Week and the Work

I am suddenly finding myself among lots of action. Lately I have been roped into presales by the practice. Considering there is no immediate assignment coming in near future, I am also happy putting my creativity in churning out incomprehensive ppt slides. As they say, If you can't convince them, confuse them!!! Then my Geneva based client mailed the delivery guys. They want me or one of my friend to come there for 3 weeks and churn out some change request document. I don't mind another trip there but its sad for working on something on which you don't have full belief. Anyways, That's still a month away even if that will happen.

There is some motivation to come to office due to pre sales stuff but the problem is the hectic and uncertain hours that I have to put in. Last 4 days went in developing a financial consolidation software. This is one area where I know something and I was genuinely interested to get the project. We sent the proposal and estimation Thursday early morning. Today I came to know that our proposal was rejected. I am kind of disappointed by this but then this is a part of pre sales. You win some, you lose some.

I am planning to make a framework on financial consolidation stuff based on work done during this RFP (Request for Proposal) response. Its in my mind from a long time but avoiding due to laziness. I think its time to add some dope there and make the concept look attractive.

And this is friday!!! Yippeeee!!!! Planning to read book and watch football over the weekend.

Sunday

A lazy Sunday for me, Got up late after watching football till 2. Read Sunday times to heart's content. My flatmate Kuldeep made some delicious tea and then I lazed around for some time. Meanwhile had a Subway sandwich and came to office. Checked mails, chatted with a friend, made some additions to the blog and now off to crossword at residency road.

Its been a while since I’ve done some serious reading.. The last thing I read was Zaheer by Paulo Coelho. It was not very impressive. Hope to find a good book to read.

My Induction

It is more then 2 years in my present job, time for some retrospection.

I got placed after some dramatic events in my b-school(Will write on that soon). After graduation, I went for a 2 month long vacation and then landed in Bangalore with lots of expectations and uncertainties. It was my first proper job as the company for which I worked earlier did not qualify as a “normal” organization. I didn't had a proper recruitment or undergo any induction there. Or for that matter we had a pathetic lay off also. I used to go to office, worked and earned some money. Also, I learnt to write sql queries and manage databases. I realized there that one may dislike the HR ,but it’s actually them that makes a company. You can hate them but you need them and definitely can't ignore.

So when I checked-into 5 star guest house of this top IT MNC, I was impressed. More interesting was a well planned 3 day induction program. I felt like I had arrived in life. Induction started with a bang. We were about 70 MBAs from top b-schools and the sense of accomplishment was in the air. A bunch that will race to become MDs and VPs in IT industry!!! A dynamic HR kid told us about what to expect for next 3 days. Some future MDs raised their concerns about duration of coffee breaks and whether snacks will be provided. Some also checked if there are some good female faces around. We all cursed HR for not having a friendly recruitment strategy.

Then, one by one different BU heads came and discussed about their business. That was fun. Some guys started asking "strategic" questions. Some others jumped in and proved that they knew the BCG model. They suggested that we should keep our cows, sell dogs and invest in stars. Wow!! I felt proud of myself as I had recommended precisely same in almost all marketing case studies. I felt like a consultant. It wasn’t surprising to see all the presenters smiling. This saga continued for three days and I got to hear words like GE McKinsey matrix, product life cycle, process restructuring and trajectories of industry change by fellow mba recruits. Presenters kept smiling as I felt bad for those who were taking notes.

On last day, we got our id cards and a company shirt. We also got to meet our high profile CEO. That was an ego pampering event. After the meeting most guys took out their mobile and started chatting with hush hush tones. I regretted not having a girlfriend to impress. However, that's another thing that we never got to meet the CEO again!!!!

More later about my first days at work….. :)

IT Case studies

It is a pain to do a project. It is even more difficult to complete it in time without any escalations!!! But the experience of preparing a case study after 'successful' completion is some experience which can not be easily compared to anything.

I am tired of jotting down my ideas on how my previous project had tremendous positive impact on balance sheets of fortune XXs and hence on the economy of a world power and hence on world peace….. These case studies make me believe that I am the sole cause of all good things happening in this world.

Business objectives, our solutions and client benefits, ...just 3 headings and it gives ample scope of such high quality gas that it is enough to make anyone believe that if something great has happened in the recent world history, it is me.....:) !!!!

Thank God, I am an MBA!!!

Update

Just back from a visit to Pune…. a memorable one indeed!!! It is real pain to be back in office specially when you don't have much deliverables. I am doing lot of self learning these days. Finished an overview on Pharma industry and was planning to read some stuff on manufacturing line where my practice has lots of business. However, got some ppt on data modeling and decided to complete that.

So here I am, once again, sitting on my desk, tired of reading about data modeling for 2 flat hours. Too much enlightenment for a day I guess!!!! Planning to go for lunch now...