Future of Facility Management- 5 things a facility manager should know!
The Facility Management industry has moved ahead from basic operations management to more evolved practices and principles. The future holds interesting challenges and he who can innovate will excel.For me the top 5 are as follows:
a) Sustainability Practices covering all aspects of our operations. (Righ from soft services and Transport to Facility Planning etc)
b) Better Energy Management, Alternate energy modes
c) Multi- tasking with focus on nuances of the role specilization
d) More Yield management from all resources
e) Ability to mould and custom fix the services basis the requirements from global optima to local deliveries
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
One of the Many Vs One of the few: The Dilemma of Choice
I was reading and kind of digging up some articles on CHOICE and Its Implications. We are experiencing an array of choices in almost everything that we do. Right from the moment we start our day, we have a choice. There are scores of toothpastes and toilet rolls to start with and I can’t even start mentioning the choice we have in shampoos and shower gels. It’s unimaginable. Choice is good in a way. Choice gives us freedom to choose from the available options. Freedom is good, it is valuable, liberal and each of us gets to do on our own and no one else does it on our behalf. Then, how do we exercise freedom. The way to maximize freedom is to maximize choice. The more choice we have, the more freedom we have to choose from the available options. Well, is it? Does more choice always mean more freedom and even if it is, is it always good? Let us see..
We shop regularly at Vijetha supermarket. The first reason we go there is because, the cashiers are efficient. It is crowded and in the first week of each month, the rush is huge. We still go there, because we get most of what we want there under one roof. There is a huge choice in all segments. Now, we are in the supermarket and we are starting with our list. Item 1, Toothpaste. There are 24 varieties of different toothpastes. Wow. We know what we want in toothpastes. We pick up our regular brand and walk on. The options were many, but choice was easy. We have been buyi9ng this brand from so many years. My tooth are still intact and no reason to change now. I briefly recall few ads, where toothpaste is changing a guy’s life style but we will think about it later. Item 2, Soaps. There are 44 varieties of soaps. Choice is easy here too. Pick up and walk on. We enter the Food Section after some pondering and choosing some new and rest old brands with other stuff. Here we are, Siri wanted to buy a Sandwich Spread. There are 12 varieties not considering the Olive Oil, Non-Fat versions within each variety. Siri starts off asking, “Which one is good?”.
“I amn’t sure, let’s go for this.”
“Ok, you think this is good?”
“I don’t know. Let’s try this. If it doesn’t work out we shall try the other one next time. Or, may be that is better, as it has virgin oil.”
“How about this one, it is recommended by Karen Anand.”
“Or this, this has chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s picture on it. This gotta be good.”
“You know what. Let’s just chuck it. We will see next time. For now, let’s manage with honey and cheese”.
You see what’s happening. The choice is acting against the very reason it exists.
Let us look at another scenario. There was a time, when phone meant a heavy instrument in the corner of our drawing room, which worked when it felt like. The only choice we had was to buy a cordless instrument or not. That’s it. Thanks to PV Narasimha Rao, Sam Pitroda and Ambani, we have a completely different picture of a phone now. Phones do everything now. Talk, Message, Email, click snaps, blog, read books and papers, upload, download, what not. We have the choice of Dual SIM, dual standby, one stand by etc. Phones with track wheel, Menu ball. The only wheels I knew were on vehicles and balls were meant to play with. Phones have so many features that it confuses us. I am scared whenever I have to change my phone. I am scared at the huge options I would have and the fact that whatever choice I would make, there would be a phone which will be better in some important aspect of utility for me or the other scares me. It might sound funny, but it is true. Choice scares me some times. Sometime back, when we were checking with my mom, as per what phone she wants. She said, “I want a phone which doesn’t do too much.” People don’t want confusing choices.
Coming to more serious things, in most aspects of life as well, this explosion of choice is true. You go to a bank seeking a home loan. The banker tells you, you can go for Loan A which has these advantages and this disadvantages or Loan B which has these advantages and these risks. You are not sure. You would say, “What do I go for?” The banker says, “Sir, Loan A has this Pros and Cons and Loan B has these. What do you want to go for?” You are confused. You would say, “What would you do, if you were me.” Banker Says”, But, I am not you. So you choose.” You are more confused. You seek help. Then you are referred to a Financial Advisor, who is apparently a Subject Matter Expert. You are seated comfortably, there is a computer in front of the Advisor, he refers to your age, salary, projected salary, current and future liabilities, family size, cars, life style, eating habits, choice of burger, favorite heroine, blogs you read etc etc and finally draws up an advice for you. And Says, “Mr. Dumb, you could go for A, but it would make you bleed, or you could go for B which will make you lose blood.” That’s for a loan.
Work. The only choice when I started off my career was between taking my morning tea break at 1000 hrs or 1015 hrs. Period. Rest all, including my lunch time, lunch menu; bio-breaks were all scheduled. No choice, still happy. And now, we have a choice. Choice of working from a place other than my working station, working from home, working with mobile phone, working by monitoring my reportees. We could choose to work, every minute of every day from any corner of the country for that matter any corner of the globe as long as your datacard works or blackberry works for that matter. What does it mean, it means that one has to continuously make a choice to work or not work while not working or working. When you are in a theatre watching a movie, you can choose to quietly open the mail box and check for any update on the Office situation; while enjoying a dinner with family, you can accidentally glance at the Inbox and more dangerously, carry your blackberry to your bathroom to make sure few morning messages and mails can go on time to keep your team on track. Phew. You see, you have a choice. Even if you are not directly composing a mail, while in the movie / restaurant etc you are atleast asking yourself the question, should I answer this call now, should I answer this sms now? You have a choice. You can respond or you can choose not to respond and the fact that there are costs and implications to not responding immediately is a different story.
Contd....
We shop regularly at Vijetha supermarket. The first reason we go there is because, the cashiers are efficient. It is crowded and in the first week of each month, the rush is huge. We still go there, because we get most of what we want there under one roof. There is a huge choice in all segments. Now, we are in the supermarket and we are starting with our list. Item 1, Toothpaste. There are 24 varieties of different toothpastes. Wow. We know what we want in toothpastes. We pick up our regular brand and walk on. The options were many, but choice was easy. We have been buyi9ng this brand from so many years. My tooth are still intact and no reason to change now. I briefly recall few ads, where toothpaste is changing a guy’s life style but we will think about it later. Item 2, Soaps. There are 44 varieties of soaps. Choice is easy here too. Pick up and walk on. We enter the Food Section after some pondering and choosing some new and rest old brands with other stuff. Here we are, Siri wanted to buy a Sandwich Spread. There are 12 varieties not considering the Olive Oil, Non-Fat versions within each variety. Siri starts off asking, “Which one is good?”.
“I amn’t sure, let’s go for this.”
“Ok, you think this is good?”
“I don’t know. Let’s try this. If it doesn’t work out we shall try the other one next time. Or, may be that is better, as it has virgin oil.”
“How about this one, it is recommended by Karen Anand.”
“Or this, this has chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s picture on it. This gotta be good.”
“You know what. Let’s just chuck it. We will see next time. For now, let’s manage with honey and cheese”.
You see what’s happening. The choice is acting against the very reason it exists.
Let us look at another scenario. There was a time, when phone meant a heavy instrument in the corner of our drawing room, which worked when it felt like. The only choice we had was to buy a cordless instrument or not. That’s it. Thanks to PV Narasimha Rao, Sam Pitroda and Ambani, we have a completely different picture of a phone now. Phones do everything now. Talk, Message, Email, click snaps, blog, read books and papers, upload, download, what not. We have the choice of Dual SIM, dual standby, one stand by etc. Phones with track wheel, Menu ball. The only wheels I knew were on vehicles and balls were meant to play with. Phones have so many features that it confuses us. I am scared whenever I have to change my phone. I am scared at the huge options I would have and the fact that whatever choice I would make, there would be a phone which will be better in some important aspect of utility for me or the other scares me. It might sound funny, but it is true. Choice scares me some times. Sometime back, when we were checking with my mom, as per what phone she wants. She said, “I want a phone which doesn’t do too much.” People don’t want confusing choices.
Coming to more serious things, in most aspects of life as well, this explosion of choice is true. You go to a bank seeking a home loan. The banker tells you, you can go for Loan A which has these advantages and this disadvantages or Loan B which has these advantages and these risks. You are not sure. You would say, “What do I go for?” The banker says, “Sir, Loan A has this Pros and Cons and Loan B has these. What do you want to go for?” You are confused. You would say, “What would you do, if you were me.” Banker Says”, But, I am not you. So you choose.” You are more confused. You seek help. Then you are referred to a Financial Advisor, who is apparently a Subject Matter Expert. You are seated comfortably, there is a computer in front of the Advisor, he refers to your age, salary, projected salary, current and future liabilities, family size, cars, life style, eating habits, choice of burger, favorite heroine, blogs you read etc etc and finally draws up an advice for you. And Says, “Mr. Dumb, you could go for A, but it would make you bleed, or you could go for B which will make you lose blood.” That’s for a loan.
Work. The only choice when I started off my career was between taking my morning tea break at 1000 hrs or 1015 hrs. Period. Rest all, including my lunch time, lunch menu; bio-breaks were all scheduled. No choice, still happy. And now, we have a choice. Choice of working from a place other than my working station, working from home, working with mobile phone, working by monitoring my reportees. We could choose to work, every minute of every day from any corner of the country for that matter any corner of the globe as long as your datacard works or blackberry works for that matter. What does it mean, it means that one has to continuously make a choice to work or not work while not working or working. When you are in a theatre watching a movie, you can choose to quietly open the mail box and check for any update on the Office situation; while enjoying a dinner with family, you can accidentally glance at the Inbox and more dangerously, carry your blackberry to your bathroom to make sure few morning messages and mails can go on time to keep your team on track. Phew. You see, you have a choice. Even if you are not directly composing a mail, while in the movie / restaurant etc you are atleast asking yourself the question, should I answer this call now, should I answer this sms now? You have a choice. You can respond or you can choose not to respond and the fact that there are costs and implications to not responding immediately is a different story.
Contd....
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
My post on India Leadership Network; Why Hasn't India produced an Apple, Google or Microsoft by James Williams
Leadership:
My post on India Leadership Network:
India & innovation: Why hasn’t India produced an Apple, Google or Microsoft? By James Williams on India Leadership Network
Great Discussion guys and really glad to see the action!
Well, the advancement in multitude of areas in US didn't happen by accident. There is an environment that nurtures creative thinking; there are umpteen platforms that transformed ideas to actions. .. Slightly digressing from the discussion, I was reading a book(OUTLIERS by Malcolm Gladwell), which elucidates how Bill Gates got umpteen hours of practice on computers by virtue of being where he was (home town, science centre etc) and how kids born in certain year got to be better footballers then ones younger or older to them (by virtue of being exposed to certain rules etc). Likewise ideas in US are in certain environment that automatically give them better atmosphere to be looked at, tried and tested. In India, we are still struggling for basic needs. Yes, we have our own Infosys, Wipro, TCS et al, but largely we are still struggling in few places. We are a patches of excellence phenomenon in terms of infrastructure, education, health care etc etc.. Till such time there is some parity across the country, w will have such gaps between cities and rural areas.
My post on India Leadership Network:
India & innovation: Why hasn’t India produced an Apple, Google or Microsoft? By James Williams on India Leadership Network
Great Discussion guys and really glad to see the action!
Well, the advancement in multitude of areas in US didn't happen by accident. There is an environment that nurtures creative thinking; there are umpteen platforms that transformed ideas to actions. .. Slightly digressing from the discussion, I was reading a book(OUTLIERS by Malcolm Gladwell), which elucidates how Bill Gates got umpteen hours of practice on computers by virtue of being where he was (home town, science centre etc) and how kids born in certain year got to be better footballers then ones younger or older to them (by virtue of being exposed to certain rules etc). Likewise ideas in US are in certain environment that automatically give them better atmosphere to be looked at, tried and tested. In India, we are still struggling for basic needs. Yes, we have our own Infosys, Wipro, TCS et al, but largely we are still struggling in few places. We are a patches of excellence phenomenon in terms of infrastructure, education, health care etc etc.. Till such time there is some parity across the country, w will have such gaps between cities and rural areas.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Our Lives Changed with his arrival
Our Lives Changed with his arrival !
Whenever someone told me that something has dramatically changed their lives overnight, I used to wonder how it would be possible for things to change so suddenly. Sometimes, I secretly wished to stumble on something that would change my life so radically. Little was I aware that it would happen when Siri and I finally chose to give-in to our temptation and brought home Snoopy- our 9 week old Dachshund.
We thought we were ready to adopt him, and against my wish to pay for it, I shelled out a price. I was of the opinion that it is unfair to fix a price for a life form. But, someone meant only business and I was apprehensively cheerful when I relented; Apprehensive that I am paying against my belief, Cheerful as we are finally getting the pup. We drove after a long tiring day at work and by the time we reached the busy central business district of our city, the traffic was at its worse. We somehow made to the landmark and waited. I was hungry and tired. I guess, my usually morbid facial expression changed from barely acceptable to worse to unbearable during the wait, when Siri offered to step out and get something for me to eat. I quickly agreed, any deviation from the status-quo of the wait was fine with me. She went out and I was about to call her back and tell her that we should do it some other time as the day was getting too much for me. I just wished to get back home and hit the sack. The pet shop owner had just then showed up. She returned with a roll (apparently the last one on offer) and popcorn. We drove around to his shop, waited in the parking to gobble the roll and stepped into his shop. He showed us two black and tan Dachshunds. We had earlier zeroed in on this breed, as it was ideal for our apartment and a bigger dog would be finding our place too small to grow in. Siri was more inclined to a lab, I was pushing for a Boxer. We settled for a dashund. I guess, for Siri, anything other than a boxer was fine. They looked cute and small. Siri was excited and said “Yes” – but with a slight hesitation. She preferred a non-black one. With hunger subsiding slightly, I could focus on the pups at hand. The black ones looked fair to me. The shop guy then brought in the full tan one; slightly older than the other two, but definitely looking more alert. She was scared for sure, but there was a certain air of confidence in his gait and demeanor. Siri’s eyes said she found what she wanted. I needn’t have to say anything. We paid up, picked him and started back. Through the drive back home, Siri was constantly saying soothing things to the pup, reassuring and comforting. We reached home after picking up the advised baby food packs and Siri embarked to prepare a quick dinner. I fed the pup and he was slowly moving around, still slightly tentative. We tried to put him to sleep in a crate-converted into a kennel. New place, absence of his siblings and mom and both us strangers looking at everything he does with a curious eye, might have put him in slight discomfort. May be he was curious too, to see what we both are up to. He refused to sleep immediately and kept sounding his disapproval of the kennel; the bed made of newspapers and may be the light we kept on, to prevent us from stepping on him in the dark. He slept sporadically through the night, keeping me awake throughout. He relieved himself few times and I was grumbling to clean up his acts. Come morning, he has started to explore. This expedition to look around our home is instrumental in us calling him by his current name. He is pretty short, shorter than one would assume a Dachshund to be; and with an elongated body he started flowing around to all corners of the home. He would wait at a stop, snoop around and then presume moving again. He spent more time registering new scents and the environment. He ‘marked’ a lot of places and Siri & I had to do a lot of cleaning, but it was fun. He got bolder and ventured into other corners of the home and surely into all corners of our hearts.
Days were passing quickly. We continued with our hectic lives and all our actions at home have a singular purpose now- Snoopy’s induction and home breaking. He is smart, quick learner and uses all forms of facial / vocal expressions to get his way. He is charming, sulking, obedient and naughty as he chooses to be. In almost all, well, in all cases he gets his way. Siri tries to teach him some manners and he tries to teach us some games. Not sure who is more successful. We both are speaking in hushed voices when he is asleep, fearing disturbing him. We are more careful with what’s lying on floor lest he bites into it. We are awake earlier than before and hitting bed late so that he gets his night sleep, non-stop. No more TV, no more Radio. Our whole life in the last week revolved around him. I am sure, we haven’t finished yet as this would continue for some time, till such time we three get used to each other. In a strange way, he brought Siri and I closer.
I was eager to tell my colleagues on the day-after his arrival, that we owned a pup. I stopped myself, thinking “Not just yet. Let me give it a week before announcing to all”. I was right in not announcing to all that we owned a pup, Snoopy. In fact, it is the other way round. A pup, Snoopy owned both of us. Our lives literally changed overnight.
Yes, life can change overnight. It did for us.
Whenever someone told me that something has dramatically changed their lives overnight, I used to wonder how it would be possible for things to change so suddenly. Sometimes, I secretly wished to stumble on something that would change my life so radically. Little was I aware that it would happen when Siri and I finally chose to give-in to our temptation and brought home Snoopy- our 9 week old Dachshund.
We thought we were ready to adopt him, and against my wish to pay for it, I shelled out a price. I was of the opinion that it is unfair to fix a price for a life form. But, someone meant only business and I was apprehensively cheerful when I relented; Apprehensive that I am paying against my belief, Cheerful as we are finally getting the pup. We drove after a long tiring day at work and by the time we reached the busy central business district of our city, the traffic was at its worse. We somehow made to the landmark and waited. I was hungry and tired. I guess, my usually morbid facial expression changed from barely acceptable to worse to unbearable during the wait, when Siri offered to step out and get something for me to eat. I quickly agreed, any deviation from the status-quo of the wait was fine with me. She went out and I was about to call her back and tell her that we should do it some other time as the day was getting too much for me. I just wished to get back home and hit the sack. The pet shop owner had just then showed up. She returned with a roll (apparently the last one on offer) and popcorn. We drove around to his shop, waited in the parking to gobble the roll and stepped into his shop. He showed us two black and tan Dachshunds. We had earlier zeroed in on this breed, as it was ideal for our apartment and a bigger dog would be finding our place too small to grow in. Siri was more inclined to a lab, I was pushing for a Boxer. We settled for a dashund. I guess, for Siri, anything other than a boxer was fine. They looked cute and small. Siri was excited and said “Yes” – but with a slight hesitation. She preferred a non-black one. With hunger subsiding slightly, I could focus on the pups at hand. The black ones looked fair to me. The shop guy then brought in the full tan one; slightly older than the other two, but definitely looking more alert. She was scared for sure, but there was a certain air of confidence in his gait and demeanor. Siri’s eyes said she found what she wanted. I needn’t have to say anything. We paid up, picked him and started back. Through the drive back home, Siri was constantly saying soothing things to the pup, reassuring and comforting. We reached home after picking up the advised baby food packs and Siri embarked to prepare a quick dinner. I fed the pup and he was slowly moving around, still slightly tentative. We tried to put him to sleep in a crate-converted into a kennel. New place, absence of his siblings and mom and both us strangers looking at everything he does with a curious eye, might have put him in slight discomfort. May be he was curious too, to see what we both are up to. He refused to sleep immediately and kept sounding his disapproval of the kennel; the bed made of newspapers and may be the light we kept on, to prevent us from stepping on him in the dark. He slept sporadically through the night, keeping me awake throughout. He relieved himself few times and I was grumbling to clean up his acts. Come morning, he has started to explore. This expedition to look around our home is instrumental in us calling him by his current name. He is pretty short, shorter than one would assume a Dachshund to be; and with an elongated body he started flowing around to all corners of the home. He would wait at a stop, snoop around and then presume moving again. He spent more time registering new scents and the environment. He ‘marked’ a lot of places and Siri & I had to do a lot of cleaning, but it was fun. He got bolder and ventured into other corners of the home and surely into all corners of our hearts.
Days were passing quickly. We continued with our hectic lives and all our actions at home have a singular purpose now- Snoopy’s induction and home breaking. He is smart, quick learner and uses all forms of facial / vocal expressions to get his way. He is charming, sulking, obedient and naughty as he chooses to be. In almost all, well, in all cases he gets his way. Siri tries to teach him some manners and he tries to teach us some games. Not sure who is more successful. We both are speaking in hushed voices when he is asleep, fearing disturbing him. We are more careful with what’s lying on floor lest he bites into it. We are awake earlier than before and hitting bed late so that he gets his night sleep, non-stop. No more TV, no more Radio. Our whole life in the last week revolved around him. I am sure, we haven’t finished yet as this would continue for some time, till such time we three get used to each other. In a strange way, he brought Siri and I closer.
I was eager to tell my colleagues on the day-after his arrival, that we owned a pup. I stopped myself, thinking “Not just yet. Let me give it a week before announcing to all”. I was right in not announcing to all that we owned a pup, Snoopy. In fact, it is the other way round. A pup, Snoopy owned both of us. Our lives literally changed overnight.
Yes, life can change overnight. It did for us.
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