The first thought that comes to your mind what the hell has a maid got to do with outsourcing of work from US to India, well my friend there is. Before I put across my views in greater detail will just share a fact file, The software industry generates over 1.4 million direct employment across India, contributes roughly over 5 % to the GDP(gross domestic product) and not to forget makes India visible on the world map.
Now about the maid and her connection with outsourcing. how long our houses have had maids??? I am sure your grandmother had it, probably your grand - grand mother had it , so did your mom and I m sure you along with your spouse will have it too. Well the point to be noticed is the need of a maid will always persist like it always has cause at the end of the day she makes our lives easier. The fact that we actually outsourced a part of our household responsibilities would have probably never hit us. We quickly realized the importance of outsourcing monotonous and low end work, starting with bottom of the ladder getting our floors swept and dishes washed. As times passed we continued to out source more and more. Today a maid has a wide range of work right from a cleaner to a nanny for your young child. With more number of women entering the corporate world, the importance of the maid grew manifold. You will surprised to know often people base there decisions of taking a home in a metropolitan city based on the concentration and availability of good maids, the smarter lot of the maids command premium pricing as the demand for maids increased and the supply suddenly ran out. How does this connects to the Indian outsourcing story read on..........
Well the first time the developed countries outsourced it was because of there unwillingness of doing work that they considered low end or monotonous. Started with low end IT work(maintenance, contact center etc) to third world nations. The significant advantage for India at that time was the availability of a english speaking workforce (one of the few things we can thank the British for) and thankfully Indians were quick to take advantage. after the y2k they realized there was more to India and started out sourcing ' not so critical' work to India terming them as IDC (Indian development center). and the surge in outsourcing continued (the similarities how the maid became a cook and nanny and the increased outsourcing are striking.......
Today almost every leading innovators has a R&D center in India acknowledging the talent and potential of Indian youth. But in order to continue the growth story the emphasis should be a mix strategy which provides employment to the masses and also makes India an Innovation house. True the propping up of new outsourcing destination like China and Philippines have put across a few challenges but India has the first mover advantage and our veteran in this field, all we need is to create a differentiator between us and the others. A wave of innovation is the need of the hour.
In the end how I see it, The Indian outsourcing story is intact cause in the end recession or no recession we all need maids...[:)].
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
What stands out btw IIM graduates and others!!!!!
Well I have not done any kind of a survey related to B-schools, nor have I discovered any theories to prove it. believe it at your own risk!!!.
On the Sunday which just concluded I had the pleasure to visit one of the fest being organized at IIM B called Convergenz'09 by the PGSEM students. One of my college seniors invited me and was more than glad to accept. The fact that I could see IIM B close and real excited the child in me(remember how a child is excited to see a museum!! something similar). the star atttraction was the panel discussion scheduled for the later part of the day.
To make the best blocked the whole of a sunday to make the best out of it. The first contest Business plan was supposed to start at 10:30am and like a true Indians was there punctually at 11:00 am. As I entered the gates of IIM B I could hear an inner voice 'this is the place where the best brains of India are moulded and future leaders are born' . the 'business plan' event had just started teams from premier B-schools were participating, sat all ears to what ever they had to say. Well the expectations took a hit in a big way. Not that the plans were bad but I could no where feel that killer instinct that makes a workd class marketers, though some of the concepts looked possible opportunites related to envioronment, health, clean water etc none could convince the audiences or the judges. Some even lacked competitor knowledge and growth vison. Feeling bored sneaked out to catch up with my senior and his friends. Well we chatted literally on a whole of topics crickets, canteen food, there bosses and off course the recession and the fear of jobs loss :). It was only when we started to discuss our career path that I realized there clarity of thoughts, vision and a conviction to make a difference around them that makes them stand out of the crowd. How they are not satisfied with the conditions around them and will not liked to be played around.
Its not they are out of the world they are just one among us, but who have not give-in to the condition around them but have decided to make there own rules and pave there own path for many other to follow, a true virtue of a leader. One of the panel discussion later in the evening and something simlar to add. Innovation is a virtue for only 2% of the indian youth, the fact is the existence of roles models who can be idolized by the this young country and succed, quite similar how Narayan Murthy did in the 90s. No wonder you can see a whole lot ex-infy turn enterprenuers and adding to the job opportunity across the Indian sub-continent. Do you have it in YOU?????
On the Sunday which just concluded I had the pleasure to visit one of the fest being organized at IIM B called Convergenz'09 by the PGSEM students. One of my college seniors invited me and was more than glad to accept. The fact that I could see IIM B close and real excited the child in me(remember how a child is excited to see a museum!! something similar). the star atttraction was the panel discussion scheduled for the later part of the day.
To make the best blocked the whole of a sunday to make the best out of it. The first contest Business plan was supposed to start at 10:30am and like a true Indians was there punctually at 11:00 am. As I entered the gates of IIM B I could hear an inner voice 'this is the place where the best brains of India are moulded and future leaders are born' . the 'business plan' event had just started teams from premier B-schools were participating, sat all ears to what ever they had to say. Well the expectations took a hit in a big way. Not that the plans were bad but I could no where feel that killer instinct that makes a workd class marketers, though some of the concepts looked possible opportunites related to envioronment, health, clean water etc none could convince the audiences or the judges. Some even lacked competitor knowledge and growth vison. Feeling bored sneaked out to catch up with my senior and his friends. Well we chatted literally on a whole of topics crickets, canteen food, there bosses and off course the recession and the fear of jobs loss :). It was only when we started to discuss our career path that I realized there clarity of thoughts, vision and a conviction to make a difference around them that makes them stand out of the crowd. How they are not satisfied with the conditions around them and will not liked to be played around.
Its not they are out of the world they are just one among us, but who have not give-in to the condition around them but have decided to make there own rules and pave there own path for many other to follow, a true virtue of a leader. One of the panel discussion later in the evening and something simlar to add. Innovation is a virtue for only 2% of the indian youth, the fact is the existence of roles models who can be idolized by the this young country and succed, quite similar how Narayan Murthy did in the 90s. No wonder you can see a whole lot ex-infy turn enterprenuers and adding to the job opportunity across the Indian sub-continent. Do you have it in YOU?????
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Respected Fresh engineers (hahaha!!!!) could be
I am sure you would have read an SMS saying "through a stone in Bangalore it is sure to hit a dog or engineer". The world looks at envy as we produce 4 lakh+ engineers every year , only a engineer in India knows that he is treated nothing less than dirt when he is a fresher right out of college.Well thats what I used to think(have hands on exp being a engineer my self) all this while when a recent incident knocked on this belief.
A couple of days ago my ex-roomie who is in Coimbatore called up. long time wondered what could be the reason- well did not have to wait long, his aunt's son was coming for an interview, my assistance would be needed in his short trip to Bangalore ( bottom line he wanted for his cousin a free place to stay). Since a bachelors house has more than space to accommodate, I obliged. The guy was supposed to reach Friday early morning with an interview scheduled on Saturday.
Oping that the guy would reach before i left for office, putting on shoes at 8:00 was cursing him wondering where the hell he was???, should have been here by 7:30 is what was told. Was about to leave when a bell at the door marked the arrival of my friend's cousin. Short guy, shirt-pant and hair parted on the side was more than shy, had to ask him twice before he confirmed who he was and that his name was Roshan(god hate this !!). Well found him to be a quite well reserved, showed him the house around and the food whereabouts informing him that I will be back by 7. Once back from office, asked him about his interview details. The place was located not very far off and sensing his nervousness decided to drop him at the place ( have seen a few off campuses and treatment there can be more than harsh).
Next morning we left home on time, the guy was more than prepared resume, doc, stationary and some kind of a admit card ( haha no admit cards matter in an off campus all you need is the ability to sneak and reach ahead in the line before they close it), but kept quite not to scare the kid. We were before time, and to surprise hardly found any crowds at the venue. Being more than curious hoping that I have not got the poor guy to the wrong place, was relieved to know that we were at the right place. Once inside enquired about the interview scheduled. was told it was being handled by a consultancy called Elitmus evaluation. There were about 20 students, all carrying an admit card. A eLitmus representative with a attendance sheet, was calling out names and one by one all were let inside. At the stipulated time the test started no pushing, rushing of any sorts that I had faced at a number of off campus events, impressed by the smooth way they had planned it and most importantly the way they treated freshers. As I waited for Roshan could not help enquiring about Elitmus, a short conversation revealed that it was a company focused exclusively on fresher hiring, conducts a test known as pH test held across India every 3 weeks, once you have the scores you can start applying to the companies listed. Candidates are short listed on the basis of there academic and pH scores(a first level of filtering of sorts). I think the best part was a creation of a online platform where companies and students could meet. A great benefit for both increasing there reach significantly. Plus you will be treated more like humans and less like dirt. Talent is respected and appreciated.
At the end was more than pleased to know something like Elitmus especially in these recessive times, Roshan was hired and was one happy chap. Times are changing and as the World Wide Web converged the world on a desktop similarly access for students to companies and vice versa across India has been made possible them. And ya its also saves a lot of frustration and money for all those talented engineers rooming India for jobs/offcampus. Finally the young talented engineers are getting what they probably deserve!!!.
A couple of days ago my ex-roomie who is in Coimbatore called up. long time wondered what could be the reason- well did not have to wait long, his aunt's son was coming for an interview, my assistance would be needed in his short trip to Bangalore ( bottom line he wanted for his cousin a free place to stay). Since a bachelors house has more than space to accommodate, I obliged. The guy was supposed to reach Friday early morning with an interview scheduled on Saturday.
Oping that the guy would reach before i left for office, putting on shoes at 8:00 was cursing him wondering where the hell he was???, should have been here by 7:30 is what was told. Was about to leave when a bell at the door marked the arrival of my friend's cousin. Short guy, shirt-pant and hair parted on the side was more than shy, had to ask him twice before he confirmed who he was and that his name was Roshan(god hate this !!). Well found him to be a quite well reserved, showed him the house around and the food whereabouts informing him that I will be back by 7. Once back from office, asked him about his interview details. The place was located not very far off and sensing his nervousness decided to drop him at the place ( have seen a few off campuses and treatment there can be more than harsh).
Next morning we left home on time, the guy was more than prepared resume, doc, stationary and some kind of a admit card ( haha no admit cards matter in an off campus all you need is the ability to sneak and reach ahead in the line before they close it), but kept quite not to scare the kid. We were before time, and to surprise hardly found any crowds at the venue. Being more than curious hoping that I have not got the poor guy to the wrong place, was relieved to know that we were at the right place. Once inside enquired about the interview scheduled. was told it was being handled by a consultancy called Elitmus evaluation. There were about 20 students, all carrying an admit card. A eLitmus representative with a attendance sheet, was calling out names and one by one all were let inside. At the stipulated time the test started no pushing, rushing of any sorts that I had faced at a number of off campus events, impressed by the smooth way they had planned it and most importantly the way they treated freshers. As I waited for Roshan could not help enquiring about Elitmus, a short conversation revealed that it was a company focused exclusively on fresher hiring, conducts a test known as pH test held across India every 3 weeks, once you have the scores you can start applying to the companies listed. Candidates are short listed on the basis of there academic and pH scores(a first level of filtering of sorts). I think the best part was a creation of a online platform where companies and students could meet. A great benefit for both increasing there reach significantly. Plus you will be treated more like humans and less like dirt. Talent is respected and appreciated.
At the end was more than pleased to know something like Elitmus especially in these recessive times, Roshan was hired and was one happy chap. Times are changing and as the World Wide Web converged the world on a desktop similarly access for students to companies and vice versa across India has been made possible them. And ya its also saves a lot of frustration and money for all those talented engineers rooming India for jobs/offcampus. Finally the young talented engineers are getting what they probably deserve!!!.
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