Mobile Commerce - Indian innovation
This is the perfect example that India slowly but surely is becoming the innovation hub in Asia. The pace of change and adoption of new technology are definitely slower than other comparable economies but the potential (1 billion people and more!) is enormous.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Gut feeling vs Lean judgement
The Malcolm Gladwell bestseller "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" advocates the use of gut feeling or gut check as a critical factor in human decision making; Do I want that burger? Do I believe what I see as discount on that price tag? Is that car the right one for me? Every decision making is suddenly impulsive and cognitive psychologists are having a field day describing human behavior based on such heuristics..suddenly gut reaction have become the next big thing for decision making. CEOs to soccer mom - everyone is apparently doing gut check.
In this effort to do gut check for everything, we keep on forgetting about inherent traits as cognitive biases (where our judgment is based on stuff we know and want to believe against stuff that we do not know or do not want to know)..sample this ..bias to mimimize personal ego loss in a conflict can direct decision making to be something that is suitable to the personal ego and not for resolution of the conflict (think initial conflicts between board and union members of Walmart where each group was motivated to avoid big loss and didn't concentrate on mutual gain).
It is suggested by experts to follow the lean principles of decision making
(a) don't decide and execute till the last reasonable time for decision making
(b) verify all bits of information (may be rationalization sometimes is better)-- e.g. unicorns do not exist even if you see them after being drunk and
(c) question your decision (ask the other group who disagrees to your decision making)
Last but foremost is definitely trust your gut but don't leave a chance to question and verify it.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Better Place
Project Better Place. It seems that Israel got it right this time (and this is not about the Gaza strip)! This company will make Israel completely gasoline independant in next 10-12 years. And how will they do it? electric cars...why cannot the US congress have a look into this company?
Start with may be small cities as pilot projects and then move key cities completely of the gasoline map...can you think of NYC with a near zero carbon footprint? Instead of offshore drilling with trillions of borrowed dollars and polluting the environment, why don't spend some money on pilot projects and make this happen?
Why doesn't Obama or McCain speak about this?
Click on the following links for more details
http://www.projectbetterplace.com/
http://shaiagassi.typepad.com/the_long_tailpipe/2008/06/the-better-stor.html
Start with may be small cities as pilot projects and then move key cities completely of the gasoline map...can you think of NYC with a near zero carbon footprint? Instead of offshore drilling with trillions of borrowed dollars and polluting the environment, why don't spend some money on pilot projects and make this happen?
Why doesn't Obama or McCain speak about this?
Click on the following links for more details
http://www.projectbetterplace.com/
http://shaiagassi.typepad.com/the_long_tailpipe/2008/06/the-better-stor.html
Friday, June 27, 2008
Scary Horoscopes
Some horoscopes are so scaringly true representation of your inner mind...
"You have the intensity of fire in your eyes now and the strength of your conviction can actually be scary to someone close to you. Although you don't necessarily feel angry, it's apparent that you will fight for what you want. If others seem confused by your intentions, assure them that you mean no harm and that you are just very passionate about what you know. Then, take a deep breath and tell your story. " ---my horoscope for today from Tarot.com
...............they forgot to add this 1 liner..the problem of the story is not the story itself but the acceptance of the audience listening...
"You have the intensity of fire in your eyes now and the strength of your conviction can actually be scary to someone close to you. Although you don't necessarily feel angry, it's apparent that you will fight for what you want. If others seem confused by your intentions, assure them that you mean no harm and that you are just very passionate about what you know. Then, take a deep breath and tell your story. " ---my horoscope for today from Tarot.com
...............they forgot to add this 1 liner..the problem of the story is not the story itself but the acceptance of the audience listening...
Monday, June 16, 2008
BB vs Iphone?
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/photos/blackberry-9000-in-the-wild-1/
Those are the alleged snaps of the new Blackberry to hit the market soon. So may be people who don't want to be tied to Apple have a true alternative, and a better one too, given that BB comes with real keyboard and real keys not with virtual keyboard (iPhone) that can only be used by nimble fingers...
Those are the alleged snaps of the new Blackberry to hit the market soon. So may be people who don't want to be tied to Apple have a true alternative, and a better one too, given that BB comes with real keyboard and real keys not with virtual keyboard (iPhone) that can only be used by nimble fingers...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
MOVERS (& SHAKERS)
In last 2 weeks, coincidentally I had 3 emails asking for advice on relocation and selection of movers. Every 1 seems to be dissatisfied with their current location. Anyways, some key pointers on how to select a mover
1. How big are the movers? Credibility can be checked online usually. Check for insurance, registration, feedback from other customers.
2. Are they flexible with you packing stuff or they will pack stuff? (if they pack then anything breaks their responsibility, you pack its your responsibility)
3. Total expense (no hidden fees like NY charge, Chicago charge, charge for special trucks etc)
4. Committment to dates and times (should not be more than a day delay)
5. Registration with BBB (Better Business Bureau) or other trade bodies.
6. Since you have only few stuff, how will they xfer the stuff? Wil they use a 18 wheeler or a small truck? if they use a 18 wheeler, then they will not travel still they have enough materials from other customers so thats its cost effective for them to move your stuff from Boston to SF....this might mean delay, extra charges etc.
7. How much will your employer pay and how much you have to pay from pocket might also help to determine which movers you can afford and who are beyond reach?
8. Can you and your partner use a UHaul instead of hiring movers? if Yes, then do it. Don't get a mover.
1. How big are the movers? Credibility can be checked online usually. Check for insurance, registration, feedback from other customers.
2. Are they flexible with you packing stuff or they will pack stuff? (if they pack then anything breaks their responsibility, you pack its your responsibility)
3. Total expense (no hidden fees like NY charge, Chicago charge, charge for special trucks etc)
4. Committment to dates and times (should not be more than a day delay)
5. Registration with BBB (Better Business Bureau) or other trade bodies.
6. Since you have only few stuff, how will they xfer the stuff? Wil they use a 18 wheeler or a small truck? if they use a 18 wheeler, then they will not travel still they have enough materials from other customers so thats its cost effective for them to move your stuff from Boston to SF....this might mean delay, extra charges etc.
7. How much will your employer pay and how much you have to pay from pocket might also help to determine which movers you can afford and who are beyond reach?
8. Can you and your partner use a UHaul instead of hiring movers? if Yes, then do it. Don't get a mover.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
ABCD et all
When will they learn to be "lean"?
Lean means not being "wasteful", to have "in-built quality process", appreciation of "pull/need based work flow" and ability to look at the "bigger picture" than just any sub component.
Why in "Namesake", Gogol's dad had to die before he realize his roots and "listen" to his true call?
Lean means not being "wasteful", to have "in-built quality process", appreciation of "pull/need based work flow" and ability to look at the "bigger picture" than just any sub component.
Why in "Namesake", Gogol's dad had to die before he realize his roots and "listen" to his true call?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Now at ThoughtWorks
The Name, The Brand, The Company. And now, I'm with ThoughtWorks.
Have read about TW in countless blogs and websites, how the processes (agile.scrum.consulting.2.0) work, the thoughtleaders, facts and myths about immersion, case studies, clientele, the set up, the social experimentation with geeks, the growth...etc.(that was all pre interview research :))...and now I'm IN (their NY payroll after 4 rounds of interviews and 2 written screenings).
Going over to "Immersion" in India for 2 weeks.
Will keep this updated (for interested people only)!
Have read about TW in countless blogs and websites, how the processes (agile.scrum.consulting.2.0) work, the thoughtleaders, facts and myths about immersion, case studies, clientele, the set up, the social experimentation with geeks, the growth...etc.(that was all pre interview research :))...and now I'm IN (their NY payroll after 4 rounds of interviews and 2 written screenings).
Going over to "Immersion" in India for 2 weeks.
Will keep this updated (for interested people only)!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Down with Friendster
When you are active on the internet, you create your personal and business profile in god knows how many social networking sites...tab.com, friendster.com, meetin.org, myspace.com, meetup.com, facebook.com, orkut, yelp.com, yaari..the list is bigger than you can think. After sometime, you end up only using a popular and trendy few forgetting about the others (except the occassional emails they send out to let you know how they are changing to compete w/ the best sites).
My serious concern for all you out there, who are dating or newly married specially, is to make sure that all your profiles are up to date in all such sites or get rid of profiles on sites you are not using. You can run into trouble and this time its not your boss at work or Uncle Sam. Its your current heartthrob. She might phish you (she has few scrupulous, not-at-work friends too) on one of these unused sites as "single" and also find that you accessed them say within last few months and didn't update the profile. If she is of the jealous kind (most women are, even if they don't accept) or the typical suspicious, insecure female....then everything will be lost the moment she finds out something like this. Her possible ignorance about the behavior of such sites and the mental remnants of the last argument you had with her will all resurface with a dark vengeance to end it all. She will not care whats your status and profile on the ones you actually use, but this un-used one will become the focus of severance.
This is true. This has been my experience.
NOTE: Also, if you can explain yourself well and give some time, the disbelief can be eliminated. Thats my experience too.
My serious concern for all you out there, who are dating or newly married specially, is to make sure that all your profiles are up to date in all such sites or get rid of profiles on sites you are not using. You can run into trouble and this time its not your boss at work or Uncle Sam. Its your current heartthrob. She might phish you (she has few scrupulous, not-at-work friends too) on one of these unused sites as "single" and also find that you accessed them say within last few months and didn't update the profile. If she is of the jealous kind (most women are, even if they don't accept) or the typical suspicious, insecure female....then everything will be lost the moment she finds out something like this. Her possible ignorance about the behavior of such sites and the mental remnants of the last argument you had with her will all resurface with a dark vengeance to end it all. She will not care whats your status and profile on the ones you actually use, but this un-used one will become the focus of severance.
This is true. This has been my experience.
NOTE: Also, if you can explain yourself well and give some time, the disbelief can be eliminated. Thats my experience too.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sloppy Service
Sloppiness in service sector seems to be on the increase in USA while developing countries are improving on them. And this is not just limited to public/ government offices. Check some events over last week.
NJ Motor Vehicles Dept. Change of address on driving license. The agent verifes 6 points of Id and then issues you a new license (all 20 minutes of work), with the same old address (you need to be there to believe it). She then uses the F* word in frustration and issues another license card with the new address after another 20 minutes.
COMCAST Cable Unable to get proper resources to install a digital television cable connection to my condo for last 2 months.
Correction: Comcast was able to set up the service. A couple of really good helpful supervisors and engineers got this working around 20th.
Graceful Spa in NYC. Lost all their Valentine's Day week appointments due to computer crash. No back up available so all appointments are messed up. First come first serve. Can you believe this is New York?
NJ Motor Vehicles Dept. Change of address on driving license. The agent verifes 6 points of Id and then issues you a new license (all 20 minutes of work), with the same old address (you need to be there to believe it). She then uses the F* word in frustration and issues another license card with the new address after another 20 minutes.
COMCAST Cable Unable to get proper resources to install a digital television cable connection to my condo for last 2 months.
Correction: Comcast was able to set up the service. A couple of really good helpful supervisors and engineers got this working around 20th.
Graceful Spa in NYC. Lost all their Valentine's Day week appointments due to computer crash. No back up available so all appointments are messed up. First come first serve. Can you believe this is New York?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Home-made Indian fare
I cannot believe this. More than a year in mid-town Manhattan and still didn't know of this hole-in-the-wall Indian food joint at 6th Ave and West 38th before last afternoon.
No menus. Just plain veggie dishes to be ordered.
6 dollars flat. White or yellow Indian rice, Saag-daall, Okhra-squash sabji curries, 4 rotis heated with traces of ghee, a lentil soup with sambar, Mango-chilli pickle, and a gulab jamun to end it all.
Try it out! Its a good break from Kati rolls and other Indian buffet fares. If you get bored with the veggie fare (the side dishes are different every day), then try the next enclave of Spanish non-veg food.
No menus. Just plain veggie dishes to be ordered.
6 dollars flat. White or yellow Indian rice, Saag-daall, Okhra-squash sabji curries, 4 rotis heated with traces of ghee, a lentil soup with sambar, Mango-chilli pickle, and a gulab jamun to end it all.
Try it out! Its a good break from Kati rolls and other Indian buffet fares. If you get bored with the veggie fare (the side dishes are different every day), then try the next enclave of Spanish non-veg food.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Broadway Show in NYC
Broadway Show: Chicago Venue: Ambassador Theater. New York City.
Tickets are worth 112 dollars each and then you get seats with the smallest leg space you do not even want to experience in your nightmares. Even in Mumbai, which has higher real estate prices compared to mid-town Manhattan (source Time.com), I have had better seats to watch movies than in this theater. By the time the show is over, you develop serious knee cramps. The whole experience of watching and enjoying a diabolical and historical broadway show got marred by the weird alignment of seats. And believe me I was not alone in that theater with the problem. Indians and Chinese are "smaller" compared to Caucasians and most people around me were trying to "fit" in their seats or stretching their feet out to the next seat (in case it was empty).
The show was marvellous-the orchestra, the choreography, the costume and the light arrangements. Totally commendable. However for the seats...may be they need to find a new theater.
Tickets are worth 112 dollars each and then you get seats with the smallest leg space you do not even want to experience in your nightmares. Even in Mumbai, which has higher real estate prices compared to mid-town Manhattan (source Time.com), I have had better seats to watch movies than in this theater. By the time the show is over, you develop serious knee cramps. The whole experience of watching and enjoying a diabolical and historical broadway show got marred by the weird alignment of seats. And believe me I was not alone in that theater with the problem. Indians and Chinese are "smaller" compared to Caucasians and most people around me were trying to "fit" in their seats or stretching their feet out to the next seat (in case it was empty).
The show was marvellous-the orchestra, the choreography, the costume and the light arrangements. Totally commendable. However for the seats...may be they need to find a new theater.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Time to write
During the last month, I attended a couple of church sessions and was really amazed with the following
1. use of technology to deliver sermons
Use of technology to spread religious thoughts is kind of controversial ....however I think its one of the key things that any progressive religion should adhere to in order to get the message across to the tech savvy generation X. Today people in general are more aware of technology than they were even 5 years back and so the use of sophisticated presentation software, big screens, full wall blowup of pslams, displaying actual lyrics of the gospels on the screen during chorus music help the pastor address the diverse crowd much more eloquently and effectively. The audience is no longer distracted with a mundane speech, they do not feel guilty of not being able to spot the right page for a gospel in the Bible (you can read it on the projection on the wall !!).
Organized religion is here to stay.
1. use of technology to deliver sermons
Use of technology to spread religious thoughts is kind of controversial ....however I think its one of the key things that any progressive religion should adhere to in order to get the message across to the tech savvy generation X. Today people in general are more aware of technology than they were even 5 years back and so the use of sophisticated presentation software, big screens, full wall blowup of pslams, displaying actual lyrics of the gospels on the screen during chorus music help the pastor address the diverse crowd much more eloquently and effectively. The audience is no longer distracted with a mundane speech, they do not feel guilty of not being able to spot the right page for a gospel in the Bible (you can read it on the projection on the wall !!).
Organized religion is here to stay.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Usage
Bucknor: (n) (adj)
1. Temporary blindness leading to missing out on the obvious.
2. To be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
3. Situations leading to grave judgmental errors.
Usage: I feel bucknored by my boss. Life often throws a bucknor at you.
Couldn't help but copy this piece of information from my friend Kali in India...anybody who follows cricket will hopefully know what this is all about!
1. Temporary blindness leading to missing out on the obvious.
2. To be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
3. Situations leading to grave judgmental errors.
Usage: I feel bucknored by my boss. Life often throws a bucknor at you.
Couldn't help but copy this piece of information from my friend Kali in India...anybody who follows cricket will hopefully know what this is all about!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Porque?
Why? Why do we fall in love? Why do we fall in love very well knowing that it is a bottomless pit of suffering? Why do we trust when we know that they don't? Why do we take trouble for other person when we know that the other person might not do so when required? Why do we feel lonely w/o the other person when we know they are running "errands"? Why love cannot be a little more patient, comforting and selfless? Why do we have expectations? Why? Porque?
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