A Sudden Gloomy Environment-Recession, Layoffs, and Fear of Technology Replacing Jobs-How Birds Survive and Teach us during Heavy Storms?

Dear Friends and Students

On Sep 23, 2021, I wrote a story on my blog- “Don't Overprice Yourself! It is the End of Your Career!”. I received a lot of criticism that when there is such demand, what’s wrong? (Ref- https://i2itm.blogspot.com/2021/09/dont-overprice-yourself-it-is-end-of.html). It was evident at that time that it was not a natural demand. Today right after 1.5 years, there is a reversal. Professionals with high packages are becoming the easy target or expected to solve many problems. This is also not a natural need.

Recently I was discussing with one of my students. He says, “The environment in the organizations is not that conducive. We are not really motivated to do something as fear is haunting us. What is the best thing to do now?”.

I don’t have a perfect answer to this. However, I would like to refer to the Bird’s behavior during heavy storms. They're going to find some dense shrubs and they'll be going into trees close to tree trunks and holding on tight. There is some evidence that birds respond to drops in pressure and seek shelter before a storm hits.

Above all, they highly protect their feathers because the feathers are exquisitely able to trap air and act as insulation. Birds can adjust the amount of “fluff” in their feathers (making soft shaking or brushing it).

They also increase the amount of stored energy to get them through the period of inactivity. The fatter a bird, the better chance it has of surviving. However, just like that they won’t become fat too as there is a trade-off! More fat, slow movement, and potential to become prey during regular movement.

These are great lessons! Don’t become too fat, in terms of salary! Take it as you need but not as you Deserve! The feather represents the skill. Like birds soften their feathers during storms, you sharpen your skill till the storm gets over.

Ravi Saripalle

Vantage Vizag! My Perspective

Recently I had an opportunity to brand or position Vizag in one of the panel discussions. Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gahDhVFf

Note: These comments are my personal opinion only.

Ravi Saripalle

Fireside Chat with Padma Shri B V R Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman & Board Member-Cyient (Previously known as Infotech Enterprises), Chairman-BOG IITR, IITH by Ravi Saripalle

Dear Friends

It is my privilege and honor to host a Fireside Chat with Padma Shri B V R Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman & Board Member-Cyient, Chairman-BOG IITR, IITH. 

This interview helps budding entrepreneurs and students learn a few life lessons through his journey from childhood to his current accomplishments. 

Interview Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MZSWNMMWTM#t=81m25s

I thank B V R Mohan Reddy Garu for the open thinking and excellent responses! I thank the organizers (ITAAP) for trusting me in this noble endeavor.

Event:  IT Summit Infinity Vizag (infinityvizag.in/)

Organized by ITAAP, and Co-Hosted by STPI, ITE&C, Govt of AP & APIS

Venue: The Park Hotel on 20-01-2023, 8:30 PM to 9:30PM

About Cyeint: Cyient (formerly Infotech Enterprises Limited) is an Indian multinational technology company focused on engineering, manufacturing, data analytics, and networks and operations. Infotech Enterprises Ltd. was established in 1991 in Hyderabad. Infotech Enterprises was re-branded as Cyient in 2014 and was featured among the top 30 outsourcing companies in the world in 2018. Recorded Revenue of INR 4,534.4 crores/608 Million USD (FY2022), 16000+ Employees, 18 Countries, 240+ Customers. 

Note: All views are personal. As part of the interview, If I have misinterpreted or misquoted any information, My sincere apologies. The idea is to inspire the young generation.

Ravi Saripalle

What is Your Job Motivation Score? -28 to -55 Quit; -27 to 0 Wait; 0 to 27 Strive; 28 to 55 Sustain;

Dear Friends and Students

A couple of days back one of my friends sent me the concept of the Employee Value Pyramid. Using this thought, I designed a simple Job Motivation Score Calculator to check your workplace environment.

Please read each statement and sum the score mentioned in the brackets.

I have a safe work environment (+1), I don't have a safe work environment (-10); I have tools, training, and resources to do my job well (+2), I don't have tools, training, and resources to do my job well(-9); I can get my job done efficiently without excess bureaucracy (+3), I cannot get my job done efficiently without excess bureaucracy (-8), I am valued and rewarded fairly (+4), I am not rewarded and valued fairly (-7); I have the autonomy to do my job (+5), I don't have the autonomy to do my job (-6);

I am a connected member of an extraordinary team (+6), I am not a member of an extraordinary team  (-5); I am learning and growing every day (+7), I am not learning and growing every day (-4); My work makes a difference an impact to the organization (+8), My work does not make a difference to the organization (-3); I am inspired by the job where I find meaning and purpose in my career (+9), I am not inspired by the job where I find meaning and purpose in my job(-2); I am inspired by the leaders in my organization (+10), I am not inspired by the leaders in my organization (-1);

If your total score is 28-55, You are at Inspiring Workplace! You Sustain!

If your total score is 0 to 27, You are at Growth Workplace! You strive and plan to reach to Inspiring level within the same department or move to a different department or different organization.

If your total score is minus 27 to 0, it is an Unfavourable Workplace. You wait for the improved condition or quit!

If your total score is minus 28 to minus 55, it is a Hostile Workplace. You Quit immediately.

I strongly believe that “Continued Improvement is better than Delayed Perfection”. By God’s mercy, out of 3 organizations I served/serving, the last two of them have scored high on the positive side!! I should thank those organizations' management.

“Anything that costs your peace is too Expensive!” Make this your 2023 Resolution!!

Ravi Saripalle

Do You think, the Hippocratic Oath is to be Introduced to Data Scientists/Analysts similar to Medical Professionals?

 Dear Friends and Students

Recently I was invited for a Guest Talk at an event conducted by BTech CSE Data Science. It is an interesting and challenging task to address these students as the course just began a few years back in India. As part of the talk, I was told not to touch the technology and tools! Story building becomes much more complex. I have to resort to Kevin Bartley’s (rivery.io) data points to build my story. Data analysis is a historic activity in different forms.

The importance of presenting the right data is highly critical for human mankind. We are all surrounded by Data but starved for Insights! If a Data scientist or Data analyst makes a mistake, it causes damage to the entire history. Our history proved this truth.

In 97 AD, Chinese military ambassador Gan Ying was sent to travel to the Roman Empire. But Gan Ying never reached Rome. He traveled up to Iran and asked local merchants how long it would take to cross the Black Sea to Rome. The local merchants wanted to preserve their monopolies; they told the trip could take up to 2 years! Thinking it would be too long a wait, Ying turned back, and China never connected with the Roman Empire. Now you understand how much damage data misleading causes!

Similarly, in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to find an alternative route to Asia. However, Columbus relied on the inferior calculation of Alfranagus, a Persian geographer, to chart his route. It is also believed that Columbus either forgot or did not realize that he had to convert the Arabic miles used by Alfranagus into Roman miles. This bad data caused Columbus and his crew to land in the Americas, rather than in Asia.

During World War II, the Germans created the first long-range guided ballistic missile, known as the V-2. However, a little misinformation by some agents resulted in a recalibration of the missile range, eventually, the missile did not reach the target.

As one of the worst financial crises in history, the 2008 crash was fuelled by the overstated figures of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, and other derivatives. Eventually, all derivatives defaulted resulting in huge job losses and market collapse!

Dear Friends,

Data is the new oil and the new gold! The total amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed globally is forecast to increase rapidly, reaching 64.2 zettabytes (a trillion gigabytes.) in 2020. By 2025, it is projected to be 180 zettabytes. when AI systems are trained using this data and advising the whole world, what kind of role does a Data Analyst has to play?

Do you agree now Data Scientist/Analyst has to take the Hippocratic Oath not to share misinformation or misguide or overstate or create bad data?

Ravi Saripalle