29th November 2008: Time 8:00am
After a fierce "battle", the brave commandos were able to liberate the last hold out of the terrorists, the Taj Mahal Hotel. Thus ended the 60 hour nightmare in which the terrorists had held the entire country to ransom. The whole world watched live how the security forces battled the terrorists at the Trident (Oberio) Hotel, Nariman House and Taj Hotel. The entire area near the Gateway of India and Colaba, where the operation took place, was turned into a BATTLEFIELD. The three famous buildings, major landmark of Mumbai, have been devastated in the operation.
Statistics;
About 183 killed
About 294 injured
22 Foreigners killed and 23 injured
1 terrorist captured alive and 9 killed.
20 policemen and and 2 NSG commandos sacrificed their lives for the nation.
THE COUNTRY SALUTES THESE BRAVE MARTYRS.
The country also salutes the other warriors who took part in the "liberation' and killed the terrorists.
A sad ending, but this does raise many questions as whether this was avoidable IF our INTELLIGENCE agencies were DOING THEIR JOB PROPERLY.
Lastly, let us not forget the sacrifices made by the heroes..
I am reminded of an old Lata song:
Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo
Jara Yaad Karo Wo Kahani
Jo Shaheed Huey Hai Unkhi
Kuch Yaad Karo Kurbani
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
INDIA UNDER SEIGE
26th November 2008: Time 10:00pm
In a well planned attack, 26 terrorists strike at 10 different places in Mumbai,the financial capital of India,killing over 130 and injuring over 300 innocent people, some of whom were foreign tourists. The places targetted included the Taj Hotel, the Oberoi Hotel, Nariman house and the Chatrapati Shivaji rail terminal. The hotels are frequented by foreigners, mostly Americans and Britishers. The terrorists had even asked the hostages to disclose their nationality, clearly indicating their intentione. This attack on Mumbai is similar to the 9/11 Al Quaeda attack in US.
28th November 2008: Time 12:30pm
For well over 40 hours, the terrorists have held the Mumbai city to ransom. They have holed themselves in the Taj hotel, Trident (Oberoi) hotel and the Nariman House. It is still not confirmed how many people are still held as hostages. The armed forces, with the help of the Mumbai police and other para-military forces, are doing a commendable job in trying to flush out the terrorists without causing any harm to the hostages, the hotel staff or the guests. If one looks at the TV coverage of the operation being carried out by the forces, one can realise the risk the men in uniform are taking to protect the sovereignity of the NATION. I SALUTE THE ARMED FORCES, THE NSG COMMANDOS, THE MUMBAI POLICE, THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATIONS FOR THE BRAVE ACT.
But the following facts surprise me. It is said that the 26 terrorists had come by ship to Mumbai some time back. Most of them stayed at Nariman House and had stocked huge stock of ammunitions and food in preparation of a long drawn battle with the security forces. Similarly, two of them had joined the Taj Hotel as employees and had provided all the information required for the attack in the hotel. A couple of them had checked in the hotels as guests also. The Central government had intelligence reports that terrorists may use the sea route for attack. BUT OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WERE NOT ABLE TO MONIOTOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE HEART OF MUMBAI CITY FOR OVER SEVERAL DAYS.
This is not only shocking but shameful on part of the intelligence agencies. Inspite of knowing how the terrorists had attacked a 5-star hotel in Pakistan, they did not take a lesson and remained lax. The response from the Indian government was on expected lines - "we will ensure that the terrorists do not succeed in their nefarious design" ...or "our countrymen have great resilience and normalcy will be shortly restored" bla bla. It is high time that heads should start rolling..we have had the maximum terrorists attacks in 2008 with the government not seeming to show any muscle and courage to act. Not only the Central Home Mnister, Shivraj Patil, who belongs to Maharastra should be sacked, but the Head of Intelligence bureau and RAW should be replaced. We should work in close coordination with the intellligence agencies of our allies like US, UK, France, Israel etc. It is also reported that as soon as the news of the terrorists attack reached US, the FBI offered to help and we just did not take a decision then. This raises a very vital question: IS IT BECAUSE OF VOTE BANK POLITICS?
In a well planned attack, 26 terrorists strike at 10 different places in Mumbai,the financial capital of India,killing over 130 and injuring over 300 innocent people, some of whom were foreign tourists. The places targetted included the Taj Hotel, the Oberoi Hotel, Nariman house and the Chatrapati Shivaji rail terminal. The hotels are frequented by foreigners, mostly Americans and Britishers. The terrorists had even asked the hostages to disclose their nationality, clearly indicating their intentione. This attack on Mumbai is similar to the 9/11 Al Quaeda attack in US.
28th November 2008: Time 12:30pm
For well over 40 hours, the terrorists have held the Mumbai city to ransom. They have holed themselves in the Taj hotel, Trident (Oberoi) hotel and the Nariman House. It is still not confirmed how many people are still held as hostages. The armed forces, with the help of the Mumbai police and other para-military forces, are doing a commendable job in trying to flush out the terrorists without causing any harm to the hostages, the hotel staff or the guests. If one looks at the TV coverage of the operation being carried out by the forces, one can realise the risk the men in uniform are taking to protect the sovereignity of the NATION. I SALUTE THE ARMED FORCES, THE NSG COMMANDOS, THE MUMBAI POLICE, THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATIONS FOR THE BRAVE ACT.
But the following facts surprise me. It is said that the 26 terrorists had come by ship to Mumbai some time back. Most of them stayed at Nariman House and had stocked huge stock of ammunitions and food in preparation of a long drawn battle with the security forces. Similarly, two of them had joined the Taj Hotel as employees and had provided all the information required for the attack in the hotel. A couple of them had checked in the hotels as guests also. The Central government had intelligence reports that terrorists may use the sea route for attack. BUT OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WERE NOT ABLE TO MONIOTOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE HEART OF MUMBAI CITY FOR OVER SEVERAL DAYS.
This is not only shocking but shameful on part of the intelligence agencies. Inspite of knowing how the terrorists had attacked a 5-star hotel in Pakistan, they did not take a lesson and remained lax. The response from the Indian government was on expected lines - "we will ensure that the terrorists do not succeed in their nefarious design" ...or "our countrymen have great resilience and normalcy will be shortly restored" bla bla. It is high time that heads should start rolling..we have had the maximum terrorists attacks in 2008 with the government not seeming to show any muscle and courage to act. Not only the Central Home Mnister, Shivraj Patil, who belongs to Maharastra should be sacked, but the Head of Intelligence bureau and RAW should be replaced. We should work in close coordination with the intellligence agencies of our allies like US, UK, France, Israel etc. It is also reported that as soon as the news of the terrorists attack reached US, the FBI offered to help and we just did not take a decision then. This raises a very vital question: IS IT BECAUSE OF VOTE BANK POLITICS?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Why Do Employees Leave The Organization?
Why does an employee leave the organization? This is a million dollar question which has haunted the CEO’s and the HR managers of organizations worldwide. Many surveys have been carried out to know the reasons for attrition and how to control it. Surveys have listed various reasons for the employee leaving the organization. Most of the time, during the surveys, it is the reason the employee projects as responsible for his quitting the organization. Or it may be the reason that the HR manager perceives as being responsible for the employee leaving the organization. This may or may not be the same reason which prompted the employee to “look outside the organization for greener pastures”. Sunil, a senior software engineer, resigned since he was offered a much higher salary in another organization. When I asked him why he even thought of quitting the organization, he reluctantly admitted that he was unhappy that his contribution was not properly recognized during the last appraisal, although the client had spoken very highly of his performance in the project. His manager, who was aware of the facts, did not support him, since he was under pressure from his manager. Hence he decided to leave the organization. However, the reason he gave for quitting the organization is that he got a good salary hike in the new organization. In another case, Rima, a female employee resigned from the job, since her manager was harassing her since she would object to his advances. However, officially, she was moving to her hometown to be near her sick father.
The major factors, as mentioned in major surveys, responsible for attrition are:
1. Higher compensation – you have to move out to get more
2. Work environment – performance is not properly recognized
3. Manager’s behavior
4. Employee growth
From my experience in conducting exit interview of employee leaving the organization during the past ten years, I have noticed that most of the time, the reason mentioned by employee for leaving the organization is very different from the actual reason. Of the above mentioned 4 factors, I would rate the "manager’s behavior" as being responsible in at least 50% of the employees resigning. It is on account of some triggering incident by the manager, which hurts the employee and he decides to leave the organization. This may be due to one or more of the following factors:
1. Employee is not recognized for achievements
2. Assurances given by the manager are not honored
3. Job given is not as per employees liking or skill set
4. Employee notices favoritism by manager towards another employee / group of employee
5. Employee is threatened to follow the manager’s wish or face persecution
Srinivas, a manager in one of the software company, resigned since his manager, Prasad, was micro-managing the group reporting to him with the result that he was unable to meet the deadlines. Srinivas brought this to the notice to Prasad’s manager, but he turned a blind eye and held Srinivas responsible for the failures. Srinivas quit the job since he had an offer from a Fortune 100 company.
So what is the way out in such a situation? The top management has the responsibility to ensure that the manager’s treat their team members properly. The Human Resources department should act like a watchdog for the management and should command respect of the employees. The employees should have the confidence on HR that their problems, if any, will be properly and sincerely dealt with and confidentiality maintained. The managers should be coached to be more considerate towards their team members. They should act as their mentor and guide. The management should have zero tolerance when any incident of harrasment / persecution of employee by any manager is reported.
The major factors, as mentioned in major surveys, responsible for attrition are:
1. Higher compensation – you have to move out to get more
2. Work environment – performance is not properly recognized
3. Manager’s behavior
4. Employee growth
From my experience in conducting exit interview of employee leaving the organization during the past ten years, I have noticed that most of the time, the reason mentioned by employee for leaving the organization is very different from the actual reason. Of the above mentioned 4 factors, I would rate the "manager’s behavior" as being responsible in at least 50% of the employees resigning. It is on account of some triggering incident by the manager, which hurts the employee and he decides to leave the organization. This may be due to one or more of the following factors:
1. Employee is not recognized for achievements
2. Assurances given by the manager are not honored
3. Job given is not as per employees liking or skill set
4. Employee notices favoritism by manager towards another employee / group of employee
5. Employee is threatened to follow the manager’s wish or face persecution
Srinivas, a manager in one of the software company, resigned since his manager, Prasad, was micro-managing the group reporting to him with the result that he was unable to meet the deadlines. Srinivas brought this to the notice to Prasad’s manager, but he turned a blind eye and held Srinivas responsible for the failures. Srinivas quit the job since he had an offer from a Fortune 100 company.
So what is the way out in such a situation? The top management has the responsibility to ensure that the manager’s treat their team members properly. The Human Resources department should act like a watchdog for the management and should command respect of the employees. The employees should have the confidence on HR that their problems, if any, will be properly and sincerely dealt with and confidentiality maintained. The managers should be coached to be more considerate towards their team members. They should act as their mentor and guide. The management should have zero tolerance when any incident of harrasment / persecution of employee by any manager is reported.
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