Comments on: Driving Social Changes? http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/ In search of New Leaders Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:14:49 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: siddharth sharma http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1217 siddharth sharma Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:27:50 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1217 Value creation for masses where the government initiatives have failed , can be clubbed with wealth creation for both/any axesof your "T"model, Gramin Phone,Gramin micro credit in Bangaladesh and eChaupal in India are examples. CK Prahalad in his now famous book "...Bottom of Pyramid" has stated these. We can actually focus on a microcosm which is at the bottom of pyramid and then think about ways to improve their lives by attacking issues which are keeping them at that level of pyramid. Most of the  solutions would be non profit but few would surely pack a promise ofwealth. e.g. Rural india is still disconnected, dis organized when it comes to information sharing.Because of this lack of information distribution and proliferation, the masses are not able to benefit from schemes such as scheduled reservations, education cess etc.Is our government ready to invest in this information proliferation, which would enable these people to harness the true potential of the taxes which are collected on their names. Thsi is a great opportunity for public private partnership. Here affirmative action is required from government and not private institutions. Value creation for masses where the government initiatives have failed , can be clubbed with wealth creation for both/any axesof your "T"model, Gramin Phone,Gramin micro credit in Bangaladesh and eChaupal in India are examples. CK Prahalad in his now famous book "…Bottom of Pyramid" has stated these.
We can actually focus on a microcosm which is at the bottom of pyramid and then think about ways to improve their lives by attacking issues which are keeping them at that level of pyramid. Most of the  solutions would be non profit but few would surely pack a promise ofwealth.
e.g. Rural india is still disconnected, dis organized when it comes to information sharing.Because of this lack of information distribution and proliferation, the masses are not able to benefit from schemes such as scheduled reservations, education cess etc.Is our government ready to invest in this information proliferation, which would enable these people to harness the true potential of the taxes which are collected on their names. Thsi is a great opportunity for public private partnership. Here affirmative action is required from government and not private institutions.

]]> By: Harikumar Mahadeva Iyer http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1216 Harikumar Mahadeva Iyer Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:48:45 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1216 It is a great idea to Re-Christian social initiatives as social entrepreneurs or innovators. Roger.L.Martin Dean Rotman school of Management, university of Toronto, in his article ‘The Virtue Matrix –Calculating the return on Corporate Responsibility’, (published in Harvard Business Review on CSR March 2002) has advocated a model which can be used to resolve the dilemma faced by the proponents of CSR. This model gives the empowerment to achieve a U model of development with which we can aim to achieve both depth and breadth. The only impediment is the dearth of vision. Opportunities are abound to devise programs and process that benefit the society as well as enrich the share holder. HCL is a pioneer and leader in the industry. We must take charge by taking initiative and thus create peer pressure It is a great idea to Re-Christian social initiatives as social entrepreneurs or innovators. Roger.L.Martin Dean Rotman school of Management, university of Toronto, in his article ‘The Virtue Matrix –Calculating the return on Corporate Responsibility’, (published in Harvard Business Review on CSR March 2002) has advocated a model which can be used to resolve the dilemma faced by the proponents of CSR. This model gives the empowerment to achieve a U model of development with which we can aim to achieve both depth and breadth. The only impediment is the dearth of vision. Opportunities are abound to devise programs and process that benefit the society as well as enrich the share holder. HCL is a pioneer and leader in the industry. We must take charge by taking initiative and thus create peer pressure

]]> By: raj http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1214 raj Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:19:06 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1214 The issue of impact and sustainability are important ones. But can knowledge-based quantitative models alone work? The issue of impact and sustainability are important ones. But can knowledge-based quantitative models alone work?

]]> By: Deepak http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Deepak Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:49:43 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1213 Very Interesting and insightful. You are right when you say "It is good to have a result oriented outlook for such initiatives; however some thinking on the long term and the short term perspective will go hand-in-hand in bringing the feeling of joy, achievement and fulfillment to all the people associated with it." Very Interesting and insightful. You are right when you say "It is good to have a result oriented outlook for such initiatives; however some thinking on the long term and the short term perspective will go hand-in-hand in bringing the feeling of joy, achievement and fulfillment to all the people associated with it."

]]> By: Alex James http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1212 Alex James Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:37:44 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1212 Hey Vineet, The the concept of  perceived "Impact" is far broad term than mentioned. Social changes and transitions are in effect a by product of creative thinking and noble judgements of the past.  Values need to set for the ways of innovation and deeper scientific conquest that has these so called broad "Impact". I dont agree that its a black and white and obvious as you picture. Its never a black and white problem, nor is it a easy task. Its the path of brave, and only wisdom of right knowledge with proper skills, passion and huge amount of dedication that can take people there. Management makes people think that every reform can be divided into tasks and each task handled independently. IN the modern context, my view would be to build a layer of reforms that could interact with such tasks to make it redundant. At the end of the day, it comes to the people who are involved in these challenges that needs to have enough conquests on awareness, advertising and development. I think organisation structure, has least to do with productivity. Why at all need any such structure. But complex systems in the nature, including human find order when many unordered systems interact. This is inert to system formation. I would suggest building hierarchy and modularity is the only best way out. Cheers Alex Hey Vineet, The the concept of  perceived "Impact" is far broad term than mentioned. Social changes and transitions are in effect a by product of creative thinking and noble judgements of the past. 

Values need to set for the ways of innovation and deeper scientific conquest that has these so called broad "Impact".

I dont agree that its a black and white and obvious as you picture. Its never a black and white problem, nor is it a easy task. Its the path of brave, and only wisdom of right knowledge with proper skills, passion and huge amount of dedication that can take people there.

Management makes people think that every reform can be divided into tasks and each task handled independently. IN the modern context, my view would be to build a layer of reforms that could interact with such tasks to make it redundant.

At the end of the day, it comes to the people who are involved in these challenges that needs to have enough conquests on awareness, advertising and development.
I think organisation structure, has least to do with productivity. Why at all need any such structure. But complex systems in the nature, including human find order when many unordered systems interact. This is inert to system formation. I would suggest building hierarchy and modularity is the only best way out.

Cheers
Alex

]]> By: Gautam Dua http://www.vineetnayar.com/driving-social-changes%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1211 Gautam Dua Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:17:09 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=57#comment-1211 Hi Vineet, I like the model that you have described. Some observations on second question - "The first model which is represented by the horizontal line can be equated with creating sustainability through partners collaborating for funding and execution." This model has higher scalability as well as higher financial sustainability. If one of the pratners is local community benefitting from this initiaive then the sense of ownership makes it better governed and sustainable. A depth model will become charity and may not be very scalable as well as not financially sustainable (first thing to be axed incase the sponsor runs into rough weather OR if the CEO / exec sponsor for the initiative changes). Some more ideas on the measuring sustainability - any project that has higher benefit and lower cost to the sponsor will be sustainable. (stating the obvious) Benefit to Sponsor = Measure the CASH equivalent (eg Brand visibility created by this initiative equals brand visibility generated by advertisement to the tune of X lakh) Cost to Sponsor = (Cash spent by Sponsor) - (Revenue generated by community) The financial sustainability will happen if the higher benefit and lower costs are there, however continuity will happen only if the community ownership is there. Revenue generated by community for funding that initiaitve is what will define the continuity of the initiative. This cost of benefiting from initiative will ensure that the there is least misuse. On the third question ie value created , I am not so very sure that the value created has to be unique and different. I think it has to be significant. Significant to the people whom it is going to impact, as well as impacting significant percentage of population. eg of such initiatives can be 1. Wheel chairs at Railway stations * Great for getting brand visibility (by "HCL Community Initiative" brand on each wheelchair as well as dedicated coolies wearing HCL brand clothing. * High impact - ask any one who has an old / disabled person in family * High percentage of target population (old / disabled) being impacted - atleast once in a while * Cost = (Cost of 10 coolies + Cost of wheelchair + Maintenance) - (Cost of the 10 small Hoarding + Charge of using the service). BTW this is not a new or unique benefit. Just that HCL being there would mean better execution and hence the benefit being actually passed on. 2. Mobile internet cafe meant for Govt schools with no infra * Great for getting brand visibility (by "HCL Community Initiative" brand on Shining large green truck; coverage in magazines / newspaper ; goodwill) * Cost = (Truck + Equipment + Internet connectivity + Teacher+Fuel + Maintenacne)- (Cost of mobile hoarding + Cost of coverage in media + Charges collected from community)Rotaing between multiple schools, charging them nominal fee, changing the set of schools covered every quarter .. which will maximise the eyeballs as well as beneficiaries. Can use the same infra to double up as a mobile library Can use the same infra to go to old age home/Jail / .. 3. Toilets near Jhuggis / in busy markets .. Dozens of such ideas can come ; some will be feasible some will be not. I dont think the problem here has much to do with lack of ideas / people for executing the initiative. If Executive Sponsorship is there, things will move. As long as generating ideas are concerned, you can always create a club within HCL that invites such ideas, screens them for finacials / impact on community. Maybe an internal blog for this purpose will suffice. All what you need is a person to act as a moderator - even that can be a rolling position moving from one division to other. For people to own up any such initiative, I am sure there will be people willing to take on the challenge within HCL provided they are given an option of coming back after project stabalises. It can be a sabbatical with maybe half the salary, but a life enriching experience. Where there is a will there is a Way. Gautam Hi Vineet, I like the model that you have described. Some observations on second question – "The first model which is represented by the horizontal line can be equated with creating sustainability through partners collaborating for funding and execution." This model has higher scalability as well as higher financial sustainability. If one of the pratners is local community benefitting from this initiaive then the sense of ownership makes it better governed and sustainable. A depth model will become charity and may not be very scalable as well as not financially sustainable (first thing to be axed incase the sponsor runs into rough weather OR if the CEO / exec sponsor for the initiative changes). Some more ideas on the measuring sustainability – any project that has higher benefit and lower cost to the sponsor will be sustainable. (stating the obvious) Benefit to Sponsor = Measure the CASH equivalent (eg Brand visibility created by this initiative equals brand visibility generated by advertisement to the tune of X lakh) Cost to Sponsor = (Cash spent by Sponsor) – (Revenue generated by community) The financial sustainability will happen if the higher benefit and lower costs are there, however continuity will happen only if the community ownership is there. Revenue generated by community for funding that initiaitve is what will define the continuity of the initiative. This cost of benefiting from initiative will ensure that the there is least misuse.
On the third question ie value created , I am not so very sure that the value created has to be unique and different. I think it has to be significant. Significant to the people whom it is going to impact, as well as impacting significant percentage of population. eg of such initiatives can be 1. Wheel chairs at Railway stations * Great for getting brand visibility (by "HCL Community Initiative" brand on each wheelchair as well as dedicated coolies wearing HCL brand clothing.
* High impact – ask any one who has an old / disabled person in family
* High percentage of target population (old / disabled) being impacted – atleast once in a while
* Cost = (Cost of 10 coolies + Cost of wheelchair + Maintenance) – (Cost of the 10 small Hoarding + Charge of using the service). BTW this is not a new or unique benefit. Just that HCL being there would mean better execution and hence the benefit being actually passed on. 2. Mobile internet cafe meant for Govt schools with no infra
* Great for getting brand visibility (by "HCL Community Initiative" brand on Shining large green truck; coverage in magazines / newspaper ; goodwill)
* Cost = (Truck + Equipment + Internet connectivity + Teacher+Fuel + Maintenacne)- (Cost of mobile hoarding + Cost of coverage in media + Charges collected from community)Rotaing between multiple schools, charging them nominal fee, changing the set of schools covered every quarter .. which will maximise the eyeballs as well as beneficiaries.
Can use the same infra to double up as a mobile library
Can use the same infra to go to old age home/Jail / .. 3. Toilets near Jhuggis / in busy markets .. Dozens of such ideas can come ; some will be feasible some will be not. I dont think the problem here has much to do with lack of ideas / people for executing the initiative. If Executive Sponsorship is there, things will move.

As long as generating ideas are concerned, you can always create a club within HCL that invites such ideas, screens them for finacials / impact on community. Maybe an internal blog for this purpose will suffice. All what you need is a person to act as a moderator – even that can be a rolling position moving from one division to other.
For people to own up any such initiative, I am sure there will be people willing to take on the challenge within HCL provided they are given an option of coming back after project stabalises. It can be a sabbatical with maybe half the salary, but a life enriching experience. Where there is a will there is a Way.
Gautam

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