My Management Funda...

Disclaimer: This blog is based on personal experiences and inspired by Jack Welch’s book “Winning”.

I am no management guru like Jack Welch. But from my experiences I can say why some telecom bigwigs are making millions of losses and going down. I am listing out some reasons why the one time all powerful, full of innovation, technological marvels who have been in existence for 100s of years are sinking (or have already sunk)?

Sales & Marketing:
Often I have heard big telecom giants saying that their sales force is experienced in selling voice and telecom gear. Hence they are not successful in selling IP (or data) gear. Well this is the biggest BS of all. Well, for one thing, IP has been here for more than 20 years. You have been investing in IP for more than a decade. If you are still stuck with guys who can’t sell IP products, then somewhere, someone is not doing their job properly!

Building solutions isn’t enough! They must be sold to the customers. Sales are all about opportunities. If there aren’t any, you got to create it. Now for example, providing free access solution for KSRTC/BMTC Volvo buses. Its quite a sale. Involving at least 100 access boxes and backbone! Similarly, access solution in Railways, even if 10% of the trains use this solution, its good business. Agreed that there are no RFPs or whatever for these, but then, selling is all about creating opportunities, right? :-)

Acquisitions:
Making strategic acquisition is the most important way for the big - old companies to survive and grow. Cost saving cannot get you to profits (it only pisses off your employees), innovation and market changing ideas do. When you have 60 thousand disgruntled employees, you can be rest assured that path-breaking, market changing ideas are not going to come from within. If at all some one has an idea like that, they would obviously spin off and form a start-up of their own. So, its very important to acquire good start ups and continue to stay on in the game.

In my opinion, big companies should have a specialized team to monitor upcoming and existing start-ups in all countries. I also believe that strategic start-ups have to be picked up fairly early because (1) you get them at a cheaper price and (2) you get a highly motivated team. To realize the importance of acquisitions look at the companies those have missed strategic acquisitions: Nortel which missed acquiring Cisco and Yahoo which missed out taking over Google.

People Management:
People (or work force or resources) are an asset in any business. The problem starts when people become a liability. That’s when companies treat them badly, give bad hikes, make false promises and piss them off. This would result in disgruntled employees who don’t perform. Well, the problem here really lies with people management. Lack of open feedback, retaining and investing in loss making businesses are some of the reasons for this.

Candor is one of the most important qualities of people management. Honest feedback from the market, R & D etc has to be taken by the business leaders and given to the respective teams and then percolated down to the respective individuals. No Sugar coated words. Absolutely honest and direct feedback. This will (i) motivate highly performing people (ii) put some serious sense in under performers (either they will improve or quit or can be fired!). This way, people wouldn’t turn into liabilities!

Some other points are:
Celebrate successes, however small they are!
Get rid of bureaucracy!
Get rid of complex processes (and tools) that people don’t understand!
Keep your people well informed on all developments!
Let people grow! Promote them, give more responsibilities and recognize efforts with awards!
Finally you are a big company, act like one! Provide great facilities at the office. Treat your people really well. Understand that great cubicles, great furniture, neat pantry, clean rest rooms will motivate people better.

Every management book talks about this. Nobody really cares. That’s why big companies sink!!!

Image copyright: www.dilsecartoons.com

Blogging...

Wow! I got a lot of feedback for my previous blog. A few angry words, a few threats and a few sympathies. So, first of all DISCLAIMER. The guy I wrote about in the previous blog is definitely NOT me. The blog is NOT directed towards any particular person. It was intended to be generic. All the experiences recorded in the blog are NOT fictional also and resemblance to any person(living) proves that I am right!

This is all because of my company. A few days back, I got an SMS. It said that an organization is like a tree full of Monkeys. All on different branches, at different levels. Some climbing up and some climbing down. The monkeys on the top look down and see a tree full of smiling monkey faces. The monkeys below look up and see nothing but a$$ h0£€$. This is quite true at my work place. I work as a software engineer for this big multinational company (which I don't want to name and spoil the brand name). The company is so good that they have decided not to make me (and people like me around here) work. This has pushed me to cultivate a lot of hobbies like blogging, watching movies, listening to music, chatting, orkutting, jogging etc. Slow down is such a nice time to relax.

Recently, I had grown a beard which had been the center of attraction and criticism. It was interesting to see what all people branded me for a patch of facial hair. I was scolded, threatned and emotionally blackmailed to shave it off. For all those people who slung mud on my innocent beard, go find something else, I got rid of it.

I can't think of anything controversial right now. I will end this here. I hope that the recession continues to give me enough time to enjoy blogging.

My Company

My Company

It was during the first week of June, a rainy day in Mangalore. I had been home for the weekend to help my dad pack his bags. He was supposed to leave for London on Tuesday. My dad was speechless. I could see him shocked and extremely worried. My grand pa was shouting at me for giving up the offer at IBM. My sister too called from the UK and she wouldn't stop chattering. My mom wanted to know whether I can go back to claim my offer at EMC. More than that they were all worried at my come-what-may attitude. I somehow still trust my company and its wonder product SG-8. It might be true that we are finding it difficult to market our box, but a day will come when the market for our technology will see a boom.

Our company just had third round of funding and a major restructuring in the top management. Most of the guys in the US office left, so, did the sales team in many other countries. There were rumors flying that Indian team too will have to face some cuts and lay-offs. This was the news that pushed my family to agony. I still remember the day I got 3 job offers. Everybody was so happy. I had finally settled, so, they thought. My mom called all her friends and even had a mock party. My sister rushed from UK with her 2 months old baby to join us for the joyous occasion. Today they were all concerned. Yes, they are my family. They celebrate on my success and they have the right to be concerned.

Well, for me, it was just another company affair, like hiring new faces. Me and a few friends of mine (who are from JCE too) were undeterred by the rumors and the restructuring process. Our founders left, entire Hyderabad team was sacked and many people in Bangalore center too quit. It was chaotic. But that didn't affect me, nor my friends. We didn't look for new jobs or neither planned to quit company to pursue higher studies or our own venture. Thats why my parents were so concerned. I assured my father that I can take care of my own future and he left for UK with a heavy heart. After lot of arguments over the phone, I successfully convinced my sister and mother. I knew I could not convince my grand pa. So, I gave up the idea.

Many colleagues in my company were looking for new ventures. They wanted to quit before the ax fell on them. I just didn't care. I thought, in the worst case scenario, the company will fire me, I'll take up a job in Infy, Mangalore or get into politics! My friends from JCE and I decided not to quit the company until we are asked to. There was mistrust and lack of confidence everywhere in the company. Nobody believed us when we said, we are not looking for alternatives. We even tried to convince a few, but in vain.

Meanwhile, senior members in the company were busy in confidence building among the existing employees. One evening, during first week of June, I was having my routine coffee with biscuits in my cubicle. Technical director (T.D) of India operations (The post sounds big, but his cubicle is smaller than mine. Thats how informal and friendly our company is and thats why I have no plans of quitting it.) came up to me and said that he had something to share with me and took me to a conference room. I was certain that he was going to fire me since I had no development work recently and usually spent my day in office browsing. My senses went numb and I was all wet with sweat. I was waiting for the worst to come.

He started speaking, “Don't worry. Lately the company is seeing some major changes. I know these are all very confusing for a fresher like you, take my words, we are not going to fire any one in Bangalore.”

What! I could not believe my ears. No lay offs, I'm staying here? I literally wanted to get up and dance. But he went on.

He said, “I know you are a bit apprehensive”,

I interrupted him saying, “What!! No, no, no way. I'm fine.” I was now happy and up with confidence.

But he didn't believe me.

He continued, “Its alright, I can understand. Probably you are seeking other ventures, getting call from consultants, but its really ok. Everything will return to normal. All we need is some time. Are you ready to give NetD some time?

What the hell! I thought, and I told him, “Don't worry, I'm not at all looking for other ventures. I'm happy with my job...”

He didn't trust me at all.

But I continued “... and I'm willing to stay with this company.”

He kept staring at me blankly.

He finally said, “If you stay with us now and we go down in this crisis, I assure you that, I'll help you get placed in best of the industries. I can definitely do that for you.”

Oh! Come on man! Don't get emotional.

I assured him, “Ok look, I was a bit tensed, but now when you said there'll be no lay-offs in Bangalore, I'm relieved. These things happen in start ups. Thats where all the fun is. I trust the new management. Believe me I think we'll move on and make a huge profit. We just have to come together and work for the company, thats it. I'm ready to give whatever the company needs from me.”

I knew he bought it because he was stunned. He managed to say, “Wow, Its very surprising to see your attitude. Good, and Thank you, I have nothing else to say, lets end this meeting.”

Thats what I wanted, lets end the damn meeting, I wanted to celebrate.

I immediately called my sister in UK and told her that my job was fine. I could hear her trying hard to control her tears.

Even today, there are uncertainties. Ours founders, who had left the company have come back. People in Bangalore are quitting for plum packages and a safe future like every opportunist would do. But life moves on. We get 2 builds every week to sanitize. Seniors try to be happy and cheerful. I still don't have any work as such. My manager says, he'll get the road maps in place pretty soon. I've enjoyed every moment in this company. I certainly do not want to quit it when its ailing. I'm determined to be with it and see the company making new revolution in the market. I know we'll make it. My company will rise again.