"As we stand at the edge of Darkness,
Let our chant fill the void
so people will know
That in the land of the night(read business)
the chariot of sun(read strategy)
is drawn by the grateful dead (read fools)"
says this amazing prof in operations managements (& strategy) and the PGPX class echoes.
Most of us thought we are delving deep into the techniques of project management when we discussed the Boeing case. The famed 767 launch and how Boeing incorporated the changes in it's work in process. The previous case was on how Enercon India believed it has excellent project execution capabilities and the set of actions (or in-actions) that follow. The AON charts and the critical path method steam up class temperature. Just then, the great anti-climax... From OM techniques the class followed the prof in leap frogging into strategy. Or should I say, we started appreciating the seamless boundaries and layers of elements of business - ops, finance and strategy.
In the context of eroding customer confidence in the Wind energy industry post 1994 shakeout, Enercon adopted a strategy of pursuing customer delight. What it meant in reality was using Enercon's core competence (project management abilities) to travel the extra mile and taking decisions which seemed foolish ! well, on the face of it. When you dig in, you realise that, this company actually wanted to build a unique credibility in the Indian market, where the customer invests but does not even bother to visit the site ! Strange it may seem to all us and we call them fools for it defied simple arithmetic of cost-benefit analysis, factoring time value of money. But after the real reason was unravelled, we (better) gave them credit which was due, but did settle another account, acknowledging ourselves as fools, the grateful ones - for some of us had the humility to accept it.
In a spontaneous and resonating moment the class gave an ovation to this prof at the end of the class, as it came out of the trance. You are missing something if you are not here.
Let our chant fill the void
so people will know
That in the land of the night(read business)
the chariot of sun(read strategy)
is drawn by the grateful dead (read fools)"
says this amazing prof in operations managements (& strategy) and the PGPX class echoes.
Most of us thought we are delving deep into the techniques of project management when we discussed the Boeing case. The famed 767 launch and how Boeing incorporated the changes in it's work in process. The previous case was on how Enercon India believed it has excellent project execution capabilities and the set of actions (or in-actions) that follow. The AON charts and the critical path method steam up class temperature. Just then, the great anti-climax... From OM techniques the class followed the prof in leap frogging into strategy. Or should I say, we started appreciating the seamless boundaries and layers of elements of business - ops, finance and strategy.
In the context of eroding customer confidence in the Wind energy industry post 1994 shakeout, Enercon adopted a strategy of pursuing customer delight. What it meant in reality was using Enercon's core competence (project management abilities) to travel the extra mile and taking decisions which seemed foolish ! well, on the face of it. When you dig in, you realise that, this company actually wanted to build a unique credibility in the Indian market, where the customer invests but does not even bother to visit the site ! Strange it may seem to all us and we call them fools for it defied simple arithmetic of cost-benefit analysis, factoring time value of money. But after the real reason was unravelled, we (better) gave them credit which was due, but did settle another account, acknowledging ourselves as fools, the grateful ones - for some of us had the humility to accept it.
In a spontaneous and resonating moment the class gave an ovation to this prof at the end of the class, as it came out of the trance. You are missing something if you are not here.
1 comment:
While I am trying to amuse myself and our class mates here with my blog, thanks for running a real 'blog' covering the 'real' happenings here. As we learnt, it does pay to be grateful and here is one more such occasion. :-)
Cheers,
Biju
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