How to manage failure !!!

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Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum , Philadelphia, March 22,2000

Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India’s satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India’s “Rohini” satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources — but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 — I think the month was August — we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch.

At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked.

One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order.

My experts — I had four or five of them with me — told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel.

So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal.

It was a big failure…

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference.

The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference — where journalists from around the world were present — was at 7:45 am at ISRO’s satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself.

He took responsibility for the failure — he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed.

Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite — and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant.

Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, “You conduct the press conference today.”

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team.

The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

Avoid Eye Strain When Using Computers

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If you spend most of your weekday sitting in front of a video display terminal, you’ve probably noticed that using a computer can be a pain in the neck, the eyes and almost every other part of your body! It’s no wonder computers cause eye strain. Studies have shown that computer users tend to stare at a glowing screen without blinking for much longer periods than do people who use typewriters. This is why many people using computers experience dry eye problems. In addition, computer screens reflect a great deal of glare – from windows, overhead lights and even the user’s own bright clothing. Finally, many computer users sit practically face-to-face with the monitor.

Whether you spend every day or only a few hours a week using a computer, there are steps you can (and should) take to reduce the physical strains from computer use. Steps to follow, when using a computer:

Have a thorough eye examination. While everyone should have their eyes checked once a year, annual eye exams are especially important for computer users. Follow the “20/20 rule.” Keep your face at least 20 inches from the screen and pause every 20 minutes or so to look around the room, so your eyes can focus on distant objects. Regular eye exercise helps prevent eye strain. Place all materials you are working with at the same distance as the screen. This reduces strain of your eyes and neck. Make sure you have a glare screen, which should block glare without making the characters on the monitor appear fuzzy. Also if possible, move or adjust the computer screen to avoid reflections from windows or indoor lights. Sit on a stable, comfortable, adjustable chair. If it is possible to put the keyboard a few inches below the desktop, for example, with an adjustable table, or by using a center drawer of a desk for a pullout keyboard rest, do so. This will keep your arms at a more comfortable angle. Place computer monitor at a 35-degree angle below your eyes. This reduces incidence of Dry Eye. Use preservative-free artificial tears intermittently when on the computer if your eyes get red and irritated. Much of computer fatigue is caused by Dry Eye. Finally, take periodic breaks from the computer during the day, walk around and do some non-computer tasks for about 15 minutes every two or three hours.

Job Title:Urgent Opening for Manager – MSC & NGN in a leading Telecom Co in Hyderabad

We have opening for one of your Important Client. The details are as under:

Company: Tata Teleservices (Maharasthra) Ltd

Designation: Manager – NGN & MSC

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is responsible for conducting the MSC & NGN testing at Test Lab, as a core technical resource. The person is expected to be thorough with GSM (required) and CDMA technologies and standards, MSC, Soft Switch & MGW; and should be capable of developing test plans and managing and executing test cases with high analytical skills. The high technical aptitude is critical and a must.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Responsible for conducting MSC & NGN testing at Test Lab i.e. inter-operability, features & functionality, node and system level, end-to-end network, performance, interfaces, integration, acceptance, etc. covering the technologies mentioned above.

2. Shall possess & acquire high technical knowledge of technologies; international standards (interfaces and protocol stacks), MSC, Soft Switch, MGW & TMI products.

3. Should interact with vendors, planning & other departments to develop test plans; facilitate & monitor projects, execute test cases, analyse and report testing results.

4. Should closely interact with other teams (RAN & Data, Core & VAS, Tech & IOT). Should develop skills & contribute to projects involving multiple product disciplines.

5. Should actively lead the technical analysis of IOT & other complex test problems.

6. Responsible for testing of new technologies, vendors, products & upgrades, etc.

CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

1. Thorough understanding of GSM (required), CDMA, NGN, MSC, Soft Switch, MGW.

2. High technical knowledge about signaling interfaces, protocol stacks & products, etc.

3. Strong in team play, project & time management skills and x-functional co-ordination.

4. Good analytical & problem resolution skills, with adequate focus on complex details.

5. High integrity in assessments without bias, result oriented & effective communicator.

6. Strong interest in technically intensive jobs and focus on macro & micro level details.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

BE – Electronics & Communications with 10 yrs experience {mainly in MSC, GMSC, Soft Switch, MGW, GSM-required, CDMA, Ater, A, BSSMAP, DTAP, TCAP, MAP-C/D/E, IS-41D/E, SIGTRAN, SIP-T/I, H.248, IOS 4.x/5.x, MTP, SCCP, ISUP, GTT, IOT and ATP}.

Salary Range: Open (Negotiable)

Location: Hyderabad

Kindly send across your Updated Profile by replying this mail if you are matching the above requirements at the earliest.

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Present Salary:
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Open for Hyderabad Location?:
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TASK STAFFING SOLUTIONS – MUMBAI
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