IMR JAN 2013 - Indira Institutes

Seth Consultantsbe no doubt that the CEO was more expertthan him and that he (H) was quite willing tolearn from him.Y: He said that?L: The CEO who hasn't prepared a singlebilling statement, at least here at SPCL, isgoing to teach him about billing? What didthe CEO say?V: He looked surprised. Then the DCEO told Hthat the guidelines had already beencirculated and the CEO had otherresponsibilities.Y: (unbelievingly) You mean they didn'tunderstand what he was trying to say?V: Correct. They thought he was just beingtroublesome. They didn't understand that hewas mocking them.LV: I wish that I had some back up then, like H, Itoo would say something to the CEO and MD.L: About what?V: About the certification programmes.Y: What would you say?V: I would say that I was not able to conductthe programme because all the hotel roomswere booked.L: (puzzled) All the hotel rooms werebooked?V: Yes, the famous summer/monsoonvacation wonderland resort of Madhyampuris much in demand at that time of the yearand tourists make bookings months inadvance. What? Why do you look at me likethat? SPCL does not have anyaccommodation facilities of its own, so theparticipants will have to stay in hotels.L: Agreed, we don't have any accommodationfacilities. But who comes here in thesummer/monsoon? I don't understand howanyone can think that outsiders will willinglywant to come here in the summer withaverage temperatures of 40+ degrees in theshade, till the monsoon starts and then we getan average of 10 mm rain daily!V: And look at our location – out of town in theheart of the industrial area. The nearestdecent hotel is almost 20 km away. It was idealfor our original customers but to conductcertification programmes?Y: You are missing the point. All these offlocation programmes are part business andpart paid holiday. But our canteen andlunchroom are vegetarian. There is no baranywhere nearby. There are no recreationalfacilities.V: Yes, ideal conditions, enjoy industrialsurroundings complete with pollution, eatgrass, drink water and without anydistractions participants will have to focus onthe programme!Y: If our "experts" run the programme, theprogramme will be the recreation!MY: (Grimly) Have you ever thought that youcould see the future?L: No.V: Just tell us what happened.Y: I am just coming from a meeting with ourBusiness Head. He says six months are goneand wants to know why we are lagging behindin new customer / business / productdevelopment.L: Does he understand that we are shortstaffed and have not been able to evencomplete the work we have on hand? Whathappened to all those “initiatives” anyway?V: Really! This is too bad! Top managementreorganized the company into businesses andappointed Business Heads for this verypurpose. Then they appointed the companywide business development and productdevelopment committees and on top of it theyeven appointed similar committees for eachBusiness, Department, Location and what82 Indira Management Review - Jan 2013