voice against racism

I am being dished the news channel coverage of assault on Indian Students in Australia.
It is a matter of shame for Australia who gains lot of money from Indian students and tourists and accomodate if any only the much desired skilled (see the skill based residency program of Australia) people or highly educated Indian students.

I was myself an international student having done my MS and MBA in foreign countries, and knw the pain of staying away from family and familiar surroundings while trying to meet the individual/collective expectations and targets.

On top of that being subject to such behavior and racism, is totally unacceptable.

As i student i was well briefed by the local indian student association about the safe practices which toed but still remember few instances in the most developed country of world which are shameful e.g. bullying of fellow students by the landlords (who own multiple apartments near the college campus and rent to students looking for better bargains than on campus apartments), not sitting on the same seat on which an Indian is sitting in campus/local bus, vulgar language against indian by drunk people in Bar, abuses on indian students by the local umemployed/fired and drunk people. I managed to avoid such instances and also advised fellow students.

Any act of racial abuse need to be condemned, deplored and resisted to act as an deterrant to such acts.

Management Actions and Long Term Actions

Few years back, I had a chance to interact with the management of three major telecom companies who have consistently delivered superior shareholder (stakeholder) return over the last two decade. I took time-out to look for an answer to question “How they kept creating value over the years?”
Here is the list of management actions / decisions (in random order) noticed by me as part of creating superior value to their stakeholders over the last two decade or so. I hope it is not too long…
- Build good domestic base (go for acquisitions if required).
- Leverage on sectoral development. Build on goodwill network as well as government connections (Go for advanced technologies being promoted by government and use them to capitalize on business opportunities)
- Incrementally build regional base and then international.
- Target high growth markets (Look for markets getting deregulated as a good opportunity for sales and business).
- Joint venture to get technology and enter / understand new markets.
- Scale (organic and acquisitions) post experience.
- Start with exports then focused pursuit of international opportunities (marketing effort tied to growth)
- Technological development - Bet on key new technologies. Invest in R&D (value add , no need if available cheaply from third party supplier)
- Enhanced customer recognition of the brand name (associate it what consumer desire)
- Try to gain leadership in the targeted market segment. Build on reputation.
- Regular business rationalization (divest if required, consolidate and eliminate excess capacity, streamline product line)
- Include new products with future significant growth in the business portfolio (management will always have an explanation)
- Clear segregation of business units. List spun off business to realize latent value
- Use flexibility in raising capital (holding company and operating company level). Bring down cost of capital as low as possible
- Prudent cost management
- Create a strong team work among top management. Keep alive the entrepreneurial spirit
- Top guy to hold and control the top 25 managers and let similar scheme go down the ladder incrementally
- Good MIS is necessary for operational and financial control. Put process in place as early as possible
- Corporate communications is critical for keeping the investor / public interest
- Buy / opt out the competition if threat. Play on core strength and differentiate.

Indian Summer, IPL and Elections

Mumbai is facing the sweltering heat (the mercury is running bit high this time) and successfully bore the euphoria of general elections. On top of that IPLs is keeping the people at home.

Excercised the voting right after ten years (was overseas on the last occasion - how about extending the easy options for NRIs holding Indian Passport) .

The name finding the voter list was quite a mess though after that the vote exercise subsequently was breeze. (the computerization is there then it has to be used and delivery handed to private company (who do the good job keeping the view the bills that are delivered to me always on time) .

Hats off to people who walk miles to vote and election officer who are on duty whole day even at the most remote locations (may be next time the elections shall be in late Jan or Feb.).

Voter turnout on my booth was good though saw (while driving through) less crowd at posh areas of the city (47% good but not good enough to catch up with approx. 57% in AP/Kanataka). On personal level Impressed by the work by youth (Jago re), local NGO (Rotary), celebrity, journalists and leaders (on TV) though the wave factor was missing to increase the voter turnout.

IPL is a good time filler but find it shameful (even if SA is doing a good job hosting and local junta supporting it) that India teams are fighting it out on foreign land. Better not make it another karry packer serious. Anyway, will soon pick up my favorite team among the two contenders and watch them till semi/finals. I wish the same exposure/importance is given to Olympics

Anyway, learning the energy saving tips to keep my electricity bill in control (while my AC runs full blast).

Aura and Energy Circle Increase by Yoga and Prayer

just read a pocket book on an offbeat topic of individual aura and energy circle increase.

Gist of the whole 100 page book is:

Increase your personal aura and energy circle by:
1. Prayer
2. Pranayama Yoga (bramari, anulom vilom, kapal bhati, Bhastrika, udgeeth, Bahya)

I found the above to be certanly beneficial, but how useful in they increasing the energy circle.....i keep ths issue open.

International Personal Communication

Here is something I wrote something few month's back, posting it on the blog.......to make one of diversion from normal topics of health, fitness and motvatonal to personal effectiveness....

International Personal Communication: Expanding Choice of Telecom Services

India is emerging as a communication hub with significant share of global traffic. The increasing global activities are resulting in upward moving telecommunications traffic flowing in and out of the country. Similarly, Indian telecom companies with global operations through organic growth are ramping up inorganic growth via acquisitions e.g. Teleglobe by Tata, Flag, Vanco, Yipes and eWave by Reliance GlobalCom and EIG, Unity, I-Me-We Consortium participation by Bharti.

For corporate India, to cater to new realities of 24*7 business operations the reliable international communications services has become a necassity. The Indian telecom service providers now make available required services via the point or presence in numerous countries and owned network ensuring quality and cost. Few services available to international business and trade companies include bandwidth (managed, capacity and IPLC), IP (transit, Ethernet, MPLS VPN and direct routes), Co-location (cage, hosting, remote hand and eyes) and voice (A-Z voice termination, SIP trunking, VoIP, hosted contact centre and IP Centrex) services.

Similarly, international business professionals increasing need to match or surpass the personal productivity standard. Let me suggest few convenient and user friendly services that shall be beneficial for the International business executives many of whom take at least fifty percent travel during a working month. An increasing number of such executives find International communication services as critical component of their productivity and efficiency matrix. These services not only save travel time and communication cost but also help put together result oriented virtual teams.

Virtual Calling Card shall help user make substantial savings while making India outbound or inbound calling. Through a toll free or toll number and access PIN, user can make overseas calls from any mobile, landline or payphone at economy rates. The virtual calling cards are available in select or flexible denominations

Using exclusive Call forwarding Service, user can transfer calls on his local number(s) (handheld or landline) to a number of his choice in the country of travel. This service provide major saving over other international roaming services plus one do not need worry about missing important calls

Global and Country specific SIM Cards allows mobile user to use it as a local postpaid connection to make local, national and international calls while travelling abroad. These SIM can be bought in India and even provide individual with dedicated own number of the country of travel. Call rate plan differs but in general provide substantial savings on the local and international calling.

Audio Conferencing help user talk with several people in real time. The service is available via both a regular telephone and a computer telephone. Along with audio interchange, audio conferencing also involves photo or video conferencing, using internet and personal computer. The latest version even allows users to work on the same document or other software application at the same time. Whatever is on a user's screen; will also show up on all the screens of other users in the conference. With the use of a digital whiteboard and a special pen, users can even draw pictures and diagrams for each other to demonstrate visual ideas.

Web based Dialer, mobile (client installed) and Broadband (adapter installed) Internet Telephony services like Skype are getting popular and widely available with significant increase in the peer to peer traffic. A number of Indian providers are already providing the variety of internet telephony services. The services are expected to become widely available post liberalization of VoIP regulations.

Blog Announcement

I am soon going to annouce this bog to me friends and colleagues.

All sugegston for changes and improvement are welcome at my email id: sanjay2003sg@rediffmail.com.

Value based management in current corporate environment

Wrote a whole 90 page thesis during my MBA days on value based management in telecommunciations technology and service companies e.g. Nokia

Wrote an article recently on my learning form those days fitting the current market environment......

VALUE BASED MANAGEMENT IN CURRENT CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT

The Mumbai stock market BSE index which was 20300 on January 1, 2008 dipped to 9903 on January 1, 2009. The market having witnessed the sharp correction is now bravely fighting the corporate scandals.

The market which corrected the euphoria of accounting earning increases and excess capital inflow have to now tackle with the corporate managers solely focused on keeping quarterly earning increase as high as possible to prove that they are the best stewards of the company’s assets.

The market refused to be deceived in the past by accounting techniques to improve earnings and took the sophisticated approach of associating improved long term cash flow with respective share prices and responded with the due correction in share prices.

Now, there might be number of other companies who may take hint from Satyam and try to write off bad investments, despite the negative short term earnings impact. In such cases, the market shall not arbitrarily penalize companies but understand the value drivers of these companies (both over time and compared with other companies), which can help develop insights into the free cash flow generation and likely value creation in future.

The corporate executives shall also overcome the limitations of traditional accounting based financial statements and try to maximize their shareholder returns (which in turn stimulates maximizing of return to all other stakeholders) while improving the organizational effectiveness and strategic position related value drivers of their company.

The economic framework based on stock market value is only one of the tool managers should use to make effective management decisions. The strategic and organizational value drivers need to be considered as well and communicated (with due attention and within competitive limits) to security analysts and investors for them to make sensible decisions.

The key strategic value drivers are unique products or services, scale economics, sustainable cost advantages and access to capital. Similarly, organizational value drivers are corporate governance, strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance management and top management compensation.

The area that is often overlooked and need major focus in current Indian economic and corporate environment is adoption of rigorous process to generate the better options (the value drivers that have the highest potential for creating new wealth) and implement only the best options which create high value. Such processes help the company gains tremendous organizational advantage over its rivals. The company work smarter by focusing more effectively on increasing good growth and eliminate time and resource wasting investments in bad growth strategies.

Empirically, the process oriented approach to key value drivers not only result in wealth generation but also results in highly confident management team with winning attitude, superior work force (culture that attract and hold top talent at all level), strong balance sheet that allows the funding of good growth opportunity and an institutional capacity for continually improve performance and meet new challenges.

Interestingly, such value drivers exist in some form in all companies but they are largely underutilized and ineffective in helping the company achieve superior performance. When these carefully designed value drivers are linked to the company’s objective, integrated into common overall process (for dealing with important organizational and strategic decisions) and the other processes (governance, strategic planning, resource allocation, budgeting, and top management compensation), they becomes the co-coordinated elements of a single integrated approach to wealth creation for all stakeholders and help avoid corporate pitfalls that we see nowadays.

NOTE:


The views expressed are personal.

Physical exercise routine for corporate executive

PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR BUSY CORPORATE EXECUTIVE

As the corporate executives reaches the age of thirty five plus we find him struck deep in work routine from morning till evening while chasing the deliverables related timelines. Whatever time is left is used for fulfilling the responsibility toward home and family.

It is during this age that work start taking precedence and executive start to ignore the health for which they have to pay the heavy price later in terms of various health problems resulting in work efficiency loss and mounting medical bills.

Being involved in the corporate world as a full time executive for the last fifteen years, I have found that the key to avoid health problems while keeping the normal office hours is to incorporate the simple exercise routine along with fifteen minutes of brisk walk in the daily life.

MORNING EXCERCISES
The following exercises are suggested for the morning since later in the day business meeting and family obligations may prevent the executive from taking the routine.

1. Triangle Bend
· Stand with feet approximately two to thee feet apart
· Bend sideward and touch the left feet with left hand.
· Raise the right hand straight up while bending the neck to look at the right hand palm.
· Hold for fifteen seconds and return to the original position.
· Do five sets on each side
Benefits: Good for toning up the waist, back, spine and neck area. It also benefits in the diabetic condition.

2. Upper Body Twist
· Sit upright with leg elongated straight in front
· Bend the right leg and keep the foot on ground outside but touching/next to left knee
· Take the left hand over the right leg and make its palm touch the ground
· Put right hand palm on ground behind the back
· Now rotate / twist the chest on the right side so that left leg, chest, both shoulder and right hand is in one straight line.
· Body weight shall be on the bottom.
· Hold for a minute on each side.
· Do three repetitions.
Benefits: It makes the abdominal vertebrae, cartilage and ligaments strong and flexible plus improve the blood flow in the abdomen. It strengthens intestine, muscles around spine and activates nerves.

3. Back Arch with Leg Bend
· Sit with both leg straight in front and hands on the sides with palms touching the ground.
· Put right leg on the left thigh and left leg on the right thigh.
· Take the help of elbows and lie on your back. Try to stretch and arch up the back as much as possible, with Hold on for thirty seconds and then make the back and legs straight to get the body in original relaxed state.
· knee remain touching the ground
· Hold the hands together while the elbows remain touching the ground.
Benefits: Makes neck and back muscles flexible and strong. It also benefits lungs, naval, pelvic region and spinal cord.

4. Upper Body Raise
· Lie down straight on your stomach. Knee and feet of both legs shall touch each other. Palm shall be facing the ground and hands kept on side with fingers pointing in front. The elbow remains touching the side abdominal area.
· Rise up the chin as much as possible while bending the back. Raise the chest and upper abdominal area above the ground till the naval only.
· Later as one gets used to this exercise, he/she can also raise the palm above the ground and make hands straight like an arrow.
· Keep this position for fifteen seconds and after that straighten the bend and slowly bring your chin to the ground.
· Do three to four repetitions with normal breathing. Later on breathing can be put to hold during the exercise.
Benefits: Energizes the upper body and improves digestion. Add flexibility to spinal region and improves blood flow.

5. Lower Body Raise
· Lie down straight on the stomach with the chin touching the ground. Both hands shall be straight on sides with palms facing upward and fisted. Legs shall be straight and toes joined together and facing upwards.
· While breathing in, raise the legs up till the pelvic region. Keep the balance of chin, hand and chest weight.
· Hold for fifteen seconds and come back to the original position.
· Do three to seven repetitions of this exercise.
Benefits: Reduce stress while stimulating the abdominal region. Improves posture and strengthen muscles of back, arm and leg.

6. Seated forward Bend
· Sit with legs straight in front. The calf, knee, ankle and toes of both legs shall be touching and next to each other. Keep the head straight with eyes in front. Also keep the arms down straight with elbows on side and palm facing down while touching the ground.
· Now hold the toe of right foot with right hand and toe of left foot with left hand (Alternatively toes can be replaced by knee in case of problem in bending).
· Breathe out and tuck in the stomach. Now bend forward with your head trying to touch the knee. Hands joints, legs, shall remain touching the ground.
· Hold on for fifteen seconds and come back to the original sitting position.
· Do four repetitions.
Benefits: This exercise is making the muscles stretch and contract to strengthen them. Good for virility and loosing weight.

7. Bow and Arrow Stretch
· Sit upright with leg elongated straight in front
· Bend the right leg and keep it on the left leg.
· Now hold the left toe / thumb with right hand and right leg thumb / toe with left hand
· Breathe in and lift the right foot (by left hand grip) till it touches the left ear (or to the extent possible)
· Hold on for few seconds and then slowly go back to the original position
· Repeat the same with left leg and right hand grip
· Do three repetitions.
Benefits: This exercise is good for joints, thigh muscles and stimulates organs.

8. Skull Shining Fast Breathing
· Sit in the meditation position. Upper body shall be straight and still. Palms shall rest on the knees.
· Tuck in the stomach from the naval region while breathing out fast.
· Breathe in while slowly restoring the stomach to its original position.
· Repeat this action for thirty times in a row / set.
· Take half-minute rest between sets.
· Do at-least two sets (preferably four sets)
Benefits: Helps in blood cleansing, brain purification, reduce stress and prevent illness. Good for digestion, intestine and blood circulation.

office based physical excercises

Here are few excercise for executive which can be done while in office. Kindly feedback if you know any more of them.

OFFICE / DESK EXERCISES
In case, executive do not get the time in the morning or evening due to hectic non-office hours duty, here are three simple exercises one can do during work hours in his/her office.

1. Twist
· Sit straight on your office chair
· Slowly rotate torso to the right till the right hand reaches behind
· Catch the top right corner of chair with right hand
· Now move the left hand as close as possible to the right hand
· Hold on for fifteen seconds
· Repeat four to six times, on each side
Benefits: Body relaxation.


2. Tummy Twist
· Stand with feet approximately three to four feet apart
· Hold bent elbows down at sides with fists up
· Lean slightly forward and twist sideways with elbows leading the movement
· Keep twisting for thirty to forty five seconds.
· Do at-least three to six sets
Benefits: Relaxes and tones the trunk muscles.


3. Deep Slow Breathing
· Sit in the normal pose on the chair. Upper body shall be straight and still. Palms shall rest on the knees.
· Slowly tuck in the stomach from the naval region while gently and breathing out via mouth
· Gently and completely breathe in via nose while slowly restoring the stomach to its original position
· Hold on for five seconds
· Repeat the cycle for at-least five times (preferably twenty times)
Benefits: Relaxation and stress reduction.

Executive Life and Special Diet Items

Beside water which any adults with sedentary day should be taking at least two liter, and adding one full glass for every fifteen minute of physical exercise, the exercise routine of corporate executive shall be complemented by energy food in his diet. The following food items are good source of energy.
· Almonds: No cholesterol but rich in vitamins, protein and iron. Increases energy and mental alertness. Contains mono-saturated fat which is healthy for heart.
· Amla: Contain lot of vitamin C and helps in maintaining vitality, virility, digestion and hair growth. Takes toxins away while purifying the blood and improving the defensive mechanism of body.
· Apricot: Rich in vitamin A and antioxidants it helps increasing energy and stops premature aging. It is good for eyes and heart.
· Broccoli: It is high energy and nutrient rich food. Contains lot of vitamin A, C and K along with phytochemicals and anti-oxidants. Great for detoxing and help prevent cancer.
· Garlic
· Oats: It is rich source of fibre and contains unique fatty acids that helps prevention of cancer, heart disease and improves nervous system.Spinach: Rich in folate, beta-carotene, vitamin C and K. Good for bones and heart plus it help prevention of cancer and arthritis.

What You Would Like to Opnionate About?

Just checked the traffic to my blog. Not many views but it is expected since i have not advertised it or sent a word of mouth to the circle of friend.

Anyway, it shall be interesting to hear about what you would like to see on this blog?

Feel free to drop your choice on my email id: sanjay030@gmail.com