Infosys: Building Tomorrow’s Enterprise

Our generation (those born in the 80s) grew up seeing this strong tagline for Infosys:

“Powered by intellect. Driven by values.”

This tagline was so strong and impactful that it generated a high feeling in the audience immediately. It also gave the employees and the associates a matter of pride and a challenge to make this self-assertion true; every single day and hour. But many felt that this tagline was “inward focused” – to which even I agree. It strongly proposed what Infosys stood for, which was very inspiring in the company’s initial years. I am sure this tagline shaped the way Infosys grew up in the earlier years.

After the above slogan another brand positioning statement came which told where the company was heading to. It said:

“Win in the Flat World.”

This new tag was outward focused. It told about how Infosys can help its clients win in the ever globalized world. It told that the company was in touch with the latest technologies and skills which will enable “winning”. I think this new line put Infosys in the league of world’s best companies and gave the Infosys brand an international feel.

And then, the present tagline has happened:

“Building Tomorrow’s Enterprise.”

The new visual brand identity is here:

This journey is captured in the below description which a TOI article quoted Infosys COO SD Shibulal saying:

Infosys 1.0: (First 20 years):  focused on developing and managing technology applications for customers and on building a global delivery model.

Infosys 2.0: (Next 10 years): developed end-to-end service capabilities, systems integration capabilities, and added consulting and innovation expertise.

Infosys 3.0: (Now and onwards): To be at the intersection of the client's business and technology and of global trends, and use the knowledge and expertise to help them transform and move into new directions.

And hence, "Building Tomorrow's Enterprise" makes perfect sense!

I think the above tagline is a perfect brand-positioning for Infosys. It also is an appropriate one given the legacy of Infosys brand positioning statements. Also, it is an honest one, given that the company is focused on breaking away from linear business model where business growth is proportional to new human resources hiring and is aiming towards more consulting and business transformation projects. I am sure the new brand identity and positioning statement are perfect and will be helping Infosys in its 3.0 journey.

- Rahul

PS: The views expressed here are entirely personal and do not represent the views of any organization or firm. There is no associated claim of 100% factual accuracy of everything that is written in this article, though care has been taken to avoid any error or misrepresentation.

Infy Heritage Club

We now have 'Infy Heritage Club' within Infosys. Some time back we were asked to nominate ourselves voluntarily for this newly created club. I just received a mailer welcoming us and also invited me to an online survey to ascertain my skills which can be of use for this club.  The mailer informs us that under the banner we have some exciting projects lined up using our skills in the field of project management, creativity, IT expertise, and above all, as it says, “through the passion & spirit of Infy!”

The Infy Heritage Club is proposing these projects in collaboration with Ministry of Culture (Govt of India) and some of the prestigious institutions and subject matter experts in the country.

- Rahul

Visiting ISKCON Temple, New Delhi

I and my wife visited ISKCON Temple, New Delhi some time back. While in Mumbai, we used to visit ISKCON Temple at Juhu many times and it was nice to visit one in Delhi too. ISKCON Temple in South Delhi is situated in East of Kailash.

The Temple structure is grand and we need to walk up the stairs to reach the main temple (the height is because the temple is situated on a hill called Hare Krishna Hill). The prime deities Radha and Krishna are so wonderful to visit. The Krishna’s idol here is made of black colored stone. On one side of the main deity are the idols of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai along with Srila Prabhupada and his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. And on the other side very beautiful deities in the form of Ram Parivaar are installed. The main prayer hall in front of the deities has a very peaceful energy and environment and the devotees sit for some time and soak themselves into the positive energy of the temple.

One door from the main prayer hall takes us towards a gallery which has beautiful and large portraits showing different leelas and life events of Lord Krishna. It also has a series of portraits of Radha and Krishna from many ISKCON Temples from all across the world. It is a matter of pride for us to see such beautiful temples made by ISKCON all across the world. 

When we come out of the main temple, we find some restaurants and also a beautiful shop selling religious literature and music CDs. There is also a museum gallery. We also got to know that the temple conducts Multimedia Shows for the visitors.

Some other useful information:

Name of the temple: Sri Sri Radha Partha-Sarathi ISKCON temple

Address: Iskcon Temple, Hare Krishna Hill, Sant Nagar Main Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110065, India +91 11 2332 0005

Timing: Open on all days. Morning Prayer Time: 4.30 am, 7.15 am, 7.45 am. Evening Prayer Time - 12.30 pm, 7.00 pm, 7.45 pm (Prayer Hall Remains Closed from 12 pm to 4 pm)

Website: http://www.iskcondelhi.com/

Recommended webpage for a very good review: http://www.shubhyatra.com/delhi/isckon-temple.html

Now I am posting some of the pictures we took during our visit: 

(The deities of  Sri Sri Gaura Nitai along with Srila Prabhupada and his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati)

(Lord Krishna had acquired the name Parthasarathi because he had driven Arjuna's chariot duing the great Mahabharata war. It can be seen symbolically as he promises in Bhagavad Gita that he reciprocates as per the devotee's desire.)

(Lord Ram, Sita mata, Lakshman, and bhakt Hanuman)

Management mythos by Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

I am a big fan of Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik and I wait for his column “Management Mythos” in the Economic Times every Friday. Dr. Pattanaik, a medical doctor by education (MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai) turned to become a renowned mythologist. He works as a leadership consultant and holds the innovative position of Chief Belief Officer at the Future Group. You can check his website at: http://devdutt.com/

I am reproducing his today’s article from ET:

Management mythos: Read situations in all the perspectives

30 Sep, 2011, 05.49AM IST, ET Bureau

The sage Narada wanted to marry a young princess. But she said she wanted to marry only Hari. Hari is the name of Vishnu , who is God and the guardian of earth. Narada went to Vishnu and began singing his praises. So Vishnu offered him a boon.

"Give me the face of Hari," said Narada. Vishnu granted that wish. Narada went to the princess but instead of garlanding him, she turned around in disgust. There behind her stood Vishnu. The overjoyed princess garlanded Vishnu. Narada wondered what was wrong. Then he saw his face reflected on a mirror.

It was that of a monkey! He accused Vishnu of cheating him. Vishnu smiled and replied, "I gave you the face of Hari, which literally means monkey, though it happens to be my name."

Narad can be read the situation in two ways: a strategic narrative or a sincere narrative. In a strategic narrative, Narad can see Vishnu behaving like a lawyer, playing with words to make him feel like a fool. In a sincere narrative, Narada can see Vishnu behave like God, using a play of words to enlighten him not to trick a young girl simply because he can.

In a strategic narrative, Vishnu is the wily trickster who wants the princess for himself. In a sincere narrative, Vishnu stops Narada from being a trickster and grants the princess her wish. In a strategic narrative, Narada feels like a fool. In a sincere narrative, Narada is enlightened.

Every situation can be read strategically or sincerely. When we read a situation strategically, we feel manipulated; we feel we have been reduced to a performing monkey. When we read a situation sincerely , we learn from it; we feel someone cares for us enough to demonstrate to us our shortcomings rather than simply pointing it out.

After completing his course in Australia, Jason returned to India with plans to start a fast food joint. His father, Paul, was a renowned restaurateur, with many small boutique hotels in East and South India , saw the business plan and knew that it would not work. But he gave his son the seeding capital he needed.

The hotel started with much fanfare but was in the red in less than six months. That is why Paul sent his team to help out the son. They made two key changes, in the menu and in the advertising. The same place, which was empty for six months, was now full of customers.

Now Jason has two options, just like Narada. Read his father's actions strategically or sincerely. He can see Paul as a manipulator, a dominant father, who wanted to put him in his place. Or he can see Paul as a teacher, a caring father, who wanted to show him what actually works in the restaurant business. Jason can feel like Hari, the monkey, or thank Hari, the teacher. The choice is very much his.

The author is the Chief Belief Officer of the Future Group. He can be reached at devdutt@devdutt .com

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/corporate-dossier/management-mythos-read-situations-in-all-the-perspectives/articleshow/10178045.cms