Nov 2012: Game / Expert System based learning

How about a simple Excel based game or expert system?

We could have people input their requirements as inputs.

We could match their inputs with a predetermined logic to throw up possible programs that would help.

The programs can be a combination of E-Learning, ILT, Experiential learning etc.

We are thereby building some amount of diagnostics before the learning experience.

Oct 2012: Psycho Analytics

These are Zen Mind views - Beginner's mind - no fancy thinking or explanations.

Analytics is looking at behavior using technology and modifying our inputs to take advantage of knowledge of consumer behavior.

Psychology deals with understanding the mind. Psychometric tools are used to measure the mind. DISC is one such tool.

By combining the tool, we probably have a new area called Psycho Analytics. It can become a poweful new paradigm of the future?

Psycho Analytics is different from Psycho Analysis of Freud.

Oct 2012: VUCA

VUCA according to American Marines means Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambigous.
According to many theories around visualization and expectation management, one should hopefully not expect these.

One should balance it with another VUCA which means -

Visionary
Understanding
Clarity
Agility

That would hopefully lead to a better world.

That would hopfully reduce the other VUCA.

Arishad vargas are Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya

There have to be kept under control. Then focus on positive.
As the old Chinese saying goes - It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Sep 2012: Is devotional music moving to history?

There is a Planet M store in Brigade Road Bangalore where I went scouting for Devotional Music. They had a section on devotional music and I used to visit it often.

Last month I was in for a surprise. The entire devotional section had almost closed down. There were hardly any collections.

I found that to be a disturbing trend.

Is the world going towards pop and jazz and rock?
What about traditional music?
The traditional music (also known as Shastreeya Sangeet) is rare and costly.
Are we are being deprived of our right to listen to good music?
Or is such music considered mundane by the tech savvy generation?
Do we take devotional music for granted?

Is personality becoming more important than character?
Could reducing the costs of music to reasonable amount bring more takers?
Would that prevent piracy as well?

Sep 2012: Where is brotherly love?

I was traveling from Bangalore to Mysore and had a pretty shocking experience...

I was observing 2 children - aged 10 and 6 probably and their behavior. The 10 year old sat next to me while the 6 year old was sitting with his mother and grand mother.

We peacefully took off from Bangalore and then the food came out. The dispute started over a bag of chips. The younger one wanted the whole bag while the elder one had first access to it.

Within a short time the younger one was hurling abuses at his own brother for taking the first dip at the bag.
The helpless mother and grandmother could not control this child's behavior.

Probably they would grow old and things would be different.

What also stuck me was the younger boy's declaration that the older one was his enemy.

How can we parent them better?

Are the days of Ram and Lakshman gone? Or for that matter Ravan and Kumbhakarn?

How can sibling love be improved? No easy answers but such behavior needs to be addressed for sure.

Aug 2012: Practical Habit 6 (of 7 Habits)

My neighbor has his sewage pipeline running next to my house. It was broken and the stuff inside was oozing out causing discomfort to all around.

I was not sure how to handle the situation. He was aware of it but chose not to speak about it.

The passers by thought that our house was to blame.

I decided to practice Habit 6 of the great Stepehen Covey. How do I synergize with my neighbor?
I decided to look for win-win (H4). Then to understand his point of view (H5).
So off I went to his house and brought up the issue. I was mentally prepared to listen to him.

He made a statement that he believed that some lorries that brought material to build my (new) house was the cause.
I tried to stick to facts and let him say what he wanted.
Then I politely offered to look for a solution that would work for both of us.
My listening helped him to ease up and he also offered to help solve the problem (which I believed to be his).

Being hard pressed for time, I asked him to help with the supervision, while I could fund the exercise. The good point was that he also agreed to foot half of the cost.

The interesting point is that if I had argued, we would have been at loggerheads and the relationship would have suffered. By being humble one can try to look for synertistic solutions.

Thanks to Dr. Covey. May his soul rest in peace.

Aug 2012 : Social Mirror

Social Mirror can be due to 5 primary areas - Family, Organization, Society, Neighborhood, Community, not necesarily in that order.

I am finding increasing influence of various mirrors. What gives satisfaction? Devoid of mirrors, can I see my true naked self?

5 questions to consider -
1. What influence does family have on your decisions?
2. How is your work-life balance? Does your organization eat away much of your life or time?
3. How is your interaction with a stranger? Do they exist at all?
4. What about neighbours?
5. Does your community have certain expectations? Financially?