An Indecisive Indian

 Dr. Sudhanshu Mani I was recently invited to deliver the keynote address at the C. K. Prahalad Memorial Lecture at ITM University, Gwalior, organised jointly by the university and the Gwalior Management Association (GMA). The journey from Lucknow to Gwalior was hardly an inviting prospect , but Gwalior was one of the few major Indian cities I had never visited. Curiosity eventually prevailed over the prospect of a tiring road trip. Besides, I usually try not to decline a university invitation, for it offers a wonderful opportunity to engage with young minds. I received a warm welcome and enjoyed extended conversations with Mr Shyam Agarwal of GMA and Mr Manish Jaisal, Head of Mass Communication. I also had an engaging discussion with Mr Daulat Singh, Pro-Chancellor of the university. I remain grateful to my hosts for their gracious hospitality and for introducing me to a city where martial valour and musical heritage coexist in a remarkable historical tapestry.   The fo...

  There is no significant progress yet on RailTech portal of Indian Railways (IR), intended to connect startups, innovators and industry partners directly with the railway network for open innovation. It is early days, so patience is wiser than judgement. We can wait for meaningful outcomes. IR also set up a designated portal for railway staff across levels to submit innovative safety and efficiency ideas, with senior officials reviewing and implementing viable suggestions (Employees Ideas Portal). IR has been trying to manufacture ideas for as long as I can remember. An idea, like a railway train, needs a track on which to run. And that brought some memories which I will share here. The ideation drama began in IR in the 1980s, when Quality Circles became a fad. Then came Kaizen, borrowed from Japan’s post-war manufacturing renaissance, and German terms such as Ideenfindung and Ideensammlung, idea-finding and idea-gathering. IR was determined not to be left behind. Unfo...