#59: Tough Times, Visionary Companies [May 2009]
In the last issue, we saw how individuals can succeed under all circumstances and that is the foundation class and pillars of strength to be successful. To recall, there are four pillars of strength to build on top of the foundation called “Will Power”. They are a. Learnability, b. Efficiency, c. Agility and d. Attitude.
In this issue, we will discuss what makes an organization successful. The question we need to ask is “Are the pillars and foundation same for organizations as that of Individuals?” The answer is No.
Foundation
Corporate culture, which I feel serves as the foundation on which pillars of strength is built. It is the total sum of the values, customs, traditions and meanings that make a company unique. Corporate culture is often called "the character of an organization" since it embodies the vision of the company’s founders. Hence, we need to ensure that CNPL values its culture as the core foundation and we should monitor, measure and correct if there is a deviation.
Pillars of Strength
There are four pillars of strength and they are a. Technology Adoption, b. Process, c. Talent Management and d. Collaboration.
In the knowledge economy, the agility with which technology adoption happens is the key driver for business sustenance. Agility and learnability of individuals contributes to this pillar.
Adaptation of technology without using proper process will be cost ineffective. Process and its compliance will instill quality on one hand and keep the cost of products & services less expensive.
Again, knowledge economy depends largely on talented and skilled manpower. Retaining the talent, keeping them motivated, encouraging them to learn on continuous basis and recognition are the ingredients of talent management.
Of course the last but not the least is to ensure that the individuals work as a team to achieve common objectives. Collaboration would need transparency, attitude to care & share, attitude of forgiveness, pride in growth of peers and sub-ordinates, empathy and magnanimity.
Our next survey would be based on these foundation and pillars. Get ready to give your frank and valuable feedbacks soon.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Nurturing Intellectual Capabilities
#61: Nurturing Intellectual Capabilities [Jul 2009]
An intellectual is one who has the power of understanding, has the capacity for the higher forms of knowledge or thought and characterized by intelligence or mental capacity. Suitable exercising of brain is essential for an intellect. As a Knowledge worker, all IT professionals have to be an intellect to survive, sustain and grow in the industry.
With technological changes happening too rapidly, intellects are challenged to keep pace with it. Knowledge workers are constantly challenged to learn newer technologies fast on one side, deliver projects on time & quality on the other hand. Doing both efficiently and effectively leaves the knowledge workers stressed out. Unless there is collaboration between like minded intellects, one cannot keep pace with the technology in the long run.
Cloud Computing is new a technology that we would like to learn. While the development would be interested to know how the design and architect would change to implement cloud computing, the testing team would want to learn as to how to evaluate the design and test the product and the operations team would like to learn deployment and managing challenges.
Hence, all the three teams can have an interest to build their knowledge on this. But the challenge is to learn in parallel to their current workload. If teams collaborate, the learning can happen in faster pace, also each team will have a different view point and hence the learning could be more effective.
Another example I could imagine is Orthogonal Testing technique. This technique will shorten the time-to-test curve dramatically without compromising on quality. But the technique requires understanding and use of statistics. It also requires usage of advanced functionalities XLS. Hence, QA team can collaborate with CAT team in order build their intellects as well as collaboratively learn.
Am I trying to convince you as to why I have named “Intellectual Groups” as next year theme which sits on top of Collaboration? Well, you guessed it right!!
An intellectual is one who has the power of understanding, has the capacity for the higher forms of knowledge or thought and characterized by intelligence or mental capacity. Suitable exercising of brain is essential for an intellect. As a Knowledge worker, all IT professionals have to be an intellect to survive, sustain and grow in the industry.
With technological changes happening too rapidly, intellects are challenged to keep pace with it. Knowledge workers are constantly challenged to learn newer technologies fast on one side, deliver projects on time & quality on the other hand. Doing both efficiently and effectively leaves the knowledge workers stressed out. Unless there is collaboration between like minded intellects, one cannot keep pace with the technology in the long run.
Cloud Computing is new a technology that we would like to learn. While the development would be interested to know how the design and architect would change to implement cloud computing, the testing team would want to learn as to how to evaluate the design and test the product and the operations team would like to learn deployment and managing challenges.
Hence, all the three teams can have an interest to build their knowledge on this. But the challenge is to learn in parallel to their current workload. If teams collaborate, the learning can happen in faster pace, also each team will have a different view point and hence the learning could be more effective.
Another example I could imagine is Orthogonal Testing technique. This technique will shorten the time-to-test curve dramatically without compromising on quality. But the technique requires understanding and use of statistics. It also requires usage of advanced functionalities XLS. Hence, QA team can collaborate with CAT team in order build their intellects as well as collaboratively learn.
Am I trying to convince you as to why I have named “Intellectual Groups” as next year theme which sits on top of Collaboration? Well, you guessed it right!!