This is Manish from Udaipur

This is about life and life in Udaipur. About me and about me in Udaipur.

Reflections on 2025: Purposeful Acceleration in AI, Automation, and Cloud

2025 has been about purposeful acceleration, advancing AI and cloud while keeping people, processes, and value creation at the center. Across my writing this year, I’ve stressed a disciplined approach: design with outcomes in mind, automate the right work, and let data and context guide decisions.

Innovative approaches to digital transformation and AI integration

Published in The Hans India · https://www.thehansindia.com/tech/innovative-approaches-to-digital-transformation-and-ai-integration-974797

I unpacked how AI belongs inside transformation, not on the periphery. Starting from business intent, I described a blueprint that ties discovery, data readiness, model lifecycle, and change management into one motion. Rather than chasing pilots, the argument for a product mindset, thin slices that prove value fast, then expand. Along the way, I emphasized governance as an enabler of speed, not a brake, so AI remains reliable, ethical, and enterprise-grade.

Peripheral Automation: A New Lens on Everyday Efficiency with AI

Published in TimesTech · https://timestech.in/peripheral-automation-a-new-lens-on-everyday-efficiency-with-ai/

Here I reframed automation away from monolithic rewrites toward the work people actually touch—approvals, reconciliations, data prep, status updates. I explained how lightweight bots, connectors, prompts, and copilots can dissolve friction at the edges of core systems, where cycle-time is lost. The practical insight: when you automate the ‘peripheral’ flow, throughput jumps and adoption follows because teams feel the relief immediately.

Workplace Automation Is in Your Peripherals, Not Just Your Code

Published in PCQuest · https://www.pcquest.com/tech-trends/workplace-automation-is-in-your-peripherals-not-just-your-code-9022372

I cautioned against equating automation with source code changes alone. Most inefficiency lives between applications and handoffs. By mapping micro-journeys and targeting the small, repeatable pain points, organizations can compound gains without risking core stability. The result is visible time savings and better employee experience—early wins that build momentum for deeper change.

Making Technology Work: Advaiya’s Value-Driven Approach to Digital Transformation

Published in CXOToday · https://cxotoday.com/interviews/making-technology-work-advaiyas-value-driven-approach-to-digital-transformation/

In this conversation I laid out a simple test for any tech initiative: what behavior will change, and how will we know? I spoke about shaping portfolios around measurable outcomes, aligning incentives, and instrumenting solutions so we can learn and iterate. The north star is value realization—technology that clearly moves the business.

How Advaiya’s Peripheral Automation Redefines Enterprise Efficiency

Published in Dataquest India · https://www.dqindia.com/interview/how-advaiyas-peripheral-automation-redefines-enterprise-efficiency-8896015

I illustrated our approach with patterns we see repeatedly: messy spreadsheets, swivel-chair tasks, manual triage. We use discovery workshops, process maps, and usage analytics to prioritize the true bottlenecks. The theme is pragmatic: orchestrate people, process, and AI-driven tools at the edges to unlock capacity in weeks, not quarters.

The Cloud Imperative: Why Smart Businesses Are Making the Shift Now

Published in Dataquest India · https://www.dqindia.com/business-solutions/the-cloud-imperative-why-smart-businesses-are-making-the-shift-now-8742685

I argued that cloud is no longer a destination; it’s an operating model. Beyond elasticity and cost, the real advantage is speed—provisioning, experimentation, security posture, and data access. I encouraged leaders to modernize selectively, combining rehosting with refactoring where it measurably improves reliability, observability, and change velocity.

AI in 2025: Moving Fast and Not Breaking Things

Published in Express Computer · https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/ai-in-2025-moving-fast-and-not-breaking-things/121960/

This essay balanced optimism with accountability. I suggested guardrails—clear data lineage, human-in-the-loop checkpoints, and risk tiers—so teams can accelerate without compromising trust. The practical takeaway is cultural: pair ambition with stewardship so AI augments people and decisions remain transparent.

As 2025 closes, I’m energized by what’s ahead. The next chapter is about scale, discipline, and imagination—turning digitization into durable advantage. Here’s to a thoughtful, high-impact 2026.

Reflections on 2024: Peripheral Automation, AI and its Ethics, and reflecting on enterprise technology

2024 was the year AI moved from experimentation to everyday work. I focused on making adoption real—roadmaps anchored in outcomes, ethical use by design, and a renewed appreciation for the ‘peripheral’ flows that shape customer and employee experience.

AI for Growth: Building a Roadmap with Peripheral Automation

Published in PCQuest · https://www.pcquest.com/tech-explained/ai-for-growth-building-a-roadmap-with-peripheral-automation-8432184

I laid out a practical sequence for AI-led growth: clarify moments that matter, instrument the journey, then weave AI into the small steps that slow teams down. By treating peripheral automation as the scaffolding for change, organizations create safe, incremental value that compounds across the enterprise.

Interview with Manish Godha, Founder of Advaiya Solutions

Published in SugerMint · https://sugermint.com/manish-godha/

I reflected on Advaiya’s founding beliefs: technology must be empathetic to context and ruthless about outcomes. We discussed building multidisciplinary teams, the importance of craftsmanship, and why enterprise transformations succeed when leaders keep the user’s day-in-the-life at the center.

Managing the AI Revolution: How Companies Can Adjust and Succeed in the Automation Age

Published in Express Computer · https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/managing-the-ai-revolution-how-companies-can-adjust-and-succeed-in-the-automation-age/116439/

I proposed a playbook for responsible scale: talent upskilling, data governance as a product, and outcome-based prioritization. The core message was calm execution—establish operating norms early so AI becomes a dependable colleague, not a fragile pilot.

Future of AI: Ethical Considerations and Technological Advancements

Published in India Today · https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/future-of-ai-ethical-considerations-and-technological-advancements-2563790-2024-07-08

I examined the intersection of rapid capability gains and societal responsibility. We explored bias mitigation, explainability, and consent as table stakes, along with the need for cross-functional review boards. Trust, I argued, is a competitive advantage—earned by design, not marketing.

Block-the-Talk: How Enterprise Technology Is Helping Businesses

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-block-the-talk-manish-godha-founder-and-ceo-advaiya-on-how-enterprise-technology-is-helping-businesses-3539706/

In this feature, I shared case-patterns where small digital moves—workflow unification, analytics at the edge, guided selling—created disproportionate business impact. What matters is orchestration: connecting tools, data, and roles so outcomes become predictable.

Peripheral Automation: A Smart Way to Digitize the Enterprise

Published in Marketing Darwinism · https://pauldunay.com/peripheral-automation-a-smart-way-to-digitize-the-enterprise/

I argued that digitization often stalls because we ignore the long tail of tasks. By digitizing those ‘last mile’ activities with low-code, RPA, and embedded AI, organizations move from isolated initiatives to coherent, end-to-end experiences. This is where adoption and ROI finally meet.

Generative AI as a Growth Catalyst: How Businesses Can Leverage Generative AI to Their Advantage

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-generative-ai-as-a-growth-catalyst-how-businesses-can-leverage-generative-ai-to-their-advantage-3404411/

I highlighted credible entry points for generative AI—content ops, knowledge retrieval, summarization, and guided workflows. The lens is value discipline: integrate where the model’s strengths (language, patterning) directly reduce cycle time or unlock new customer experiences.

How Peripheral Automation Is Enabling Businesses Gain Competitive Advantage

Published in Express Computer · https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/how-peripheral-automation-is-enabling-businesses-gain-competitive-advantage/108843/

I showed how everyday automations—smart forms, alerts, data enrichments—create a flywheel effect. As friction falls, teams collaborate better, decisions speed up, and customers feel the difference. It’s compounding efficiency disguised as small improvements.

How Peripheral Automation Drives Growth in the Manufacturing Industry

Published in The Economic Times · https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-peripheral-automation-drives-growth-in-the-manufacturing-industry/articleshow/101200241.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

I focused on plant-floor realities—quality checks, materials tracking, and maintenance triage. Peripheral automation augments MES/ERP by streamlining human-machine touchpoints, improving throughput without disrupting production stability. It’s modernization that respects constraints.

How Peripheral Automation Is Key to Digital Transformation

Published in Techiexpert · https://www.techiexpert.com/how-peripheral-automation-is-key-to-digital-transformation/

Here I connected the dots: sustained transformation happens when you reduce the cost of change. Automating periphery reduces cognitive load and technical debt, making it easier to evolve core platforms over time. That’s how organizations stay adaptable.

As 2024 closes, I’m energized by what’s ahead. The next chapter is about scale, discipline, and imagination turning digitization into durable advantage. Here’s to a thoughtful, high-impact 2025.

The line was crossed

There is a line somewhere between culture and faith; between civilization and religion. It has a point where the past’s authority on present becomes absolute. This fine, almost invisible, line demarcates where our legacy is no more a font of ideals, inspiration and ideas but starts to sputter and spew prejudice, parochialism and braggadocio. It is where “what we are” starts to impede “what we can be”, and passions cloud all reason.

At some time this line was crossed with a momentum fueled by a cocktail of victimhood, neurosis and triumphalism, which ate away all scruples.  I do not know when or where did it happen, but January 22nd was a loud announcement that it definitely did.

Reflections on 2023: Composable architecture and sustainability

In 2023, I concentrated on how enterprises turn modern platforms into performance—marketing automation, analytics for sustainability, and pragmatic AI embedded in daily work.

Business Applications for Marketing Automation

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-business-applications-for-marketing-automation-3318179/

I mapped the modern marketing stack to outcomes: lead quality, velocity, and lifetime value. The point wasn’t tools—it was governance, content ops, and data hygiene so automations stay smart and compliant.

Sustainable Resource Management: How Analytics and AI Technologies Drive Efficiency for Businesses

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-sustainable-resource-management-how-analytics-and-ai-technologies-drive-efficiency-for-businesses-3282555/

I explored how sustainability and efficiency converge when you measure what matters. With IoT signals and usage analytics, companies can optimize energy, water, and waste without sacrificing customer outcomes—turning ESG into operational excellence.

How Viva Sales Is Helping Dynamics 365 CRM Users Double Their Sales Productivity

Published in CXOToday · https://cxotoday.com/cxo-bytes/how-viva-sales-is-helping-dynamics-365-crm-users-double-their-sales-productivity/

I described how contextual insights inside the flow of work change sales behavior—automatic capture, AI prompts, and better handoffs between marketing and sales. The lesson is simple: when insights find sellers, productivity follows.

Blockchain: The Role of ChatGPT and AI in Enhancing Customer Experience in Digital Transformation

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/blockchain-the-role-of-chatgpt-and-ai-in-enhancing-customer-experience-in-digital-transformation-3191632/

I examined how conversational AI can sit on top of trusted data rails. Pairing blockchain’s integrity with generative interfaces, we can deliver personalized, auditable experiences—useful in finance, supply chains, and identity-heavy journeys.

The Role of Peripheral Automation in Industrial Processes: Revolutionizing Industrial Efficiency

Published in Industry Feature ·

I returned to factory realities—paper trails, machine logs, compliance checks. With lightweight automation at the edges, teams close gaps between events and actions, reducing rework and improving OEE without risky core overhauls.

The Future of Business Applications: Trends to Watch

Published in TimesTech · https://timestech.in/the-future-of-business-applications-trends-to-watch/

I outlined shifts toward composable apps, low-code platforms, and embedded intelligence. The advice to leaders: curate a platform ecosystem that shortens the path from idea to impact, while keeping security and observability first-class.

How Peripheral Automation Drives Growth in the Manufacturing Industry

Published in The Economic Times · https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-peripheral-automation-drives-growth-in-the-manufacturing-industry/articleshow/101200241.cms?from=mdr

I detailed operations-centric automations—digital checklists, vision-assisted inspections, and maintenance alerts—that fold neatly into existing lines. This is growth through reliability and responsiveness.

How Peripheral Automation Is Key to Digital Transformation

Published in Techiexpert · https://www.techiexpert.com/how-peripheral-automation-is-key-to-digital-transformation/

I argued that change fatigue is a risk leaders must manage. Peripheral wins create psychological safety: teams see benefits quickly and are more willing to support deeper platform changes later.

Delivering Modern Customer Experience and Engagement with Enterprise Technology

Published in CEO Insights India · https://www.ceoinsightsindia.com/industry-insider/delivering-modern-customer-experience-and-engagement-with-enterprise-technology-nwid-13576.html

I connected CX outcomes to operational truths—inventory accuracy, service knowledge, and fulfillment transparency. Great experiences are engineered end-to-end, not layered on the front.

The Future of Project Management with AI

Published in The Financial Express · https://www.financialexpress.com/business/blockchain-the-future-of-project-management-with-ai-3004959/

I discussed AI as a project co-pilot—risk sensing, schedule suggestions, and smarter resource planning. The goal isn’t to replace managers but to elevate their judgment with timely, explainable signals.

As 2023 closes, I’m energized by what’s ahead. The next chapter is about scale, discipline, and imagination—turning digitization into durable advantage. Here’s to a thoughtful, high-impact 2024.

Reflections on 2022: Business strategy and building a valuable enterprise experience

2022 was about execution—linking strategy to delivery through OKRs, PPM, and customer-centric operating models. I focused on the connective tissue that turns ambition into measurable progress.

Strategy Execution: Project Management and OKRs

Published in The Indian Express · https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/strategy-execution-project-management-and-okrs-8359571/

I showed how to align missions and milestones. With OKRs setting intent and project management structuring the path, organizations create focus, cadence, and transparency—turning strategy reviews into learning cycles.

The Agile Context: Surrounding Customers with Digital Breakthroughs

Published in Express Computer · https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/the-agile-context-surrounding-customers-with-digital-breakthroughs/93053/

I argued for true agility—shortening feedback loops between customers and builders. By instrumenting journeys and co-creating with users, releases become less about volume and more about relevance.

Trends in Corporate Strategy for Customer Engagement & Experience

Published in BW Marketing World · https://www.bwmarketingworld.com/article/trends-in-corporate-strategy-for-customer-engagement-experience-459657

I outlined how data, design, and discipline intersect. The work is to unify profiles, content, and channels so engagement feels coherent and respectful—earning attention instead of demanding it.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Set to Digitally Transform Indian SMBs

Published in SiliconIndia · https://www.siliconindia.com/viewpoint/cxoinsights/microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central-set-to-digitally-transform-indian-smbs-nwid-36596.html

I explained why SMBs benefit from modern ERP: standardized processes, financial clarity, and easier integrations. The emphasis was on right-sizing—adopting capabilities that fit growth stages, not copying enterprise playbooks.

Evolution of Executing Strategic Initiatives in Conglomerate Businesses

Published in The Statesman · https://www.thestatesman.com/business/evolution-of-executing-strategic-initiatives-in-conglomerate-businesses-1503132390.html/amp

I discussed the governance complexities of multi-business portfolios. Visibility, dependency management, and shared services decide whether synergies materialize; tooling only works when operating rhythms are clear.

Interview with Manish Godha, CEO Advaiya

Published in Marketing Darwinism · https://pauldunay.com/interview-with-manish-godha-ceo-advaiya/

We explored why context beats generic templates. I spoke about shaping interventions to each organization’s maturity and constraints, and why empathy for the user is a non-negotiable design principle.

Scale as You Grow Your Manufacturing Business with Project Management

Published in The Indian Express · https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/scale-as-you-grow-your-manufacturing-business-with-project-management-8102358/

I tied scale to discipline—clear charters, stage gates, and integrated change control. Manufacturers win when operational excellence and project rigor reinforce each other.

How Digital Transformation Can Help Your Business Grow

Published in The Economic Times · https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-digital-transformation-can-help-your-business-grow/articleshow/94621591.cms

I cut through the buzzwords to focus on value pathways: better fulfillment, faster sales cycles, smarter service. Transformation, I argued, is growth strategy executed through technology.

How to Efficiently Plan and Manage Projects Using the Potential of PPM Capabilities

Published in Times of India (Blogs) · https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/how-to-efficiently-plan-and-manage-projects-using-the-potential-of-project-portfolio-management-ppm-capabilities/

I walked through portfolio hygiene—prioritization, capacity planning, and benefits tracking. When leaders see trade-offs clearly, delivery becomes predictable and funding more strategic.

How to Enhance Customer Engagement for Your Business

Published in The Economic Times · https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-to-enhance-customer-engagement-in-your-business/articleshow/93204129.cms

I focused on moments that build loyalty: proactive service, transparent updates, and relevant offers. Technology’s role is orchestration—making each touchpoint feel timely and personal.

Easy to Use Business Applications to Address New Age Execution Challenges

Published in The Statesman · https://www.thestatesman.com/technology/advaiya-leading-technology-consulting-implementation-services-1503094364.html

I made the case for approachable tools that reduce training time and shadow IT. When applications respect real-world workflows, adoption becomes organic and outcomes improve.

How to Accelerate Business Growth and Enhance Profitability Through Digital Customer Engagement

Published in The Economic Times · https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-to-accelerate-business-growth-and-enhance-profitability-through-digital-customer-engagement/articleshow/91786204.cms

I connected engagement to unit economics: smarter acquisition, higher conversion, lower churn. Digital makes this measurable—so long as teams agree on metrics and instrumentation from the start.

Digitally Transforming Customer Engagement in Professional Services Businesses

Published in BW Marketing World · https://www.bwmarketingworld.com/article/digitally-transforming-customer-engagement-in-professional-services-businesses-430632

I highlighted the role of knowledge management and expert availability. In services, trust is the product; digital touchpoints must extend, not dilute, that relationship.

Advaiya Focuses on Enterprise-Level Digital Acceleration Solutions

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/advaiya-focuses-on-enterprise-level-digital-acceleration-solutions/

I described our focus on acceleration—patterns, templates, and assets that shorten delivery time. Customers value speed with quality; that’s the bar we set for ourselves.

Why Digital Transformation Matters for Professional Services

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/why-digital-transformation-matters-professional-services/

I explained how digital elevates utilization, knowledge reuse, and client intimacy. The message: modernize the back-office and the front-stage gets better too.

Cloud Integration: Trends Defining Industry Developments

Published in BW Businessworld · https://www.businessworld.in/article/cloud-integration-trends-defining-industry-developments-428216

I outlined integration as a strategic capability—event-driven patterns, API gateways, and security by default. The win is resilience: systems evolve without breaking contracts.

Digital Initiatives Unlock Synergies Within a Conglomerate Business

Published in Times of India (Blogs) · https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/digital-initiatives-unlock-synergies-within-a-conglomerate-business/

I showed how shared data and common services allow business units to move faster together. Synergy is not a slogan; it is hard-won through interoperable platforms and aligned incentives.

How Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Empowers Indian SMBs

Published in CEO Insights India · https://www.ceoinsightsindia.com/industry-insider/-how-microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central-empowers-indian-smbs-nwid-8787.html

I detailed why modern ERP lowers the barrier to professionalism—clean books, predictable operations, and better customer commitments. SMBs deserve enterprise-grade discipline without enterprise-grade overhead.

2022 Could Be the Year of Low‑Code and No‑Code in Enterprise Tech

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/2022-could-be-the-year-of-low-code-and-no-code-in-enterprise-tech/

I reflected on citizen development with guardrails—governed environments that let domain experts build safely. The payoff is proximity: the people closest to the work can improve it fastest.

As 2022 closes, I’m energized by what’s ahead. The next chapter is about scale, discipline, and imagination—turning digitization into durable advantage. Here’s to a thoughtful, high-impact 2023.

Reflections on 2021

In 2021, many organizations moved from survival to reinvention. I focused on cloud, modern workplace, and the operating habits that help teams sustain change.

Cloud Computing a Big Driver for Digital Transformation

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/cloud-computing-a-big-driver-for-digital-transformation/

I made the case for cloud as an organizational capability—security posture, automation, and a culture of experimentation. The value shows up when releases speed up and outages go down.

Streamline Your Business Processes with Cloud Computing

Published in EPC World · https://www.epcworld.in/streamline-your-business-processes-with-cloud-computing/

I translated cloud benefits for construction and engineering contexts—document control, site collaboration, and cost visibility. Modern tooling turns coordination into a strength instead of a constraint.

Advaiya Focuses on Enterprise-Level Innovation and Tech Enablement

Published in Dataquest India · https://www.dqindia.com/advaiya-focuses-on-enterprise-level-innovation-and-tech-enablement/

I discussed capability-building as the real moat: reusable assets, cross-functional teams, and governance that accelerates delivery rather than slows it.

Benefits and Considerations for Cloud Deployment

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/benefits-and-considerations-for-cloud-deployment/

I approached migration as a portfolio—some workloads rehost, others replatform, a few refactor. The decision rule is simple: improve reliability, observability, and speed without overengineering.

A Guide to Successful Project Portfolio Management

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/5-steps-for-implementing-successful-project-portfolio-management/

I offered a five-step rhythm—intake, prioritization, capacity, delivery, benefits realization. When the cadence is clear, teams stop thrashing and start shipping predictably.

Digitization and Automation: Evolution of a Modern Workplace

Published in PCQuest · https://www.pcquest.com/digitization-automation-evolution-modern-workplace/

I looked at the employee experience: fewer swivel-chair tasks, better knowledge discovery, and more time for deep work. Culture improves when friction is designed out.

Communities and Content: A New Paradigm

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/communities-and-content-a-new-paradigm/

I wrote about the power of practitioner communities—spaces where patterns, not just artifacts, are shared. That’s how expertise scales across an organization.

Evolve, Transform, Innovation — An Interview with Manish Godha, Advaiya CEO

Published in Advaiya · https://advaiya.com/aspl-media/evolve-transform-innovation-an-interview-with-manish-godha-advaiya-ceo/

I reflected on a builder’s mindset: keep shipping, keep learning, and let results guide the next bet.

Why Now Is the Time to Modernize Your Construction Business

Published in Construction Business Owner · https://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/technology/why-now-time-modernize-your-construction-business

I presented a modernization path tailored for construction—field mobility, integrated scheduling, and connected financials. The payoff is fewer delays and better cash flow.

As 2021 closes, I’m energized by what’s ahead. The next chapter is about scale, discipline, and imagination—turning digitization into durable advantage. Here’s to a thoughtful, high-impact 2022.

It is not ABC!

Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience. (George Bernard Shaw)

What really is this “capacity for experience”? Surely, it is related to “Growth Mindset” which is a belief and preparedness to change for the better in light of new knowledge. It is also related to curiosity and ability to explore—openness with healthy scepticism. And, perhaps the most important element of “capacity for experience” is the ability to experience analytically and draw lessons which work.

The most instructive experience is, of course, failure. And, not just grand catastrophic failures—an unsuccessful rocket launch or a building collapse—but the stuff that we experience everyday: a bug, a lost sale, a bad presentation, a missed deadline, etc. They upset us, dent our enthusiasm, and might make us cynical. This is more so when such failures repeat and we do not seem to have learnt anything from these experiences.

Our default toolset to deal with failures is ABC. That is, we instinctively Accuse, Blame and Criticize. It is natural that we ask ‘whose fault is this’. So, if we are late for the meeting, it’s the cab driver who took the wrong route! We are wired by evolution to see agents and intent, and that is how we tend to deal with failures as well. Alas, it is rarely helpful, it seldom changes things for the better and it only reflects a poor “capacity for experience”.

We deal with complex things all the time. Any outcome is a result of many interconnected events. A defective report, for example, cannot simply be blamed on the developer who did not incorporate the required data correction in her code. Perhaps, the access to the API she depended on was not available. Maybe the API itself did not account for an unanticipated scenario. Resorting to ABC would not lead to a lasting solution, would not solve the problem for ever. All one might possibly have is a temporary satisfaction of identifying the ‘culprit’.

One with capacity for experience should be able to see deeper, and would know that the right thing to know and learn is not who the culprit is, but where the system failed. A great way to do that is to ask earnestly, ‘What could have been done differently?’ (WCHBDD). Maybe, we would learn to be better prepared for unexpected data scenarios, perhaps we would use better components in our solution, or perhaps we would test for more cases. While none of them would specifically guarantee that there would be no errors, each of them would make the end product better.

The key thing to appreciate here is that an outcome is result of a process, a system which is built of many parts and many stages. And, that zero defect at the end of pipe does not mean lack of errors altogether. And stuff happens—it is not possible to be errorfree. Yet, it is possible to be zero defect if we ditch ABC and adopt WCHBDD!

From Efficiency to Advantage

From efficiency to advantage. This is the story of technology, and with some lag, story of IT services industry. Doing the same thing cheaper, faster or better is no longer sufficient.

Information Technology has been a great driver of speed and efficiency. Technology ROI has traditionally been seen as a function of efficiencies and the costs. This equation drove adoption of technology by industry globally, squeezing more efficiencies as technologies improved, and reducing costs by outsourcing, consolidating, and standardizing.

The twin vectors of efficiency and costs–building and feeding on themselves–have, since a few years, landed into a new territory. The quest to squeeze more efficiencies has paled against allure of creating sustained and unique advantage for the business made possible by digital innovation. Similarly, functional cost reductions via optimizing on how activities are performed have reached limits and the specter of wholesale outsourcing via cloud, for example, disrupts the traditional cost calculus. These have become universally available and easily accessible, thus no longer are source of advantage.

This is new, and strikes at the basis of the traditional IT industry business models. Interest has waned for IT services’ pitches of providing the commoditized capabilities at a reduced cost or a more optimized setup. Businesses have a reached a point where such efficiencies have become a norm and do not provide sustained competitive advantage. They surmise that the daunting task of transforming themselves cannot be helped by mechanistic, efficiency-minded tech services companies.

There are two key frictions at play here. One is past v present, and another is present v future. And their domain is bigger than the IT services or tech outsourcing. It is impacting all areas of tech industry.

Firstly, what is valuable today is different from what was yesterday. While there is some value in getting something done in a particular way, again and again, it does not confer ‘advantage’. As technology forces a rethink of their businesses, companies try to find “advantage”, even in the supposedly mundane tasks where, till some time ago, it was all about just getting those done. That means, it is no longer relevant to assess value in terms of effort. The worth of a job must be thought in terms of “advantage” that it can garner. That’s more complicated than costs per hour, much more intimate and ephemeral. Impact of innovative technology adoption–let’s say of cloud or machine learning–cannot be assessed with frameworks of current practices. So, management techniques and business models based on selling (or saving) effort at some sort of time rate are breaking down.

Secondly, the impact of the new capabilities of technology on technology industry itself is more pronounced and profound than it has ever been. While not there yet, the asymptotic nature of technology work is starting to become visible. Algorithms are not just replacing non-tech workers, but also techies. Today’s good programmers are taking away jobs from tomorrow’s. The power shift is multi-directional with the middle getting squeezed away. This poses an existential imperative for the industry and its constituents. As it gets automated or becomes available in smart user accessible chunks, merely delivering technology would cease to be a business or a job. Instead, those who deliver ‘advantage’, via technology or otherwise, would thrive.

Moments

Happiness, and pain and despair are fleeting, but powerful feelings. In those short moments they are remarkably convincing of their permanence, their relevance and their significance. Momentary episodes as they are–they seem to aggregate up to what our lives are. The aggregate which is bigger than a mere sum of its parts, with all the complexity emerging as these simple moments come together.

Or, is it? Perhaps, these moments are significant only as individuals. These fleeting moments which assert their profoundness to the aggregate are perhaps like minions guarding the gates of their masters. The despair that so boldly convinces us of its reason and permanence can fade just as a tiny another moment happens.

Or, maybe, these moments are important and significant just by themselves–having little bearing on anything bigger, and anything else having little bearing on them. Then, wouldn’t pain and despair lose their sting, and happiness need no reason?

Elections 2013 and NOTA

Yes, it has been five years. I wrote then about anti-incumbency being a powerful force, and so has been the case again in this assembly election in Rajasthan. BJP won unprecedentedly and so on. What did not find its justified mention in all the consequent hoopla was NOTA.

NOTA or ‘none-of-the-above’ option was exercised by more than half a million voters in Rajasthan. That these many people made the effort of walking to the polling booths, standing in a long queue, and having a finger nail shabbily painted, to not select anybody, does say a lot. Interestingly, in Delhi, the NOTA voters were much fewer, possibly because AAP did cover the NOTA sentiment.

However, AAP’s significant victory in terms of number of seats won betray a subtle fallacy. Fallacy, that elections are merely to elect a government. AAP signifies a body of belief, support to that was expressed by people. Just as a significant statement was made by people selecting NOTA. We vote to express our opinion. Even if does not lead to a win, it is relevant. The opinion so expressed would reverberate and strengthen many feedback loops within the system.

NOTA was the fourth largest voted option. In many instances the number of NOTA votes was more than the winning margin. That there is this large segment of voters ready to support a candidate or a party which addresses them properly, is a fact that polity cannot ignore.

Yes, good things ahead!