I joined itSMF USA recently after attending the session by Jan Vramont. I realised that this forum is a great place for networking along with developing skills in the specific areas of service management. I found their conferences to be highly resourceful.
Managing Services Organization is a great course which is being taught by faculty advisor of CMUSMO Majid Iqbal.The course is unique in terms of the the nature of grading. Team work is highly important because about half of your grades are based on team's workproduct. However, remaining half is for own effort. Bar is set higher and higher based on excellence. We have a forum called Explore ITSM which we have to update with our blogs and forum discussions. This brings critical mass to the blog and also, helps us discuss as if we were discussing on the Blackboard of our course page in the intranet.
I am thinking of joining and leading the CMUSMO work at CMU. CMU SMO is the first Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) to be officially recognized by the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF).
Monday, September 25, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Sessions on Crack the case interview - David Ohrvall
David Ohrvall, author of the book "Crack the case interview", had come to campus for 2 sessions and a few workshops. Workshop fees were $20 but I think it was worth it...based on whatever he taught us.
Amazing techniques he showed us...which to an extent we knew...but were not actively using.
Most importantly, he made us realise with a scoring technique that we need to "drill"....
So, drill baby drill will be my theme for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, my application status is not that cool...need to work hard towards that.
Amazing techniques he showed us...which to an extent we knew...but were not actively using.
Most importantly, he made us realise with a scoring technique that we need to "drill"....
So, drill baby drill will be my theme for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, my application status is not that cool...need to work hard towards that.
Consulting firms on campus ... McKinsey, Deloitte, etc
McKinsey came in for the APD positions for BTO and Deloitte came in for their Technology Integration division's information sessions targeted towards MISM program.
Absolutely delightful time !
Alums had come in for the session with McK and interns discussed their experience during the Delloite session.
Got to know quite a few things during both the information sessions.
Now, the count down has begun..because both the applications are fairly complex and need to be done strategically!
Absolutely delightful time !
Alums had come in for the session with McK and interns discussed their experience during the Delloite session.
Got to know quite a few things during both the information sessions.
Now, the count down has begun..because both the applications are fairly complex and need to be done strategically!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
wasteful mock interview
In the morning, I got up early in order to attend the Citigroup breakfast session and the mock interview thereafter. Right now, I am waiting for my Options class to begin. Tonight is going to be a testing night...primarily due to assignments due tomorrow and also the follow up on the recruiters....along with some weekend events such as the McKinsey breakfast!
At the Citi session for MISM students (Technology Associate position), Kos...one of their MDs had come in and he emphasized how technology helped him while on the trading floor. Also, Citi being the drivers and pioneers...they understand the strategic importance of IT for their business. Fortunately, I could meet Chandra there. He was glad to take a break from his usual days (I think so).
Later, at about 9 am, I left the session to go down to the Career Center for the mock interview with Raytheon. I selected this firm with an intention of having a mock interview which drills me on Project management and stuff like that. However, I got to know 100% of their projects are "classified". Damn !
At the Citi session for MISM students (Technology Associate position), Kos...one of their MDs had come in and he emphasized how technology helped him while on the trading floor. Also, Citi being the drivers and pioneers...they understand the strategic importance of IT for their business. Fortunately, I could meet Chandra there. He was glad to take a break from his usual days (I think so).
Later, at about 9 am, I left the session to go down to the Career Center for the mock interview with Raytheon. I selected this firm with an intention of having a mock interview which drills me on Project management and stuff like that. However, I got to know 100% of their projects are "classified". Damn !
cross cultural sensitivities
For the course of International business management, I prepared a presentation along with a skit...and presented it to the whole class. It was well appreciated because it was more engaging and we tried to incorporate as much in it as we can.
Later, with presentations from others...we received knowledge about doing business with
Bob Dalton is awesome...w.r.t. directing the discussions and getting some of the most imp issues up....while conducting the class.
btw, I got to know a new thing..... DaLady's boyfriend is/was Indian. This came out during one of the points in the presentation!
Later, with presentations from others...we received knowledge about doing business with
- Kosovons
- Germans
- Egyptians
- Iranians
- Koreans
- Chinese
- Greeks
- Americans (duh!)...especially sensitivities associated with African Americans
- etc etc
Bob Dalton is awesome...w.r.t. directing the discussions and getting some of the most imp issues up....while conducting the class.
btw, I got to know a new thing..... DaLady's boyfriend is/was Indian. This came out during one of the points in the presentation!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Recruiters ahoy !
Wow - last 2 days have been absolutely fan_damn_tastic !
Started off with Google on Monday evening... Thereafter, Yahoo, UBS ..blah...blah...blah....
Today, TOC was the event.... I pushed myself beyond physical limits. Microsoft initial screening interview went well (spice rack for blind ppl) ! After that, so many other recruiters that I have lost track.
Right now, I have to focus on BOC tomorrow and SalesForce interview at 11:30 am tom morning.
signing off right now and will be back soon.
Started off with Google on Monday evening... Thereafter, Yahoo, UBS ..blah...blah...blah....
Today, TOC was the event.... I pushed myself beyond physical limits. Microsoft initial screening interview went well (spice rack for blind ppl) ! After that, so many other recruiters that I have lost track.
Right now, I have to focus on BOC tomorrow and SalesForce interview at 11:30 am tom morning.
signing off right now and will be back soon.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Tech Sunday !
Before the D-day, we have a Sunday full of sessions... !
It started with an engaging talk with John P who gave a brief perspective of how ages have evolved. Currently, it is the Age of Individual in which ppl want to reinvent themselves. Age of new economy preceeded it and age of diversity preceeded even before it with boomers. Abilities, Interests intersect to form an avocation. Interests, Markets intersect to make a Dream. Abilities and Markets make a job. The AIM is to get the Target which lies at the intersection of Abilities, Interests, and Markets!
Now, that's insightful!
AdvanceMe Associates lady mentioned about how to make the best first impression. The Berkin Stocks case she mentioned about the guy wearing blue shirt and dressing conservatively dressing causing him to lose the job made me think about the employers I plan to apply to.
boy, I gotta get a new wardrobe. Also, Bee aint gonna help me with that :( So, it's all me ... to go and shop for my wardrobe and accessories.
In the last session, Jerome Laday, Director of HR-L'Oreal, mentioned about mentioning experiences in the format of STAR:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Ernst & Young's national recruiter Wendy Wildt guided me for doing an internship after graduation if I want to do a career switch! She was really nice in listening at the pain I had at my previous employer.
"Territorial" was the word she used for describing some top ppl in an organization who do not let employees go. Deepak Padaki, our Engagement Manager at Infosys was one such fellow. His justification was that if I have invested in you for couple of years training you to become a Telecom consultant then why should I allow your transfer to some other vertical? My rationale was ..I was in AT&T account - but I was doing Real Estate....not Telecom ! Also, my skills will be far more relevant for BCMD (Banking and Capital Markets) vertical of Infosys than CSPD (communications service providers), duh !
An interesting question was put by a student about citizenship being a hurdle with some recruiters (such as Accenture). We had a senior manager from Accenture, Christopher Pesci. He addressed this question saying that in the past he had referred an Indian to Mumbai manager friend of his because Accenture does not sponsor H1 B visas.
I was shocked to know the hiring practices these companies will have in order to get talent cheap. I call this practice itself as being "cheap." They are not truly globalizing and applying Prof Dalton's principles from International Business Management course, unless Accenture becomes truly global they will still be qualified as "MNC." Extending Thomas Friedman's logic from "The World is Flat" this company will have trouble in Globalization 2.0 itself.
That's interesting. Finally CMU's associate Dean cautioned the CMU students to be modest but brag at the same time....now, that's ironical!
It started with an engaging talk with John P who gave a brief perspective of how ages have evolved. Currently, it is the Age of Individual in which ppl want to reinvent themselves. Age of new economy preceeded it and age of diversity preceeded even before it with boomers. Abilities, Interests intersect to form an avocation. Interests, Markets intersect to make a Dream. Abilities and Markets make a job. The AIM is to get the Target which lies at the intersection of Abilities, Interests, and Markets!
Now, that's insightful!
AdvanceMe Associates lady mentioned about how to make the best first impression. The Berkin Stocks case she mentioned about the guy wearing blue shirt and dressing conservatively dressing causing him to lose the job made me think about the employers I plan to apply to.
boy, I gotta get a new wardrobe. Also, Bee aint gonna help me with that :( So, it's all me ... to go and shop for my wardrobe and accessories.
In the last session, Jerome Laday, Director of HR-L'Oreal, mentioned about mentioning experiences in the format of STAR:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Ernst & Young's national recruiter Wendy Wildt guided me for doing an internship after graduation if I want to do a career switch! She was really nice in listening at the pain I had at my previous employer.
"Territorial" was the word she used for describing some top ppl in an organization who do not let employees go. Deepak Padaki, our Engagement Manager at Infosys was one such fellow. His justification was that if I have invested in you for couple of years training you to become a Telecom consultant then why should I allow your transfer to some other vertical? My rationale was ..I was in AT&T account - but I was doing Real Estate....not Telecom ! Also, my skills will be far more relevant for BCMD (Banking and Capital Markets) vertical of Infosys than CSPD (communications service providers), duh !
An interesting question was put by a student about citizenship being a hurdle with some recruiters (such as Accenture). We had a senior manager from Accenture, Christopher Pesci. He addressed this question saying that in the past he had referred an Indian to Mumbai manager friend of his because Accenture does not sponsor H1 B visas.
I was shocked to know the hiring practices these companies will have in order to get talent cheap. I call this practice itself as being "cheap." They are not truly globalizing and applying Prof Dalton's principles from International Business Management course, unless Accenture becomes truly global they will still be qualified as "MNC." Extending Thomas Friedman's logic from "The World is Flat" this company will have trouble in Globalization 2.0 itself.
That's interesting. Finally CMU's associate Dean cautioned the CMU students to be modest but brag at the same time....now, that's ironical!
Course: Options - getting pennies in front of a steam roller
"Getting pennies in front of steam-rollers"
I will never forget that expression from our Options faculty(Prof. Duanne Seppi) while referring to arbitrage activities. The prime reason being the hype around this job. There is a huge halo created around IB jobs and when I heard about it from the undergrad alums of CMU business administration group, I didn't like it at all. May be the real excitement is later.
btw, these pennies were sizeable chunks earlier in this century when FnO market had just started in India and high school passouts turned jobbers were transformed to arbitrageurs who made disporportionate income from the whole deal. With the advent of other players in the market, there are barely any opportunities left in the markets.
Professor had one more quote on modelling. At the outset of the first class, he mentioned that I am going to teach you all the wrong models !
Whoa ! You should've seen the look on everyone's faces.
He added after a pause that - however, I am going to teach you how to be an informed consumer of options for your investments and how to choose the best wrong model (what an oxymoron!)
All models are wrong because they make various assumptions and their application is based on environment variables. Hence, Ito Markov may be the best wrong model in one case and the GBM may be in some other.
btw, last class, he gave us a simulation excercise and said "Happy simulating weekend!"
I will never forget that expression from our Options faculty(Prof. Duanne Seppi) while referring to arbitrage activities. The prime reason being the hype around this job. There is a huge halo created around IB jobs and when I heard about it from the undergrad alums of CMU business administration group, I didn't like it at all. May be the real excitement is later.
btw, these pennies were sizeable chunks earlier in this century when FnO market had just started in India and high school passouts turned jobbers were transformed to arbitrageurs who made disporportionate income from the whole deal. With the advent of other players in the market, there are barely any opportunities left in the markets.
Professor had one more quote on modelling. At the outset of the first class, he mentioned that I am going to teach you all the wrong models !
Whoa ! You should've seen the look on everyone's faces.
He added after a pause that - however, I am going to teach you how to be an informed consumer of options for your investments and how to choose the best wrong model (what an oxymoron!)
All models are wrong because they make various assumptions and their application is based on environment variables. Hence, Ito Markov may be the best wrong model in one case and the GBM may be in some other.
btw, last class, he gave us a simulation excercise and said "Happy simulating weekend!"
"IT Analyst"
In the TartanTrak (MonsterTrak's CMU version), I saw a job title called "IT Analyst" by Citigroup. Most of my friends who came from India to US for their Masters without any work-ex were getting this job and hence, when I saw them in the TartanTrak, I was wondering if these are for Graduate level.
However, I read the following description and I was shocked:
The IT Analyst program is an initiative to hire full-time undergraduates specializing in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, and Computer Engineering to work on technology initiatives that support the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) businesses. During the program, IT analysts can capitalize on their programming, engineering and problem-solving abilities in a state-of-the-art technological environment. The 2-year program is designed to enhance the skills and performance of staff members recruited from college campuses. The program includes a training curriculum that focuses on the development of personal skills and business knowledge. The training enhances the performance of the analysts in their day-to-day business assignments and encourages participants to understand and support the strategic direction of the firm.
Shocked that....these ppl accepted an analyst position..well, but as students of Indian origin and without any US experience or without any experience at all, they barely have any bargaining power.
However, I read the following description and I was shocked:
The IT Analyst program is an initiative to hire full-time undergraduates specializing in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, and Computer Engineering to work on technology initiatives that support the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) businesses. During the program, IT analysts can capitalize on their programming, engineering and problem-solving abilities in a state-of-the-art technological environment. The 2-year program is designed to enhance the skills and performance of staff members recruited from college campuses. The program includes a training curriculum that focuses on the development of personal skills and business knowledge. The training enhances the performance of the analysts in their day-to-day business assignments and encourages participants to understand and support the strategic direction of the firm.
Shocked that....these ppl accepted an analyst position..well, but as students of Indian origin and without any US experience or without any experience at all, they barely have any bargaining power.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
One more blog
...Someone may call it blog-o-mania....but yeah..I have another blog for a course titled Managing Service Organizations that I have taken this mini.
I was tired of maintaining 3 blogs. However, it is a part of our curriculum.
Can you beat that ?
I will be adding a link to this blog in my links section shortly. Meanwhile, the URL is: http://www.exploreitsm.org/?q=blog/42
I was tired of maintaining 3 blogs. However, it is a part of our curriculum.
Can you beat that ?
I will be adding a link to this blog in my links section shortly. Meanwhile, the URL is: http://www.exploreitsm.org/?q=blog/42
The future is apple (contd)
Sometime back, I had posted a log by the title "The future is Apple!"
In line with the same argument, I want to update my visitors with this piece of news.
Domination - but - only of the multimedia segment! With movies on iPods and iTV as the next big thing along with IPTV, Apple will compete with other players such as 2wire who have got big business for their STBs (Set top boxes). IPTV is going to be a big business and Apple will ensure that under the leadership of Steve Jobs, they get a good chunk of it.
So, here's a thing - Jobs is not an original guy but has the ability to see the markets well and execute a project to the finish and sell his product. Gates beat him at that but Gates is out of the game now. I hope Jobs will be able to at least get over Ozzie...if not, then that's sheer lack of competence . However, I do not want to sound as if I am writing him off completely. He still remains a legend in this industry for reasons such as the flair he possesses, the effect he creates, etc.
Letsee what next he brings in.
In line with the same argument, I want to update my visitors with this piece of news.
Domination - but - only of the multimedia segment! With movies on iPods and iTV as the next big thing along with IPTV, Apple will compete with other players such as 2wire who have got big business for their STBs (Set top boxes). IPTV is going to be a big business and Apple will ensure that under the leadership of Steve Jobs, they get a good chunk of it.
So, here's a thing - Jobs is not an original guy but has the ability to see the markets well and execute a project to the finish and sell his product. Gates beat him at that but Gates is out of the game now. I hope Jobs will be able to at least get over Ozzie...if not, then that's sheer lack of competence . However, I do not want to sound as if I am writing him off completely. He still remains a legend in this industry for reasons such as the flair he possesses, the effect he creates, etc.
Letsee what next he brings in.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Biggest manipulator
Duanne Seppi, our professor for Options at Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper School of Business) , mentioned and it struck me.... There is a wealthy investor in the market - having 100s of billions of $s and manipulates markets - the government ! This was in reference to the interest rates being set by the government.
Nice one !
Nice one !
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Lalu to teach management at IIM-A
http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/aug/30iim1.htm
To be politically appropriate - I will not comment on this !
Lalu has silenced his critics with his actions :)
btw, IIM A is the most prestigious institute in India.
To be politically appropriate - I will not comment on this !
Lalu has silenced his critics with his actions :)
btw, IIM A is the most prestigious institute in India.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Course: International Business Management
Prof Robert Dalton has been awesome in his first two classes. He was ex-chief economist at Gulf Oil. Gulf Oil was taken over by Chevron in 1984 for several billion $s. Bob later on took on administration at CMU for Exec Ed and in 1991, CMU's exec ed was ranked #1 in the world.
In the first class, he took a case (he like war analogies for strategies) from 1346 when the English forces kicked French butt though they were at a severe disadvantage in terms of numbers. Later, after 10 years, English kicked French butt again. Finally, after 50 years, again French were defeated by the English. The whole saga was good since the excercises we did in class and which revolved around it gave us a different perspective of how history repeats itself.
Finally, he explained us the difference between an indigenous company serving indigenous markets, an exporter, an MNC, and a Global company. This helped me slightly while working on the three cases for yday's class.
He made a nice selection of 3 cases:
1. Philips v/s Matsushita: Philips was highly decentralized and Matsushita(Panasonic and National are the some of the brandnames from their flagship) was highly centralized. Both trying to become a global company. They have been most successful companies in the electronics arena in the 2oth century. Fairly complicated case !
2. Club Med: A services firm facing issues in light of global business.
3. BRLHardy Wines: A wine related company facing conflict during their growth face due to the its key personnel fighting it out for their own sake. This had partially fashion scenario.
The matrix provide by Bob is awesome - for most of the analysis. Each box refers to a different approach to be used for strategies. Each box has its own set of dos and donts.
In between, he was telling us stories about:
1. How a CEO, VP, etc of Gulf Oil had issues in starting the OHProjector !
2. How he and his wife had issues with French lodging where most of the stuff lined up was ultra-modern
3. How one of his super-rich friends served a chilled cheap 2-buck-a-chuck wine to his guests and they didn't realise it since it was cold and numbed their sensation.
He keeps on telling these funny anecdotes and reminds me of one of my mentors !
All in all, it was a great class.
I shall make a presentation on dos and donts in Indian business for his class.
He ended with a beautiful note:
in academic economics ceteris paribus is true .....but....
in business economics mutatis mutandis is true !
In the first class, he took a case (he like war analogies for strategies) from 1346 when the English forces kicked French butt though they were at a severe disadvantage in terms of numbers. Later, after 10 years, English kicked French butt again. Finally, after 50 years, again French were defeated by the English. The whole saga was good since the excercises we did in class and which revolved around it gave us a different perspective of how history repeats itself.
Finally, he explained us the difference between an indigenous company serving indigenous markets, an exporter, an MNC, and a Global company. This helped me slightly while working on the three cases for yday's class.
He made a nice selection of 3 cases:
1. Philips v/s Matsushita: Philips was highly decentralized and Matsushita(Panasonic and National are the some of the brandnames from their flagship) was highly centralized. Both trying to become a global company. They have been most successful companies in the electronics arena in the 2oth century. Fairly complicated case !
2. Club Med: A services firm facing issues in light of global business.
3. BRLHardy Wines: A wine related company facing conflict during their growth face due to the its key personnel fighting it out for their own sake. This had partially fashion scenario.
The matrix provide by Bob is awesome - for most of the analysis. Each box refers to a different approach to be used for strategies. Each box has its own set of dos and donts.
In between, he was telling us stories about:
1. How a CEO, VP, etc of Gulf Oil had issues in starting the OHProjector !
2. How he and his wife had issues with French lodging where most of the stuff lined up was ultra-modern
3. How one of his super-rich friends served a chilled cheap 2-buck-a-chuck wine to his guests and they didn't realise it since it was cold and numbed their sensation.
He keeps on telling these funny anecdotes and reminds me of one of my mentors !
All in all, it was a great class.
I shall make a presentation on dos and donts in Indian business for his class.
He ended with a beautiful note:
in academic economics ceteris paribus is true .....but....
in business economics mutatis mutandis is true !
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Courses
Finally, I have made up my mind and the course list for this mini looks like this:
1. Economic Analysis
2. Options
3. Decision Making under Uncertainity
4. International Business Management (awesome prof....chief economist at Gulf Oil)
5. Managing Service Org (I am planning to focus on Service Mgmt concentration and this is a pre-req for all the courses in next sem)
6. IT Project Management: I sought exemption from this but I was not given - similar to Stats case.
7. OOAD - I am thinking of dropping this.
Elementary Chinese (I will be able to talk to more than half the population of this world with knowledge of Hindi, Chinese, and English)
1. Economic Analysis
2. Options
3. Decision Making under Uncertainity
4. International Business Management (awesome prof....chief economist at Gulf Oil)
5. Managing Service Org (I am planning to focus on Service Mgmt concentration and this is a pre-req for all the courses in next sem)
6. IT Project Management: I sought exemption from this but I was not given - similar to Stats case.
7. OOAD - I am thinking of dropping this.
Elementary Chinese (I will be able to talk to more than half the population of this world with knowledge of Hindi, Chinese, and English)
Friday, September 01, 2006
Full-view downloadable pdfs - by Google books!
Google books has been around ....However, you have to check out this ground-shaking news
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