Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday, 29 April 2021

FUTURE TENSE - IAN MORRISON AND GREG SCHMIDT



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When I read any book, I scribble my comments / notes in the margins


These reflect my views / opinions about what the author is saying – including my disagreement

Often, my comments are in the nature of telling myself :

Hey ! We should try out this idea in our own business ( Head-hunting / Online Recruitment )

Following are my comments re :

                                                                                                          
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Pg. No. 28

·         Like a “wave” moving upwards – measured at 10 yr. intervals.

·         Such “waves” do travel around the world – but have smaller effects on “isolated” economies Like India.

Pg. No. 38

·         People Then Productivity & finally Profitability (24-07-02)

Pg. No. 39

·         Current generation supporting the past Generation” is nothing new for countries like India, where grown – up sons are the only (Social) security old parents have!

Pg. No. 41

·         I believe this book was written in 1994.

Pg. No. 50

·         Employment Generation by large organised sector companies is slowing down, even in India, during last 10 years – since beginning of “Liberalization” process & “Opening – Up” of Indian Economy under WTO agreements. (24-07-02)

Pg. No. 51

·         Last few months, alone has seen ENRON & WORLD COM file for bankruptcy. This trend is accelerating!

Pg. No. 52

·         But us economy did expand robustly between 1990-2000 under Bill Clinton.

Pg. No. 53

·         In USA, it would be cheaper to die, than get admitted to a hospital!!

Pg. No. 54

·         Which us companies really did – since writing of this book 8 yrs. ago.

Pg. No. 57

·         Company where author works.

·         See my concept of kale-chakra

·         We too should have Video – interviewing by July 2004.

·         See my concept note on “PRODEVSYS” – a copy of which was given to Remy Hindu a in 1996. – And a copy given to Mr Chandrasekhar (ECO).

·         Once problem of remote access (to our database network) is solved, we should get our consultants to work from their homes, with only compensation linked to “performance”. (24-07-02)

Pg. No. 58

·         Remote working of our consultants forms homes. Their compensation will be linked to the “Net Collection” of search assignments handled by them. This will be a forerunner of our FRANCHISEE network; of course “Targets” must be met to continue. (25-07-02)

Pg. No. 59

·         May be a weekly group meeting in the office.

·         This is our next big challenge

Pg. No. 62

·         Read “QUO VADIS” (1987) covering – letter.

Pg. No. 66

·         12 times

·         2 ½ times

Pg. No. 74

·         B – 2 – B.

Pg. No. 86

·         e.g.:-

·         Bangladesh, in India or Canadians in U. S. A.

Pg. No. 87

·         e.g.:

·         software guys from India going to USA in last 5 yrs. & Germans wooing them

Pg. No. 88

·         Soon huge pressures will be mounted by India, each of whom has a BILLION people, whom they cannot feed! (25-07-02)

Pg. No. 90

·         It is not so much a question of openness (under WTO), it is mainly the question of “Richness” vs. “Stark Poverty”. No walls can, forever, keep poor starving people to just swim across the oceans. In 2002, the illegal immigration problem is already getting acute for U. S. A. / Europe / Australia / Japan etc. Just wait 10 years!! (25-07-02)

Pg. No. 91

·         SAFTA / SAARC etc.

·         And now a common currency.

Pg. No. 98

·         Big brother / Big Neighbour.

Pg. No. 101

·         Trade – Surplus in favour of

·         -South Korea

·         -Singapore

·         -Malaysia

·         -Taiwan etc.

Pg. No. 105

·         In 1994, author did not / could not think of INTERNET!

Pg. No. 110

·         Is this the reason for fiascos of

·         -Enron

·         -Arthur Andersen

·         -World com and, as reported in today’s papers,

·         -Citi Group

·         -JP Morgan chase? (25-07-02)

Pg. No. 112

·         In deep trouble, as reported in today’s papers! (25-07-02)

Pg. No. 113

·         Use of internet website vexing the biggest of these transformations. (26-07-02)

·         Here, websites prove useful.

·         Less time more options

·         Cheaper but of better quality.

·         Websites are unattended 24 – Hour grocery – stores.

·         Websites do this admirably!

Pg. No. 114

·         2002 log into a website & place an order online.

·         Now some banks deliver small amount of cash at home

·         Use digital camera & hook up a PC

·         Speak to microwave oven to heat – up a pre – cooked meal.

·         Book ticket on a website.

Pg. No. 115

·         Pay monthly bills electronically by standing instructions to your bank

·         Hook – up an Medical – Diagnostic to phone & await your personal physical instructions

·         Read Michael Dertouzo’s “What will be” (1997) (26-07-02)

Pg. No. 116

·         In 1994, still no glimpse of what Dell would do to the industry, thru www.dell.com ! – Just 3yrs down.

·         B2B

·         No more “closed” systems – with every – thing & everybody on the Internet.

·         No need for a permanent link.

Pg. No. 117

·         Now getting obsolete:

·         Surviving only because of huge historical investments of time & money.

·         Speed with which to bring new products into market

·         In Cell Phones, it is down to one month!

Pg. No. 118

·         Our own goals should be:

·         Shortlist (of resumes) within a hours

·         Full resumes within 2 days

·           Arrange interviews within 7 days of receipt of search – request.

Pg. No. 120

·         This is still going on – but it is less hostile takeovers these days. (26-07-02)

Pg. No. 121

·         These demands have accelerated in last 6 months with the debacles of

·         ENRON

·         Arthur Andersen

·         Word com

·         Qwest

·         Citi bank

·         JP Morgan chase etc. (26-07-02)

Pg. No. 122

·         This (bill) is before to USA Congress right now.

Pg. No. 124

·         For ever, - in 21st Century.

·         We are into such an industry.

Pg. No. 125

·         “Internet” is one such way which comes along in a big way by 1996 = 2 yrs. after this book was written. 

·         First mover advantage.

·         Market – niche

Pg. No. 126

·         Internally, our technical team must look upon our consultants as their “Customers”. In turn, Consultants themselves must not stop at HR / Recruitment Managers, but include ALL line – managers of a client as their “Customers”. (26-07-02)

 Pg. No. 127

·         This is most certainly true in a consultancy such as “Executive Search” service. If you have a medical problem, you don’t consult & doctors simultaneously! It becomes a matter of trust & faith – ever when you know that there are more competent doctors in town. (26-07-02)

·         This, we should bring about by installing, at each client company’s premises, our “Manpower Planning Software” package & integrating the same with our website / Module 1 / OES.

Pg. No. 139

·         California

Pg. No. 142

·         We had our own United Front 3 yrs. ago - & now we have NDA – a coalition of some 19 political parties, at the centre! (27-07-02)

·         This is quite true of Indian Political Parties of today, most of whose influential candidates have a criminal record. They rule the party.

Pg. No. 148

·         This is quite similar to my concept to “Project EAR (Elect Accountable Representatives), in relation to BMC Election on Feb. 10, 2002.

·         Yesterday Us Congress Passed a bill, restricting the no. of inside directors. Even outside Directors cannot be “relatives” of employees. (27-07-02)

·         3 months ago, (grandson) Mr Packard could not stop the takeover of COMPAQ by H-P. Professional CEO, (Ms’) FEORINA won!

Pg. No. 149

·         In India, this means

·         ICICI

·         IFCI

·         IDBI

·         LIC

·         UTI

·         all financial institutions.

Pg. No. 152

·         Without such prior public announcement, Indian Financial Institutions threw their weight behind L & T’s Professional Managers (UVR / SRS) & Voted out Ambanis in the proxy – war of 1992 to gain control of L & T, at AGM. (27-07-02)

Pg. No. 159

·         Many Indian Public Cos. Are turning into “Private” companies to avoid disclosing financials to Public.

Pg. No. 162

·         In 2002, this is happening all over the World – including Russia – and even China! TV Channels are full of these visuals.

Pg. No. 164

·         Loss of faith in institutional processes.

Pg. No. 169

·         But less knowledge & even lesser skills to use this knowledge to corporate advantage.

Pg. No. 171

·         Moore’s law

·         Has already happened.

Pg. No. 173

·         No need to be tethered to your desk.

Pg. No. 174

·         MP3

Pg. No. 177

·         8 yrs. since this book, these are “rare”.

·         These have “arrived” (even in India) i.e. urban upper – class Indian consumers – by 2002.

·         No mention of Internet! – Apparently internet had not caught the eyes of this Author in 1994!

Pg. No. 179

·         Very well anticipated because “standards” are still evolving.

·         You bet!

Pg. No. 180

·         Already so! Good prediction

Pg. No. 181

·         60% of USA households in 2002!

Pg. No. 182

·         Our search – tools are in this category. So is our OES.

·         3days back we formed 2 teams of 3 consultants each, headed by a profit centre Head. We also introduced Team Performance Incentive on top of Individual Performance Incentive. (28-07-02)

Pg. No. 183

·         For us, this will give us a definite competitive advantage – in course of time – when our clients install this facility at their premises. Then they can interview candidates recommended by us – without leaving their office. Candidates can face a Video – Camera, sitting in our office (28-07-02)

Pg. No. 185

·         ……….. …………. …………….. …………..

·         …………… ………….. …………….. ………….

·         When you become “accessible” 24 hours, distinction between “Private” life & “work” life disappear.

Pg. No. 186

·         Read “QUO VADIS” (1987) & “Nature of our Business”

·         This is quite like our proposed FRANCHISEE network. Their “sign – boards” will carry 3P Name & Logo – with their own company – name, below as “Franchisee: ……………….” We should avoid owning our own branches. (29-07-02)

Pg. No. 187

·         NIIT & APRECH rapidly ramped – up their franchisee – base to over 2000 each, during 1990s to tack advantage of huge enrolment for software courses.

·         e.g.

·         All foreign car Cos. Who setup base in India during 90s.

Pg. No. 188

·         I hope this (movement of key people across national borders) happens soon – and in a big way. India is well – placed to “Export” intelligent & hardworking manpower to the rest of the developed world.

·         Read covering letter of “QUO VADIS” (1987)

·         Remote working from home is possible where “pay” is linked to performance – since there can be no supervision / control of the “effort” put in by an employee from his home. (29-07-02)

Pg. No. 189

·         Ours is a prime example.

Pg. No. 191

·         Once you have a cell – phone, there is no escape!

·         He will want every service to be – Better – Faster – Cheaper. And those companies which can provide this, will win. (29-07-02)

Pg. No. 195

·         In last 3 yrs. we have seen the arrival of multinational Executive – Search firms, into India.

·         Our Module 1 / OES are efforts in this direction

Pg. No. 196

·         Database creation is not our “core” business but a very large “Non – Member” database is most certainly our “Competitive Advantage”, So, we must continue to “buy” such databases from Vendors & master the art / science of “merging / normalising” these. Our core – competency is fast/perfect order Execution, using best search & communication technologies. (29-07-02)

Pg. No. 197

·         Most Indian companies are also targeting this age group of executives for VRS voluntary.

Pg. No. 199

·         (31-07-02)

·         “Faster order Execution”

Pg. No. 202

·         OES enables us to do this

Pg. No. 203

·         Abhi was experimenting a method by which our Consultants can “access” their own email from home (31-07-02)

Pg. No. 204

·         Our core Competencies:-

·         headhunting

·         interview & shortlist

·         communicate with clients & candidates

·         follow – up

Pg. No. 207

·         Our own “Kale – Chakra” looks somewhat like this. (31-07-02)

Pg. No. 208

·         Do we have a reputation of “Head hunters – par – excellence”, which can be our unique market advantage? – to make us, “For Executive Search, Corporate India’s First Choice”.

·         Focus – Focus – Focus!

Pg. No. 216

·         Over a period of time – and gradually – our “talented” consultants could turn into “franchisees” (02-08-02)

Pg. No. 217

·         We introduced “Team Incentives” this year (in addition to Individual Performance Incentive. (02-08-02)

Pg. No. 218

·         Speed of response.

·         Distributors / Dealers / Stockists

·         We must be able to “increase” our margins with every “business – process Automation”

·         Better – Yes

·         Faster – Yes

·         Cheaper – No!

Pg. No. 219

·         Reason enough to avoid!

Pg. No. 220

·         Public Confidence in American business is lowest during last 3/4 months. (02-08-02)

Pg. No. 221

·         Mid – 2002?

Pg. No. 225

·         Similar to the “states” of India except our products flow all over the country.

·         I had the fortune to spend an hour with Mr. Jacque Stern – Chairman of BULL – in Paris, in 1982 / 83 – when MHP & myself, handwrote & signed on MOU to manufacture PCs in India, under BULL license! One more lost opportunity.

Pg. No. 226

·         Still continuing in 2002.

·         e.g. near home:

·         BIRLAS

·         RELIANCE

Pg. No. 232

·         Even this is changing – eight years since this book was published! Japanese firms have started lying – off workers.

Pg. No. 233

·         In trouble sold out to GM in 2002

·         Obviously RELIANCE was not in author’s radar in 1994.

Pg. No. 239

·         Mukesh Ambani’s interview, appearing in today’s Business Standard, speaks of Reliance going GLOBAL by 2004 – with teams of executives already scouting for opportunities in 10 countries. Having taken over IPCL & ready to take over HP and / or BPCL, Reliance falls in this group. (04-08-02)

Pg. No. 257

·         For us, it is building “knowledge – Bases” instead of just “Databases”.

Pg. No. 259

·         Unfortunately our 6 years old “association” with FOSTER PARTNERS has not benefitted us at all!! May be the new alliance which Nirmit planning with Christopher Mills, may work better. (04-08-02)

·         With barely a dozen “organised” executive – search firms in India, our first job must be to become (No; 1) in India, before venturing abroad.

·         Every Business – Process Automation should enable us to expand rapidly & hire more consultants (-bigger Market / Market Share).

Pg. No. 260

·         i.e.

·         Higher people productivity thru greater “process – automation”. So, our first task is to ensure that, we attain the highest people – productivity, amongst Indian Executive Search firms within next 18 months i.e. by March 2004 = and then continuously re – invent ourselves to stay there – on top! (04-08-02)

·         Finally noticed!

·         And thru Internet by 1996 – one year before we launched our website.

Pg. No. 262

·         We intend “capturing” our institutional memories, thru “Remarks” & “Annotation” fields in – Module 1 – OES.

·         + “Add” feature in Non – Member Database Search

·         In our business “Market Trends” can be forecast in 2 ways:

·         Analysis of all job – Advt released by TOP 1000 Indian companies in news papers / magazines / websites etc.

·         (2) “Retirement Analysis” of executives working in same 1000 companies.

·         Of course, some future “Recruitment Trends” can also be forecast by studying how much new capital investment is flowing into different Industry – Sectors.

Pg. No. 263

·         For us, to be experimenting & adopting newer technologies all the time is a matter of survival. (-even if we are willing to forget about “growth”.

·         I have yet to read ANDY – GROVE’S “Only the Paranoids Survive”.

Pg. No. 264

·         Once we build – up, large resume (-and non - member) databases / knowledge – bases / order – execution systems / data & voice communication tools & networks / franchises, it would be difficult for others to enter & compete with us.

·         And 2 months ago, even bought – out COMPAQ!

·         “Speed – of – Response” is our major goal too!

Pg. No. 265

·         I have said, again & that we may not become the largest executive search firm to India, by sales / Income, but, most certainly, we shall become the MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED!

Pg. No. 266

·         A little effort every day – adds up to big results! Push – the Envelope a little further daily.

Pg. No. 267

1)    Large Database / Knowledge bases

2)    Pinpoint Search (Key words project)

3)    Superfast communication

4)    Flawless order Execution.

·         We have yet to exploit the potential of our non – member database: - which became “Searchable” only last week, for the first time! Simultaneously we will keep growing this database (04-08-02)

Pg. No. 270

·         By enforcing that our franchisees can conduct their day – to – day business, only thru use of our centralised OES, we, too, wish to remain at the CENTER of our NETWORK. (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 274

·         When I recommend that gradually over a period of time (and may be one at a time), we encourage our Consultants to work from their homes, I do not mean part – time or “temp” – but full time & exclusively for 3P. (11-08-02)

·         Of their total compensation, FIXED component may be no more than 20% - with 80% linked to “Net Collection”.

Pg. No. 282

·         We belong to this category – of small business – with very limited resources which, we must learn to deploy carefully – even as we speed – up our decision – making process. (11-08-02)

Pg. No. 290

·         Attributes


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