Chow-yun-fat (not sure if thats the way the name is written) is the superstar of Oriental films (mostly Chinese). You may have see him in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in which he played master of a marital art form and the owner of the sword in persuit 'Green Destiny'. He has a no. of other masterpieces to his credit. One which stands out in my memory is a series of films called 'A better tomorrow I, II and III'. The series of films promises a better future provided the initiative is taken by us to shape it.
The path is anything but easy as we have swim mostly against the current of the stream.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Scenario Buliding
People in our country have been divided on basis of various premise. Region of origin leading to somebody being Madrasi or Bangali or Punjabi etc. Other favourite wway of classifying human beings is religion:Parsi baba, Muslim, Hindus, Sardar, Isaai..
Muslims are a majority amongst minorities and are projected as threat to India as their loyalties are expected to be with Pakistan. Hubli, Hyderabad and Kashmir are examples that are quoted as celebrating when Pakistan wins a cricket match against India..While these example are true, they are not representative of the whole population which follows Islam.
Recently, I overheard a conversation which was about a concern of that gentleman that the way Muslim population is growing, a day will come when in India there will be more Muslims than Hindus and then India will be another Islamic state and Hindus will be forced out of their country..
This called for action of the part of the affected to prevent that to happen..
Thankfully, better sense prevails and such scenarios build ups are ignored..
Muslims are a majority amongst minorities and are projected as threat to India as their loyalties are expected to be with Pakistan. Hubli, Hyderabad and Kashmir are examples that are quoted as celebrating when Pakistan wins a cricket match against India..While these example are true, they are not representative of the whole population which follows Islam.
Recently, I overheard a conversation which was about a concern of that gentleman that the way Muslim population is growing, a day will come when in India there will be more Muslims than Hindus and then India will be another Islamic state and Hindus will be forced out of their country..
This called for action of the part of the affected to prevent that to happen..
Thankfully, better sense prevails and such scenarios build ups are ignored..
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Memory of the Future
Global warming is a 'hot' global phenomemon in recent times and I have heard and sometimes been part of the the discussion on this phenomenon in different situations by friends, colleagues and plain strangers in flights and trains.
Scientists have been quoted in various magazines in which they have created scenarios as to how the earlth would be like if we carry on like this for another 20 years or what would Earth be like in 2050. Melting of Arctic ice has been used to substantiate these scenarios. In India, various articles have used melting of Himalyan glaciers and receding ice cover in Himalyan range have been used extensively to pressurize government into immediate action and to form strong public opinion on the issue.
These scenarios have been accepted as the 'probable future' by the general public as is indicated by the public opinion polls.
This year, the rain Gods in India have been generous with almost all areas of the country receiving ample rains. While this has brought relief to those living in plains like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and to Rajasthan also with water table levels showing significant increase, what has the people wondering is the duration of monsoon. These areas receive most of their rainfall in July-August. This year, the rains started in May itself and continuing even as I write this. Delhi had its wettest and coolest May, then wettest June, then wettest July and it happened again in August.
While people rejoice on this as the rain starved vastlands smile and the countryside has been painted green by the monsoon, the smile have an undercurrent of caution.
This is exactly what the scenarios on global warming had predicted.
This caution is 'Memory of the Future'.
Scientists have been quoted in various magazines in which they have created scenarios as to how the earlth would be like if we carry on like this for another 20 years or what would Earth be like in 2050. Melting of Arctic ice has been used to substantiate these scenarios. In India, various articles have used melting of Himalyan glaciers and receding ice cover in Himalyan range have been used extensively to pressurize government into immediate action and to form strong public opinion on the issue.
These scenarios have been accepted as the 'probable future' by the general public as is indicated by the public opinion polls.
This year, the rain Gods in India have been generous with almost all areas of the country receiving ample rains. While this has brought relief to those living in plains like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and to Rajasthan also with water table levels showing significant increase, what has the people wondering is the duration of monsoon. These areas receive most of their rainfall in July-August. This year, the rains started in May itself and continuing even as I write this. Delhi had its wettest and coolest May, then wettest June, then wettest July and it happened again in August.
While people rejoice on this as the rain starved vastlands smile and the countryside has been painted green by the monsoon, the smile have an undercurrent of caution.
This is exactly what the scenarios on global warming had predicted.
This caution is 'Memory of the Future'.
Think it was day before yesterday in The Times of India, New Delhi edition. TOI published an article referring to a company's using statistical tools to predict no of gold medals and total no of medals won by each country in Beijing Olympics.
The report that the model was able to predict with almost 92% success rate for the total no of medals tally and even more successfully it predicted the no of Gold medals which would be won by each country. For ex - the model had predicted 44 Gold medals for China while it eventually won 51.
And all these predictions were based on the inputs like GDP, infrastructure for sports and three more factors. All the five factors were macro economic.
The model did not even consider the individuals participanting in the games.
The model had predicted 1 Gold medal for India. Well, India went on to beat that forecast and added 2 bronze medals to its kitty.
This model follows scientific forecasting technique which we studied in Forecast based planning.
The report that the model was able to predict with almost 92% success rate for the total no of medals tally and even more successfully it predicted the no of Gold medals which would be won by each country. For ex - the model had predicted 44 Gold medals for China while it eventually won 51.
And all these predictions were based on the inputs like GDP, infrastructure for sports and three more factors. All the five factors were macro economic.
The model did not even consider the individuals participanting in the games.
The model had predicted 1 Gold medal for India. Well, India went on to beat that forecast and added 2 bronze medals to its kitty.
This model follows scientific forecasting technique which we studied in Forecast based planning.
Cathedral thinking
This is an anecdote which I came across sometime back while reading an article on China (China again).
This was written by a person who visited Shanghai for the first time and saw massive construction activity going on. What he felt was that there was a heavy smog in the air because of all the construction activity and the emissions from the factories.
His comment was that as an outsider he felt it but nobody in the city seemed to mind it.
EWverybody was of the opinion that it is for the greater good and had learned to live with it.
This is like Cathedral thinking. Being a active part of something big thats coming up .
This was written by a person who visited Shanghai for the first time and saw massive construction activity going on. What he felt was that there was a heavy smog in the air because of all the construction activity and the emissions from the factories.
His comment was that as an outsider he felt it but nobody in the city seemed to mind it.
EWverybody was of the opinion that it is for the greater good and had learned to live with it.
This is like Cathedral thinking. Being a active part of something big thats coming up .
Monday, August 18, 2008
Leadership Parable
Story of Hwan-the enlightened one and his discliple Lao-Li was good food for thought.
Found another good parable on leadership..this too is from ancient China...Whats the matter, everything's made in China these days..even the parabels are exported from there only..
Its good read too and reinforces neglected aspects of Leadereship and importance of leadership when team members are gems and masters in theit respective areas..
The Wheel and the Light:
Back in the third century B.C., the outbreak of fighting following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty had just ended.
In its place now stood the Han Dynasty, whose emperor, Liu Bang, had consolidated China into a unified empire for the first time. To commemorate the event, Liu Bang had invited high-ranking military and political officials, poets, and teachers to a grand celebration. Among them was Chen Cen, the master to whom Liu Bang had often gone for enlightenment during his campaign to unify China. The celebration was in full swing.
A banquet grander than any ever seen was being held. At the center table sat Liu Bang with his three heads of staff: • Xiao He, who administered the logistics of unification; • Han Xin, who organized and led the fighting activity; and • Chang Yang, who formulated the diplomatic and political strategies. At another table sat Chen Cen and his three disciples. While food was served, speeches given, honors presented, and entertainment performed, all looked on with pride and exhilaration - all except Chen Cen's three disciples, who sat awestruck.
Only midway through the festivities did they utter their first words. "Master," they remarked, "all is grand, all is befitting, but at the heart of the celebration lies one enigma." Sensing his disciples' hesitation, the master gently encouraged them to continue. "At the central table sits Xiao He," they proceeded. "Xiao He's knowledge of logistics cannot be refuted. Under his administration, the soldiers have always been well fed and properly armed, whatever the terrain. Next to his Han Xin. Han Xin's military tactics are beyond reproach. He understands exactly where to ambush the enemy, when to advance, and when to retreat. He has won every battle he has led. Last is Chang Yang. Chang Yang sees the dynamics of political and diplomatic relations in his palm. He knows which states to form alliances with, how to gain political favors, and how to corner heads of states into surrendering without battle. This we understand well. What we cannot comprehend is the centerpiece of the table, the emperor himself. Liu Bang cannot claim noble birth, and his knowledge of logistics, fighting, and diplomacy does not equal that of his heads of staff. How is it, then, that he is emperor?"
The master smiled and asked his disciples to imagine the wheel of a chariot. "What determines the strength of a wheel in carrying a chariot forward?" he asked. After a moment of reflection, his disciples responded, "Is it not the sturdiness of the spokes, Master?" "But then, why is it," he rejoined, "that two wheels made of identical spokes differ in strength?" After a moment, the master continued, "See beyond what is seen. Never forget that a wheel is made not only of spokes but also of the space between the spokes. Sturdy spokes poorly placed make a weak wheel. Whether their full potential is realized depends on the harmony between them.
The essence of wheelmaking lies in the craftsman's ability to conceive and create the space that holds and balances the spokes within the wheel. Think now, who is the craftsman here?" A glimmer of moonlight was visible behind the door. Silence reigned until one disciple said, "But master, how does a craftsman secure the harmony between the spokes?" "Think of sunlight," replied the master. "The sun nurtures and vitalizes the trees and flowers. It does so by giving away its light. But in the end, in which direction do they all grow? So it is with a master craftsman like Liu Bang. After placing individuals in positions that fully realize their potential, he secures harmony among them by giving them all credit for their distinctive achievements.
And in the end, as the trees and flowers grow toward the giver, the sun, individuals grow toward Liu Bang with devotion."
Harvard Business Review
Found another good parable on leadership..this too is from ancient China...Whats the matter, everything's made in China these days..even the parabels are exported from there only..
Its good read too and reinforces neglected aspects of Leadereship and importance of leadership when team members are gems and masters in theit respective areas..
The Wheel and the Light:
Back in the third century B.C., the outbreak of fighting following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty had just ended.
In its place now stood the Han Dynasty, whose emperor, Liu Bang, had consolidated China into a unified empire for the first time. To commemorate the event, Liu Bang had invited high-ranking military and political officials, poets, and teachers to a grand celebration. Among them was Chen Cen, the master to whom Liu Bang had often gone for enlightenment during his campaign to unify China. The celebration was in full swing.
A banquet grander than any ever seen was being held. At the center table sat Liu Bang with his three heads of staff: • Xiao He, who administered the logistics of unification; • Han Xin, who organized and led the fighting activity; and • Chang Yang, who formulated the diplomatic and political strategies. At another table sat Chen Cen and his three disciples. While food was served, speeches given, honors presented, and entertainment performed, all looked on with pride and exhilaration - all except Chen Cen's three disciples, who sat awestruck.
Only midway through the festivities did they utter their first words. "Master," they remarked, "all is grand, all is befitting, but at the heart of the celebration lies one enigma." Sensing his disciples' hesitation, the master gently encouraged them to continue. "At the central table sits Xiao He," they proceeded. "Xiao He's knowledge of logistics cannot be refuted. Under his administration, the soldiers have always been well fed and properly armed, whatever the terrain. Next to his Han Xin. Han Xin's military tactics are beyond reproach. He understands exactly where to ambush the enemy, when to advance, and when to retreat. He has won every battle he has led. Last is Chang Yang. Chang Yang sees the dynamics of political and diplomatic relations in his palm. He knows which states to form alliances with, how to gain political favors, and how to corner heads of states into surrendering without battle. This we understand well. What we cannot comprehend is the centerpiece of the table, the emperor himself. Liu Bang cannot claim noble birth, and his knowledge of logistics, fighting, and diplomacy does not equal that of his heads of staff. How is it, then, that he is emperor?"
The master smiled and asked his disciples to imagine the wheel of a chariot. "What determines the strength of a wheel in carrying a chariot forward?" he asked. After a moment of reflection, his disciples responded, "Is it not the sturdiness of the spokes, Master?" "But then, why is it," he rejoined, "that two wheels made of identical spokes differ in strength?" After a moment, the master continued, "See beyond what is seen. Never forget that a wheel is made not only of spokes but also of the space between the spokes. Sturdy spokes poorly placed make a weak wheel. Whether their full potential is realized depends on the harmony between them.
The essence of wheelmaking lies in the craftsman's ability to conceive and create the space that holds and balances the spokes within the wheel. Think now, who is the craftsman here?" A glimmer of moonlight was visible behind the door. Silence reigned until one disciple said, "But master, how does a craftsman secure the harmony between the spokes?" "Think of sunlight," replied the master. "The sun nurtures and vitalizes the trees and flowers. It does so by giving away its light. But in the end, in which direction do they all grow? So it is with a master craftsman like Liu Bang. After placing individuals in positions that fully realize their potential, he secures harmony among them by giving them all credit for their distinctive achievements.
And in the end, as the trees and flowers grow toward the giver, the sun, individuals grow toward Liu Bang with devotion."
Harvard Business Review
Monday, July 21, 2008
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