12 Years of Service with Hitachi Consulting

Dear Friends,

Exactly a dozen (12) years ago, on a pleasant morning of 31st January 2015, I signed the papers that made it official @ Hitachi Consulting (then Sierra Atlantic) . A company that, in many ways, was just an extension of my passion for Technology & Creativity. Many of my acquaintance then predicted that I would not last a year in this world, that I was too idealistic to cope with everyday technology driven life, and that I would get things in a "virtual" mess in no time.

Fortunately, these people were wrong. But it was not me who proved them wrong; not me alone, Almost everyone @ HCC today who helped me to reach this milestone specially those special ones who pulled me up when I were in my lowest spirits.

12 years is both a long and short time in one company, but overall 18 + years in IT sector that is constantly and rapidly advancing is an achievement I can be proud of. It means lot to me and to my family.

12 years ago, I was a young man with a dream that was simple enough: I wanted to create a world class CRM practice that would compete and win against the giants..Almost like David vs Goliath story. One thing I always take pride of is my team and wonderful colleagues who are passionate to go that extra mile and eliminate the impossibles from the ideas and turn them into something that would not only be new,exciting and magical, but that would also win. Miraculously, it worked out.

In the last 3 years tried different things in Innovation and Solution portfolios.Success and Failures taught me what it takes to be true professional in the service industry. .My words are not enough to express my gratitude. Thank you and you always humbled me with your contribution. Loving you most and more

DC*

Dangal,The Expression of Life

In one word the movie "Dangal" is picture perfect . This is not a movie review nor it's a praise for all the artists and people behind this movie. This article is about what's the expression "Dangal" leaves us with when you walk out of the movie hall.So many of us are waiting for that one moment in life where you just feel that your life purpose is achieved or you pushed the wheel of human race an inch ahead or just realised you are here to do something and you can make a difference to this planet.

In a country like India it's not only dead that gets buried, but also millions of dreams specially when you are looked down by many including your family members as "weaker sex". The irony and truth is ,the only incubator that can give life is Women, she holds within her numerous powers and potential, the word Shakti symbolises this meaning .When she exerts her power nothing stands before that .

There are few of the people who rekindle this dream beyond their life and gift to their generation next , not necessarily their own blood but also to the talent that crosses their path in life. Dangal is about that fire that cannot be put down by the life circumstances and one decision of us where that man / woman of unquenched dreams rekindle and inject that passion into a young blood.

Sport is one of the noble art of expression, it gives people the reason to see and believe that with right exertion of will and physical power you can stand above the rest of the crowd not to belittle them but make them believe there is heroic life beyond less ordinary.The heritage of sports is to make you believe there is way to grow higher in life, push yourself beyond boundaries and more than anything but staying true to your god's will and belief in you. 

Couple of dialogues that stands out in the movie 

* "Apni matti ki hamesha izzat karna ... kyun ki jitni izzat tum matti ki karogi ... utni hi izzat matti se tumhe milegi" 

- It's not just about that wrestling canvas of soil but in a subtle way it tells us nothing beyond nature , sports is form of a celebration of nature. You need the five forces of nature to be with you to play a sport.

*Ar medal iss pedh (tree) pe nahi ugte.....unhe banana padta hai..payar se..minnat se..lagan se

- Aspirations and fullfilling those aspirations requires sacrifice, commitment and die hard attitude. The competition is always with you and between your lower self and higher self.

*Bahut ho gayi pehalwani ... ab dangal hoga

- The entire life we are preparing for that one moment to make the best out of everything we learned and experienced in this life. Some of us never hit that ground with many excuses and inhibitions. But those of us who despite many situations go forward and face that moment.Thats the "Dangal" we were waiting for and sometimes it's the "Dangal" your beloved ones fight on your behalf. 

The glory is to face it and embrace it.

*Je ek baat Hamesha yaad rakhna beta, Silver jiti to aaj nahi to kal log tane bhul jayenge, Gold jiti to mishal ban jaavegi.

 - Go for the Gold standards in Life

DC*

https://youtu.be/6RB89BOxaYY

#Dangal #ExpressionofLife

Hitachi's City Data Exchange for Smart Cities

A Smart City Data Exchange project from the stable of Hitachi Consulting India Team. The majority of the development work for this project was done out of our India Development centre @ Hyderabad,Pune and Bangalore. Cheers to our City Data Exchange Team. Check this news article published in HINDU

www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/hyderabad-software-for-smart-city-plans-of-copenhagen/article9015489.ece  Hitachi Consulting had built an innovative smart city data exchange platform for the city of Copenhagen. The project will contribute to Copenhagen’s ambitious goal of becoming the first carbon neutral city in 2025. It will also help improve quality of life for the citizens as well as bring new business opportunities to the city.The platform is supported by the Copenhagen Municipality, CLEAN (a Danish clean-tech cluster), the Capital Region and a consortium of other partners. The objective is to take a further step beyond the existing open data platforms by developing a citywide marketplace for the purchase and sale of data between all sorts of users in the market. This marketplace is called the City Data Exchange and is the first of its kind to deliver and integrate public and private data at one place. In this way it will be possible for big established companies, small and medium-sized companies, start-up companies, universities and the public sector to collaborate by consolidating more diverse sources of information. This will meet the complex challenges within sustainability and quality of life.

The City Data Exchange will make it possible to purchase, sell and share a broad range of data types between all kinds of users in a city – citizens, public institutions and companies. As a way to demonstrate how data from the City Data Exchange could be used in applications, Hitachi Consulting team developed two applications:

• Journey Insight, which helps citizens in the region to track their transportation usage over time and understand the carbon footprint of their travel
• Energy Insight, which allows both households and businesses to see how much energy they use. Both are set for public launch later this year.

To know more check this link https://citydataexchange.com/

Yours truly,

DC*

Top 10 Books on Social Innovation,Suggestive List

Social Innovation is about using innovative technology and business solutions to address larger societal trends (think big, intermingled, complex problems and opportunities) that range from urbanization and smart, connected technology to new health models and strained natural resources. The Books listed below are the Top 10 suggestive reading books list to know more about Social Innovation and Technologies that matters to us. 

1.Resilience by Zolli and Healy :  I recommend this for anyone interested in Social Innovation as a topic and in particular for considering the ramifications of increasing complexity at larger scales.  There will always be system failures and this book provides a few perspectives we might use to be ready to “bounce back” when they do.

 2  Keeping up with the Quantsby Davenport and Kim  :  Helpful for Technologist in shifting to more analytics driven IT.

 3. The Most Powerful Idea in the World:  A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

 4.Data Science for Businessby Provost and Fawcett. It looks like a good one for the list because it focuses on "data-analytic thinking" and general principals.

 5.Big Data for Dummiesby Hurwitz, Nugent, Halper, and Kaufman.

 6.Behind Every Good Decision: How Anyone Can Use Business Analytics to Turn Data into Profitable Insight by Jain and Sharma.

 7.Data Smart: Using Data Science to Transform Information into Insightby John W. Forman.  Several people have indicated this is a fun read and it seems to provide real examples that you can leverage.

 8.The Solution Revolution: How Business, Government, and Social Enterprises Are Teaming Up to Solve Society's Toughest Problemsby Eggers and Macmillan.  I know we're always looking at bigger outcomes to our business and technology solutions and I think this book takes that to the next level.

 9.The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Changeby Adam Bruan was recommended as an example of how we can all ask and think about what we can personally do to improve society.  

 10.Big Data at Work by Davenport and Kim  , Another Gem of a Book on Big Data & some use cases

 Please feel free to add more books to the list in the comment section. I will update that in my next blog. Thank you

Happy Reading & Good Day.

Cheers

DC*

Whatever it Takes!!!

This is my 100th Linkedin post and want to make it really inspiring and special for my friends. I was examining multiple topics and came across an inspiring story which for sure will motivate you to step into this new year with lot of zeal and commitment.

Karoly Takacs. You’ve probably never heard of him. However, in Hungary, he’s a National Hero – everybody there knows his name and his Incredible Story. After reading his Story, You’ll never forget him,In 1938, Karoly Takacs of the Hungarian Army, was the top Pistol shooter in the World.

He was expected to Win the Gold in the 1940 Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo.Those expectations vanished one terrible day just months before the Olympics. While Training with his Army squad, a Hand Grenade exploded in Takacs’ Right hand, and Takacs’ shooting Hand was Blown off.

Takacs spent a month in the Hospital depressed at both the loss of his Hand, and the end to his Olympic dream. At that point most People would have quit. And they would have probably spent the rest of their Life feeling Sorry for themselves. Most People would have quit but not Takacs. Takacs was a Winner. Winners know that they can’t let circumstances keep them down. They understand that Life is hard and that they can’t let Life beat them down. Winners know in their Heart that quitting is not an Option.

 Takacs did the unthinkable; he picked himself up, Dusted himself off, and decided to learn how to Shoot with his Left Hand!His reasoning was simple. He simply asked Himself, “Why Not?” and said to himself I will do it "Whatever it takes " to put me on the winning pedestal again.

 Instead of focusing on what he didn’t have –a World class Right Shooting hand, he decided to focus on what he did have – Incredible Mental Toughness, and a Healthy Left Hand that with Time, could be developed to Shoot like a Champion.For months Takacs practised by himself. No one knew what he was doing. May be he didn’t want to subject himself to People who most certainly would have Discouraged him from his Rekindled Dream.

 In the Spring of 1939, he showed up at the Hungarian National Pistol Shooting Championship. Other Shooters approached Takacs to give him their Condolences and to Congratulate him on having the Strength to come watch them Shoot. They were Surprised when he said, “I didn’t come to Watch, I came to Compete.” They were even more Surprised when Takacs Won!

The 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled because of World War II. It looked like Takacs’ Olympic Dream would never have a chance to realize itself. But Takacs kept training and in 1944 he qualified for the London Olympics. At the age of 38, Takacs Won the Gold Medal and set a New World Record in Pistol shooting. Four years later, Takacs Won the Gold Medal again at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Takacs –a Man with the Mental Toughness to bounce back from Anything. 

Winners in every field have a Special Trait that helps them become unstoppable. A Special Characteristic that allows them to Survive major setbacks on the Road to Success. Winners recover QUICKLY. Bouncing back is not enough. Winners bounce back QUICKLY. They take their Hit, they Experience their setback, they have the Wind taken out of their Sails, But they immediately Recover. Right away they FORCE themselves to look at the Bright side of things – ANY Bright side, and they say to themselves, “That’s OKAY. There is always a Way. I will find a Way.” They Dust themselves off, and Pick up where they Left off.

 The reason Quick recovery is Important is that if You Recover Quickly, You don’t lose Your Momentum and Your Drive. Takacs recovered in only one month. If he had Wallowed in his Misery, if He had stayed “Under the Circumstances,”if he had played the Martyr, and felt Sorry for himself much Longer, he would have lost his Mental Edge – his “Eye of the Tiger” and he never would have been able to come back. 

When a Boxer gets Knocked down, he has Ten Seconds to get back up. If he gets up in Eleven Seconds, he loses the Fight. Remember that next Time you get knocked down. 

Takacs definitely had a Right to feel Sorry for himself. He had a Right to stay Depressed and to ask himself “Why Me?” for the rest of his Life. He had the Right to Act like a Mediocre Man.Takacs could have let his Terrible Accident cause him to become permanently Discouraged, to take up heavy Drinking, to quit on Life altogether, and maybe even to end his own Life. He could have acted like a Loser.But Takacs made the DECISION to Dig deep inside and to find a Solution. To pick himself up and to learn to Shoot all over again.

Winners always Search for a Solution. Losers always Search for an  Escape.

 Next time You get knocked down, DECIDE You will Act like a Winner. DECIDE to act like Takacs. Get up Quickly, take Action, and Astound the World & Do Whatever it Takes

Cheers & Happy New Year 2016

DC*

Dabbawalas, they aspire to inspire YOU

“Aspire to Inspire before you expire”, this is my favourite quote. Success in life is nothing but to aspire more people through your work and commitment, People look upon you as an inspiration when you signature your work with commitment. Mumbai Dabbawalas is one such inspiration which exemplifies the work with commitment. This article is about our Mumbai Dabbawalas, a lesson on individual and team leadership, rooted in core principles of hard work, customer satisfaction and human values.

The great Mumbai Dabbawalas services started in 1890 and have 5,000 employees, with an average literacy rate of 8th grade schooling. They cover a total area of 60-70kms and carry nearly 0.2m tiffin boxes, totalling 0.4m transactions, 120m transactions every year.Dabbawalas have never resorted to any strike or got involved in any police/court case since 1890. A strict code of conduct is enforced throughout the organization.  Mumbai Dabbawalas have won many awards and accolades, including Six Sigma performance and ISO 9001:2000 certification, most notably without applying for it. Lastly,Dabbawalas now perform a role of brand ambassador for the country.

 Simple principles behind the success 

• The takeaways: The key takeaways from the working of dabbawalas are their i) passion, ii) commitments, iii) consistency, iv) execution, v) accuracy, vi) dedication, vii) time management, and viii) complete customer satisfaction.
• Four key principles: The four key principles that guide dabbawalas are i) work is worship, ii) customer is god, iii) no alternate to hard work, iv) importance of human values.
• Functions and workings: The great Mumbai Dabbawalas services started in 1890 and it was registered as a charitable trust in 1956. At present, they have 5,000 employees, with an average literacy rate of 8th grade schooling. They cover a total area of 60-70kms and carry near 0.2m tiffin boxes totalling 0.4 transactions,120m transactions every year. It takes around 8-9 hours for this to accomplish, including the morning three hours of wartime.
• Simple organizational structure: The dabbawalas have a very simple and flat organizational structure, with 13 members at the top organizational position, including nine directors. The second layer comprises of 800 mukadams and the rest 5,000 are simply members with all equal status.

 Impeccable service at a reasonable cost 

• Charges only : The cost of dabbawalas service is kept low at INR 450-500 per month, irrespective of weight, distance and space. This is because if the prices are raised further, they would face competition from the local restaurants who would supply cooked food to the customers. In all thusdabbawalas make INR 9,000-10,000 per month. Diwali bonus, once a year, amounts to a month's extra payment. Dabbawalas add this with supplementary income, including delivery of newspapers in the morning and odd jobs in the evening.
• Discipline: A strict code of conduct is enforced throughout the organization that includes the following, i) no alcohol/smoking during business hours, ii) mandatory white cap during business hours, iii) carry identity card, and iv) no leave without prior notice. In case of an emergency absence, it is reported immediately.
• Some unique features: The average weight carried by a dabbawala is around 60- 65kg. There is no fuel, modern technology, investment or disputes involved in the entire service. The performance rating is higher than 99.99%, with 100% customer satisfaction.
• A fool proof coding system: Dabbawalas use a simple but fool proof coding system that mentions i) residential area code, ii) dabbawala code at residential, iii) building name, iv) floor no., v) dabbawala code at residential station and vi) destination station.

 Delivery of Six Sigma performances against all odds 

• Crowded trains: The Mumbai trains are overcrowded with 12 coach trains, 4,000 commuters, 8,000 disputes but there is no excuse as duty comes first. The tiffins are unloaded and rearranged as per destination area and building. The reverse process follows during return journey from all destination stations.
• Awards and facilitation: Documentaries have been made on MumbaiDabbawala services by various TV channels in India and abroad. Also, they became celebrated case studies in various business schools across the world. They receive invitation for lecture among the world's leading institutes.Dabbawalas received ISO 9001:2000 award on August 1, 2006 that too without application! They are included among DNA's top 50 entrepreneur list of India.
• Achievements: One of the most celebrated success of MumbaiDabbawalas is that of Six Sigma performance, with an error rate of one in 16m transactions (i.e., 99.99966 success rate). Besides, they have got recognition at Guinness Book of World Record, Ripley's "believe it or not" and many other sources.
• Brand ambassador for country and other anecdotes: When Prince Charles visited the dabbawalas, they had to set the venue and time (Church gate Station between 11.20 AM to 11.40 AM only on November 4, 2003) as they would otherwise be busy at serving their customers who are god in their eyes. This relationship extended
• Further when dabbawalas sent gifts on the second marriage of Prince Charles and when the latter sent his condolence message after heavy floods in Mumbai on July 26, 2005.

 Hope you received your “Dabba of Inspiration” today.

 Cheers

DC*