Let there be light

Too much stress or time

2007-02-12T00:32:00.000+05:30

would you believe that I wrote the following junk. hours gone days gone and gone are weeks, spirits of the group are going weak, looking for mails and looking for fun, things are fading like the evening sun, so let us start some cool activity, few from anuraag few from anubhuti, I know that you have no time, yet alok and hitesh should try some rhymes Manish and vinesh are getting so busy? I think work is less and they are lazy Chirag and Saurabh where are you, you look like lost & we are looking for you. there are no signs of jaggu and kotes, we'r waiting for cracks and waiting for jokes, Pankaj and vishal what's the situation, there is no news there is no question, there no sounds of vikas and chandu, write something junk or something fandu, everyone is requested to put some bang, to light those spirits back in the gang, mittal is waiting for reply from you, you all should know that I love you. I know I know its good. please everyone of you should give it a try write some poem and write some rhymes, I know most you won't be close to this *********************** (j/k) still you should give it a shot and let it miss.

Future of Banking in India – Changing Imperatives

2006-10-25T23:09:00.000+05:30

A healthy financial system is crucial for any economy thriving to achieve high growth and yet remain stable in an increasing global capital markets. The Indian banking sector has witnessed several reforms in the era of liberalization. Government did a commendable job to ease regulations and attract foreign investments. Confidence in banking sector increased not only among consumers but also in capital market. Indeed Indian banking sector has come far from the economic instability to a period of growth opportunities. However, a closer inspection reveals that tight government control is undermining India’s overall economic performance. India’s banking sector is studied over several areas of concern and findings are quite disappointing.

If we regress few years, in year 2001, Indian banking system was creaking. Non-performing loans were reported to be as high as 10 % of the loans of banking institutions. A resource-strapped Indian government was evaluating foreign direct investment, recapitalization and capital markets to set about strengthening the sector and encouraging structural change. It critically assessed that the recapitalization would not be possible given a high fiscal deficit (6.1 percent of GDP of 2000). Also it observed that capital markets will not come forward to rescue, as even after six years, banks had only raised $1.6 billion and capital markets did not show any interest in most government-owned and private banks because of their weak performance. In short, government had to look for private domestic and foreign investor to revive the sector. India did a good job to get over the time of instability, however much is required to done to propel further transformations. The transformation can be achieved by focusing on the areas identified below.

Savings of the people
Astonishing levels of savings and investments occur outside the formal financial system. Even though the country’s households save about 28 percent of their disposable income, but invest only half of these savings in bank deposits and other financial assets. The other half is invested in housing and machinery to support household businesses characterized with low-levels of productivity. These businesses lack technology and business know-how and are below efficient scale. India would demonstrate a much faster growth if these savings could be channeled through banking sector and allocated to more productive enterprises. Government needs to take initiative outside the banking sector to squelch these businesses with low-productivity. Though there is political pressure as some believe that it will result in losses of jobs for millions, however losses in jobs would be compensated by job creation in higher productivity businesses. Banking sector needs to play an instrumental role to allow this transformation to happen smoothly.

Liquidating Gold
Indians are the world’s largest consumer of gold. Indian banks attract none of the $200 billion savings that Indians have keep tied up in the gold. A large portion of it is in rural areas, which is effectively outside the reach of current banking penetration. Building more countryside branches, as most state-owned banks have done, is not sufficient. Key is to understand rural household needs and offer products that would allow cash against gold deposits. Government should give incentives banks to launch gold-deposit schemes to attract more of the value of consumer gold into financial system through banking. This would allow more formal control over a large asset, which could be directed to fund newer opportunities and thus get a higher rate of return.

Cost of bank Intermediation
Indian banking sector suffers from very high cost of intermediation, 5.6 percent in 2004 compared to 2.4 percent in United Kingdom and 1.8 percent in US. It is high mainly because state-owned banks, whose productivity levels is 10 percent of US levels, control 75 percent of bank assets. To improve the situation government needs to encourage consolidation among state-owned banks and improve corporate governance of bank by making them independent and accountable to stakeholders. The cost of intermediation is detrimental to financial system, as because of it savers get too less a return while borrowers need to pay a high cost of capital. This motivates people to create informal market places where borrowers and savers could transact without government taxation and regulations.

Increasing Productivity using Technology
Public sector banks currently function at productivity levels far below of the best Indian banks. India’s IT sector on one side leads the technology initiatives to make American banks increasingly more productive, India’s banking sector shy away from heavy technology investments to remain least productive. India needs to ensure comprehensive adoption of proposed internet, mobile and electronic technologies by creating incentive for banks to make initial investment to revamp their underlying business processes.

Private Banks
Retail-banking customers in India are very loyal to their domestic banks. According to McKinsey’s study 69 percent would stay with their current banks even if competitor’s offered lower cost of transactions. However there are certain customer segments which are willing to try foreign banks. Multinational banks should leverage their ability to deliver quality service and a sophisticated portfolio of financial products to create willingness among consumers to shift their assets to private banks and capture a share of India’s large retail-banking market. Increased participation by private banks will not only improve the productivity of the sector but also allow a more efficient capital allocation.

Government Regulation
Government regulations oblige banks to direct a high proportion of their funding to the government and its priority investments. Banks are required to hold 25 percent of their assets in government bonds. And to exasperate the situation, state-owned banks, that control the 75 percent of total assets, hold a much larger percent of their assets in government bonds. Further banks must direct 36 percent of their loans to household businesses, agriculture and priority sectors characterized with low-levels of productivity. Directed loans have high default rates, which restricts banks to achieve higher lending levels to avoid higher risk-exposure. This diversion of funds not only takes away investment from higher productive opportunities but also contains lending levels. Government essentially is financing its budget deficit through these regulations to follow a flawed approach to achieve social welfare objectives.

Competing with China
India aims to achieve growth rate comparable to its neighbor China. A detailed inspection of the numbers can show that India needs to vitalize its banking sector to increase capital investment rate resulting in higher GDP growth. Deposits in India represent 60 percent of its GDP compared to 142 percent for China. India’s saving rate, though respectable, is only half of the China’s rate. India’s financial depth, a measure of country’s financial stock with its GDP, is just 160 percent compared to 330 percent of China. Given above figures, India can still achieve its target mainly because the allocation of capital is better in India compared to China due to increased participation by private sector banks. Non-performing loan levels as percentage of assets, though high, are only a fraction of that of China. However to expedite the process India needs to fix some basic levers and put the banking sector on right track.

To conclude, government has always approached reforms in a reactive manner starting from the liberalization in 1991 forced by the economic crisis of balance of payment deficit. India’s banking sector needs a proactive approach to allow its participation in strengthening country’s financial system. By building a strong financial system and financial asset management, India will not only achieve its current target of growth but is likely to surpass them. However, no sound financial system can be imagined without an efficient and productive banking sector, and thus India needs rejuvenate its reform initiatives and extend them beyond foreign investments.

A greeting found

2006-09-20T14:56:00.000+05:30

Imagine this day.

I woke at 7:30 in the morning. I had gone to bed at 2:30 AM last night, so i am little sleepy. But what the hell, I got a class to attend at 8:45. There is 2.5% class participation points in the first class and there is going to be a 5% quiz in the next. Somehow reading notes, I reached in the class at 8:46. I sat through both the classes and going through pre-reads and lecture notes in the class-breaks. No breakfast no meal. Classes get over at 1:15 PM. I run back to my room so that i can get ready for the scholarship interview at 2:40. I shaved myself while going through my application. I took a shower, while revising the possible questions and answers. Wore suit and searched net for information on Citibank and banking simultaneously. I reached interview site at 2:35. And yet I was late. My name had been called earlier. Anyway I waited for 20 minutes and sat through my first interview which lasted for 15 minutes, which went well. At 3:30 I went to cafe to buy a veg-puff and went to shop for an apple. I hadn't eaten anything since the morning. I came to my room at 3:50. I loosened my tie and opened the laptop. Got the email at 4:00 that I was short-listed for the second interview and I am supposed to report to interview (AC-4) site right away. So I again tightened my tie and walked to the AC-4. I got an interview fixed at 5:00 PM. So I borrowed a laptop and started reading about banking, Citibank etc. right outside AC-4. They kept telling me that it is postponed for 10 minutes after every 10 minute. Thus I waited for 2 hours outside in full suit, and trying to make sense of all the web-pages I was going through. I entered the interview room at 6 and was thrown out at 6:10. It went pretty bad. Anyway, I came back to my room, changed to more casual cloths. At 6:30 I was walking towards academic area with laptop in my hand as we needed to submit an assignment next day. We ordered Pizzas as there was not enough time to go for dinner. From 7 PM till 4:00 AM in the morning we worked on this assignment. I finally came to my room at 4:30 in the morning. It had been 21 hours, since I was awake and didn't have a minute to relax. Then I see it on my study desk.

It was yellow envelope. "Happy Birthday Deepak" was written over it. I instantly forgot all the pain that I had gone through in all day. I smiled, put down my bag and lifted the envelope. I opened the envelope to see a really beautiful greeting card from one my quad-mates. Feeling was amazing. I had totally relaxed. I took time to go through the card carefully. Even though I had to wake up at 8 again in the morning, I took my time to hang the card on wall carefully. It was the best thing that happened to me in weeks. Thanks Bankim. It was very special. Would you believe I haven't yet mate Bankim and thanked him personally? But that is what I will do as soon as I finish my next assignment ;).

Level 5 wanna bees

2006-08-05T23:01:00.000+05:30

This article provides space to my unresolved thoughts which arose as I attended a lecture on "Leadership lessons from Shakespearean Tragedies". Lecture began with modest attendees but with time the class was full (and more) with students sitting where ever they can find a place. And if you are like most others and have heard anything on leadership, it is unlikely that you are not introduced to a buzzword "Level 5 leadership". But just in case you have not heard about it, here is the most official link on the subject. This idea is brought to you by Jim Collins. Concept got so much popularity that Jim wrote a full book "Good to Great". It is indeed an enlightening concept, and book is a must-read (if my forewords mean anything).

It was inspiring and impressive to see the number of students of my batch who wants to be Level 5 leaders, almost the whole class. The most common question that is raised: how do/can we become a level 5 leader? On the face of it, wow I am sitting with an enlightened group of people, who have raised themselves above the riches of world and are truly interested in building something sustainable without getting concerned about who will get the credit for it. But is that true? Is this what the class is really interested in? May be they are, but I have reasons to believe otherwise. This is where the quotation fits best "ignorance is bliss". Most people don't even understand what a level 5 leader is? And yet most people would want to become level 5 without even understanding what they want to become.

In my personal and insignificant opinion, I guess most of us wants to be level 5 because the very popularity of the concept. Because, the level 5 people discussed in the book were the ones who created world's most enduring and successful organizations. Because, these level 5 are regarded as most successful and accomplished individuals. Because, level 5 leaders are highly successful. Because, the most people around the world now thinks that it is the best leader one could be. Because, most people want to celebrated and remembered as a level 5 leaders.

But this is not exactly what a level 5 leader is. The things mentioned above are just incidental. These were not the things that level 5 leaders worked for. These are not the things that they wanted to achieve. In fact they didn't even know that they would be able to build such enduring organizations. They didn't even know that someone like Jim Collins will make them famous after half a century. This is not what motivated them and this is not what they went for. In fact they were exactly the opposite. They never tried to create something enduring, they just did what they thought was right and was the only way to do things. And "everything" else just came along. They didn't take decisions to get that "everything". A decision like whether or not I should become a level 5.

So what's the point of all this? Well the point is once you have even a moderate understanding what a level 5 leader is, you will have no doubt about how to become a level 5. Because once you understand what level 5 leader is and you truly like the idea of being a level 5 and lead that life, well you already are a level 5 leader. Because once you know about it, then there is no other path for you but to follow what a level 5 leader walks on. So you see, you either are a level 5 or you are not, if you already are a level 5; your transformation to level 5 depends only upon when you understand the concept and think that this is right path. And if you are not a level 5, and wants to become one, the only reason is that you haven't understood what it means to be a level 5.

Now the big question: would I be successful if I follow the level 5 path?
Dude, it is a very insignificant question. You still haven't got it, success and popularity are just incidental, they are immaterial. They don't mean anything to a level 5. This is not why they follow the path, they just follow it. If you are a level 5, there is no other path that you will walk on (at least as soon as you come to know about this path), whether or not you achieve success on this path.

Please, the article is no assertion that I have understood what a level 5 leader is. But I have understood it enough that I now know that I am not a level 5 and hence I will never be one. To me it’s just not worthed to be a level 5. Article is written with a modest attempt to make people think twice before they think/claim that they want to be level 5 leaders. So the key to become level 5 according to me is to know more and more about it and have a better understanding.

End Note:
As I said "If you understand what a level 5 leader is, and you still want to become one, well guess what, you already are one."

MBA: Road to El Dorado OR Road to Perdition

2006-07-29T18:33:00.000+05:30

For those are weak in vocabulary,

El Dorado: A fantasy land of great wealth (gold, diamonds, gems etc.)
Perdition: Hell

BEFORE AFTER

Got nothing to say, Just want to evoke some thoughts.

Fizz is all gone

2006-07-18T12:40:00.000+05:30

Screwed marketing paper big time. And not only marketing, haven't done anything good on competetative strategy too. Economics is yet to be done. This was coming, as fizz is already gone. Haven't done half of the pre-reads in competative strategy leading to no class participation. Bunked lectures of Jagmohan Raju of Khemka and didn't bother to learn the stupid sales experiment report from markstrat. What was I expecting anyway? I didn't even know what was the chain model. Oh dude this was a crime, looks like history is going to repeat itself. I should either shift to back benches or something needs to be done. TERM 2, is all screwed.

Consolation prize: DMOP comes as savior.

This is fiction,..

2006-07-02T22:42:00.001+05:30

This is fiction, ok fine most [of it] is fiction.

This is 22nd August, year 2003. It was an important day in Indian sports History, think of it. Well, I had come to Gurgaon for interview in SIEMENS in the morning. I reached SIEMENS office in the morning, wrote some tests, went through a GD and personal interview and got free by 6 PM in the evening. Oh yeah, all of it went well as I was finally selected for the job. Anyway so at 6, I called a friend in Delhi, Kumar Manish (Munshi), who was working in Citi-Financial (known as Associates then), Delhi. He asked to meet him at Saket PVR. So I took a bus to Daula Kua and then to Saket. But instead of Saket I chose to get down to Citi-Financial's office. It took 1.5 painful hours for the whole trip. But only if I knew what am I going to see today then it wasn't all that painful.

I reached Citi-Financial's office at 8 PM. I called Munshi from the recepetion, and then we headed towards saket, PVR. Oh Man, it was a nice place. You can't even imagine how much I appreciated the place after being into 95% boys campus for last 4 years. It was reaaaaally nice place. Since I wasn't in job, I was short on account and since Munshi was earning more than he needed for himself, we decided to for this really expensive place to have some Thi-Food. But, oops the place was full, as guessed by Munshi. All Delhi restaurants are full on a Friday evening. So we had to leave the place and look out for another food-joint. I had to catch my train at 11:50 PM back to Kanpur so there wasn't much time left. We decided to go for this burger joint right across. Then I realized today was the league of India-Pakistan Hockey-cup. Just few words on the match, India was loosing 2-4 to Pakistan in the first half and finally won by 7-5 with three goals in last 10 minutes. Match was really good, so I has to devote few words to it, but don't worry I am not making you read all this to tell you the match scores. We grabbed some burgers and sit on side to enjoy the meal and the match. We took seats with our back on the wall to see the television placed in a nook above, on the side of entrance.

And then she arrived. Oh man, I will have to stop typing to really go through her image in my mind very very carefully. Till today, I can't imagine a full image of her's. She must be 5'7'', yeah only half a inch shorter than me. I really felt short that day. She had straight hairs, neatly tied as womb, cliped by a big and fancy butterfly pin. And there were these two sphagatties of hairs falling on both sides of her face, right till middle of her neck. What a pure skin she had, I imagined that I would have seen the water flowing down only if she would have had some. No her lips weren't red, they were more natural and a lot sensual. I had stopped eating by then. Her eyes were clean, like a crystal. She had fair and smooth complexion. She wore silver earings, almost a inch big, just a like pair two pendulums in both ears. Oh yeah I was engineer at that time, and pendulum is what a call a metal string hanging with weight at the bottom, you can't blame me for that. She was wearing long frock, longing till 4'' inches below her knee. It was parrot green, yellow color dress with flower drawn all over. Dress was short-sleeved, exposing her clean, manicured, long, smooth arms. And right then, Jugraj Singh scored a goal at 24th minute. Everyone shouted at the top of their voices. Munshi got up on his feats. I just sat there and said WOOOW. I guess my "wow" was really long, becuase it had all I air I held while watching this girl. I guess she heard my "wow", and understood that what exactly was it really for. And she turned around looked right into eyes. It must not even be a blink's duration but it was the longest moment I remember since then. I don't know something happened and I went silent for the rest of the evening. She was there for the whole match. Even though her gang wanted to go somewhere else, but she convinced to them to stay there till the match end. I could sense that her ears are on me, but I was silent.

I looked at her for next 50 minutes but never directly. Yes, I could not muster the courage to go and talk to her. Match got over, India won. I located my luggage and walked out of the place with Munshi. I turned for one last time only to see that she was looking at me with the most innocent smile, I had ever seen. Trust me, "that innocent smile" did the most harm to me till date. I wanted to turn back again to see her but for some reason I couldn't. Munshi dropped me to Nizammudin railway station. I was unusually silent for the whole ride. We waited on the station for half an hour as train was late. I wasn't talking, Munshi also understood so even he wasn't talking. Train arrived finally arrive at 1 , I got into the coach.
I finally said "Munshi, she was just too good for me .right?"
Munshi said "what you think?"
I explained "Oh come on man, Let us face it, she deserved a lot better than me."
Munshi inquired "well then, why are we talking about her now?"
I closed my eyes, took a deep breadth, imagined her eyes, and said loudly "I got to go back, I am not going to Kanpur. I need to go to Saket, right now."

We left the train, ran out of the station, we grabbed the bike and rocketed towards saket. It took 20 long minutes to reach Saket at 1 AM. I think Munshi drives really slow. We reached Saket at 1:30. There was a lot of crowd but it was all coming out of PVR late night show. We roamed around the whole place to see no sign of her. Disappointed a lot, I bought two cigrettes, both for myself (Munshi doesn't smoke). We set right below the burger joint on the ground with our back on the closed shutter. I light the cigrette and waited for a full hour, before a policeman came and asked us to leave. And we left for Balco Apartments, Munshi's house. On the next day, I caught another train and left for Kanpur. Till date, whenever I goto Delhi, I make sure that I take my dinner at the same burger joint at Saket.

As Mark Twain puts it "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do."

All right guys, ITS ALL FICTION.

Nokia--Dabbawallahs--Yashraj Films

2006-06-25T12:38:00.000+05:30

What's common in them?

I happened to attend lectures from representatives of these companies talking about their business. And there are beautiful insights gained. Here is the most important takeaways from the lectures.

Nokia, Electronics
World is changing in fundamental ways and the way people buy stuff. Electronics are following fashion product life cycles that is really short cycles. Understanding consumers can help to create business opportunities. Say, Consumers in india are totally different than those in America. Brand is one of the most successful ways to make money and creating a well recognized brand is the way to go. Innovation and reengineering are ways to create an edge in technology industry.

And last but not the least:
YOU CAN NOT PASS COST TO CUSTOMERS.

Yashraj Films
Marketing films doesn't have to be the cost center. You can do marketing by creating a low cost content which media would be willing to buy rights, and thus it will make money its own and its gonna promote movie better than just promotions. Various low cost content could be music albums, comics, short series of soaps, cartoon series etc.

Movies are content and their marketing can be profit making rather than money consuming.

Dabbawallahs
Their single most strength of business: Local train service of Mumbai.
They are low cost because they are using the existing infrastructure to carry dabbas. It is not possible to have their own transporting infrastructure.
Quality is the key characterstic of a service business and it is measured by accuracy of delivery and on time delivery.

Bottom of Pyramid with PROFIT

2006-06-14T22:09:00.000+05:30

It is not about the book. I have not even read the book so far. But yes you will find ideas that pretty simillar to those mentioned in "fortune at bottom of pyramid" . And the simillarities are there because the motivation behind writting this artcile is the lecture by a co-author of the book on the same concepts. I really don't have much time so I am just gonna everything that I have assimilated in some random order right now, may be I will fix this at some later time.

There are couple of demystifications that I got through the lecture. Here is the most important one.
This conversation of helping the environment and community is not about non-profit organization. This is not about charity, and it is not about giving up money or other opportunities to help the world. Please do not misunderstand, it is also not about being capitalist i.e. make money, pack your bags and leave without giving a damn about the rest of the world. So what is it about? It is about making profit such that you are able to work with the rest of the community (even the most underprivilleged ones) without destroying (actually co-creating) the environment/better ecological system.
Doesn't it sound contradictory? It sounded like that to me. I mean how do you make money without polluting the environment and exploiting community.

So let me just sum before we loose track. There are three players in the story:
1. You (your family, your future, your company, your bank balance)
2. Community (other human beings, your friends, your countrymen, whole world)
3. Environment (the whole ecological system, atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere etc.)

There is only one argument that I am trying to defend here: "Yes. There exist opportunities and there exists technology which when implemented appropriately can leave all three players better off than otherwise. Actually I should say there exist atleast the possibilities to create such opportunies and technology."

Whether you believe me or not, I am convinced that this is the new economic revolution which is happening this era. And if you don't want to loose out, you better be part of it, just for your own sake.

If now I have your attention to this, let us talk about a framework which shows a silver lining that something like this is possible. There are two objectives you should keep in mind while studying the framework.
1. This framework defines the language which will help to communicate/share ideas that you have. So you should learn the language.
2. It also gives an starting point on how to go about brainstorming about the whole concept.

There are four kinds of domain that people are referring to when they talk about the ideas of helping community, create sustainable businesses, protect environment, help underprivilleged etc. etc. Ofcourse there are also exist one more dimension which is of Non-Profit organizations, but here we will not be referring to it. We believe profit as an important goal for the whole exercise. So here are those four dimensions:

1. Can you re-engineer the process such that it reduces pollution, and improves the quality/output and thus helps your bottom-line today?
2. Can you look beyond your current scope business to say a complete life cycle or environment to redesign the whole process and ways in which people currently interact to improve the product, environment and decrease cost at the same time? That is can you collaborate with other people to come up with a better solution/product to serve the market?
3. Can you innovate a technology which will change the whole ideology in which a product is currently percieved? That is a totally new and different way to satisfy a consumer need with a product which radically different than today's products?
4. Can you think of a way to actually take this technology to whole new market segment that is people at bottom of pyramid which have never been targeted so far? You need to collaborate with these people in order to understand their needs to come up with a solution.

I really feel sad that today I don't have time to delve into these, but I would be very happy to get in touch with people who got some insight to what am I am talking about. I am excited about this as I write this article, let us see where we go.

Aaha

2006-05-26T11:35:00.000+05:30

Last few classes have been fun. I have learned some important things. Here is first.

Differentiation: Say there is a market for red widgets. The full market currently demands the red widgets and supply is met. Everyone buys the same red widget. And noone is able to think of any other color for widget but red. And here you come with your blue widget. An extremely extraordinary, out of box idea of producing dashing, shining, latest blue widgets. And it doesn't sell. No body is buying it. This is new, this is latest, this is different. This has to be good. Yet no one is buying it.

Moral of the story: "You might create something different but it is not differentiation. A differentiation is only some change which can be valued by someone else other than yourself. And numbers those someones matter."

Think of it, it is everywhere. You go to your boss, you tell him "see I have this new way to code or complete this task, why don't you promote this among others? and why don't you give me a raise for the same?"

Now you know why he really doesnt care about your extremely brilliant idea.

Winning is NOT everything

2006-05-24T21:07:00.000+05:30

"Winning
is not everything - is the only thing."

I remember quite well that whenever somebody told me "it is more important to participate than to win.", I had invariably lost whatever I was trying for. Was it just a coincidence? No right. There is a pattern which hard to miss. Participation becomes important only to loosers, to everyone else its the winning that is important.

Yeah I know I am a little disappointed today. I guess I have to let it go and just live an easy life. Fine DONE.

Oops I did it again

2006-05-21T01:48:00.000+05:30

I wrote this to my follow classmates.

From: Deepak Mittal
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 12:57 AM
To: Anupam Anand; Siddhant Bhansali
Cc: Students07
Subject: RE: Economics Mid-term - comments?

Dear Anupam,

You could have sent this mail only to Siddhant. And so could I, but what to do, I was a software engineer as well.

Siddhant,

You doing good job. I would appreciate if you continue to do so.

- Deepak

PS. And Anupam, just because you are not running for any post doesn’t give you right/luxury to spam my mailbox. “spare the group”, I would have been glad if you knew what it meant.

From: Anupam Anand
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 8:53 AM
To: Siddhant Bhansali
Cc: Students07
Subject: RE: Economics Mid-term - comments?

Dear Siddhanth,

I am grateful that you are so concerned about all of us (it didn’t occur to me that several guys have been so concerned about all of us in this election season).

However, I really don’t see how you would see “if we can improve the process for the next time”, unless Ms Savita Mahajan has offered you the position being vacated by Sunita Chatta. Even then, I don’t find any way to “improve the process”. As one of the ad goes, “gaur se dekho, har ghar kuchh kehta hai”, you look at questions carefully and you will find the only surprise factor they had was surprise. There are guys and girls who have successfully attempted all questions (no, I am not one of them).

Therefore, I request you to curtail your philanthropic activities and stop being so concerned about us. I don’t speak on behalf of Students07, but I would rather not receive any more spamming mails from you.

A friendly suggestion: As an ex-software engineer, I know the temptation to write crappy mails is irresistible, so, next time your hands itch, please expand the Students07 list and remove my name. I don’t want access rights to this group getting revoked because most of other mails have been quite helpful.

Thanks,

Sincerely,

Anupam Anand.

PS: I am not running for any post, am not desirous of any publicity and these are my own views. You or anyone else is most welcome to discuss with me personally, but please spare the group by not “replying to all”. And rest of the batch-mates, I am sorry to spam your mailboxes.

From: Siddhant Bhansali
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 5:03 PM
To: Students07
Subject: Economics Mid-term - comments?

I think everyone had a very interesting experience with the Eco mid-term today… Can folks reply to me alone (do not reply-all) with comments / thoughts / suggestions / what-when-wrong / what-went-right (J) – I’ll compile the results and see if we can improve the process for next time…

Please reply by Saturday end of day. The comments will be anonymized.

Thanks,

Siddhant Bhansali

This is what I intended to write:

From: Deepak Mittal
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 12:57 AM
To: Anupam Anand; Siddhant Bhansali
Cc: Students07
Subject: RE: Economics Mid-term - comments?

Dear Anupam,

You could have sent this mail only to Siddhant. And so could I, but what to do, I was a software engineer as well.

Siddhant,

You doing good job. I would appreciate if you continue to do so.

All,

This is NOT a spam. I believe we would be better managers if we knew how to address people properly in public forums like this.

- Deepak

I guess I will just pacify myself by putting it here. I am glad that you are reading it.

12 Years in 8' X 12'

2006-05-20T20:49:00.000+05:30

I am frust. You may choose not to read this article.

It started when I was 14 Years old. My father one told me that he plans to put in boarding school for secondary education. I joined Lala Kamlapat Singhania education center in July, 1995 as 9th standard student. I wasn't sad, was rather excited. We were 4 guys sharing a room or rather a hall. And all my luggage could be packed in 2 bags. I started a life out of home and I didn't realize I am gonna live like that for next 12 years or probably more. School was fun, we used to play games, bunk classes and ogle girls with gang. I didn't need my parents, except for monthly cheques, which I always got well in advance. I never felt homesick. I stayed in boarding school for 3 years. I learned to eat non-veg, drink beer and appreciate woman anatomy. Then one day I left my hostel and all my gang, never come across most of them till now.

I packed my two bags and came to Kota, for IIT coaching. I stayed with my parents to start with. Even though I had a 8' X 12' room which I didn't have to share with anything but books. And no-one ever really disturbed me or my stuff, it wasn't exactly hostel. I had my own keys for main door but somehow my mom will always know at what time I came back to my room. I didn't like it. So I took a room in Kota, away from my home and closer to coaching center. I made some friends. Life was good again, watch late night shows of those movies, drink beer and smoke. Eat burgers and miss dinners. I did study too and made it to IIT kanpur. Luggage was again packed in 2 bags and say goodbye to people whom I will never meet again.

I stayed in IIT Kanpur for 4 years. First three years in a room 18' X 18' sharing with others and then I got a 8' X 12' for myself for the final year. I learned to play computer games, hack email boxes, download songs and movies and spread viruses. Life just turned around. Be awake all night, share my innovative ideas, whims, principles with who ever cared to listen. Sleep in all lectures, lecture halls were air-conditioned and professor were doing good job to make me sleep. Mess food was awesome so I preferred to miss it. Breakfast didn't exist as meal. Yes I had lunch in mess and dinner was on canteen. I liked idea of surviving on Chicken Biryani, Pizzas and Coke. Maggi was a daily evening snack. I am glad I am still in touch with few people but its not the same. I am busy and they are busy.

I got job, thanks to my college reputation. I moved to Gurgaon with that 2 bags of luggage. I wanted to be a Structural Engineer and design another wonder but I soon learned that wonder designers don't get to live in them. They live in 8' X 12' on sharing basis. My father stopped pocket money so I had to learn to cook for myself. I did it for 6 months. Think about it, go to office for 8 hours and come back home in the AutoRickshaws of Gurgaon and cook food for yourself. Hey but good thing, I had friends with whom I cooked and bought Vodkas and cigrettes. I had to pacify myself on icecream cone by McDonald's and Pizzas were only once in a fortnight luxury. My idea of babe-watching was to stand in Delhi PVRs. And all my shoppings were from Big-Bazaar. I didn't like it so I moved to softwares.

I came to Bangalore in May, 2000 with my two bags. I bought car in less than 6 months. Though the room size didn't change but I know didn't have to share it with someone else. Life looked amazing. I made so many friends. I learned to go to discos and booze all night. Race cars in night and go for long drives. Bangalore felt like my city. I had half my dinners in classy restaurants and all parties in 5 stars. Motto of the life- live in office for 15 hours and come back to my 8' X 12' for 5 hours. I lived with people whom I didn't see for days, or should I say they didn't see me for days. In casual cloths there was hardly a brand that I knew about and I didn't have. Then someone told me MBA would be a good idea and I said good-bye to everyone.

So I came to ISB to live in another 8' X 12'.

12 years of my life has been spent with 2 bags of luggage and in a room of 8' X 12'. 12 years I am trying to educate myself to make me worthy of this world. This SUCKS. I feel like prisoner who have been on move from one place to another. I am supposed to do some duties and I get to live for that. I am sick now, I can't drink and I can't smoke. I am physically unfit. I am scared of making friends, as I know I would have to same them goodbye soon and never see them again. Will I spend rest of my life like that?

They can make me do it but NOT with dignity

2006-05-14T02:14:00.000+05:30

I hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality... or whatever you want to call it. I hate to follow this system, these rules. They are trying to control me, telling me what to do at every step. I hate to wake up and follow my destiny to reach there. Then to stand in line and wait...just wait. I stand there looking these scared faces, as if their ends are near. They are eyeing each other with mask over their faces to see who's more drowned than themselves. Few get satisfaction and other get further drowned. They all were brought here to collabrate (or to compete) with each other, with their inner most fears placed right across them. They smile at each other, even say 'Hi', while they know at that very hour, time is running against them. I hastely stuff myself without enjoying the taste of bread and banana as if it doesn't matter any more. I walk out only to stand in the middle of four pillars and a circular frame, with a burden right above my head. I wonder should I walk back to my closet to close my eyes and rest in my own hallucination or should I walk to one of those pillars to take a door to levitation. My inner voice makes me resign the idea of salvation, yes they even managed to cinch even my inner voice, my soul. I walk into a machine and that delivers me infront of a pyramid. When I see that pyramid, I see an inverted V. I fantasies to be Robert Langford of "Da Vinci Code" puzzling myself whether architect of this building was a member of one of those secret socities often mentioned by Dan Brown in his novels. My eyes roam around to find more clues for my assertion, only to find a lady with an eagle in her hand and spikes in her head. Her evil look helps me regain my senses and I am brought back to reality, this reality, this zoo, this prision. My eyes go further to find stairs, rather attractive stairs, but I already know where they lead. I again have to choose to walk these ever going stairs or turn around, but do I really have a choice. They have bugged me and now there are no choices to be made. So i leap and leap and leap further to stand in front of gatekeeper. But this gatekeeper is different, he doesn't have the keys, he only has locks, chains, shackles for my brain and more. My feet walk to him to get a menacle and then I crawl to get a place where I can entangle my thoughts.

- This is mid-term syndrome, there is more to come. just keep reading.

First Critical lesson

2006-05-08T11:27:00.000+05:30

Yeah I have joined ISB. And it has been few weeks. Place is great and so are the learning opportunities. As always said that you learn most of the things out side class room. And that what you will learn from your batchmates would probably be more valuable than what you learn from professors. Hey I don't mean any offence to amazing faculty of this institute. I am just setting some perspective here and a little exaggeration is required to set it right. Now you wondering well what did I learn? hmmm I would be glad if you could even get a hint, well here is "the story" anyway.

I came to this place and I am excited like hell (refer post: I resigned). I met people and I made friends. Yeah I thought I made friends. Sure we are different people but then we gonna have some kind of belonging for all our lives whether we like it or not. I didn't think this then and certainly not this way. I was just too excited to meet new people and make new friends. There are some people whom you find friendly and nice, and who you think are genuenly interested in life of yours, so you LIKE them (peOPle) and then there are those who you just pass. So you decided to remove all your covers and share about you with these peOPle, yeah I mean just being childish and talk without thinking, emailing without (second) thoughts and all that. AND BOOM. oNe among such peOPle does something. oNe shares your personal email to oNe with others (oNe' friends) and make stories. I felt disappointed. I can't think why, but I felt disappointed. Are my expectations so high from peOPle? I sure dunno. ..... Alright alright story is fine now what's the lesson. I won't give you that so easily, would I? No.

Then an angel came. anGel is also among those peOPle whom I have liked, fortunately. anGel told me not to coverse anything with peOPle or people in writting or in way that could be hold against me. anGel tells me that I am getting seasoned. Truth is I got hurt, but then that is how MBAs talk. "Nobody gets hurt, they only get seasoned." anGel told me to be careful and think before I am being myself especially with peOPle. And I said sure I will. I feel elated that there are collegues of mine who take things in perspective. Who know what all this world is about, and who is standing on which side. anGel told me to be more thoughtful about my deeds. So you think that is the lesson that I learnt, well don't jump to conclusion that fast.

Lesson, ok here it is. There are all kinds of people in the world. Among these people there are some peOPle whom you like and then there are others. Among peOPle there are some oNes and there are some anGels, some disappoint and some come to you to stand by you. Lesson that I learnt, if there are oNes around you, there are anGels too. Don't let any oNes disappoint you or make you change and appreciate anGels and get inspired from them. In short, you gonna find all kind of people in the world, don't let some nerds affect your life, coz every such nerd you gonna find some goody. Now its on you, whose the person that makes impact on your life.

I made my choice.

Book Review: Freakonomics

2006-03-24T19:46:00.000+05:30

Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
By Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

Rating: 1* out of 5* Business Student
3* out of 5* Amusement

Crisp: Book is for timepass. You are not supposed to learn anything or get newer ideas rather just be amused of what actually happens around the world in field of economics and more. Author, like many others, believes that economics is percieved as a boring subject by most mortals. However twist is that author have found few very interesting aspects of this subject that he wants to share with the reader. Book is about how economic fundamentals could be made of more practical use to people and how certain events and things impact people at large. It is intersting to see how useful can economics be in a normal person's life.

PROS: Author, by book, explores territories which are generally not explored in reference to normal (non-academic) people and certainly never in the way author has explored in this book. He talks about as how can a certain small thing can bring vital changes. He tries to clarify that most of "traditional knowledge" is nothing but just an urban legend and tries to build a perspective in which these "traditional knowledge " should rightly be understood. Book talks about, How people sometime do mistake of interpretting correleational-relationship as cause-n-effect-relationship. And how sometimes people just make a mistake to identify the cause and the effect properly in a cause-n-effect relationship.

Author is successfull in demonstrating how could information is another kind of power. It explains by illustrations as how this information is used by experts to create edge for themselves. Book also explains the process of recurssion and how it can effectively be used and understood by normal people. Most importantly, book does all the above in a way that it amuses reader and tries (but fails) to keep things in perspective that are of interest to normal people.

CONS: The book can be categorized as frivolous. I won't mind to read a frivolous book but then it is just too frivolous with the kind of subject [economics] it is dealing with. The writting style pretty.... different.... and could have been much better. It keeps on digressing from one topic to another without any smooth transition between the them. It becomes very verbose at some places without providing any real content. It talks about things (except few) that are totally irrelevant to reader. I also felt that author is trying to say that,"do-you-see - most economist are such a bore & wrong and how interesting & different I am?". It streches certain topics so long that reader looses interest in them.

Readers will find this book amusing and different. Though lots of words and statements with very little content makes it dull, yet it is an interesting read because of the very difference.

Book Review: Execution

2006-03-23T18:19:00.000+05:30

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan

This is the first book I read when I decided to bring a twist in my life of being a Maggu (A studious person). Actually you see I am going for MBA from ISB so I thought let us just change some trends in life to do something different. So I decided to be Maggu and read many many books and post a review over here. Here is first one.

Rating: 2* out of 5*

Crisp: Book is about the discipline of getting things done. Yes that's what it is. It tells the difference between individuals/companies/organizations which makes things happen and the ones which only plans. So it basically assumes that there are many capable people around who know that times are changing faster than ever and are ready to put efforts to build/sustain their organization through these difficult and dynamic times, but somehow they are not just able to do the very thing. It focuses on the gap between the great plans/strategies and the actual implementation. And it tries to identify the difference between planning and execution.It further tries to define skills for a great executor and essential tasks for the successful execution. Finally it ends with the processes that you would like to setup to build an organization that executes well.

PROS: It talks about the basic principles in the most simplistic manner. It defines some ground rules which are easy to understand even for an apprentice. It insists on fundamentals and focuses on very limited but essential qualieties of a successful leader. It starts with first defining what is it that book would be about and then goes on explaining why it is so important to study the idea. It gives many examples of how many companies have fallen and many others have risen based on these fundamentals. Number of illustrations is a big plus about this book.

Book talks about keeping things simple, straight and open. It shows how an open culture and robust dialogues can promote growth of the company. Leaders are advised to move closer to the people who are actually on the front line and delivering results. Leaders are requested to be clear and simple when they talk about their expectations and results. Follow through and accountability has been identified as a key activity that has to perculate top down in an organization. It demonstrates that how organizations are nothing but the people and cultures which are behind it. It shows how effective could a cross-unit conversations be when you are coming up with a strategy.

CONS:Book is not meant for everyone. It has a very limited audience. Though it talks about things that could be effective to people at any level in an organization but it continue to focus on the people who are at the top of corporate pyramids. It is blunt in terms of defining people characterstics. It also assumes that people are very easy to be classified as doers and non-doers. It leaves little space for human psychology and preaches on ideal paths which may not be so simple to follow as simply said in the book. Book is probably most effective for people who are really good and having nothing to hide or afraid of and thus it will loose impact on most people as most people are not of that kind. Another important aspect that book missed totally is how do you handle the situation when people are not responding to your initiatives. Only solution it provides in this case is of fire and hire which in my opinion may not be in the best of the organization but book pushes the opposite opinion. Another negative thing is that book become very repetetive after a while and a show case of you-see-how-i-do-it. It presumes whatever author (with 4 other people) is doing, is the best of getting-things-done. It is very dictative in narration and leaves little scope for independent thinking.

It is a nice book and would be a good read if you find some extra time. It is always good to know multiple ideologies and this book comes up with one good ideology. The examples included are really good and it scores for its simplicity.

Book Review: World is Flat

2006-03-22T14:48:00.000+05:30

I recently read the book "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century" by by Thomas L. Friedman, Oliver Wyman (Narrator).

It basically is about what are the major changes/innovations happened which have changed the world as we percieve it today. It also explores that till what depth these innovations have already impacted our day today lives, and it goes a step further in trying forespell something about where we are headed with this kind of environment.

PROS:
It starts with talking about the fall of berlin wall and its impact on global economy. It then covers the important aspect of America as a nation/community which made it the strongest economy of the world. It very well defines what (and how) America did to stand where it stands today. It sums up American economic strength in terms of meritocratic setup, innovation and research oriented environment and market based economy. It then goes on identify the ten strongest innovations happened since fall of berlin wall that have changed the face of the world and the way businesses are run today. Though most of us are well aware of most of these innovations but the book makes a sincere effort to bring all the information together in a comprensible and packaged manner.

Outside America it talks about the how much the lowering trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. It gives ample number of examples of companies that have used this setup to create competetive advantages and have shown their competetors the door for getting acquired or bankrupt. It shows what kind of role can now be played with 3 billion people in developing countries to make a mark on world economy.

Another good part about the book is that It gives a significant portion to the kind of tensions that are arising due to this kind of global environment. It relates that how september 11 is nothing but another aspect of these innovations. It tries to identify means to create a global hormony in this kind of environment without overdoing it. It also defines the kind of strategies nation leaders need to define in order to enable their countries to make powerful statement in the world affairs.

CONS:
It is very pro-American in nature. I think it exemplifies the role America played to create the world as it is today. It takes no account for indentifying other global firms (only very few have been mentioned) for their contribution to the world economy and how they have created an edge to curtail American firms' influence. It goes on admiring the American firms in all the corners and their methodologies till it actually becomes an overstatement and more. The book firmly creates an opinion that America has been a major global leading player (and economy) and will continue to do so in centuries to come only if Americans understand the change in the role that they need to play. It eliminates all possibilities of other countries rising (above America)in the world and lead the world as America did in last century. It actually goes to state that America should take a lead to define which countries should have what kind of power and restrictions. But since the Author is very much American I guess it should be acceptable to us (non-Americans).

I would say it is a must read for anyone who wants to make a mark in this very dynamic economy. It increases the readers enthusiasm by stating that the individuals today are more powerful than ever before. You should read it.

I am bored

2006-03-09T21:02:00.000+05:30

I am bored. I have got nothing to do.

5 months earlier from now, my daily schedule was this:

Get up at 6:30 AM
Reach TIME coaching center at 7
Class from 7-9
Reach home 9:30 in bangalore traffic
Reach office by 10:30 AM
Stay in office till 9:00 PM with office work as my project was on full swing
Do research on MBA schools deadline and procedures, write US application essays etc. 9:00 - 12:00
Come home at 12:05 thanks there are so many less people driving at night
Have dinner and TV news till 12:30
Do some self study and finish the assignments by 2 AM
Sleep soon as I got to get up at 6:30 next morning

And now?
Wake up at 9:30
Reach office by 10:30
Leave office if I am bored because of no work say 9:00 Release is done and no work for next few months
Watch TV till I am tired enough to sleep say 12:00
Sleep till I am tired of sleeping say next morning 9:30

As I have already resigned, even my office doesn't expect much work to be done by me.

Don't feel like watching movies as I haven't watched any in last 8 months. Don't feel like reading newspaper and novels as I have read so many of them in last 8 months. Don't feel like watching TV as it is so dumb. Don't feel like going office as I have already resigned and there is no work for me. I don't feel like reading magazines as there are no interviews to prepare for. Don't like surfing net as I have forgotten for what else I can surf other than MBA schools or sample application essays.

Please don't tell me that I can't even write such blogs here. But if you do all I will say is "fine... let it come".

My Quest for MBA

2006-03-06T13:09:00.000+05:30

It started on a rainy night. I and Karan Singhal (my collegue in Qwest) happened to go to my home to share some thoughts and have dinner together. He told me that he is looking out for MBA and working for it. He shared his views on US schools, IIMs and ISB. He was conviencing. When he finally left at about mid-night, it just occured to me that I wanted to do MBA when I was in college. And I was no more pursuing it because everything around just got settled. I was in a good job. Job was interesting, challenging and well paid. Yet I knew that I wanted MBA, though I was doing nothing about it. After 2 hours of considerable thought process I decided to meet Karan again in the same night at 2:30 AM. It was raining heavily outside but then I had to meet him. So I called Karan and asked him if he is still awake. As I hoped he said yes and since I didn't know his home we agreed to meet at a circle close to his home. I took my roomy's bike and reached the circle while rain was still heavy. We had another hour of talk where I gathered lots of information about how to begin Quest for MBA.

In next week I found about coaching institutes in Bangalore. There were three major players; Career Launcher, IMS and TIME. I gathered some more reviews and finally decided to go with TIME Kormangala, Weekdays morning batch. Another collegue of mine also started his preparation along with me. I also found about the coaching institutes for GMAT and Essay consulting services. I made few visits to Princenton Review but found the deal too expansive. So I was at my own for GMAT. In next week I registered myself for GMAT date, for August 4th. Next two months I dedicated to prepare for GMAT. I started with Barron, moved on to Kaplon and finished with ETS official guide. ETS official guide is costly but it is worth. I scored 700 in GMAT. That was the first milestone.

For next two months my days were dedicated to CAT preparation (other than office) and nights were dedicated to research on US schools. I spent considerable amount of time to select universities. I was able to develope an algo which can help one select the universities based on the profile. Do contact me if you need the algo or just join IIT-GMAT@yahoogroups.com. Weekends were for Mock CAT preparation and analysis, strategy rework etc. And then about a month ago I finished my US applications and submitted them. Last before CAT was only for CAT. I finished all the TIME material and some other books also. Finally wrote the exam. Resuls were OK I got 99.77 percentile. Yet I got calls only from Indore, Lucknou and Kojikode.

I also got interview calls from McCombs, Kellogs and ISB but I could only convert it to ISB. I decided in favor of ISB between the options that I had. Now the quest is over and I am going to ISB for MBA. It was a very difficult year and very challeging one. I am happy to get results and I would soon be a MBA.

I resigned

2006-03-01T21:40:00.000+05:30

March 1, 5:38 PM I resigned from the position of Software Engineer, company - Qwest Software Services. At 9:43 PM I am sitting in the office. A release got over 3 days back, so there is no work. There are couple of people sitting around but I feel like I am alone. It was the same office, same area I was coming daily for last 2 years, well almost 2 years. There is still some time left before I finally leave but I am already feeling detached. Looks like something just got ended, I feel like I have written the last exam of last semester of my college, though still some time was left, but I was already feeling detachment.

I remember, I first came to this office at 9:30 AM, 26th April 2004, Monday. I wore a provogue shirt, a provogue trouser and redtap shoes. First seat, I took was in training room. The office was blank (almost). Only half of the area had furniture. There was no cafeteria and other half of the floor was used by less than 40 people to have lunch. No evening snacks were available then. It was as if the big place and the huge space was available for us to hang around. My first training session was on .Net. There were 9 people in training room includig people like me who had no software experience and people like Raghu, Sajal having 4 years of industry experience. It was good to feel that I was not totally alienated and concepts are quite acceptable. I started my software career.

There are so many memories of people. people that I never appriciated, people that I never thought I will ever appreciate, but when I am leaving today I see how much I have learnt from the company. I appreciate how much I have learnt from the people with whom I have worked. I actually liked my job and never really complained about the work. Yes I never complained about the work, unbelievable. There are people who have made my stay most comfirtable. Some of them would now be life time friends. There is so much I have learnt from the in terms of work and people management. There is something I guess I will never be able to learn. Everyone, I worked or roamed around with, knows that.

It is so weired the thoughts that come to your mind when you leave a palce after two years. I remember my first dinner in Bangalore. It was a glass-walled restaurant on the top floor of Bangalore's highest building (Utility Building). I thank my IITK gang for making my entry to Bangalore such a great occassion. We lived together in a really small house but it was fine as long as we were together. I remember eating choclate fantasies at cafe coffee day and watching movies at Cauvery theater. I remember playing scrabble at 3 AM and shouting at milk man at 7 in the morning. Alok helped to get my first (and only) car. And I went with him to buy a bike. What a trust we share.

It was 10 PM, first week of May 2004, when I was shifting luggage from guest house to my new house in Sadashiv Nagar in Auto with Hitesh Shah. It was all dark and I though how will I ever remember these complicated roads. How will I ever trust Autos and take a ride alone with confidence of not getting cheated.I had a hard time to remember roads to Majestic, Jaynagar, BTM, Bannarghatta, ITPL and all. Today I can draw the map of Bangalore.I can tell you the number of signals that you will face on a route. I know where I can get choclate excess at 2 AM and where I can get a Smirnoff at 3 in the morning.

And time has come. Soon I will be gone, detached from Bangalore, detached from Qwest, detached from company friends and detached from IITK gang. I feel alone, but I am moving to a new place with same excitement that I had when I came to Bangalore.

Leadership OR Netagiri

2005-12-08T15:39:00.000+05:30

The real incidents and events are covered using fictional and dramatic stories.

I decided to tell the system administrator about the bug as clearly as possible. I decided to talk about exact concerns that I and others have about the bug. But then I was stopped by someone who said the following thing "You have right to talk about your own concern and issues and but you are no one to talk for all the people. Why should you involve yourself in Netagiri stuff?" This is when a thought emerged in my mind. Do we belong to a culture where standing for others is having a negative connotation? The word "netagiri" is correct and exactly fits with the role that I wanted to play in fixing the bug. But then why this word has a negative connotation? This is another bug that I descried in the system.

Oh let me tell how get into the above situation.

I am in a system. There are many others, if not exactly like me but quite similar to me, in the same system. System is fine and it is working. System is quite acceptable and fulfills all the expected needs. I have certain comfort levels with the system and that is why I won't like to leave this system in search of other. There are many things that I like in the system. And there are very few things which I wish should not have been there. In my daily routine I hardly notice those 'few things' that bothers me somewhat. So the day is great and I fill satisfied with the system. But there are times when I have to interact with those 'few things' and again I wish if I could change them. I call them bugs. Just like many other people I mostly contend my urge for revolution (bug-fixing) just by talking about it to other people. I just some how feel comfortable that even other share the same opinion about bugs. And then I will talk about the bugs, complain about them, scold few system administrators and move on to my comfort zone. This is usual.

Then I detected a bug. This bug makes me quite uncomfortable. Actually if this bug would not have been there in the system, I could have had some financial rewards from the system. And that is the reason why I want to fix it. There are some others in the system who might be having undue advantage because of this bug. They might be using this bug to do get some unfair financial rewards. I don't have any proofs for that but I have strong reasons to believe so. My reasons include the concerns shared by many others in the system. These people are also in similar kind of disadvantage because of this bug in the system. After hearing from these people, I decided to fix the bug. I had some personal reasons as well. But this time my urge for revolution was higher because of public interest in fixing the bug.

And this is when I decided to tell the system administrator about the bug as clearly as possible. Then I heard the dialogue stated in first paragraph.

So are we creating a system where we are trying to kill "netagiri" instincts of people? A system where everyone accepts the system the way it is. Some people tell me that it is necessary to do so to sustain the system. Some say that if allow all the netas to put their ideas in public openely, it would lead in crashing the system. So by killing the "netagiri" instinct, they are basically trying the save the system and retain its present state. I guess this "netagiri instinct" maps directly to the "leadership skills" of the person. And the way I hearing the buzz word all around me, I guess that every system is looking for people with "leadership skills". I found the situation quite amazing, just think about it.

Every system out there is looking for people with leadership skills. And once these systems have such people, systems do not want them to play "netagiri" roles. I just wonder why then we are having all this drama created? Why can't system go out there and ask for people who are ready to accept the system the way it is. I am confused.

Age of Empires - FALL OF A TITAN

2005-12-01T15:59:00.000+05:30

----------------------------------CHAPTER THREE-----------------------

FALL OF A TITAN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please read CHAPTER ONE - RISE and CHAPTER TWO - MY EMPIRE before reading this.

Ayesha was invincible in the map. He was the best in the institute. He was a star. An honor to his hall, batch, department and institute. The real world was too boring. In real world Ayesha was a loser. His studies were all bad. And grades were difficult to get. Ayesha wanted to take every one of those real world champions to this new world, where he will kill them. He will kill them badly. Ayesha had fantasies of locking the enemies such that they can't do anything. Ayesha would lock enemies' men by the wall so they can't move and then enemy would have to kill his own man by himself. It was a gratification for Ayesha, and great humiliation for his enemies. In usual conversation with his friends, Ayesha would tease his friends "Meet in AOE". And then they would say "Ok. Fine. We know you are the best.” Ayesha would laugh.

Slowly and steadily, He became haughty. Ayesha would not play with bad warriors. They were not up to his standards. They were all easy to defeat. Ayesha asked bad warriors to come in teams. He would play one Vs many and still win with ease. He would despise those, who were learning for a long time and still can't stand his first attack. He would mock those who were senior and old TITANS after defeating them in the game. It was all for fun and nothing else. But it was too much fun. Bad warriors would play against Ayesha, because they did not want to be humiliated. So Ayesha didn't play with newer generation. And then the fall had begun.

Bad warriors playing among themselves, learned new ways of the game. They came up with newer strategies. They became faster and good. And It all happened when Ayesha was not part of those games. Some of those came to play with us, in our grounds when we were short of some players. Those kids, good for nothing according to Ayesha, started playing with TITANS. These kids started building armies that can stand against Ayesha's syths, but still, not for long. And then he faced the first defeat. Two kids attacked Ayesha with their archers, 50 of them, while they were in bronze. Ayesha had to leave his base and run for a hide. Ayesha had forgotten the art of resource collection. For past many weeks, Ayesha hadn't collected resources. He didn't have to. His allies used to give him all the resources. Ayesha tried to increase the population but all in vein. Enemies' archers enjoyed finding and killing Ayesha's men. My team LOST. Not that my team lost for the first time, but this time was special, because Ayesha could not stand against kids. I guess I will refer them as 'prince' TITANS from now onwards.

Ayesha tried to learn new ways, but princes were too good. Ayesha could never come out of his own way. He could not leave "the way", which brought all the fame and victories. He would still try to reach Iron as fast as possible. If he reaches iron, with some resource, he will become invincible. Everyone knew that, even enemies. Enemies started attacking him while he was in tool. The only intention was to delay in reaching iron. And if he could not reach iron, he was very bad player, a resource sucker of the team. He tried to go back to the role of resource collection for his prince allies. But he found it humiliating. After all he was a warrior, not a resource collector. At the same time new world came as warcraft and AOE II. Ayesha was a bad player in the new world. And he didn't want to loose to princes. And thus Ayesha LEFT. A TITAN, who thought, that he was invincible, lost interest in the game. And thus the TITAN fell.

---------------------------END OF CHAPTER THREE -----------------------

October Sky

2005-12-01T12:51:00.000+05:30

October Sky

"October Sky" is one of the best inspirational movies, seen by me. This article is not about the movie. There are two reasons for that. First, I can't write anything better about the movie. So who are interested in the movie should watch it. If you want to know more about the movie, check out the imdb link "http://imdb.com/title/tt0132477/". Second, I had something better to write about, something good about money and investment. I can see twinkle in your eyes. Alright I will stop boring you. Let us get down to business.

Two investment opportunities:

1. Bangalore lands
Every year after the month of October, real state prices in Bangalore rise. There are differences of about 2%-5% in the prices of 'lands' and 'apartments'. why is that?

There is only one reason. US VISA allotments are announced in the month of October. People do not invest their money in real estate, if they are hopeful about getting their VISAs approved. And once that hope is gone, people want to put their money in real estate.

2. American skies
This is December. There is something going on Job Market. Are you observing it? No? Hmmm.

There many consultant firms, say about 15 of them, who are looking for software professionals. These firms have a plan, which might interest you. They want to place these software professionals in US as consultant on a work VISA, H1B to be specific. There is bond, or service agreement as they call it, which would ask you to go to US, if your VISAs are approved. This bond will also cover a time frame, for which you would have to stick with the firm. But don't worry bond also specifies the money, which you would have to pay in case you want to switch firm or don't want to go. Money could be anywhere between 40,000 to 100,000 INR. So say you will get a H1B for about 80,000 (avg.). Good deal. Right?

You might want to consider that if you don't apply this year than you won't be able to get a Work VISA till October 2007. That means you can't go to US for work till January 2008.

Age of Empires - MY EMPIRE

2005-11-30T14:15:00.000+05:30

-------------------------------- CHAPTER TWO -----------------------------

MY EMPIRE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

please read CHAPTER ONE - RISE before reading this.

A new TITAN was on RISE. I will name myself as Ayesha Takiya for the purpose of this record.

For next few weeks several games were played, in which Ayesha's job was to collect resources for his "Royal Allies". Ayesha became a preferred player as no one in the real game wanted to do a dirty job of collecting resources. Everyone wanted to fight, which was easy to do if you have a designated resource collector on your side. Ayesha was happy to be considered as a key TITAN now. With time Ayesha's strategies grew. Ayesha was always the first one with 200 population. Ayesha always had the highest population at any given time. Enemies were afraid of Ayesha's armies of men. Men that will be all over the map doing exactly what they were supposed to do, stealing resources. Enemies changed their strategies to aim Ayesha as the first enemy. Enemies used to look for Ayesha's men and kill them. Many TITANS, increased their kills by doing so, a shame. Ayesha was the first TITAN who stopped caring for his men. He stopped trying to save his men. He will produce many more men on the other side of the map. TITANS were afraid of Ayesha.

Ayesha got bored. He was bored with the same game again and again. Everybody was killing Ayesha and Ayesha killed nobody. Everybody after the game talked who they killed and how. Ayesha was quite, He hadn't kill anybody, except few towers and catapult. Ayesha wanted to fight. He chose Egyptian as a civilization. Egyptian, a civilization which can give 100% as tribute, civilization whose men were strong and faster and a civilization in which army could be build based on food and wood, was Ayesha’s favorite. Ayesha also chose a color, blue, many who played with me will remember. For many ... many games, Ayesha tried to build his army but could he couldn't do it. Then times changed. Ayesha, an expert on resource collection, was the first one to reach Iron age in 20 minutes. He brought syth on the map when all the other seven were in bronze. Blue color Egyptian syth, over 40 of them, when first seen by an enemy while he was in bronze, he resigned immediately. Game was finished much before than it was supposed to. Ayesha was the new TITAN with thousand of resources and great armies. Now if someone asked for resources from Ayesha, Ayesha would say 'NO'.

Stratigies changed. Team-mates started giving Ayesha resources to make him reach iron in 18 minutes. Once in iron, Ayesha produces sysths, only syths. Only building Ayesha would build were research buildings and stable. Ayesha will produce 200 syth. Ayesha was first one to attack. Enemies would resign if Ayesha's syth reached their town-center. Enemy, whose town-center was infront of Ayesha's, would leave his town-center with research of bronze to hide behind his allies. Ayesha was the one who attacked two enemies at the same time. All map will glow with the blue color. Ayesha became the formidable. Enemies again wanted to kill Ayesha first, this time not for men. Enemies didn't wanted Ayesha to reach iron. Becauase once Ayesha is in iron game will end.

His studies screwed. Ayesha learned hacking. He learned how to hang windows machine using linux boxes, so that he will get the machine, while some studious student would have to leave. Ayesha would come to computer center at 9 PM. Ayesha then would play game till 8’o’clock in the morning. Actually it was class at 8 in the morning, which Ayesha didn’t want to miss. Why would Ayesha miss a class in air-conditioned room, where a man will make him sleep? No, Ayesha would not miss it. Actually Ayesha would be happy to miss it, if other titans were ready to stay at computer center and play. Anyways after attending all the classes and having lunch, Ayesha would go to his room and sleep some more. After all Ayesha had to go to war in the night, so rest was necessary. Ayesha will wake up at 6, o, clock and do the daily activities of brush, bath and toilet. Ayesha will have his dinner and then will leave for battle field.

Ayesha built great empires on the map. Half of the map will be separated by blue wall (like wall of china). Wall would be guarded by blue towers with priest by their sides. No enemy would try to bring his catapult near. Allies were happy to have blue color on friendly side. They would ask Ayesha to cover an area, so that they can build their base. Allies would ask for syths of Ayesha to protect them. Other half of the map would be blued by the syths, over 200 of them attacking all the enemies at the same time. Enemies were all yelling at the same time for help, all of them running from one side to other on the map. Enemies could not find any place to hide. And this was usual. Ayesha became the ruler. He was a preferred player, a great TITAN.

---------------------------- END OF CHAPTER TWO ------------------------

Age of Empires - RISE

2005-11-29T12:18:00.000+05:30

---------------------------------CHAPTER ONE------------------------------

RISE

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was summer of 2000. I entered into windows-NT room of computer center, IIT Kanpur. There were about 5 people who were most sincere in doing what they were doing. They were shouting like there is no tomorrow, like there is no one else in the room, like they were in a different world. And I noticed something on their computer screens, and I saw “a world”. World of wars, armies, cavalry, archers.... World I had dreamed about, World I wanted to live into. Noise became less annoying, once I noticed that those five guys are actually in that world, fighting each other for land, gold and pride. The only annoying thing about the “noise” was that I was not part of that world. I felt like I am left out. Alone.

I asked one of those guys to install that thing on my machine. And since I was too afraid to loose even in a game, I preferred to play ALONE. It was my own world no one other than me and if someone else wins, It will be the computer (I map that to nature in the real world.). Just like for many men out there, I was happy to loose to a computer than to put a fight to other men. I kept telling myself, this the time for me to learn. And once I will know how to win over a computer, I will come to the world with other men. I had gratifications of winning over "easiest" computers. And I didn't mind loosing to harder ones. They were just computers and there was no else in my world to see me loosing, so how does that really matter.

They were my role models, the great warriors. I feared them when I saw their formidable armies, battalions with Cavalry, Syth, Catapult, and Ballista. I feared them when I saw their castles. Castles surrounded with walls of thrice the height of man. Castles guarded by towers which were even difficult to reach. When I saw their enemy's armies getting thrashed and wasted in moments, I feared them. They were the TITANS. I sometimes thought should I play with them? But I was happy in my own world.

One evening there were seven of them, SEVEN TITANS. The world had a space for eight. They were finding it difficult to balance the team. No team was willing to take a "nature" (computer) on their side. No one knows when nature turns its sides. They asked me to join them. They somehow believed that I would be able to balance the team. I got a choice to make.... continue to have gratifications of collecting 20,000 gold with just 30 men in my world or getting crushed in their war. I agreed to be in the middle of war of TITANS.

My team LOST. Some said nature would have been better than me. Others asked whether I came into “the world” for the first time. Even some asked me not to be around of TITANS as I was a shame on the name of the institute, department and my hall (Hall 2). I actually felt ashamed. It was difficult. Should I go back to hall and sleep, after all there is class at 8 in the morning and it is already 3 AM. I was tired. I thought my eyes are too strained. I had enough reasons to go back, All logical. I decided to stay. I decided now my own world exists only for training. No more gratifications. Again discussions started for team formation. There were people who didn't wanted to be in team, in which I would be. One TITAN, a.k.a. Naveen, not the best TITAN, who was in my team, took me aside for a crash course. He showed the world which was more than I could have imagined. I realized that I wasn't magic which gave these TITANS the great armies. It was not serendipity to have a catapult. We played second game with the same teams. And we lost again. I don't know why but this defeat was not so humiliating. May be I was expecting much more humiliation.

I wanted to play more but other TITANS decided that it would not be possible to play if I am in the game. Six of them decided to play among themselves and Naveen decided to teach me. He was my trainer, my coach and a great TITAN, Naveen. He taught me to build town center, research buildings, resource collection centers and houses, that's it. I was asked to practice the same thing again and again and again. The things that I was supposed to in the real game. After the third game (game of six warriors) of the evening was over, we decided to play fourth game. Naveen was on my team and that was my only concern. I played with shang and made only buildings that Naveen taught me. No Armies, just men. Many men, more than I ever thought were required. 200 of them, all over the map, only thing they were doing were collecting resources. I was supplier of all kinds of resources to all my team mates. We did NOT win, but game lasted for 3.5 hours. TITANS were having discussions of what went wrong and what went good. My work was on the good side. My role was decided and that's how I got a feminine name. Those who have played with me know the name. And I would like to keep it that way.

-------------------------- END OF CHAPTER ONE -------------------------

Real Estate in India

2005-11-28T12:51:00.000+05:30

Investment Opportunities in India:

There are two kinds of opportunities available as I view the market. One in infrastructure and other in real estate. Two investments are different not only in types of work and projects but also in the way of investing.

In infrastructure, projects could be like power plants, highways, cement plants, machinery and equipment factories etc. In these projects if you do not want to get in to selling the products, you can just be there till the time of Turn-Key and get your payments done and get out of it. Easiest is Highways. Highways require less technical knowledge. But if you are patient enough to do a long investments power-plants, cement plants, iron bars factories could be a choice. Goverment has special focus on enery and transportation in 10th and 11th 5year plan.

In real estate, projects could be like residential buildings/villas/societies, commercial buildings, malls, car parks, hotels, restaurants. Except residential buildings these investments have to be like really long term. something like you are going to setup a business center in a city which would be costly enough that no company will buy it and but would be willing to give you good rent for a long period of time. So far there was very small players active in this field with 10-12 buildings in a city, except say DLF in Gurgaon and some others in Bombay. In my views this trend is going to catch in next decade.

Non Metro Cities: Companies find it difficult to retain people in city like Bangalore and now pissed with their extra-ordinary demands and city's high cost of living. So they are looking towards cities like Bhopal, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mysore. One would be safe to assume the capitals of the states. These cities provides opportunities for commercial buildings in coming 5 years and once people having purchasing power market will make move towards residential complexes. Even market for contracts of singal units of housing is coming up and ACC has already made a move here.

Foriegn Investment: Currently the industry is highly unorganized and disfragmented. Though due to size of market it would not be possible for any one company to take up major share and hence disfragmentation can not be avoided, but I am highly inclined in setting up clean businesses in this industry which would allow foriegn investors to look at India as a potential market.
So approach I will say is to have tie-ups with companies like LnT, Gammon, Hindustan Constructions if you want to go towards infrastruture with low risk low returns and long term investments. Go with companies like Mantri Developers, Kalpataru Constructions for real estate investments with medium risk and medium returns and about 3-8 years investment. And I will say best would be to launch one's own clean business which highest risk and would give highest returns depending upon the duration of investment. Find out some clean guys who are fed with the way it works today. Guys who have years of knowledge and exprience and yet are excited about bringing the changes, people who have been in the business and understand beurocracies, who can think beyond one city one state and one segment. Once you have these guys setup your own firm.

Between as we are moving ahead and industry is growing, market is emerging for services, like design and consulting. One can even think of out-sourcing of these from US, Germany or other matured markets to India. Indians are good at learning and will deliver the design at very low cost. This kind of work can be done offshore. Few companies like SIEMENS, GE have already done for infrastructure projects but market is yet to come for commercial/residential projects.

I am sorry to say that I do not understand the exact procedures and legalities required for a foreign investor to come into india. Though I just heard that now 100% investement is allowed in infrastructure projects, have a check on that.

Software Development Cycle - A web application view

2005-11-26T12:52:00.000+05:30

Welcome back OR Welcome. - Pick a greeting which suits you.

Article is meant to give a comprehensive view of activities involved in Software Development. It is written with Web Application in view. I will give little background about myself which will help you to put this information in perspective. I am a software engineer, working on Java/J2ee technologies in a service company. I am mostly involved in designing web-applications using Html, javascript, jsps, AJAX, Dwr, servlets, struts, DAOs, Hibernate, EJBs, web-services etc.. I am working on windows platform with oracle as database and weblogic as application server. IDE if talked anywhere will refer to eclipse.

So far, your marketting team have found a client, who is ready to invest his time and money with you to get one web-application running, which will be servicing his customers, providing them with newer features, more information about products/services and allow customers to order products with ease. If you want to know more about what the web-application is intended to do, talk to your marketting team and then to your client to get a bigger picture.

1. Know your Client
My company is a hundred percent subsidary of a US company. So to say that we already know who is our client and his core business, makes life much easier. If you don't have this information spend some time in getting to know your client first. Roam around his web-site to find out what kind of work he likes. Even we do it in order to get ideas on what prototypes should be proposed to our client.

2. Prototyping
Though not always software engineers have luxury to design prototypes, but if prototyping is done, then this is the right time for software engineers to know what exactly are the client's fantacies. This step gives an opportunity to development team to understand the business of the client, integration points with already established systems, to fix the scope of the project in large dimensions. On the other side it allows client to know what application would be delivered to him in the end. Thus this step is beneficial to both the sides, it avoids any disappointments for the client and any fantacy requirements for the development team. After this step both the sides know, what is it that development team is working on.

Though I have seen prototypes in excel, images, flow-diagrams also but I have found that using Html and Javascript for prototyping is the best approach. It not only provides a close simulation of the end-product but also saves a lot of time while coding Jsps. Most of the Html and Javascript can be reused for designing web-pages. I am adamant in using this approach, but well it doesn't always happen for eg: if prototypes are given to you from the client side. What do you do then? I will say put some people to start converting them to Html and Javascript.

Since we follow XP in our company, prototypes are not a fixed agreement between client and us but it allows us to save lots of effort in wrong directions. Some changes can always be incorporated while the actual development.

3. Estimation
This is the most critical step as far as your client and your own manager is concerned. Getting it right is like walking on an double edged sword. If you bloat your estimations too much, client will say that he can do away with this application this means loss of business for you, and if you are very aggressive here, that will mean late nights for you and your team in the office which will lead to loosing precious resources of the company (not many people realize but this loss is a good as loosing business).
But if you have done the prototyping or if you have well understood the prototypes, you should be able to come up with good estimates. Only experience can teach you this. This step itself can form a big topic for an article, I will take it some time. In one statement I would say that you should devide the work in small modules, define their inter-dependencies, integration points in these modules, keep some time for writting Junits, and some for bug fixing and ofcourse some time just to allow spare time (No body ever misses this).

Let us hope that your client is happy with your estimates and says a GO to the project.

In steps 1,2,3 you have already spent about 30% of total project time. Good news is you would know what exactly you are working on.

4. Know the production environment
Before moving ahead and deciding technologies that you will use for coding the web-application, you should spend some time to know the production environment where your application will be deployed. This will also allow you to de-select some technologies in the next step. Minimum things that you would be interested to know are database, web browser (with version), application server, clustered/non-clustered etc. Wiered restrictions would be faced if your client wants to deploy this new application on eon old system. You should talk to production team of the client to get some idea. If you are going to decide the production environment...... hmm I don't know I have never done that.

5. Deciding the technologies
Its now time to decide what technologies you would use to develop the application. Though every one takes the requirement in view to decide technlogies, one should also take into account about the abilities and knowledge of development team while deciding technologies.

Generally speaking you can devide the application in three parts.

First - Front End.
There are many technologies available, with Jsps being the most popular these days. But before making a decision one might take a look on spring framework, JSF and even servlets (if your pages are logic intensive.). You can even use combination of servlets and Jsps, this works great. I have been mostly using struts which is quite good and quite easy to work with. Though since I have not used many other technologies available, I am not in a position to compare struts with others. So untill unless I get sufficient time to study and learn any other frame work, or I do have some expert in team on other framework, I would like to use struts for frontend even if there are other technologies available which are a better fit to project requirements.

Second - Middle Layer.
Some would say there is hardly anything to decide over here, as every body uses Core Java in this layer. Yes it's true that evey one uses java only, but here you should architect your application as in give your modules a more concrete technical schema. You could think about design patterns to be used. You should think about level of security required. You must think about trasaction handling between two different systems. You would think about interacting with with older and already established systems of client. So though you are not deciding on what to use over here, but still there is considerable work on how to use Java to get a better performance and comprehensive code.

Third - Database Interation.
Hmmm, I always had difficult times on what to use for database interaction. There are so many technologies available with their pros and cons, that it just becomes a matter of comfirt as a prime factor when deciding technology here. Technologies available are DAOs, JDOs, EJBs, Hibernate, Top-Link etc. We will talk about these in detail some other time. Though I have worked upon DAOs, EJBs and Hibernate , I do not have a suffiecient technical knowledge to make a fair comparision between them.

You should also make a decision on application server, web browser, database etc. in this step.

6. Setup the development environment
Now it is time to setup the environment, that is install the application server, a database, a code repository, a build tool, installation of IDE, JDK etc. If you don't know on what to chose, take a look on list below.
Application Server - JBoss, Resin, Orion, WebLogic etc. (Weblogic- My fav.)
Code Repository - VSS, CVS, Dimension etc. (WinCvs/Tortoise CVS - My Fav.)
Build Tool - ANT (I have never worked on any other.)
IDE - Intellij idea, Eclipse etc. (Eclipse is free, and IntelliJ idea is probably the best available.)
Database - Oracle, SQL, Access, File System etc. ( again I haven't worked on anything other than oracle.)
JDK version- 1.4.1.2, 1.5 etc.

Take some time to install all these properly on each of the machines that will be used for development. Datbase may be required to install on each machine.

In steps 4,5,6 you would have spent about 15% of project time. Good news is now you are going to start the coding.

7. Coding application
Things that you would like to remember here are that
- your team's interest is always intact.
- you have some redundancy between team members that is there is more than one person who knows a particular module.
- Everyone knows how his code is going to fit in the project.
- Do remember to write Junits to assist in code refactoring

This step will take about 35% of the project time.

8. Testing and Bug fixing
It will be good idea to keep experts in this area. But if you do not have that luxury, you should rotate team for the testing, that is to test the functionality of a module, you should ask people who have not coded that module. You should also keep a track on the number of bugs raised with the priority level and number of bugs resolved. One can use tools like BugZilla and Testdirector for this. Do remember to do performance testing of the application, with simulation of actual production environment.

Just one peice of advice, do keep suffiecient time for this step say about 15% of the project time.

9. Post production
Keep about 5% of time for this. One certainity - one would always face some issue(s) here. One uncertainity - Each issue would be new and quite unexpected. All I will say do not panic. Any issue(s) will be resolved with some night-outs.

With this I will conclude my article. I hope this would be of some help when you would lead your first project.

hunh... so you have decided to take GMAT

2005-11-25T14:26:00.000+05:30

If you have come here and are interested to read this. I believe that you are apping to some B-schools.

Article is meant for people who don't know anything about apping process and do not have an idea about where to start. This will give a picture of the complete process till submission of application. Since the problem you are facing is encountered by everyone of us, I am trying to prepare a generic calender which can be used in the process.

Few Important points to note before going ahead.

The calender dates and time are to be followed for apping process but the profile building takes a lot more time. some times people invest 3-4 years in building their profile for good B-schools. However once you have your profile ready with you, formalities of apping can be planned as follows:

1. However many schools provide two opportunities in one year to commence the MBA program it is highly reccomended that international students should apply to program starting in fall semesters. That is if you are selected your classes will start from August/ September of the year. I will assume that one is interested in apping to fall 2007 program.

2. For most schools and almost all top 20 schools, admission process takes place in three cycles which are reffered as round 1, round 2 and round 3 applications. Approximately 55%, 35% and 10% admissions are granted in round 1, round 2 and round 3 respectively. Figures turn out to be roughly same for international applicants' admissions also. Volumes of international applications are roughly the same in round 1 and round 2 and quite less in round 3. So based on statics it can be figured out that it is more useful to apply in round 1. However as all schools say "please submit your application when you feel it is the strongest."

3. Deadlines for submitting round 1 applications are somewhere between Oct 1st week to Dec 2nd week. For round 2 they are between Nov 3rd week to Jan 3rd week. I didn't bother to collect any information for round 3.

4. Best strategy would be to apply to 3-4 schools in round 1 such that you get some feedbacks before applying to round 2 in another 3-4 schools. As i said earlier it would be difficult to write applications for more than 8 schools in a year. Also you can chose schools such that you get to know results of round 1 applications even before applying to round 1 of another school. For eg: Wharton 1st round rejections are already out and NYU stern 1st round deadline is due on Dec 1st.

5. So let us say you have chosen to apply in first round in four schools. Though for all practical reasons you can have your GMAT on the deadline date of application of a school, I would suggest that you should plan it in such a way that you have your GMAT scores atleast 2-3 months before the deadline. There are two reasons behind it.
I. If you think that your scores does not represent your abilities, you have a chance to retake the exam with another month's preparation.
II. You would be able to make better judgement in chosing your schools based on your scores in GMAT.

So I would say that you should take GMAT in July 2006, that's right more than a year before you will actually be studying MBA. Though GMAC claims that any preparation is hardly useful in altering the scores, I will say that a sincere 2 months preparation will make quite an impact. So you need to start your preparation for GMAT latest by May 2006.Also register yourself for the test in MAY.

Here a dilemma comes that what schools are you going to fill in for reporting your GMAT scores. The schools to be reported are asked before even the exam starts. So .... well use your best judgement. A document that I published earlier in this group will help you to narrow down your choices.

Also it will probably be a good idea to check-out whether schools you are interested in asks for an official GMAT scores at the time of application. As some of the school allow application process on basis of applicant submitted scores and granted the admission on the condition of verification of the scores. You might save some money over here.

6. TOEFL scores, note that not all schools require you to take the TOEFL and for many others it be waived off on the basis your college degree where the primary language of instruction was english. If in doubt submit TOEFL scores, again an official submission may not be required at the time of apping for some schools. TOEFL can be given in the month of September but just make sure that you register the date well in advance. Month of september and october are packed and gets filled by two months earlier.

7. Good news that you get to see your GMAT scores as soon as you finish the exam. Well may be not good for everyone but anyways.... So when you have your scores with you and you can take a rough estimate on TOEFL scores, its time to chose universities. If you have taken two months to prepare most likely you would not require a retake. So next step - Take no more than 15 days to chose universities. The other document published here would be of some help. In addition you should do complete research on the core competency of schools, essay topics, location and whether you stand a chance. You would have to leave some schools because you can not think of responses to their essay questions. DO IT, its alright. It is better to be able to defend your interest in a school's program even if you are not so interested rather than having an interest and not able to defend it.

9. Also this would be a good time to tell your supervisors for reccomendations, (chosing a recommeder is another discussion, we will take it some time) and friends that you are apping this year and would require help on reviews on your essays. From this point till the completion your of your apping, you have to be in regular contact with your recommenders; also keep an idea about their busy and free time. From this point till the end your recommenders are very much part of your application process. Let them know about your decisions on schools, your ideas on essay responses and other stuff. They would be of great help.

8. By July last week you have made a choice on schools. Now its to start writting your essays. As said by many "No matter how good or bad you are at writting, your second draft will be better than your first." Take sufficient time to write your responses say about a month. This is really important. Once you are exhausted start sending your copies of essays to your friends for reviews. Its good to confirm that you have included suggetions by reviewer but Do NOT send the corrected copy to the same person again as he might get bored with all your stories. Keeping your reviewers interests intact is quite important. It would be a good idea to take some professional help here if you can't find all those friends and recommenders' interests.

9. Also once you have chosen schools, you need to find out what are the things that schools require as a hard copy for eg: transcript, recommendations, GMAT and TOEFL score sheets, essays etc. Make a list somewhere with respect to college and sorted on deadline. Do remember to post your transcipts 2 weeks before if you want to do it in 350/- ; 1 week before if for 1600/- ; and lesser if you want to check out whether you are lucky. And do I need to mention that you would have to request your college to get the transcripts. You can do it today, it is not going make any difference or atleast should do it latest by July, say the day when you took your GMAT.

10. What else, open your accounts on school website as soon as you have decided the school and just go through all the pages, just to avoid any surprises. You can open a account with a false identities if site does not allow you to go to next pages without filling some of the information. I would say that atleast 15 days before submission you should know each and every question that is posed in the application. eg: your recommender's mailing address, phone numbers, their title, position, company names, your parents age, B'dates, education background, income status etc.

Well for now this is all i could think of. If something else came to my mind i will write an appendix. You have any specific questions, feel free to post it here.