First time Managers - Dos and Donts !

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Supporting Jana Lokpal and Shri Anna Hazare - News by Pragathi Welfare Society !

Andhra Jyothy 17 Aug 2011

Eenadu Guntur Rural on 17 Aug 2011

Leader @Infosys - A great Inspiration !

Full text of Anna Hazare's letter to the PM !

Veteran social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare has written an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In the letter dated April 6, 2011, Hazare has raised many questions and sought the Prime Minister's reply.

The 72-year-old social activist, supported by eminent persons including Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, has been demanding that the drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption should include members of civil society.

He started his fast-unto-death at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to demand a stricter anti-corruption law that that is being proposed by the Government.

Below is the full text of Hazare's letter to the Prime Minister:

India Against Corruption

A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad . 201010. UP Ph: 09868069953

www.indiaagainstcorruption.org

Date: April 6, 2011

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

New Delhi Dear

Dr. Singh,

I have started my indefinite fast at Jantar mantar. I had invited you also to fast and pray for a corruption free India on 5th April. Though I did not receive any reply from you, I am hopeful that you must have done that.

I am pained to read and hear about government's reaction to my fast. I consider it my duty to clarify the points raised on behalf of Congress party and the government by their spokespersons, as they appear in media:

1. It is being alleged that I am being instigated by some people to sit on this fast. Dear Manmohan Singh ji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence. I am not a kid that I could be "instigated" into going on an indefinite fast. I am a fiercely independent person. I take advice from many friends and critics, but do what my conscience directs me to do. It is my experience that when cornered, governments resort to such malicious slandering. I am pained that the government, rather than addressing the issue of corruption, is trying to allege conspiracies, when there are none.

2. It is being said that I have shown impatience. Dear Prime Minister, so far, every government has shown complete insensitivity and lack of political commitment to tackling corruption. 62 years after independence, we still do not have independent and effective anti-corruption systems. Very weak versions of Lokpal Bill were presented in Parliament eight times in last 42 years. Even these weak versions were not passed by Parliament. This means, left to themselves, the politicians and bureaucrats will never pass any law which subjects them to any kind of objective scrutiny. At a time, when the country has witnessed scams of unprecedented scale, the impatience of the entire country is justified. And we call upon you, not to look for precedents, but show courage to take unprecedented steps.

3. It is being said that I have shown impatience when the government has "initiated" the process. I would urge you to tell me - exactly what processes are underway?

a. You say that your Group of Ministers are drafting the anti-corruption law. Many of the members of this Group of Ministers have such a shady past that if effective anticorruption systems had been in place, some of them would have been behind bars. Do you want us to have faith in a process in which some of the most corrupt people of this country should draft the anti-corruption law?

b. NAC sub-committee has discussed Jan Lokpal Bill. But what does that actually mean? Will the government accept the recommendations of NAC sub-committee? So far, UPA II has shown complete contempt for even the most innocuous issues raised by NAC.

c. I and many other friends from India Against Corruption movement wrote several letters to you after 1st December. I also sent you a copy of Jan Lokpal Bill on 1st December. We did not get any response. It is only when I wrote to you that I will sit on an indefinite fast, we were promptly invited for discussions on 7th March. I wonder whether the government responds only to threats of indefinite fast. Before that, representatives of India Against Corruption had been meeting various Ministers seeking their support for the Jan Lokpal Bill. They met Mr Moily also and personally handed over copy of Jan Lokpal to him. A few hours before our meeting with you, we received a phone call from Mr Moily's office that the copy of Jan Lokpal Bill had been misplaced by his office and they wanted another copy. This is the seriousness with which the government has dealt with Jan Lokpal Bill.

d. Dear Dr Manmohan Singh ji, if you were in my place, would you have any faith in the aforesaid processes? Kindly let me know if there are any other processes underway. If you still feel that I am impatient, I am happy that I am because the whole nation is feeling impatient at the lack of credible efforts from your government against corruption.

4. What are we asking for? We are not saying that you should accept the Bill drafted by us. But kindly create a credible platform for discussions . a joint committee with at least half members from civil society suggested by us. Your spokespersons are misleading the nation when they say that there is no precedent for setting up a joint committee. At least seven laws in Maharashtra were drafted by similar joint committees and presented in Maharashtra Assembly. Maharashtra RTI Act, one of the best laws of those times, was drafted by a joint committee. Even at the centre, when 25,000 tribals came to Delhi two years ago, your government set up a joint committee on land issues within 48 hours. You yourself are the Chairperson of that committee. This means that the government is willing to set up joint committees on all other issues, but not on corruption. Why?

5. It is being said that the government wants to talk to us and we are not talking to them. This is utterly false. Tell me a single meeting when you called us and we did not come. We strongly believe in dialogue and engagement. Kindly do not mislead the country by saying that we are shunning dialogue. We request you to take some credible steps at stemming corruption. Kindly stop finding faults and suspecting conspiracies in our movement. There are none. Even if there were, it does not absolve you of your responsibilities to stop corruption.

With warm regards,

(K B Hazare)

Courtesy :

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/full-text-of-anna-hazares-letter-to-the-pm/148435-3.html

5 Must Read Business Books of the year 2011

By SiliconIndia, Wednesday, 13 July 2011, 14:42 IST

Bangalore: Are you planning to launch your first stepping stone in business world? And you want to be acquainted with the know how of the business strategies, its pros and cons. Then here we present you the most effective tools towards your success. We are bringing the top five must read business books which will not only make you aware of what's ahead in your business scenario, but also gets you prepared for the big bad competitive world.

Here the top 5 must read business book for our readers which are culmination of the struggles and lesson from our big business giants and gurus, and we guarantee you surely will not like to miss out on any one of them.1. I'm Feeling LuckyThe Confessions of Google Employee Number 59By Doug Edwards

There have been many fine books written about Google and its impact on the world, but all have been told from an outsider's perspective. I'm Feeling Lucky is a personal accounting of what the author felt like to be part of the company as it grew from sixty people to tens of thousands. In the book, personal anecdotes are interspersed with an explanation of the key events in Google's technical development, largely told in the words of those who actually built the systems that made Google work as fast and well as it does. Many of these individuals have remained anonymous until now.I'm Feeling Lucky is really aimed at those who are interested both in what Google did to ensure success during its formative years and how it felt to be an ill-prepared participant dropped into the heart of an exploding startup.It gives insight as to what is the Google workplace like compared to other companies and how Google dealt with user privacy issues, what were the most significant problems, what was it really like behind the scenes of the Google-AOL deal and things that people should know about Google that they do not already know. Comparing Google to an ordinary business is like comparing a rocket to an Edsel. I'm Feeling Lucky captures for the first time the unique, self-invented, yet profoundly important culture of the world's most transformative corporation.

2. Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl

And Why You Should, TooBy Louann Lofton

Warren Buffett Invests like a Girl offers a new perspective to Warren buffets investment success. Women and Warren Buffett have something in common: They are both better investors than the average man. Women are thorough researchers, more committed to the long-term plan and better at managing their emotions, say LouAnn Lofton, author of Warren Buffett Invests like a Girl: and Why You Should Too.

The first step in investing is to recognize that investing is not that hard and great success can come from investing in companies you understand. Look at the products you know and trust the ones you use and tell friends about. These can be great investment opportunities.And if you want to learn directly from Mr. Buffett, Ms. Lofton suggests reading his letters to shareholders. Though geared toward women, Ms. Lofton's book can benefit men as well if they are willing to tap into their feminine side. A debut author impugns Warren Buffett's masculinity in a good way and asserts that feminine thinking like his is what leads to investment riches.

3. Beyond Performance

How Great Organizations Build Ultimate Competitive AdvantageBy Scott Keller and Colin Price

This book reveals the secret of achieving and sustaining organizational excellence. In an ever-changing world where only a third of excellent organizations stay that way over the long term, and where even fewer are able to implement successful change programs, leaders are in need of big ideas and new tools to thrive. In Beyond Performance, McKinsey & Company's Scott Keller and Colin Price give you everything you need to build an organization that can execute in the short run and has the vitality to prosper over the long term.

Drawing on the most exhaustive research effort of its kind on organizational effectiveness and change management, Keller and Price put hard science behind their big idea: that the health of an organization is equally as important as its performance. This book is written for those who intend to beat these odds. Based on one of the most extensive research efforts ever undertaken in the field of management, Beyond Performance shows how leaders can deliver performance today while also ensuring that their organizations stay fit for the future.

4. Solving Employee Performance Problems

How to Spot Problems Early, Take Appropriate Action, and Bring Out the Best in EveryoneBy Anne Bruce

Solving Employee Performance Problems provides the tools you need to handle the most difficult employees from the chronically late or distractingly dramatic to the disruptive, dishonest, or downright insubordinate.

Taking a heavy-handed approach to such behaviors might make you feel good for a little while but using the measured, proactive techniques outlined in this book will be better for you, your staff, and your business. With Solving Employee Performance Problems, you will learn how to take ownership of your employees' behaviors, master conversations about poor performance, conduct productive follow-ups, and ultimately generate greater engagement and ownership of work, Higher levels of collaboration and productivity, Increased loyalty and retention rates , Gainful ROI from everyone who works for you.There is a direct link between growth of individual employees and organizational growth. Use Solving Employee Performance Problems to be someone who manages proactively. It is the only way to make a positive difference in the life of your employee and make a positive impact on the future of your company.

5. School for Startups

The Breakthrough Course for Guaranteeing Small Business Success in 90 Days or LessBy Jim Beach, Chris Hanks, David Beasley

It is a Beginner's Guide to Low-Risk Entrepreneurship. If you want to start your own business, but "risk" isn't your middle name. You're not alone. Many successful entrepreneurs are averse to risk--but they have learned the tricks to working around it. And now you can too, with School for Startups.

This practical guide shows you how to build a business the smart way--without risking major assets such as your house, savings account, or health insurance.You will learn how to increase your chance of success by funding your venture without investors, Entering international markets , Taking full advantage of tools on the Web , Marketing your product or service for little or no cost , Deploying a third party to package and ship products and Taking control of an existing business or franchise.The authors present hundreds of the best ideas for new businesses, along with case studies proving the effectiveness of their approach.

Courtesy : http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/5_must_read_business_books_of_2011-nid-86167.html

why Corruption ? How to deal with It ?

Permanent House for USD $300 = Rs.15,000 (INR)

Vijay Govindarajan

Vijay Govindarajan is the Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. His most recent book is The Other Side of Innovation.

Vijay Govindarajan

The $300 House: A Hands-On Lab for Reverse Innovation?

12:07 PM Thursday August 26, 2010 | Comments ( 159)

The $300 House:

• The Financial Challenge
• The Design Challenge
• The Energy Challenge
• The Co-Creation Challenge
• The Marketing Challenge
• The Performance Challenge
• The Corporate Challenge
• The Sustainability Challenge
• The Urban Challenge

Editor's note: This post was written with Christian Sarkar, a marketing consultant who also works on environmental issues.

David A. Smith, the founder of the Affordable Housing Institute (AHI) tells us that "markets alone will never satisfactorily house a nation's poorest citizens...whether people buy or rent, housing is typically affordable to only half of the population."

The result? Smith points to a "spontaneous community of self-built or informally built homes — the shanty towns, settlements, and ever-expanding slums that sprout like mushrooms on the outskirts of cities in the developing world."

We started discussing the issue, examining the subject through the lens of reverse innovation.

Here are five questions Christian and I asked ourselves:

• How can organic, self-built slums be turned into livable housing?
• What might a house-for-the-poor look like?
• How can world-class engineering and design capabilities be utilized to solve the problem?
• What reverse-innovation lessons might be learned by the participants in such a project?
• How could the poor afford to buy this house?

Livable Housing. Our first thought was that self-built houses are usually built from materials that are available — cardboard, plastic, mud or clay, metal scraps and whatever else is nearby. Built on dirt floors, these structures are prone to collapse and catching fire. Solution: replace these unsafe structures with a mass-produced, standard, affordable, and sustainable solution. We want to create the $300-House-for-the-Poor.

Look and Feel. To designers, our sketch of this house might be a bit of a joke, but it's useful nonetheless to illustrate the concept, to get started. We wanted the house to be an ecosystem of products and solutions designed around the real needs of the inhabitants. Of course it would have to be made out of sustainable, green materials, but more crucially, it would have to be durable enough to withstand torrential rains, earthquakes, and the stress of children playing. The house might be a single room structure with drop-down partitions for privacy. Furniture — sleeping hammocks and fold-down chairs would be built in. The roof would boast an inexpensive solar panel and battery to light the house and charge the mobile phone and tablet computer. An inexpensive water filter would be built in as well.

In effect, the house is really a one-room shed designed around the family ecosystem, a lego-like aggregation of useful products that "bring good things to life" for the poor.

World-Class Design. Our next question was: "Who will do this?" We decided that it would be have to be a collaboration between global design and engineering companies and non-profits with experience solving problems for the poor. The usual suspects ran through our minds — IDEO, GE, TATA, Siemens, Habitat-for-Humanity, Partners In Health, the Solar Electric Light Fund, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Gates Foundation, Grameen. Governments may play an important part is setting the stage for these types of cross-country innovation projects.

The Reverse Innovation Payoff. Participating companies will reap two rewards. First, they will be able to serve the unserved, the 2.5 billion who make up the bottom of the pyramid. Second, they create new competencies which can help transform lives in rich countries by creating breakthrough innovations to solve several problems (scaled housing for hurricane victims, refugees, and even the armed forces).

A House of One's Own: Affordability. To move beyond charity, the poor must become owners of their homes, responsible for their care and upkeep. The model of social business introduced by Muhammad Yunus resonates strongly with us. Micro-finance must surely play a role in making the $300 House-for-the-Poor a viable and self-sustaining solution.

Of course, the idea we present here is an experiment. Nevertheless, we feel it deserves to be explored. From the one-room shacks in Haiti's Central Plateau to the jhuggi clusters in and around Delhi, to the favelas in São Paulo, the problem of housing-for-the-poor is truly global.

We ask CEOs, Governments, NGOs, Foundations: Are there any takers?

Courtesy :http://blogs.hbr.org/govindarajan/2010/08/the-300-house-a-hands-on-lab-f.html