Projects are not always viable but they are MADE viable

I remember when I was doing feasibility studies for projects, the top management used to say that --- get me a project which gives an ROI of 33% (payback period of 3 years) and I will not question to sponsor the project.

Moreover in all this he also never used to let us use the most optimistic approach for projecting growth.  He used to insist us to take the conservative approach in forecasting growth and then work out the ratios.

This all used to be weird; as we (engineers) used to be caught from both ends.  This used to make the project less viable.  The, then managers and strategy group folks (MBAs and Finance guys) used to only give us the realities which we also knew.  They never used to give us thoughts on how to convert these projects viable. 

Today I can say they lacked INNOVATION in business modeling.  Even we did not have the sight enough to challenge the market reports and the financials and break out into INNOVATIVE thinking.

I realize that this needs to be done.  This is the thing that needs to be broken into and the projects are not always viable but they are MADE viable.......

nityn

Intuition GUT or FACTS

Recently I went for an interaction with some senior members of a company.  This also included the Heads of the various departments and also the COO for that organization.

During the discussion, one of the senior members asked how I made decisions --- using intuition (gut) or by data and facts.  And I truthfully replied that I do listen to gut or intuition and then that feeling is validated by loads of facts and data.

To this he was amazed and rebuked me saying that decisions should always be made on facts and data.

Today when I was reading a book I got reminded what I read in Mckinsey way also :)

Here is an excerpt from Mckinsey Mind

This answers my argument ............. !!!!!!!!!

This is also a smart way to put things.... See where is facts (data, market studies, research) and where is gut (intuition, opinion, rumors)......

Business Model Innovation

http://www.esnips.com/doc/3ccc5f36-a974-45e4-a830-67ad5a9e8661/business-model-design-and-innovation-for-competitive-advantage-19352

Awesome

Loneliness and People

I have been trying to understand this phenomenon called FEELING LONELY :)

I guess many people in the world are lonely.  Specially in the western countries where people live their lives alone, with themselves and for themselves.

The IRONY of loneliness is when you are lonely you feel like having someone next to you and when you have some one next to you, you want to be alone and enjoy the freedom. 

I can see (smell) a change

I can see a positive change happening.  The much needed revolution is happening.

I guess the wheels of fortune is shifting.  The stars are moving again and giving way to new reforms.

 

In cricket - I could see the birth of new genre IPL.  And I see here we, Indians will find some thing good to spend time on and cheer about. (rather than only Idiot box with idiot soaps).  This will also teach us Indians, that sports is not only international, but also national.  This will also increase our habit of WINNING

 

In Politics - With change in leadership seen in US, there is also change in leadership seen.. Manmohan Singh brings in Young Blood and I guess Rahul Gandhi is also preparing.  Only question is this elections or next (which no one knows will be after 5 years or in between)

 

In Financial Markets - Alan Greenspan,  Paulson, Bernanke all tying their own hands by making the financial markets to become more complex.  In India the new report by XXXX also states the financial reforms to make things more open and clear and market governed.  In fact the control regime to be waved off.  This is sync with the 8 year old thought that I shared in one of the GDs....  Which said that don't spoon feed Indian corporates.  Let them be self sufficient.  Let them Change and survive or get extinct

nityn

Awesome movie

Just saw a movie and I just loved it.  IT's called ACCEPTED.  Echoes the true feeling of an challenger.  Truly maverick

Paulson again

Now Paulson in China

What can be expected out of him. 

Any path breaking thoughts or any IN - NOVATIVE thoughts (a pun intended)

Will he give the strategy that US wants to follow with China out?  Will he give a clue how much US is in trouble and wants China to do something in this regard so as to make the world flatter by importing from the US?

No, he is a diplomat too and will act in diplomacy.

So here he goes in his subtle attempt to share

- the issues that US is facing

- what they want China to do

- what they want China to do regarding energy and oil

- what they want China to do regarding their consumption

- what they want China to do regarding Financial Markets (indirectly complexities)

- what they want China to do regarding Chinese currency

But what I liked is the way Chinese track their energy consumption

To reduce energy consumption as a percentage of gross domestic product

nityn

Few Inspirations (Added)

My inspirations

- In personal life - Indravadhan Sarabhai

- In management style - Tom Peters (also love reading them)

- In Entrepreneurship ways - Guy Kawasaki (also love reading them)

- Frans Johansson Medici Principal

- Eisenhower

- Nassim Nicholas Taleb

- In my Passion - Ulysses

Have Yous - Tom Peters

Tom Peters recommends to do these things to Have Yous.

I strongly believe in this.  This resonates the thought of MBWA, meet a whaky person every week, Challenge the status quo, Be innovative

 

Some other reads and implements

- The Professional Service Firm 50

- Free Stuff by TOMPETERS

Here comes Paulson - Continuation

In continuation to the last post in Henry Paulson's efforts. 

Paulson is determined to make the financial markets more and more complex by introducing various agencies and various laws and practices in place.

The complexity will add more IT work to be done.  Now it is to be seen who will take the initiative first and who will be smart to grab the same from India

nityn

Here comes Paulson

Here comes Henry Paulson with his INNOVATIVE overhaul policy.

Many questions --- :) Too many questions - Even Eisenhower would be proud of me

Is it enough?

Is this what we call INNOVATION or path to INNOVATION?

Is this what is the best practice as on date?

Aren't we missing something?  - Don't they have a fixation with their own image of being AMERICANS - the largest economy of the world for so long?

Isn't it time to get going and shell all the prejudices to work towards the larger and long term interest of the world as a whole?

 

I again see lack of innovation in his own methodologies.  He still has to shell everything and work innovatively to design reforms. 

This is again a time of revolution - a second revolution driven by basics and innovative thinking.  Yes it is highly paradoxical - BASICS and INNOVATION :)