Cost Consciousness Programme at Hyundai

Conducted the "Cost Consciousness" programme for Hyundai Motors India Ltd. The programme was attended by Junior and senior engineers. Though there were only eleven of them the interaction was good.

I ran my usual simultion of a box manufacturing workshop and the learnings from the activity were slowly debriefed in consultation with the participants themselves.

Hyundai is currently running an initiative called CC34 (Change Challenge 3 4) One of the Changes is Cost Reduction. This programme has been conducted by me twice already.

I think I colud shake the participants out of a mindset of "we've done everything already" to an innovation oriented frame of mind. They also got inputs on elements of cost and BEP analysis.

The the size of the scribbling pad that is distributed to the participants has been reduced to almost a quarter of the size it was during my last visit. Sure sign of on going and effective cost management!

Mr. Shiv Khera (Hullooo) You can Bore!

A more than 300 strong group of Toastmasters was eagerly waiting for Mr. Shiv Khera, the joint chief guest for the inaugural function of Ovation 2007 and the man comes late by half an hour. Kiran Bedi the other chief Guest and Magsaysay award winner, who has another important meeting on security issues comes on time and is waiting.

Finally the man arrives and the function starts. Kiran Bedi delivered a brief but effective address. She took the theme of the event which was Speak. Listen. Lead and gave us a brief address on her impressions and reactions to the theme.

Mr. Shiv Khera came on stage later. Though he began with Country First and a call for patriotism, suddenly he switched over to a lengthy presentation on AIDS awareness which ran on and on and on… Finally he came to a halt and as the audience were heaving a collective and silent sigh of relief he launched on another equally lenghthy presentation on “Evils of Smoking.” He violated every rule in the Communication manuals. He had obviously not prepared, timed or practiced the speech. He had a power point presentation which was not tailored to the audience or the occasion. He skipped slides. He wasted time on useless statistics that every one knew.

Why did he do this? Here was an audience of Toastmasters of whose number he claims to be one though he has never found the time or necessity to complete the manual. All of us were eager to learn something new. He gave us a disappointing performance.

His habit of repeating the words “hullooo” and “Folks” didn’t endear him to the audience either.

The greatest fun was the crowd which thronged around him after the speech to give their cards so he could send them copies of his presentations. Proves the point that in this country there would be a queue for phenyl if it is given free!

Ovation 2007

Ovation is the annual conference of District 82P of Toastmasters International. Ovations 2007 was held in New Delhi this year at the India Habitat Centre on 18,19 and 20 May.

What a great Ovation we had. At the outset “Wow!”

The entire event was a seamlessly organized learning experience right from the inaugural with two nationally acclaimed speakers to the speech competitions. (of course Shiv Kera could have given us a few tips on public speaking or even leadership instead of boring us to death about AIDS and Smoking. I am sure he had valid reasons for structuring his presentation in the way he did.)
Here are a few things I loved

(a) As a man who lives to eat, let me tell you the food was great!

(b) The party on Saturday Night was a smash hit. This is what TM is all about.
(c) Putting the agenda in the Name badge pouch is a stroke of genius.
(d) Putting the photos on display and allowing us to choose and buy copies was also a good idea.

(e) All the educational sessions were top class. The faculty were knowledgeable and down- to – earth. As in all TM events the educational sessions were punctual to the minute.

(f) The competitions were professional and flawless.
(Congrats to the Team that did it.)

(g) The special meeting of the District Council on Division Governor Election was an eye-opener to me. I could see democracy at work. Still may be we need to be more careful about advance notices and giving opportunity to vote in future.

What could have been done better?

(a) The buses to and fro venue / YMCA were unpredictable. I wish they had been clearly announced during the session so every one would know and plan accordingly.

(b) The email ID and other contact details of delegates could have been circulated. That way we could all stay in touch. We should, of course take their permission.(This can be consolidated on the second day and circulated on the third)

On the whole I carried back great memories and look forward to Ovation 2008!

Glimpses of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Gangtok

My Holiday trip to Darjeeling 27th April to 6th May

Here are a few things I thought may be of value.

27th April

We reached Kolkata on 27th. Did the usual Kolkata tour. Dakshineshwar, Belur Math, Victoria Memorial et al. It was pleasant and there were slight drizzles.

At dakshineshwar we had Paani Puri in Kolkatta style with matka plates.

We went to Dakshineshwar through the Howrah bridge and returned through the new bridge. The usual bustle, noise and dirt of Kolkata is still there, but the traffic seems to have become somewhat more manageable.

28th April

After a relaxed breakfast, we left for the airport. En route we visited Science City. This is a science theme park. There is a ropeway that takes us into the park. There are numerous science related displays. We saw a documentary on sharks in the (mercifully air conditioned) domed space theatre. The domed ceiling gave the feeling that we were underwater, looking up at the sharks.

Kolkata airport is dirty and litter is thrown all over the place. At Chennai Airport, the cleaning staff work continuously to keep the place spic and span. But at Kolkata, I could see food stains on the floor and discarded disposable cans overflowing the scanty dustbins. They need to spruce up and clean the place.

Victoria Memorial

Proclamation by Queen Victoria on her becoming the Empress of India (1.1.1877)

We trust that the present occasion may tend to unite in bonds of yet closer affection ourselves and our subjects. That from the highest to the humblest all may feel that under our rule the great principles of Liberty, Equity, and Justice are secured to them. And that to promote their happiness To add to their Prosperity and Advance their welfare are the ever present Aims and Objects of our Empire.

In their Prosperity will be our strength, in their Contentment our Security and in their Gratitude our best Reward.

The above words are inscribed on the walls of the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. I am always impressed by them and the majesty of their resonance. These words ushered in more than a century of alien rule in our country. But for the imperiliastic tone, the words themselves are those of a benign monarch aware of the huge responsibilty that she was taking up.

These words and the sense of responsibility with which they are said sometimes reconcile me to all aspects of British Rule except the atrocities and inequities like Jallianwalah Bagh.

Delphi : Fin for Non Fin

11.05.2007



Did a Fin for Nonfin programme for the executives of Delphi Automotives. This is the Bangalore based Steering unit.



The group was highly matured and we were able to pick a few financial fundas and link to their day to day experiences.



Mr. Ranjan Mishra, head HR also attended and was quite supportive. His briefing gave me the direction that I needed.



The facilities were above reproach.

Old School Friends Get Together

(The Lady who made it possible )

26.04.2007

I studied in Sir M Venkata Subba Rao Boys' School in T Nagar. About seven or eight of us who studied together in Plus two continue to live in Chennai and keep bumping into each other on and off. Thanks to the efforts of the wife of one of us we were able to get together!

(Aswath,Kumar,MS Rao,K P Sudhakar, R V Ashok, Mayur and Me)
Kala w/o R V Ashok threw a party in their house on his birthday! Although I am to leave for Darjeeling tomorrow I made it. All the old friends were there bar two. RV, of course the host and his charming wife and delightful daughter. Sudhakar, M S Rao, Mayur, Kumar Raju and surprise Ashwath who is a leading dentist. Manoj was out of town.

We shared fond memories of school and collectively misspent youth. The trip to Thiruttani to attend RV's upanayanam. (incidentally all these guys made it to my son Srivatsan's Upanayanam.

One incident is still fresh in my memory. I think it was my sixteenth birthday. My mother, despairing of choosing clothes for me had given me money to buy them on my own. I dutifully consulted the gang at school and all of them came with me to the shop recommended by Manoj and M S Rao on South Usman Road. Manoj was our benchmark on fashion and clothes! M S Rao would give sane and sensible advice on what will work. I was not very thin (!) then.

I finally chose a collarless tea shirt in black velvet type material. (I am sure I woludn't be found dead in a ditch in it today! But that is teenage, huh?)

There was another T shirt in Blue which I liked. But budget constraints prevented me from buying both. The next day (my Birthday) morning all the guys came to my house and after wishing me they gave me a brown parcel. On opening it I found the Blue T shirt that I liked. I can still remember their eager faces as they watched me open the parcel.

THAT'S WHAT FRIENDSHIP IS ALL ABOUT!

(Token of affection)

We have decidedto meet more often. The next host would be me. The date would be sometime in late June.

Am I an "I" Specialist?

I had a great session today with the E&Y Tax Associates today when I gave them a complete overview of the 7 Habits. Although the power was frequently down, and the room was quite stuffy, they paid close attention and I sincerely believe that I added value. This group is usually frank about their feedback, which I like. In fact I got very valuable feedback about my delivery style today from Mr. Varun.

They serve snacks and juice after the session. This energises everyone after the three hour long learning stint. When I was downing a cold mousambi juice varun came to me and enquired about my Mission Audit and as to whether I took feed back from strangers. I said, 'Yes, of course.'

He then went on to point out that I used the first person pronoun (It's "I" Dummy!) too frequently. This could throw people off the topic as they may not relate to me as a person. Moreover some of the participants may feel left out of the discussion due to this excessive "I" fixation.

I am consciously reducing my I usage, but should watch out in future, although I (Oh my God!) don't see how I will be able to relate those deeply stirring personal life episodes without using I. Maybe I (Here we go again!) should convert them into stories about an imaginary person,my friend etc..,

Anyway, Thanks a ton Varun!