The GE Edison Challenge (from GE website)
Subject: The GE Edison Challenge 2010 is here!
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Most of the themes of my comic strip "Dilbert" involve workplace situations. I routinely include bizarre and unworldly elements such as sadistic talking animals, troll-like accountants, and employees turning into dishrags after the lifeforce has been drained from their bodies. And yet the comment I hear most often is:"That's just like my company."
Stories like these prompted me to do the first annual Dilbert Survey to find out what management practices were most annoying to employees. The choices included the usual suspects: Quality, Empowerment, Reengineering, and the like. But the number-one vote-getter in this highly unscientific survey was"Idiots Promoted to Management."This seemed like a subtle change from the old concept by which capable workers were promoted until they reached their level of incompetence—best described as the "Peter Principle." Now, apparently, the incompetent workers are promoted directly to management without ever passing through the temporary competence stage.When I entered the workforce in 1979, the Peter Principle described management pretty well. Now I think we'd all like to return to those Golden Years when you had a boss who was once good at something.I get all nostalgic when I think about it. Back then, we all had hopes of being promoted beyond our levels of competence. Every worker had a shot at someday personally navigating the company into the tar pits while reaping large bonuses and stock options. It was a time when inflation meant everybody got an annual raise; a time when we freely admitted that the customers didn't matter. It was a time of joy.We didn't appreciate it then, but the much underrated Peter Principle always provided us with a boss who understood what we did for a living. Granted, he made consistently bad decisions—after all, he had no management skills. But at least they were the informed decisions of a seasoned veteran from the trenches.ExampleBoss: "When I had your job I could drive a three-inch rod through a metal casing with one motion. If you're late again I'll do the same thing to your head."Nitpickers found lots of problems with the Peter Principle, but on the whole it worked. Lately, however, the Peter Principle has given way to the "Dilbert Principle." The basic concept of the Dilbert Principle is that the most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management
The Business Services Leadership Team will enhance the organization in order to continue on the journey toward a Market Facing Organization (MFO) model. To that end, we are consolidating the Object Management for Business Services into a cross strata team.
These days [he writes] it seems like any idiot with a laptop computer can churn out a business book and make a few bucks. That's certainly what I'm hoping. It would be a real letdown if the trend changed before this masterpiece goes to print.As some of you may know, my main profession is cartooning. It's a challenge for a cartoonist to write a whole book. Cartoonists are trained to be brief. Everything I've learned in my entire life can be boiled down to a dozen bullet points, several of which I've already forgotten.You'd feel kinda perturbed if you bought a thick book and all it had in it was a dozen bullet points, particularly if several of them seemed to be "filler." So my "plan for excellence" is to repeat myself often to take up some page space. In marketing terms, this is called "adding value." And for your reading pleasure I will include many colorful but unnecessary metaphors. In fact, the metaphors in this book are more useless than a weasel in a cardboard shirt.A footnote to the last sentence says, "I can't promise that the rest will be that good."
New Company model: OA5
The key to good management is knowing what's fundamental to success and what's not.
"Companies with effective employees and good products usually do well."
That might seem like a blinding flash of the obvious, but look around your company and see how many activities are at least one level removed from something that improves either the effectiveness of the people or the quality of the product. When I refer to product, I mean the entire product experience from the customer's perspective including the delivery, image and channel.
Any activity that is one level removed from your people or your product will ultimately fail or have little benefit. It won't seem like that when you're doing it, but it is a consistent pattern.
It's hard to define what I mean by being "one level removed" but you know it when you see it. Examples help:
Not fundamental
These "one off" activities are irresistible. You can make a convincing argument for all of them. You couldn't run a company, for example, without a budget process. I'm not suggesting you try. But I think you can focus more of your energy on the fundamentals (people and product) by following a simple rule for all the "one off" activities.
Rule for "one off" activities: consistency. Resist the urge to tinker. It's always tempting to "improve " the organization structure, or to rewrite the company policy to address a new situation, or to create committees to improve company morale. Individually, all those things seem to make sense. But experience shows that you generally end up with something that is no more effective than what you started with.
For example, companies tinker endlessly with the formula for employee compensation. Rarely does this result in happiness and more productive employees. The employees redirect their energies toward griping and preparing resumes, the managers redirect their energies toward explaining and justifying the new system.
The rule of consistency would direct you toward keeping your current compensation plan- warts and all- unless it is a true abomination. The company that focuses on fundamentals will generate enough income to make any compensation plan seem adequate.
The best example of a fruitless, "one off" activity that seems like a good idea is the reorganization. Have you seen an internal company reorganization that dramatically improved either the effectiveness of the employees or the quality of the product?
Sometimes there are indirect benefits because reorganization is a good excuse for weeding out the ninnies, but that hardly justifies the disruption. The rule of consistency would say it's best to keep the organization as it is, unless there's a fundamental shift in the business. Add or subtract people as needed, but leave the framework alone. Let the employees spend time on something besides reordering business cards.
Many of the " one off" activities start taking care of themselves if you're doing a good job with your people and your products. A Company with a good product rarely needs a Mission Statement. Effective employees will suggest improvements without being on a quality team. Nobody will miss the Employee recognition Committee if the managers are effective and routinely recognize good performance. The budget process will suddenly look very simple if you're making money (by focussing on your products).
As far as consistency goes, I would make an exception for changes that are radical enough for "reengineering" a process. It is the fiddling I object to, not elimination or major streamlining.
Out at Five
I developed a conceptual model for a perfect company. The primary objective of this company is to make employees as effective as possible. The best products usually come from the most effective employees, so employee effectiveness is the most fundamental of the fundamentals.
The goal of the hypothetical company is to get the best work out of the employees and make sure they leave work by five o' clock. Finishing by five o'clock is so central to everything that follows that I named the company OA5 (Out at five) to reinforce the point. If you let his part of the concept slip, the rest of it falls apart.
The goal of OA5 is to guarantee that the employee who leaves at 5 PM has done a full share of work and everybody realizes it. For that to happen an OA5 company has to do things differently than an ordinary company.
Companies use a lot of energy trying to increase the employee satisfaction. That's nice of them, but let's face it-work sucks. If people liked work they'd do it for free. The reason we have to pay people to work is that work is inherently unpleasant compared to the alternatives. At OA5 we recognize that the best way to make employees satisfied about their work is to help them get away from it as much as possible.
An OA5 company isn't willing to settle for less productivity from the employees, just less time. The underlying assumptions for OA5 are:
Staying out of the way
Most people are creative by nature and happy by default. It doesn't seem that way because modern management is designed to squash those impulses. An OA5 is designed to stay out of the way and let the good things happen. Here's how:
What does an OA5 manager do?
"Staying out of the way" isn't much of a job description for a manger. So if you want to be a manager in an OA5 company you'll need to do actual work too. Here are the most useful activities I can think of for the manager:
Collectively all these little things create an environment that supports curiosity and learning. Imagine a job when after you've screwed up your boss says, "What did you learn?" instead of "What the hell were you thinking?"
A culture of efficiency starts with the everyday things that you can directly control: clothes, meeting lengths, conversations with co-workers and the like. The way you approach these everyday activities establishes the culture that will drive your fundamental activities.
What message does a company send when it huddles its managers together for several days to produce a Mission statement that sounds something like this:
"We design integrated world-class solutions on a worldwide basis"
Answer: it sends a message that the manager's can't write can't think and can't identify priorities.
Managers are obsessed with the big picture. They look for the big picture in Vision Statements and Mission statements and Quality programs. I think the big picture is hidden in the details. It is in the clothes, the office supplies, the causal comments and the coffee. I'm all for working for the big picture, if you know where to find it.
Finally- and this is the last time I'm going to say it- we're all idiots and we're going to make mistakes. That's not necessarily bad. I have a saying " Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
Keep your people fresh, happy and efficient. Set a target and get out of their way. Let art happen. Some times idiots can accomplish wonderful things.
Vineet SinghDear Brothers ,With due respect to everyone please creat a BRAND VISIBILITY of COETA by designing a combined PLACEMENT PROSPECTUS BOOK -2011(all branches ) to make the recruitment process easier for the Corporates otherwise the talent is not visible .This prospectus should come in circulation every year February with Corporates HR department .1. First Few pages should have college/workshop snaps .2. Major subjects Trade wise showing strength of our college & Faculty Qualification wise .3. List of Alumni in various corporates as a reference point .4. A last page Pocket for inserting resume of the passed candidate (Since it is not possible to have all students resume pre printed due to huge strength )5. If this is neatly done i think Alumni & Students won't have to struggle & keep exchanging mails glorifying and thanking each other .6.The cost has to be equally distributed on the # of head counts in all branches in all semetser .7. Don't have to mention Shiva ji Education Society every where once the LOGO is there .8.Let these Archy do the designing part of the book to make it look Navy Blue ( Corporate colour )9. People giving snaps in placement prospectus must be formal dressed ( i Beg ).10. More participation and suggestion is required ." CRUX OF MBA = BOSS JO DIKHTA HE WO BIKTA HE "Cheers if the system is already in place & Good Luck !Best Regards,
Vineet Singh(1989 TEXTILE)-------------
raghu morey
dear vineet,
very beautiful suggestion & i think u should take the initiative & we (association & alumni) will support u in toto.i am going to discuss it with princi also about the same.i very much believe in u r m.b.a funda & i think it is never too late to start.i think u will spare some time for the same to c it gets materialised.keep in touch.
regards
raghu morey--------------
Vineet Singh
Dear Brothers ,I agree with you & like to add more on what is intoxicating about successful differentiation of educational inputs ..work inputs ....product & rich experience(coz we are now a part of one billion plus population ).Therefore there is a need to differentiate ourselves (talent or a work or a project) .How to proceed fora differentaition ? Lets understand its impact on our brain .Differentiation has three majors in a life cycle Step By Step ( THEME of a PROSPECTUS) .1.Differentiation by association2.Differentiation by experience & event3.Differentiation by innovationLet me explain ,we human beings always prefer to have a buying experience over a price factor thats the success story of Hyper Shoppers Stop who proposes design &multi sensory experience . Thats what strictly differentiate a KIRANA shop from HYPER STORE otherwise products are same .Similarly we have to diffrentiate the products( COETA students & their project work ) with well defined layouts .Scope & Objective here is to propose a human resource hiring experience to all corporates & factories .Example of Positioning & Differentiating in a Shopping Mall Design :Cosmetics & Perfumes ( First level Ambient Front postioning at 4-5 ft from ground but not above eye level looking for first attack on customers wallet )Garments ( Touch & Feel level but not above 45 degree of human vision second attack on customers wallet )Toiletary ( Top level --- assistant can take out for you using ladder )Fast food shops, Video games room with CINEMA (Last level -so that ur wife doesn't have to cook at home upon return )Since we cannot propose a multi sensory ( touch / smell / audio /visual ) experience for HR .we choose to communicate through three major tools to reach out to the various Industry .1.PLACEMENT PROSPECTUS 2011 showing year of establishment of COETA & a HYPED BRAND STATEMENT " Engineering Industrial Success Since 1987"(suggestions if any ??????)2.MINI CD (Showing students engaged in different Projects during Factory visits ).3.PRINT MEDIA SUPPORT (Advert in Ascent Times of India April 2011 )All cost to be distributed among students in all semester if they agree for all the three tools .When COETA brand visibility will be created (may be in 2-3 years ) less efforts shall be required for placement .Some one close to the college should co-ordinate .Best Regards,
Vineet Singh--------------------------
Sanjeev Saxena
Another good suggestion with in-depth analysisAs an extension to this suggestion I would like to state that we alumni have collected some funds which could be put to use for such advertising; already our memorandum states that the present students would be included as a part of the alumni association in a limited manner, but on payment of a nominal fee - this also reminds me to request all you alumni to coax, encourage and motivate their other colleagues to join the alumni association by becoming a registered memberSecondly, as Vineet points out - could it be possible or rather could our alumni suggest practical and industry specific projects for the final year students so that the students invest their resources in a planned manner and in the right direction. And if possible the alumni suggesting the project could also assist (if he / she desires) the student as a "Project Guide / Mentor" for successful completionRegardsSanjeev Saxena----------------
Vineet Singh
Sorry i am little free today ......I agree 100 % with Sanjeev Ji we all need more funds to do betterFurther i wish to add that we must remember that function VALUE = BENEFIT/ COST instead of remembering it as PROFITS = PRICE -- COST .The meaning is same but later empirical has low esthetics.One way in which Benefit comes to students is through an event management at Institution & Industrial level. The method to remember an event & draw benefits is to acknowledge & glorify all the students frequently on participation & their project work by using following tools :1.Certificates of participation in any college event ( even if its a social or environmental issue )2.Certificates of participaton -- debate on Industrial topics .3.Engraved Brass Badge ( college logo/ student name /branch /year)4.Certificate for their project work .5.Certificates to faculty members & alumni upon participation .CERTIFICATES ARE LIKE GIFT WRAPPING A BANANA( Mark Sheet) .The inputs cost is low but they add value to a just a simple mark sheet or a degree certificate .Most of the premier Institutes keep glorifying their students & alumni apart from university mark sheets .& believe me they carry lot of weight & impact on HR departments brain who r hiring .Best Regards,
Vineet Singh-----------------------------------
manish uttamrao khedkar
Hi
This ie very good idea and structured & professional way of doing the things.
only one input we should have technical forum of the seniors working in branded companise and indepth subject/Technical knoweldge ( to impress corporates only. To create a brand you need the forum of branded people) who will coach the new asspirant on the advanced technolgy and give the practicle knowledge on the subjects they are expert in. We can have Guest lectures at colloages or webinars..
This way big corporate brands can be influenced and convinced ..like other institues use to do.
Thanks & Regards.
Manish Khedkar.
Quality,Technology & Operations Leader
DuPont Engineering Polymers Inidla Ltd----------------------------------------------
Akshay Hartalkar
To Add to all of you
To start with we can also use, viral marketing tools like twitter/ facebook/linked in.
We can create a group/ page on these sites, as most of us might be either on facebook or linked in or orkut/twitter
we can share these digital brochures on our profiles and tweet them on our twitter accounts. Our friends/colleagues/ relatives will see it and slowly a brand image can created.
Things that could be psted on regular basis areThis might/will fetch traction from real worlg
- Education events in college
- call for expert speakers in college
- seminars prasented by final year students
- projects synopsis of the projects made by students. Yes I agree that alumni must help final year students in selecting projects to do as they are the people who know current or future market trends.
- white papers written by students. To encourage students we alumni can declare department wise white paper competitions periodically.
- Resume synopsis.
- credentials of students
- credentials of college : list of companies where alumni is working. list of people at hgher levels in profession.
- and many more things on regular intervals.
--
Regards
Akshay Hartalkar,CEO (Textile -96)------------------------
Vineet Singh
Excellent Akshay lets create & innovate but by keeping well below the college management lines as this recipe has three ingradients (students,faculty,alumni) so only a right mix will make the dish delicious and tantalising if any ingradient is out of proportion or cooked faster & hotter than required standard it will leave a bad taste and may not meet the bottom line .This is to get maximum support make the objective successful & this is the practice followed by intelligent people. Any product which is new & innovative gets scrutinised by inefficient critics therefore to have the hihest penetration of new ideas firstly neutralise the critics.Treat is as a corporate disclaimer ......hahahahahahaBest Regards,
Vineet Singh