Saturday, August 14, 2010

Better Than the Worst


Prologue

“Good job, Rahul”, his team lead, Chetan congratulated him.”This was an issue which was ongoing for quiet some time and you have done well to resolve it”.
“Thanks Chetan”…Rahul continued his work.

* * * * * * * *


Conference Room – Scene 1

“Rahul, Please come here..”, The Project Manager, Gurudutt called him to the conference room.
Rahul followed Guru.

“Rahul… Please be patient and listen to what I am going to say…”,Guru continued in a soft tone,”You might be aware that it is the time for performance based ratings and there is high pressure on the managers to provide each one of you with the best possible one. As you know of our rating system, A, B, C, D, E from highest to lowest, there is a mandate on managers to follow a strict percentage on each rating.Example, not more than 10 % should get A rating. And something like atleast 10 % should get an E.That means the managers are in trouble.
At the same time you might also be knowing that the current market condition is not that good. There is high risk of job security for the people with average ratings. I am feeling extremely disappointed and sorry to inform you that you while expecting for the best, do be prepared for the worst too. Be ready with your resume, keep in touch with old friends outside this company, and do your best, as always.
Within 1 week your ratings will be out and I ‘ll take utmost care in ensuring that you are provided with the best available. At the same time, as I told earlier, the market is not good, and we are also running short of projects, so be prepared… and for any help do meet me…ok?”
Rahul was quiet shocked with what he just heard.”Do you mean I will be thrown out of this company and I have to search a new job?”
“No, Rahul, I did not mean that…but not sure what would be the higher management decisions..there are various factors which goes as input prior to a decision being made.I was just trying to make you aware of it….okay..Rahul..you can meet me anytime for any issue…I am supposed to join a call now…So we’ll talk later..do meet me…ok…Good luck”
He shook his hand with Rahul and sent him back to his desk.
Rahul was just not sure what had happened.He had been working hard always..and always completed all assigned tasks on time…still……He stared at his monitor thinking about how he had put effort for each of the tasks assigned to him….

“What Rahul??dreaming??”, Chetan patted him on his shoulder.
“Nothing Chetan”
“Hei ..you look dull…come ..we’ll go for a coffee…”

While having the coffee Rahul explained to Chetan about the meeting with Guru.Chetan too was shocked and promised Rahul to take care of it.

* * * * * * *

Conference Room – Scene 2 Guru and Chetan

“I understand what you are saying Chetan…I too know that Rahul is a good performer and extremely talented.But if the company is taking such a decision, we cannot do anything.”Guru stopped for a moment
“I also agree that he now knows in and out of the project, but I am really not sure if we have a choice to make.”
“Here I am extremely shocked with 2 bad news.1 is that Rahul deserves nothing less than a B.2 is I am talking about B and you are talking about pink slip.It’s ridiculous..You need to give him better ratings..that’s the only solution”,Chetan replied
“Point 1 is that ratings are still not out and nothing is clear on who has what…Point 2 is that ratings are also based on various factors as you know.Being a fresher, Rahul has more opportunities to improvise himself and go forward in his career.Let’s hope for the best..”
Chetan interrupted,”being a fresher we should be motivating him to go forward, and you are talking about his job security.As a manager, if you are not able to retain him in this team, that would cause more problems for you in future because we are dependent on him for many things.
“Chetan, I am assuring you that I am trying my best…My aim is to treat all people equally regardless of the ratings they get.That would be in terms of Job security, Financial security and any other thing…As 100% is not in my hands I give you 99% assurance.Regardless of his rating, Rahul will remain with us…”
“But many things are dependant on ratings…like salary hikes..”
“Yes..I know..Again, I am stressing the fact that if..if at all, Rahul is not getting a rating which he deserves, I’ll make sure to take into consideration, his contributions to the team and provide him with the best.okay?”

Chetan was unsure what to say..”Ok, we’ll wait for the ratings.We’ll talk later”
“Sure, Chetan, keep the spirit high…we are all together as a family..we are there for each other…lets just keep this in mind..Good Luck!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Conference Room – Scene 3 - Ratings are out : Rahul, Guru, Ranjan(Rahul’s delivery manager, comes under Guru)


“Come in Rahul..be seated”, Guru called him in.
“Your ratings are out ….I am a bit relieved that I got an exception from the manager and do not need to rate any member of our highly talented team with an E.I know that you are highly talented, but this time you have to satisfy yourself with D rating”
”But why???I was expecting B.What is it that I have not performed..I have done all the tasks assigned to me”
“Yes Rahul, I agree..Chetan told me the same thing…but…Another thing which matters is visibility..That’s the key…Visibility in account level…”
“but, all my work would have been visible, had I not done the work assigned to me…And I could also have created issues and resolved them myself just for visibility, which I did not do…”
“Sorry Rahul,I agree, but we don’t have a choice…., am I right Ranjan”
“mm.. yes…”Ranjan replied.

Tringgg…Tringg…Rahul’s mobile rang.Rahul was trying to cut it but Guru insisted to attend the call.rahul stepped out of the room to attend the call.

“Hei, Ranjan, you are a manager for 4 years, what are you doing?don’t agree with what I am saying..oppose me…ok??”Guru told to Ranjan.

Rahul returned back after the call…

“So, what do you say Ranjan”
“Guru,I feel that this rating is not correct.Don’t we have a process to challenge the rating..We can fight until we get justice.We cannot let this go so easily”

“Unfortunately, Ranjan, we don’t have an option for challenging…It’s probably because they suspect that people may not use it judiciously”
Ranjan then asked,“ok, Can’t we change the ratings, I mean give the D to someone else and give Rahul some better rating?”

“Ranjan, at this stage this is also not possible, because this ratings are approved from account level…”

Ranjan shook his head in disappointment.

Guru continued,”So, Rahul, please don’t be disappointed..Ratings are nothing..Just an alphabet..don’t mind about it… We will ensure the best for you in future..Just try to be visible”

Rahul had nothing else to say,”It’s not that I am not visible..the fact is that you are blind…”,he told to himself and left the room quietly.

Ranjan then asked Guru,”Guru, what about the other thing?regarding Job security.Will he be fired for getting this rating?”

“Before that I want to inform you something…There is a rumor that this year, the top management has decided to decrease a % of salary from managers.So you might go back to an old package…”
“What the……” Ranjan got shocked…”how come they decrease the salary?”

“Again, we are helpless.”Guru sighed
“Hei 1 minute…I just got a mail now..let me read it….” Guru read through the mail

“It’s a mail from the Top managements. This year managers have 0% hike.…”

“Thank God… 0% is better…atlease no decrease”,Ranjan was relieved

Guru smiled and replied,”This is Rule No. 1.When you have to convey a bad news, give them the bad news, and a worse news..They will automatically opt for the bad one…So this news about the managers’ salary was not true…but I hope you got answer for your other question..”
“Which one..Rahul getting fired??”

Guru smiled….and left the room.


* * * * * * * *
Epilogue

2 weeks later

Rahul: Hi Guru…you were talking about being prepared for getting released in case of bad ratings..Any info on that..
Guru: Don’t worry..As I promised, I have taken care of everything..Moreover now we are getting some projects..more funding, more work, more profit, more hikes….You can go and continue your work…Good Luck!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
End Credits

”If performance is judged based on visibility, God is the worst performer!” - Fino Paul


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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

A Blessed Day!

Prologue

08 November 1999
India vs. New Zealand ODI

Sachin Tendulkar scores 186*
   Just 14 runs short of a double ton.

Since then, whenever India is playing an ODI, I feel ‘This is the day, that Sachin will hit a double century..’

* * * * * * * ** *
24 February 2010

The sun shone bright on my face, disturbing my sleep. I competed with the sun and continued my sleep. But the already ‘n’ times snoozed alarm rang again and made me wake up. I halfly opened my eyes to see 09:10 AM on my mobile.
‘Oh! Need to go to office..Another bad day in the making..!!’

I woke up.
Working days were no more exciting.Million dollar profit making multinational companies telling a one word excuse for not giving salary hikes.’Recession’.
But the work load was never less…..I was desperate for a change…

After having my breakfast, I quickly logged in to all known jobsites and checked if any openings had come.No luck!
Wipro has viewed you profile.One of the sites showed.
‘Hei, What is the use of just viewing my profile.Why don’t you guys call me up?’

I got ready for office and just glanced the news paper and got reminded that there is an India-South Africa ODI today.Good!Today will not be a boring day in office.

@ Office

Completing my lunch early, I came to my desk and opened 2 tabs in my browser.cricinfo and cricbuzz.
India batting first.
So, Sachin might hit a double Century today..
I stood up and called Karthik, another Sachin fan, sitting to my next cubicle.The intensity of his craze for Sachin can be understood from the fact that he even remembers the player Id for Sachin in cricinfo database.It’s 35320, which can be confirmed from the URL which appears when you view Sachin’s profile.
I called Karthik and asked,’Century, right?’
‘Ya, sure’, he replied.

I smiled and sat on my seat and continued refreshing cricinfo and cricbuzz.
Sachin was in absolute touch.He was un doubtedly heading towards a huge score.

He crossed his century without any effort and was still going well.The strike rate was so good that a double century was not impossible.

Over 37
Sachin not out on 147
One of my colleagues was watching the match in crictime.com.People started gathering around his laptop to watch the match.
Some others ran to the cafeteria to watch the match live on TV as in crictime, there will be 1 ball delay.
Me and Karthik decided not to go to the cafeteria.Last time, during India Australia ODI, when we went to cafeteria to watch the match, Sachin got out on 175 and India lost the match.Why take a chance?We’ll watch the match with 1 ball delay.We decided.

Almost the whole office was watching Tendulkar at the moment.No work, No projects, No deadlines to meet.Sachin has 'stopped time' here.

More than 20 people surrounded the laptop with live cricket running.My manager came to us seeing tha crowd and asked,”What’s happening?”
“Sachin’s playing too good.”
“Oh! He’s still playing?Isn’t he retired?”
“No 20 years not out”
“Oh! 20 notout, hope he hits a half century”, and he walked away.
----------
Over # 45 3rd ball
Sachin 193, on strike
Crictime started to hang and we refreshed cricinfo, but cricinfo still showed sachin in the 160s.
We heard a huge roar from the cafeteria.
Luckily crictime came back and we saw replays of Sachin flicking the ball away behind short fine and running a double to overtake 194 hit by Coventry and Saeed Anwar. Sachin now has the highest individual score in an ODI.
We clapped our hands congratulating the master.
---------
Over # 49
Sachin had reached 199* and Dhoni was hitting 4s and 6s all around th aground.
“Dhoni, who wants to see your sixers?? Give  the strike to Sachin”someone roared.

But Dhoni took a single off the last ball and instantly an Anti Dhoni community was created there.
--------
Over # 50
Finally Sachin got strike at 199*.

The bowler and captian were making field adjustments and Sachin was getting ready to face the ball.

Tringg Tringg
My phone rang.Unknown number.
“Hello”
“Am I speaking to Nithesh?”
“Yes.Who’s this?”
“Hi, I am calling from Wipro, Is this the right time to talk to you?”
The field adjustment were made and bowler walked for his run up.

“No, actually I am in a meeting, Can you call after 15 minutes?”, I replied.
“No, actially I’ll be leaving now.. This is regarding an immediate requirement and your profile seems to match.."
“Ok.Then you can call me tomorrow.Thanks..Bye”and I hung up.The bowler had already started running in…

We heard roars from the cafeteria and understood that history is created.Sachin placed the ball behind point and completed the historic run.We clapped and roared aloud contradictory to Sachin’s composed celebration.The office was not an office anymore.It had transformed to a mini stadium.
After watching replays of the 200th run, we dispersed to our own desks and continued watching the scores from cricinfo.Cricinfo was back by then.

Later, cricinfo editor Sambit Bal had commented that Sachin had not only crashed the deliveries from the bowlers, but also crashed some cricinfo servers when he was nearing 200, due to the load on the servers at that moment.He also said that he had ordered some Tendulkar servers for future…!!

Sachin has transformed the day for me, for millions..This never was a bad day in the making….A blessed day is created.

That’s the kind of genius Sachin is.He has provided one more remarkable day for all cricket fans.Whenever we dream, Sachin makes it true…
--------------

Epilogue
Sachin,
We dream of the 2011 world cup final in which India is victorious ans we win the World Cup.This is a common dream for all your fans, all Indians....
Come on Sachin, we have a dream..Make it true...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Enlightening

Prologue
This tale is imaginary.And the 'i' mentioned in this tale, similar to what you have studied in your mathematics papers is(am) highly imaginary.
-----
6.30 AM is too early on all Sundays.And this Sunday has had the luck to see an awaken me.
Today, I have some work with a colleague of mine in US, and this is the time we both could finally select for the same.

At 7 AM, I reached basement of my office and we(me and my bike) were lonely there.It was as though I had entered some haunted place.

My mind traveled back to two days at office. We were having a team meeting and we were discussing about ghosts.To make team meetings interesting, in the midst of talking about daily work and projects,managers discuss some fun stuff like stories, games etc.. to keep everyone engaged.They know that the serious discussions make us bored, but yet haven't realized that during fun discussions we will actually be sleeping!

In this particular meeting, 'ghost' was the topic.My manager was telling that considering the complexity of the projects we handle,those are too frightening that even ghosts will not dare to come to our office premises during office hours.Everyone were laughing for this 'joke' and I was thinking beyond, or say 'Out of the Box'!
If ghosts won't dare to come during office hours, will they come during non office hours?

7 AM on a Sunday is of course a non office hour and I stood alone in the lift lobby waiting for the elevator.
I entered the elevator and thought.Technology may go beyond imagination but it can never overcome one of man's basic instincts, FEAR.
'Fifth Floor', The lady's voice behind the elevator shouted and I stepped out.

I turned to my left, walked towards the door, and showed my Id card to the card reader.The door got unlocked and I pushed it open.
It was an empty office, fully dark.Empty cubicles welcomed me.I turned to my left in search of the switch board.There it is.I raised my right arm and stretched my forefinger toward one of the switches.

GLOW!

The light above me glowed and i wondered.My finger,still hasn't touched the switch!!!

I looked above me.It was still glowing bright.I was unable to move for a second. I pulled back my hand in a hurry and walked one step to my right.


GLOW!

The next bulb in the row glowed.

I stood there and glared at the lights.I waited for a whole minute.Nothing happened. 'Okay, now I''ll go to my desk',I thought.I have to pass 5 cubicles to reach my desk.I just lifted my right leg to start walking...
GLOW
GLOW
GLOW
---
--

The lights started glowing one by one and stopped exactly at the point where my desk is located.

I stood on my toes and searched all around to check if anyone is playing any pranks on me.I wished I had a Control+F in-built in me so that I could search for any human existence in the floor.Anyway, the floor was silent enough and hence evident that there was no human other than me in there.
I walked slowly to my desk.The lights no more played with me.I switched on my system and sat on my chair.
GLOW
GLOW
GLOW

Few more lights glowed and it stopped at exactly 3 cubicles away from my desk.I stared at that cubicle.Something is calling me there.I thought.I am being given a signal to go to that place. What is it??

I got up from my chair and dragged myself to that cubicle.2 cubicles passed and I finally reached the 3rd one.There was no one.An empty chair was there and I moved toward the chair.I got awestruck on seeing the monitor of the system.The system was ON.Some programs were running and the mouse cursor was moving.Some excel sheets we getting updated.I got shocked and I stared at the monitor.
Why was I called to this place.What and how is this happening here?
Suddenly a notepad appeared on the monitor and the following words got typed.

"U R going to be killed, wait there.I am coming..."

I read the words again and again.Who is this?What is it all about.I couldn't get answer to any of my questions.Who is controlling everything from somewhere??

"Hei...How r u dude?", a voice asked from behind.


"AAAhhhh..."I screamed aloud an turned back.
"Oh..Ajay..sorry...something... unexpected...sorry.."I searched for words. Ajay was standing behind me, now he was the one shocked, hearing my scream.

"Cool.... dude..what happened?"
"No......I mean..nothing...nothing happened.."
"Okay..relax...y u r here..Sunday morning?"
"Got some work with DBA..is this your system?"
"Ya..had some viruses in it and the help desk guy was checking it through remote desktop connection...he's a friend of mine.I was in that conference room..was attending a call...has the help desk guy left any message?hmm..", and he looked to the monitor and read aloud from the notepad,"U R going to be killed, wait there.I am coming......oh! he's coming here..actually I had downloaded some songs n' all..probably that's why he's telling he'll kill me.arey..what's the use in coming to office if u cannot download songs.right?These help desk guys dont understand.."
"Right...Ok..u continue...let me login..my colleague will be online." and I walked to my desk relieved and also thinking how foolish I had been...

I was walking to my desk when two facility officials were walking towards me.They were talking something and I could over hear them when they crossed me.

"haan..they have installed sensor system all over the floor.When u reach below one bulb it will glow.If there is no movement for some time, it will get off..for power saving...kya technology hai bhai.."one of them said to which the other replied
"arey what technology??They have messed up all the wiring and now, if one bulb is ON, many others are getting ON automatically .we need to fix it by tomorrow.Sunday wasted.!!!"

I quietly sat on my chair and started my work.
This Sunday was a wasted one for the facility people but certainly was 'enlightening' for me.

:-)




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Don't forget to rate this post...Comments also welcome  :)
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Thursday, January 7, 2010

October 20 2009-- Part V

Hope you have read Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV before coming here.



"Actually we had seen a doctor and my daughter needs a surgery...So you
need to pay for that...."
I got shocked!!
In the previous days, whenever I used to think about the incident, I used to
think why did I ever pay the hospital bills.It was not my mistake.Anyway, I
had decided to forget about it but it just followed me.
"So you will be paying for the surgery, right?" he asked again.
"You know that it was not my mistake hat day, right?Even the police had
told to you..."
"What do you mean , u cannot pay?"
"See, what i told is...."
"My daughter is not an LKG student that she does not know how to cross a
road."
"But she was in the middle of the road when the signal was green..."
"Then why did u say that you will pay if any surgery is required?"
"Surgery?When did I say like that?.."
"OK Tell me,You can pay or not?"
A Yes or No question and now I have to take my stand.
"No.It will be difficult for me..", I replied.
"Ok, i know what to do"..He hung up the call.

Now what?I looked to my monitor and ....and what I did not know what to
do.I was blank.

The phone rang again.same number.I took the call.It was the girl's brother.
"That day you had told that you will pay for surgery and now why are you
changing your word?"
"Which surgery?What are you talking about?You know it was your sister's
mistake."
"My sister is not LKG student that she does not know how to cross a road."
"But her behavior on road was in that way.Even the policeman told you that
it was her mistake"
"I don't believe policemen...you tell me you can pay or not?"
"NO"
"Ok, I know how to deal this legally or illegally..."
He cut the phone.

Somehow this brother guy made me angry and I was ready to face the
consequence whatever it may be.

To my next cubicle, Sujan was getting ready for the call.I went to him.
"Sujan, I wan't to talk to you.We'll go to the conference room"
We walked to an empty conference room.I told him about the call I got 5
minutes back.
"Give me the number" he said.
I gave him the number.He called to that number.

"Hello, I am Nithesh's brother..Tell me sir.."
Pause(Their reply)
"What surgery?,You know that already my brother had taken all expense in the
hospital..?And also he stood in the hospital upto evening even without
going to office."
Pause
"How can you tell couple of hours?He was in hospital from 12 to 6 and you
are telling couple of hours.It will be good if you talk properly.If you
speak correctly we will also be the same.Else we also know how to deal
it.Already he has taken all expense and also auto charges comes extra"
Pause
"What only 20 Rs. Is it not money sir?At that time that auto journey was
much required for your sister..not my brother...ok?So it should have more
value for you people.. "
Pause
"Ok, you go ahead legally, We also know how to deal it legally, If you want
I'll give you my address also.You can come to me directly."
Pause(he told he doesn't want address and already have my number)
"Ok, you call me in this number or whichever number you have and file a
case against us..We will happily face it..ok...bye"
Sujan cut the call.
Sujan then told me"You don't worry, redirect the call to my number if they
call again"
"Ok"
"Hei, It's already 8 ..Come we'll join the call..."We ran out of the
conference room...

*************************************************
Exactly one month later.

It was almost 5 PM.I was a bit free and was planning to go to the food
court to have some snacks.
The Nokia Tune rang in ascending tone.
An unknown number.
I wondered who it might be.I don't like calls from unknown numbers now a days.
I picked the call"Hello"
"Hello .Am I speaking to Nithesh?"
"Yes"
"Hi Sir I am from HDFC bank.Sir, we are offering you a lifetime free credit
card........"
A smile came to my eyes...and I politely discarded the offer.
************************************************
Today


Still I don't like to see calls from unknown numbers in my phone..

And while driving, I don't know why, I feel all people tend to cross the road when they see me coming on my bike.Seeing my black bike with silver graphics, I wonder if pedestrians feel that a zebra crossing is approaching!

Now I don't believe anyone on the road.Neither the people driving, nor the ones walking.
That's what I believe is one of the golden rules to drive safe....and enjoy your ride!!

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