Robots Run the Asylum

Winter was mild and cool

Time for fun& play

But old Mr. Ram was hard at work

 

25 years back on a fine summer day

Mr. Ram opened his factory

So that it never shuts down

 

Within last 5 seasons

Mr. Ram bought or built 6 more factories around the globe

So that his businesses never close & monies flow

 

Last autumn, when leaves were losing colors

Mr. Ram turned 72

He suddenly became young at heart & more adventurous

 

So, on a fine winter morning

He vowed never hit the streets to the airport again

Except visit his oldest factory once a day

 

50 years back

He was the brightest management student around

Now he thinks all management theories are nothing but junk

 

So he decides to muddle the mud on the shop floor

With his own ideas tinged by ‘creativity’

Rejecting all that he passionately knew

One Sunday evening when the moon shone bright

He had one of his brightest ideas

Why not have three Works Managers instead of one?

 

Next morning when employees trooped in grudgingly

They saw the notice board in awe

Henceforth each one would handle 5 bosses

By afternoon, when the sun shone dimly on the wintry sky

Managers were crest fallen – not knowing what to do

Employees smiled clearly knowing the path ahead

 

By Friday evening the air was chill

Productivity went through the floor

Lunatics ran the asylum

 

Darkness fell, stilling everything around

Motion came to a grinding halt.

Robots moved everywhere not knowing where to go

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A New Game -- Pain in the ....

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Munna Ranjan was very happy. He cleared the UPSC Examinations. This afternoon the postman handed him an “O.I.G.S “marked registered letter. It contained the job offer, directing him to join one of the premier Government offices on or before 31^st December at Delhi.

The evening “aarti” at the Hunuman temple had just started. Munna, barefooted went to the temple. He took one of the “Hunuman Chalisa” books, squatted in front of the image of Lord Hunuman and started reading it with a new energy. He stayed there till the aarti was over. He took a “parikrama” and returned back to his home. 

Munna joined the government office on 15^th December. The elders were giving him a lot of advice. Ragging of a different kind started. He was made to do some odd jobs like filing, indexing, page numbering etc. At the end of the day Munna went to his new home, satisfied. He made a small list in his mind --- whom to give and what to give, when he gets his first salary.  

Munna started preparing for his 15^th transfer. His upright attitude in life has made him suffer. He didn’t know how to manipulate and use office politics as a weapon to guard himself. He was singled out and hammered. Munna was very good at his work. At times he became arrogant and rude to his higher ups. He thought his work would speak for him but it didn’t. Bosses wanted something more from him.

Sefali Dixit Kumar, the only daughter of an IPS officer who had headed one of the offices under the Ministry of Home regularly uses her father’s clout to gain undue advantage. Be it securing an out of turn taxi at the airport or not getting a challan (ticket) at a No-parking zone she always has her father’s name on her lips. Sefali got through the Civil Services Exams after a third attempt. Her rank was quite lower in the order. She became an IOFS (Indian Ordnance Factory Service) officer but she didn’t want to join. Her father again came to her rescue.

Sefali Dixit had married a Tamil and didn’t want to affix the surname of her husband. After a lot of coaxing and fatherly advice from her only “father” she added that “Kumar” after her name. She believed these are done by the males so as to dominate their woman folk of the society. She wanted power and wanted it badly. She was very good at understanding the power centers in the office. Her noodle strap designer blouses did the trick as most of the middle aged male officers and “over the horizon” senior officers went gaga over her. She was attractive and venomous. There was no hurdle for her. She got everything she desired. From junior staff to the chief in the office everyone addressed her as “Madame”. Every thing went smoothly for her. Her TA, Medical Bills, Leave, Loan sanction was done at record time but others had to wait for days if not for months. Was it because of her able handling of the staff or she knew exactly the pulse of the epicenter of power. She was used to hearing the phrase “yes Madam”.

“Power” is intoxicating. It gives a “high feeling”. Sefali had tasted power. She wanted to be a symbol of woman’s emancipation. She is the new generation woman where she wants to hold the reins of power. Sefali was a regular visitor to the high end clubs where army officers and government officers would love to ogle at her. Her liaison with other government officials didn’t help her office though. She enjoyed them and ey also had a new perverted feeling with her.

Sefali Dixit Kumar was also posted at the same station where Munna got posted. Sefali is Munna’s new boss. Munna did not learn from his previous mistakes. Munna made his opinions clear. He did not become a “yes madam” like others. While others were enjoying, Munna was slogging at his desk. Sefali didn’t like him. She wanted to dominate this man. All her men in her short 32 years of her life had been her slaves. She was not used to hear a “no” from anyone. Sefali was waiting for the right moment to strike Munna. The opportune moment came. An important file went missing. It was under the custody of Munna. An enquiry was initiated by Sefali. She placated him for the important missing file. The Chief of the station tried to down play the whole episode. Sefali was desperate to nail Munna. She filed a detailed report directly to the Headquarters. Some of the decision making officers were her biggest fans. They did what she wanted them to do. A commission held Munna guilty. All decisions were made ex-parte. Munna was not heard at all. Munna lost his seniority and was transferred to the newly opened station at Nagaland --- 16^th transfer.

Lesson Learned:

1. Vindictive nature and ego of bosses dampen the best people in the organizations at the expense of organizational peformance.

2. Bosses such as Shefali wants their subordinates to have their faces turned towards them and their backs turned towards work and clients.

3. This is an old game but appears in new forms. No organizational systems design can take care of this critical aspect that spoils an organization at its roots.

This post is contributed by Mr. Sitendu De.

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