Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure
In Corporate always the failures goes to bolt and nuts, not to the leaders/managers. None of the managers hold the responsbility when it comes to failure, at the same time when there is a success most managers comes forward and take the honor. But this incident shows a different view.
(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic Forum, Philadelphia, March 22,2008)
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's 'Rohini' satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, 'You conduct the press conference today.'
Abdul kalam said, I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic Forum, Philadelphia, March 22,2008)
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's 'Rohini' satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, 'You conduct the press conference today.'
Abdul kalam said, I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Kuruvi mp3 songs download
Kuruvi Mp3 songs -download from here
Disc: I dont own any rights on the source or destination. I am just a forwarder, as usual.
Disc: I dont own any rights on the source or destination. I am just a forwarder, as usual.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Stop the War on Journalists in Sri Lanka
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), an organization which aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists is calling for a Global Day of Action on the 10th of April, titled Stop the War on Journalists in Sri Lanka. Thanks to Mathy for sharing ...For More info
I dedicate my 300th post to my fellow tamilians who shedding blood for their rights and lives in SriLanka.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
A simple solution
We know Pencil-moon-russian-USA and Japanese Soap boxes-Fan kinda incidents and its way of simple solution, I got a mail today which shows the similar kind of, however it is a story. Here we go.
Hero went to a psychiatrist.
"I've got problems. Every time I go to bed, I think there's somebody under it. I'm scared. I think I'm going crazy."
Doctor repled, "Come and talk to me three times a week, and we should be able to get rid of those fears after powerful councellings"
"How much do you charge?"
"150Rs per visit" replied the doctor.
Hero nodded and left the hospital.
Six months later the doctor met hero on the street.
"Why didn't you ever come to see about those fears you were having?" asked the psychiatrist.
"Well, Rs150 a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot
of money! A bartender cured me for Rs 120. I was so happy to have saved all
that money I went and bought me a new pickup!"
"Is that so! And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?"
"He told me to cut the legs off the bed! - Ain't nobody under there now!!"
Hero went to a psychiatrist.
"I've got problems. Every time I go to bed, I think there's somebody under it. I'm scared. I think I'm going crazy."
Doctor repled, "Come and talk to me three times a week, and we should be able to get rid of those fears after powerful councellings"
"How much do you charge?"
"150Rs per visit" replied the doctor.
Hero nodded and left the hospital.
Six months later the doctor met hero on the street.
"Why didn't you ever come to see about those fears you were having?" asked the psychiatrist.
"Well, Rs150 a visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot
of money! A bartender cured me for Rs 120. I was so happy to have saved all
that money I went and bought me a new pickup!"
"Is that so! And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?"
"He told me to cut the legs off the bed! - Ain't nobody under there now!!"
Friday, April 04, 2008
Friday Fun-Ctrl C & V
1. Long back, a person who sacrificed his sleep, forgot his family, forgot his food, forgot laughter were called "Saints" But now they are called..
"IT professionals"
2. An interesting line written at the back of a Biker's T Shirt:
" If you are able to see this, Please tell me that my galfriend has fallen off"
3. Most Relationships fail not because of the absence of love..
Love is always present..
Its just that,
One loves too much,
and
The other loves too many,
4. Employee: Boss, Now i have got married..! Please increase my salary..!
BOSS: Factory is not responsible for accidents occuring outside the company..!
5. Philosophy of life
At the begining of married life, every gal treats her husband as GOD,
Later on somehow the alphabets got reversed..!
6. What is a Fear?
Fear is the Deep, Wrenching feeling in your stomach When pages of your book still smell new and Just few hours left for your exams..!
7. Someone has rightly said, "A fool can ask More questions that a wise man cannot answer". No Wonder why so many of us speechless when lecturers ask question..!
8.Girl: Do you have Cards with sentimental Love quotes?
Shopkeeper: Oh sure..@! How about this card, it says "To the only boy I ever loved.!"
Girl: Thats good, Give me 12 of them..!
9.After reading the form filled by an applicant.. The employer said: " WE do have an opening for you..!
Applicant: What is it?
Interviewer: Its called the "door..!"
10. A Banner cum Sign Board In front of an IT company..
Drive Slowly, Dont kill our Employee...
..... Leave them to us
"IT professionals"
2. An interesting line written at the back of a Biker's T Shirt:
" If you are able to see this, Please tell me that my galfriend has fallen off"
3. Most Relationships fail not because of the absence of love..
Love is always present..
Its just that,
One loves too much,
and
The other loves too many,
4. Employee: Boss, Now i have got married..! Please increase my salary..!
BOSS: Factory is not responsible for accidents occuring outside the company..!
5. Philosophy of life
At the begining of married life, every gal treats her husband as GOD,
Later on somehow the alphabets got reversed..!
6. What is a Fear?
Fear is the Deep, Wrenching feeling in your stomach When pages of your book still smell new and Just few hours left for your exams..!
7. Someone has rightly said, "A fool can ask More questions that a wise man cannot answer". No Wonder why so many of us speechless when lecturers ask question..!
8.Girl: Do you have Cards with sentimental Love quotes?
Shopkeeper: Oh sure..@! How about this card, it says "To the only boy I ever loved.!"
Girl: Thats good, Give me 12 of them..!
9.After reading the form filled by an applicant.. The employer said: " WE do have an opening for you..!
Applicant: What is it?
Interviewer: Its called the "door..!"
10. A Banner cum Sign Board In front of an IT company..
Drive Slowly, Dont kill our Employee...
..... Leave them to us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
