or I would be with a loser (who also is apparently not a part of the rat race). There is no way I can walk into the office of Narayan Moorthy and ask him to be my mentor!!! Well I guess I still ahve to fight in the rat race, but the only consolance (for my psyche) is that I believe "Sincererity never goes un-rewarded". So I'm sure that the opportunity is going to come up soon and when it does, this "warm-up" part in my life will help me face it.
BTW, I thought it would be nice to tell my wife about my blog. And, in all my contemplations, one fact for sure is - "She is the best thing that ever happened to me in life". So all un-married people, its time to get into the muddle and you will realise that two people are better than one. And hey, the catch is choosing the partner.
;-)

Who ever thought Java was easy??

Who ever said Java was easy?? Just remind me to kill that person!! A strange language - the lastest developments, easy to pick up while the older ones make life a hell!! Well I'm referring to JSR 168 for the former and JSP(!!!) for the latter. I've been in office the whole of last week, including saturday and sunday and today, I think I might just spend my night here. My wife is already complaining and but this deadline is just too close. Right now I've already committed the crime of shouting at her and making her feel miserable, all for the sake of JSP behaving badly (especially when the community on Google says its supposed to behave some other way). Yet she calls me and tries to make me comfortable. I have to make up to her sometime this week, but the question is how??? Anyways I hope to write more tomorrow coz I have to finish this worlk(else what use is this entire night).
On the lighter side - "Thank GOD, US is on an average 0.5 days behind us"