Few weeks back, I had the good fortune of attending a town hall of Mr. Tony Hayward, the enigmatic CEO of BP. Tony, as some of you associated with BP would already know, has launched an organisation change management program which he and his leadership team have named “Forward Agenda”. He is touring various BP locations and meeting BP employees and using town halls to communicate the objectives and guiding principles behind forward agenda he has set for BP. The town hall I attended was the one he held at BP office in London. People were listening to him with rapt attention while he first established the need for an organisation wide change and then went on to outline the priority areas and the timescales. Along the way he provided interesting facts about the global energy industry (growing importance of India & China, 80% of oil reserves with national oil companies) and the role of integrated oil companies such as BP would play in the future and hence the need to change and prepare for it. I came out of the town hall simply awestruck and completely mesmerised by his poise, honesty and frank answers to difficult questions like job losses.
But this article is not about BP, it’s CEO or his Forward Agenda for BP. Tony Hayward’s inspiring speech provoked me to think about my own forward agenda. The one remotely close to the definition was nothing but a collection of few tasks and activities such as giving shape to an internal initiative, working on the extension of the existing project, attending few training programs and taking few certifications exams. On the personal front I had planned for training myself for the big biking event in June/July and finish reading a few books. Needless to say it was too shallow and incomplete. All of the above activities would not take me beyond winter of 2008. What would I do in 2009 or for that matter in 3 years from now or beyond? Quite perplexed I spoke to few close friends and colleagues to check if I was the only one in this precarious situation. Frankly I was relieved to know many fellow colleagues and friends too were in similar situation barring a few who had spent some time thinking and charting out a tentative plan. Everyone seemed to be too focussed on few tasks and activities to be completed in the coming few months. Some would argue the futility of 3 or 5 years plans in today’s day and age where everything seems to be constantly changing at break neck speed. I would say that calls for a periodic refresh of our plans rather than not having one at all!
But this article is not about BP, it’s CEO or his Forward Agenda for BP. Tony Hayward’s inspiring speech provoked me to think about my own forward agenda. The one remotely close to the definition was nothing but a collection of few tasks and activities such as giving shape to an internal initiative, working on the extension of the existing project, attending few training programs and taking few certifications exams. On the personal front I had planned for training myself for the big biking event in June/July and finish reading a few books. Needless to say it was too shallow and incomplete. All of the above activities would not take me beyond winter of 2008. What would I do in 2009 or for that matter in 3 years from now or beyond? Quite perplexed I spoke to few close friends and colleagues to check if I was the only one in this precarious situation. Frankly I was relieved to know many fellow colleagues and friends too were in similar situation barring a few who had spent some time thinking and charting out a tentative plan. Everyone seemed to be too focussed on few tasks and activities to be completed in the coming few months. Some would argue the futility of 3 or 5 years plans in today’s day and age where everything seems to be constantly changing at break neck speed. I would say that calls for a periodic refresh of our plans rather than not having one at all!
The Indian IT outsourcing industry too is busy studying the various factors that would impact its growth and shape its future. Enough has been written about the rising value of rupee, wage inflation, infrastructure bottlenecks, and supply woes; rising importance of domestic market therefore I would stay away from writing anything more on it. All the above factors will shape the Forward Agenda of IT companies operating in India. One item I would personally like to see on their agenda would be the focus on making technology work for the common man. How about technology making disbursement of pension easy, hassle free and transparent experience? The relief it would bring to the senior citizens of the country is beyond words. How about technology playing a role in bringing basic necessities such as primary education and healthcare to most deprived citizens of our country? There are several areas where technology can play a significant role, such as speeding up the legal system, making tax collection more efficient, simplifying land records, and getting the farmer a genuine price for his produce and many more. These areas have unfortunately been largely neglected by the IT industry barring pockets of brilliant work done by some for example echoupal by ITC, Bhoomi project by Karnataka Govt. with help from NIC (National Informatics Center).
Tony Hayward accidentally provoked me to embark on the journey to chart a Forward Agenda for myself. I do hope you would consciously make an attempt in the direction of preparing one for yourself.
Tony Hayward accidentally provoked me to embark on the journey to chart a Forward Agenda for myself. I do hope you would consciously make an attempt in the direction of preparing one for yourself.
1 comment:
Hunnn Nice read...Is the author confused or just worried...Nonetheless it is worth to give a thought on individual Forward Agenda
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