Rajnish Rikhy’s Post

Developed economy by 2047 ! Why should one not aspire, as it is a good talking point / target set by the Govt ! When you set high targets , the action plan supports it and you achieve the same ! Am hoping too . However am sure there will be some basic criteria to get that status and hope the Govt / authorities have that check list handy ! Don’t think only GDP growth or fastest growing economy etc will give that status to India . My reference today is limited and only on one aspect ie the rains/ monsoon , where year after year except the blame games there is no action plan . Well , just extrapolate the situation / adverse conditions of Delhi and Bombay ( the two hubs and pillars of the country ) and you can well imagine the chaos in the country ! Don’t forget major part of the rains / monsoon is still awaited , Am told by my friends that the water had entered the houses in Defence Colony , Golf links, Friends colony etc ( the so called posh southern Delhi ) . Hospitals in Delhi flooded and shut - value of life in a developing / developed economy ?? . Am sure same is true in Mumbai / state capitals / two and three tier cities , not to talk about other small cities . As no action can be taken in a week ( when one sleeps for years and has high inaction score ) imagine the fear / stress in the mind of millions of families and commuters ! Well bullet train is good to have and also many airports etc but not at the cost of the basics / hygiene line ! Desserts can not replace the main food and can only be a topping if one can afford ?? Well it’s common sense that if the roots / basics ( must to have ) are not strong , all other aspects ( nice to have ) will collapse as did the airport terminals ! The worst is that political leaders, be it MPs or MLAs are busy wasting time , as they are assured of getting/ making money for at least 5 years . Well , if this is the way the country will be governed and inherent issues not sorted , am afraid the 2047 will be a paper / talking target and all will see it , through sooner or later ! Cannot take the citizens for a ride every time . Am optimistic and feel we can do it ( as lot done on many fronts and momentum there ) but then drastic measures with a different mindset is a must and that too at bullet train speed ! Cheers with high hope !!!

Indian hospitality -Kudos Vistara Proud of the service provided in India by the airlnes / hotels !! Our airline services ( specifically VIstara ) is too good and scores very high on all parameters ! Well we only realise when you visit the other continents / so called developed nations ! Long flights within US / Europe / Australia ( be it 4 hrs or 7 hrs ) there is no food served even in full fare flights ! Lucky if can get some coffee / cookies !! We have superb service , even in a flight of 60 minutes from Delhi to Ahmedabad or even other shorter duration flights too ! The efficient crew is able to serve hot beverages with a smile , post serving food is just extra - ordinary ! Also the key is consistency , which reflects high standard of training too . Hope Air India catches up too , being part of Tatas but far behind , even after couple of years of take over from the Government ! Kudos to VIstara !

GAIN GAIN Wow , what a mandate and good days ahead surely !! Happiness / celebrations at all fronts and difficult to believe why the overall happiness quotient / positive mindset index will not shoot up ! Could not have expected a better day for celebrating democracy . What a strong message to the entire world on the vibrant democracy and systems . All this is bound to give even more POWER to the country ! Yes some lessons which are always true in corporate , now ought to be learnt by so called political leaders Many lessons for leaders ,but let me restrict to a couple of them only : 1 WE and not ME / I ( applies to PM and other captains too ) . * Now WE , not only within BJP but even with NDA partners may give new power to vibrant democracy . 2 Success / Past achievements / legacy is no gaurantee of being complacent and taking things for granted * nth personalities demolished including even leaders born thinking its birth right . Again a strong message pointing towards vibrant democracy . 3 Very thin line of demarcation between arrogance and over confidence ! * nth cases in this mandate including top leaders have packed their bags . Application of mind before speaking is strong sign for a vibrant democracy . Very happy as GAIN GAIN matrix is back . Hoping that prudent professionals / leaders will learn surely ( exceptions and contra always there ) from the mistakes and take action to come on track sooner than later . High probability of sanity / language / co - operation / respect / working culture coming back !!!! Able PM who has a good intent continues with speed controls and learnings - the need of the hour ! Many guys who went overboard will lead to cleaning up of the system too . So acceleration , with the brake pedal when required - best thing to happen in fact . Changes / new faces will emerge . It is bound to happen and hence new energy with zero base approach is expected going ahead ! PM as a versatile and astute leader will also adapt to new changes for a stable running without frictions to avoid any derailing which hits the basic premise - BHARAT first . What more could have one expected !!!

Low levels during MEDIA debates ! Well am surprised to see the personal attacks and usage of words on the so called national channels who also claim to be no 1 ! Forget personal attacks on fellow members on the panel , where anchor intervenes , but what happens when the participant abuses and calls the anchor an IDIOT !!! Well yesterday on CNN 18 the congress spokesperson Lokesh Jindal on the point of constitution told the anchor Anand N ‘ You are an idiot ‘ . Either the anchor didn’t hear or let it pass , as saw no objection and didn’t even ask him to apologise . Even more shocking when the anchor ignores , the reason is immaterial ! I was seeing the repeat show today morning around 6.46 am . Well if I heard it wrong , I may be excused and I proactively apologise to all. ( probability of that is .1 % though ) Has the news broadcasting fallen to such low levels that inspite of these words , they continue to call such people to the debate . Is there no sense of pride even ? Compulsion or high digestion index or acute competition ??? Even the airlines jointly take action and have a NO FLY list when some one misbehaves on any airlines / flight ( acute competing industry ) .However , news media appears to be toothless and unable to take joint calls / individual calls - that too Leader channels / high viewership channels . Disgusting if they can’t openly condemn / show the repeats of the abusive language / misbehavior and declare that X individual is banned and blacklisted . Why leave any breed / party scot free and not shame such behaviours openly ! Well media covers nth time when passengers misbehave / political or business leaders abuse - and now ?? In fact will urge both the bodies NBA and NBF to condemn it together and show the byte of 1 minute on all the channels and let all channels boycott / blacklist any such individuals - NO AIR list ( can’t be seen ever on any channel ) for such guys , like no FLY list !! All channels means all across the country ie English / Hindi / regional ! Is that too much to ask and if yes then have no words to say ! The rider - if CNN 18 / anchor complains and they take first step .Else , nothing to be done. In case the anchor / channel feels it’s fine and part of the eco system /nothing offensive / media ought to digest it . My assessment has zero meaning then 😀

PREDICTOR FLASH IN WC CRICKET 23 - A MOCKERY Congrats to Pak for a superb come back in today’s close match ( 27/10/2023) vs SA , though Pakistan lost the match ! Predictor was just lucky to be right though hardly made any sense at many occasions during the game . Point is not who won , but the process of how the predictor forecasts ? HIgh time the tech / algorithms incorporate the profile of batsman . Am talking of the following equation to lay the context : 15 runs required to win in 35 balls with 2 wickets in hand and the flash says 86% win for SA predicted . Well a no brainer , as none could believe the screen at that point / flash . A nail biting finish was expected , due to tail enders struggling at the wicket to save the match . 86% chance to SA says the predictor . At best , was 50: 50 at that point , if not lower for SA to win . A mockery ! Well just unbelievable and hence a clear flaw in the way the predictor operates in a mechanical way . The calculations take only arithmetics of remaining balls and runs , but don’t think even incorporates the sequence / profile of the batsman ! A clear failure in my view . If that be so , why have such irrational / mindless predictors ?? . High time to put better algorithms in the AI era !! Should incorporate more qualitative aspects to predict . Time to review / refine and assess the same , else there is no point of continuing with the same !! A suggestion for the ICC and other bodies associated with planning and execution of the same !!

Bundling of products / brands including political products ! Well , so glad to know that the political parties are aligning ( 10 + ) to fight a mega brand . Combo of commodities + brands to be frank ! Best wishes and hope they succeed , as in the case of corporate / commercial brands, the theory of weak bundle hardly works ! Forget the inter company rival brands coming together to take on a mega brand , the bundle of brands intra company ( inspite of same CEO / alignment of mind ) too have a limited impact . Well the root of such a consumer behaviour is - WEAK individual brand in all aspects - performance / perception / credibility / trust of consumers. It just doesn’t become strong due to the bundle . Mathematically ten ones added make it 10 , but then consumer and brand behaviours are not determined on that basis . No theory supports success on the principle - Weak brands in order to survive join hands and also challenge the mighty successful brand . In my mind basis the above principle , the weak political brands ( parties ) joining hands with an agenda / self interest / one common goal to displace the mega brand ( party ) will actually lead to mockery and self goals / hurt themselves individually too . The probable result - the mega brand may gain more credibility / trust and hence see higher growth in sales. Mega brands make their own path and create higher standards / benchmarks to attract consumers . They don’t get bogged down with this easiest / no brainer approach of weak brands coming together any time and act as challengers . The inherent strength of each brand plays the vital role . Hence bundle of 7 + 4 brand strength still has a chance to fight and can attempt to displace the top brand . However it’s worth waiting and watching . Who knows the marketing / brand / commercial principles have no application in political brand arena . Will love to see this principle / bundle of commodities succeed , as then there will be another interesting case study to discuss in the future !

AIR INDIA ( MAHARAJA ) - I have BLACKLISTED AIr India for international travel ! Well ,when the brand takes you for granted , tough decisions ought to be taken . AIR INDIA has shown Zero improvement , post takeover by TATAs . Have been avoiding Air India for the last so many years . As a couple of years had lapsed now ( long time for putting basics / hygiene in place ) , I assumed Air India would have improved its aircraft and service, being a TATA group airline now ! However during my recent international travel to US , I realised that the aircraft was in a pathetic state ! Shocked , as can’t even imagine that such an aircraft was cleared to operate on a premium / long journey sector of Delhi - New York ! Seats not reclining , broken arm rest , below average food service , no sanitizers , water choked washrooms , mobile charging points broken / not working , the unreadable and faded side switches ,unoperational TV sets and the list doesn’t end !!!! Never thought that Tatas too will take a myopic view / take advantage of the high traffic routes and give a damn to the customers . What a ride ! Sorry , I mean taken for a ride by Maharaja ! Worse , a deaf ear to the complaints. Post my journey , updated them ( including the CMD ) and the revert - an apology on standard mail by some junior executive and later ,an offer to credit 4000 mileage points too . What a mockery ?? With the kind of aircraft being put / inconvenience faced throughout the journey , AIR INDIA / TATAs should have ideally refunded or if refund pinches , could have at least offered a complimentary ticket on the same sector !! Any way good luck to Air india and hope it takes action even now ,post a thorough investigation . No courtesy to even call , hence classifying itself in the quadrant of clueless / blind MAHARAJA ( King ) not bothered about the Praja ( customers ) . Can’t force Air India to act sensibly , but can only advise all my friends to think twice before taking long international flights with them at this stage ! I have blacklisted them till then and will avoid international travel with Air India .Dont think they deserve to charge equivalent fare and compare themselves with branded airlines . Complete waste of money due to nth inconveniences ! Price of a BRAND , but delivery of a COMMODITY is unacceptable and inexcusable !!! Well , if they are off the basics / SOP , such incidents are bound to reoccur . Hardware and software both Worse , the credibility of TATAs is getting adversely impacted and as a professional / reputed house with high trust and image index , must bother / concern them , before it gets too late !

Culture/Mindset / Bad practices Well it’s aptly defined and a well known fact - The mammoth task to change the mind set / working style of the individuals associated for a long time with any organisation . They just find it impossible / difficult to shed the bad feathers .Such individuals are exposed faster in services sector . Well , yet again the pilot in AIr India flouts the norms . The mindset - I am the king and hence can continue to carry as one wishes , without bothering about the consequences . The reason - earlier habits / connections with politicians and seniors / exempt nth times due to seniority and hence false sense of indispensability ! However such aspects catch up at some point , as has happened in this specified case . My feeling is that 99.9 % , the pilot must be from the earlier era . However till when will TATAs take advantage of the same ( hide under that umbrella ) and hence it falls in an inexcusable mode . The following questions arise : 1 Why the delay in implementing new norms as now , almost a couple of years have lapsed since the take over took place Take more stringent action as mere suspension is just a good deterrent and the first step . 2 Why the delay and no action when case was reported . Tata got fined due to inaction reflects on slow response / action . Well that is not good for the brand / corporate . The bottom line - The whole process of integration into new corporate culture ought to be expedited , even at the expense of being ruthless now in extreme cases . Also process of taking prompt action a MUST , as the consumer now , expects perfection / not even a micro error from AI now / TATAs !!

Congrats ! Matter of time that the brand will move from the leadership zone to being the leader and topping the charts ! It’s already a leader in credibility / trust / daring stories / fastest growth index . Just four steps away now to reach 15 % - for the new leader to take birth !