What is a System?
Posted by: udaygosain on: 4-July-2009
We all know that we live in a world of many complex systems. Much has been said on what is a System. I have another view, developed 4 yrs back.
We can possibly divide most systems into 3 components:
- Active Part
- Passive Part
- Rules and Enforcement
Map these to the various systems we have:
Educational System:
- Participating people – teachers, students, parents, govt officials etc (society)
- School infrastructure
- Educational Acts and Rules. Their implementation.
Transportation System:
- The people driving, different types of vehicles
- Road network, traffic lights, markings -
- Traffic Laws and rules, and the Traffic police to enforce the laws
Judicial/Legal System, etc
Breaking down systems in these 3 components, would help put together a systematic approach to “system correction”.
[Thought] Regarding “Anti-reservation” Protests
Posted by: udaygosain on: 11-June-2009
This is an old story, very much alive in my mind.
People might remember the weeks of vehement protest at AIIMS, New Delhi against reservation. I think a couple of them laid down their lives too.Then I know a couple of doctors who left AIIMS or who would not practice in India due to “lack of facilities” (a fact which we all have gotten used to listening and reading).
I, as usual, wonder - rather than protesting against reservation – not letting the underprivileged be a part of the system – they might have protested for world class facilities, infrastructure, exchange programmes and all those reasons for which Doctors leave India, and the reasons the Medical facilities are wanting.
I have posed this question to many IITians too who particiapted in the protests – Is IIT R or D a world class institute, with competitive infrastructure and research facilities – the answer was always a NO. My next question was – “Then why don’t you protest so badly for these – the buildings are old, campus is unkempt, research is done for US journals and even your hostel and canteen bathrooms stink”.
Anti-reservationists, protest for world class facilities in your campus, not to keep anyone away from the existing India Class facilities!
Sustaining your volunteer spirit & fervour
Posted by: udaygosain on: 21-April-2009
Here’s a mindset tip:
While volunteering, due to the nature of work and problems, don’t look for results [and NEVER immediate results], for they rarely come. And if they come – take it as a BONUS 
Take this as a principle, keep walking, you will see the changes in some years. You will survive your self too.
To solve a problem like India
Posted by: udaygosain on: 19-April-2009
- In: Thoughts
- 3 Comments
One does not need to write books on the grandeur visions. If just the following are corrected things will automatically fall in place:
1. The Judicial System
2. The Law Enforcement System
3. The Value System
4. Population Control
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) will always come to Lawmakers and Lawkeepers being inadept. The common issues we face: Bad roads, bad schools, teachers not teaching in schools, corruption, Pollution, cheating, stealing, badly implemented laws, etc, can all be taken care of on correction of these two.
Create a new value system / a new religion, or add Appendices to existing religions.
Somehow people in India started saying that population is the strength of our country, I too bought that – however after half a decade of accepting the theory I reject it. Unfortunately for India – we have an UNPRODUCTIVE population. A complete burden rather than an advantage.
Narayana Murthy’s & Premji’s – Polluted Bangalore
Posted by: udaygosain on: 19-April-2009
Shamelessly, the Autos of Bangalore smoke out the dreams of having a better India. Traffic still bearable, but not the pollution.
All one can see on the roads is dust and smoke? It pains to see people covering their faces with a cloth.
It is a wonder, people from the Developed world actually work with India. Step out of the Airport and viola - mindless chaos! Chaos which is viens of India.
Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji must be real spin doctors to bear a broken road just out side the campus gates, and still get the dollars coming in.
Appeal to the stalwarts to at least get the Autos from stop polluting!
Karmayog CSR Ratings – 1000 Indian Companies
Posted by: udaygosain on: 11-April-2009
Here we are: At a stage were there are CSR ratings coming out. Such things in India have started to matter. Ref a post that I had written to the management of a company
http://www.karmayog.org/csr2008/
- Announcing the Karmayog CSR Ratings of India’s Largest 1000 Companies
- Karmayog CSR Rating 2008
- Karmayog CSR Rating 2008 of 1000 Biggest Indian Companies – Compiled Table February 16th, 2009 (xls)
- Karmayog CSR Rating Criteria –
- Table of Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 Companies – (xls)
- Quotes from Level 3 and Level 4 rated Companies – showing the company’s overall vision and mission, and CSR philosophy (xls)
- Alphabetical Tables of CSR Rating of 1000 companies 2008 (nos. in brackets)
- Details of CSR Activities of companies
- Sector-wise analysis of CSR activities of companies
- Sustainability Reports 2007-2008
Germany Seeks to Position Itself for a Greener, Brighter Future
Posted by: udaygosain on: 10-April-2009
This is being a progressive nation.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/special_section.cfm?specialID=84
Although the German economy has been hammered — like the rest of the world — by the global financial crisis, Europe’s largest economy also has areas of strength. German cities are competing to attract international business; innovation is thriving; clean energy initiatives are moving forward; and educational reform is helping make schools more responsive to future economic needs. Knowledge@Wharton asked experts at Wharton and other German business schools to weigh in on these and other trends.
source – Knowledge@Wharton
The Berets – in Indian Military & Police Uniforms??
Posted by: udaygosain on: 2-April-2009
- In: Thoughts
- 2 Comments
Berets were originally worn by Northern Basque peasants (from the border area of Southern France, and Northern Spain) and were knitted from wool. Today berets are normally made from woven wool, wool felt, or acrylic fiber. It became a part of the uniform in the colder countries – France, UK, Scandanavia, Russia, etc – for it “head-warming” capacities.
They are not so useful in field conditions for an infantryman, as they do not offer the protection for the face against sun and rain that a peaked or wide brimmed hat does.
Taking congnizance of the above, should we not wonder, Why are these berets worn in a hot tropical country like India? Berets are not made for such climatic conditions.
Having travelled on Delhi Roads a lot, if one has noticed the Delhi Traffic Police personnel wearing these berets at near 50 degree Celsius in peek summer – they have to face , what I sitting in my Air Conditioned car, like to avoid; while having pity on them, I do salute them.
Come to think of it the entire military and para-military forces of India wears this “beret”.
Off with the beret!
Killing the Questioning ability of Indians
Posted by: udaygosain on: 15-March-2009
Higher in the Management Circles, it is being questioned if processes are to be done away with to incubate Innovation. However, India has not yet reached a stage where processes and structure can be set aside. Gaps in processes exist everywere; for the lack of such structure and processes, is where India is where it is.
Lack of processes do not enable innovation, instead processes lead to freedom from chaos and provide space and time to innovate. Which part of the developed world, so strong in processes and structure, has not innovated?
For India to succeed we need to remove hierarcies, mainly to enable questioning. For the inability of Indian’s to question is the bane of our nation – a disease, a virus, which lives through generations, abetted by the people above in the hierarchies – the Thakurgiri and mi-baap culture all so pervasive. It is this inability that eusures that we don’t make world class products/systems/cities/institutions/country.
Our education system of the mass, preaches us NOT to question. Brainstorming sessions become ego-ridden, people laugh back at a person who has asked a question in a big conference, etc. We ensure that our ability to question is systematically killed everywhere.
Spending on Training programmes and after college learning centres do not help. Go back to the colleges and make them better. (http://udaygosain.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/indias-systems-aquaguard-inverter-solutions/)
Considered: http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Web-Exclusives/Traits-Of-Business-Wise/Page-4.html
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