Stratetigically Collaborating with the competition -

Usually when we have competition in the area we work, everybody tend to take it lying down, doing things behind the scene so that the competition is not aware of your actions and plans. We take extra care in snooping on what the competitor is planning to do and try to get what his immediate and long term plans are. If it is a product  company we tend to lok at the new product releases in the market by competitors and see how it affects our position in the market.

But in some sectors the competitors can collaborate or cooperate, help to build the market and within the market, compete with the same players with whom one has collaborated in setting up the market. We call this process Coopetition. 

An article in HBR When should you collaborate with the competition (click here) by Graham Kenny Jan 2021, speaks about this coopetition process in Australia, how the wine growers and Avacado growers collaborated in the initial stages decades back to educate the consumers about the benefits of wine and Avocado and later with an increasing aware customer base, compete in the same market to get a share of the market.

This strategic move can help create new markets, till now unknown and unexplored.

A similar exercise was undertaken by Amazon with the introduction of their Personal Assitant Echo dot in the India market by 2017. A customer base unaware of the product and how the AI product could change their life, underwent a series of informational campaigns by Amazon through the print and electronic media to educate the customers. 

Once the customers became aware of the technology and industry competition understood the potential of this new AI contraption that could slowly change the way humans interact with machines, Google through the Google Home, Microsoft through Cortana and Apple through Siri have also entered the market and are competing with each other to get a share of the market. 

George..

How many AI apps do we daily use ?

We all are enamored by the mention of the word AI , but are we fully in grip of the potential AI can make in our lives. Why are some of us afraid when there is a mention on AI, while others are upbeat when they hear the word AI.

I have been trying to find out the AI apps I use in my daily life and have been successful to a limited extent. 

The basic purpose of this exercise is to create better AI awareness in the society and for my students, so that they are better prepared to face AI when it hits us very soon in the next 5 - 10 years.  

Are AI apps harmful to society and humanity in general or are they beneficial ?

To prepare oneself for the AI revolution, it makes sense to know how many AI apps are we using presently and for which processes.

• Email replying - Google AI
  
• Searching to get better and relevant search results - Google search AI
• Spam filter - Google AI
  
• Email sorting (smart email categorization) - Google AI 
• Google Maps - Google AI
• Google ads - relevant to my search - Google AI
  
• Google doc - grammar check - Google AI
• Translate from speech to text - Google AI
• Translate from about many languages to other languages - Google Translate
  
• Facebook photo upload - suggests friends, Facebook AI
• Image editing - Faceapp AI
• Image editing - Prisma AI
• Online shopping - products suiting my taste at Amazon - Amazon AI
  
• Chatbots at SBI, HDFC 
• Music search and playback at Amazon echo dot - Amazon Alexa AI engine
  
• Music search and playback at Google Home Mini - Google AI engine
  
• Washing machine at home - Haier, Fuzzy Logic
• Website building - Leia app
• Chat companion - Replika app
  

I am constantly trying to find different areas of AI application. Will keep updating this list. I am yet to find an AI financial app that can help me manage my finances well.

George.

Why academic administrative positions remain paralytic ?

In general administration,  people get satisfied rising up the administrative ladder. But in academics it is misfits in academics or people who have no confidence in their academic qualifications or accidentally entered the teaching profession that aspire for administrative positions.

The objective of academic administration is only to enable effective academics. The Professors have to ensure good teaching in the institution.  

It is only high quality teaching that will be remembered by students, not administration. 

Sadly in India, academic administration takes the upper hand over real academics, which is the bane of our country. These administrators with qualifications from doubtful institutions with poor credibility, kill academics instead of supporting it. They take false pride in bringing around academic paralysis in Universities across the country. 

Improving the quality of academics by improving teaching quality and increasing student confidence in their own academic qualifications is the only way out. 

George 

How corporate governance is helping a Panchayat in Kerala, Kizhakkambalam to excel ..

To this day, corporates have not harmed anyone.  The corporate never seemed to be a terrorist who was bound to eat the man as a whole.  They have not drained anyone's blood, except for the fact that a simple graduate who could have taught at a parallel college in the country or driven an auto rickshaw would have had a dignified life through corporate work.  Not only that, but they have paid him as much as he could afford for his education.

 This is not a corporate bragging right.  It is about the 2020 election victory in Kizhakambalam panchayat.  I need not say more about that one movement, you may have seen a lot of videos about the comforts that people in the East Coast enjoy.  Nowadays we see those people who were lucky enough to buy a kilo of sugar for 10 rupees and a kilo of coconut oil for 44 rupees.

  Sabu Jacob, the inventor of the Kambalam model, was also present at the Asianet discussion.  In that discussion, he explained the secrets behind turning a panchayat with a debt of Rs 35 lakh into a panchayat with a surplus of Rs 13.5 crore.  Most importantly, he said, it was to avoid corruption at the governmental level, to avoid middlemen for many things, and to save a large amount of money from it itself.  Many in Kerala know, without Sabu, that the remaining 60 are being stolen by politicians and bureaucrats.

 A minister, a politician, an academic and then Sabu of the 2020 panchayat were in the discussion.  One of the jokes was that Sabu, a corporate giant, spends all the money he spends on the panchayat out of his own pocket.  In a surplus panchayat, the question remains as to why a corporate should be so cash-strapped.) What was then seen was a kind of political intolerance to establish that this system of corporates would not succeed broadly in the state of Kerala.  It does not take a great deal of intellect to understand that Sabu is not the only one who can afford to build roads, cut and spend for the people in the country with the profits made by Kitex and Anna Aluminum.  Because such a head-scratching person cannot be such a successful businessman.

 But it is as clear as day that Sabuchayan has a talent that politicians and many ministers do not have.  That is management excellence.  He is successful as a big corporate entrepreneur because of that management excellence.  It is because of that incompetence that you and I continue to be worthless of a chuck and a lime.  His business management skills, he used beautifully in the administration of a panchayat.  It was a success.  Satisfied with the people, the   Kizhakkambalam panchayat was retained and the three nearby panchayats were captured.  If only the three neighboring panchayats had embraced 2020 with no symbol, no code of conduct and no activists, or if they had defeated all the mafia-like political parties in our country and seen the victory of 2020 in those panchayats, one need only think of how great the magic he would have done in the East.

 What I like most about what he said is that if someone comes to the  Kizhakkambalam panchayat office with a need, he will return as soon as he has done what he came for.  If it does not happen on the next day, the next day or the next day, the person's ward member, certificate, or other benefits, if any, must be delivered to the person's home.  This means that a person does not have to go to the panchayat office a second time for one purpose.  What a beautiful democratic concept.  What politicians who deceive the people by saying great democratic socialist ideas cannot do, is implemented in a panchayat overseen by a corporate boss.  It should be remembered that the Kizhakkambalam is in Kerala, the Malayalee who always goes to government offices for a small thing and puts on his shoes.

 Another thing is that Kizhakkambalam is the only panchayat that has its own fire force and can use farm implements and tractors for free to the farmer.  What else is behind it?  From billions of scanning machines to Volvo buses, we hear so much news that they are being destroyed without maintenance.

 Paddy is now grown profitably in the paddy fields of the Eastern Ghats.  Sabu Jacob also shared the fact that Kizhakkambalam will soon become the largest fruit producing panchayat in Kerala.  While other panchayat members in Kerala receive a salary of Rs.  If someone is approached without money to go to the hospital or otherwise it is the duty of the ward member to give them what they need from this money.  How can democracy be better utilized?

 What I am going to say is the extreme state of intolerance and jealousy of a politician.  Shouldn't the Election Commission be talking about the couple's right to vote?  If a person from Amethi can contest in Wayanad, what is the impediment for a person from Wayanad to exercise his voting right in the East Coast?  Sabu Jacob gave a reward of Rs 1 lakh to those who voted despite being physically abused by the political mafia.

 Finally, political parties are constantly making a misleading statement that only political parties should exercise democracy.  It was seen in that discussion as well.  This is because if such talented people come on the scene, they are convinced that the whole life of these people who make a living from politics will come to an end.  The Constitution contains guidelines on what is needed in a democracy, and anyone who abides by it and delivers accurate services to the people can become a participant.  What the head of a corporate body pretends to be is ugly and the politician who listens to the party's discipline and acts accordingly is only spitting out perfume, which is just an exercise in the politician's stomach.

 If there is anyone who is jealous of countries like Sweden, Norway, etc., who are jealous of being the country with the happiest people, they should go to the East Coast and find out if 2020 has given them happiness even if they are not the happiest.  Ministers and politicians need to realize their incompetence and promote greats like Sabu Jacob as advisers and consultants.  Let’s at least skip a foreign visit and go to the East Coast and at least learn what they are doing there.

 Attribution.  - Media News

Work till one is 75 years ..

 What is an effective strategy to have one work till the age of 75 years ? Most of us desire to be able to work till that age. 

Can we achieve it ?

From observation of people with great longevity, health, the author has come across ten points which can ensure great life.

1. Walk to keep good healthy heart and strong muscles for your leg to support your body

        2. Eat and exercise moderately, eat to live, not live to eat.

3. Sincerely care for your partner

        4. Engage your creative brain, start working with your left hand to keep Alzheimer's disease away

5. Keep oneself economically independent in old age

        6. Work unselfishly for the people in the society

7. Work to promote sustainability of the environment

        8. Help create value for others, ensure customer satisfaction in what one delivers

9. Cultivate a growth mindset, to have a delta value addition or improvement every day

        10. Develop a creative and innovative mindset. 

11. Appreciate the good things around oneself in nature and thank people for their good deeds 

        12. Be very liberal in  appreciating and complimenting people especially youngsters

If we practice these 12 points, I am sure we can have a great life.

George..

MG Sreekumar, an invaluable asset to Malayalam music industry

As a lover of music of all genre, particularly of Eastern origin, I have been following the Malayalam TV programme called Top Singer, presently in season 2, to select the best young singer in the age group of 5 to 15, on Colours TV, religiously for almost two years now. Among the judges, the one who has been there consistently throughout the 2 years, except for a handful of episodes has been the great singer MG Sreekumar.

Throughout this period of two years I have been impressed by the humble presence of MG Sreekumar. Though a great singer himself, he has a very tender and loving heart. Throughout these two years, he has never got upset at the performance of the children at the event. 

During these two years he has never, even for a moment, tried to show off that he is a great singer, though the Malayalis world have great appreciation for his golden voice. Though he pulls the legs of fellow judges as much as he pulls the legs of the very young competitors too, never has he left any scar in these young tender minds.

After every performance he very softly points out the mistake, but reminds the singer that he/she is indeed very talented, only that the particular moment is not his/her's.  Then he gently prods the singer to try his or her best again next time. I am sure the young singers very much like to hear such expert training sessions from the master.

Malayalees are very much upset that the greatest Malayalam singer Yesudas does not have any time to spare for the budding singers of Malayalam cinema, the result being that Yesudas will only be remembered for his songs but not for his humility or a helping mind. The selfless dedication of MG Sreekumar to shape and mould the future singing prodigies of Malayalam cinema is something remarkable and unforgettable. Malayalees world over will forever be indebted to MG. 

I am sure Malayalees world over would agree with me and we all in one voice extend our deep appreciation and gratitude to MG Sreekumar for the great and selfless service and dedication to the Malayalam art world. 

We will forever remember MG's great service in helping mould the  future singing prodigies of the Malayalam singing world. A big Thanks Sir .. !!!

The kind gesture of inviting the child prodigies of season 1 as special guests to listen, prod and motivate the fresh singers of season 2 is also a first-in-the-world step in encouraging the youngsters .. A very kind gesture. No words can express our gratitude for the kindness Colours TV is showering on these young promising singers ..

george

Top 50 English pop songs of all time ..

Dr Mick Grierson from Uty of London examined a whole host of songs that appeared in ‘greatest songs of all-time’ lists in newspapers, on music stations like VH1 and in iconic music publications such as Q, NME and Rolling Stone for many years ..

Commissioned by car manufacturer Fiat, who wanted to identify a song they could use to promote the FIAT 500, Mick also used analytical software in an attempt to put a finger on what exactly made those tunes iconic.

That involved taking into account factors such as 

1. beats per minute, 

2. chord variety, 

3. lyrical content

4. timbral variety and 

5. sonic variance before arriving at the list you can see ..

Turns out science doesn’t have a bad taste in music after all.

*The Top 50 most iconic songs of all time* (www.joe.ie)

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

2. Imagine - John Lennon

3. One - U2

4. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

5. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

6. Hey Jude - The Beatles

7. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

8. I Can't Get No Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

9. God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols

10. Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns N' Roses

11. London Calling - The Clash

12. Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks

13. Hotel California - The Eagles

14. Your Song - Elton John

15. Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

16. The Twist - Chubby Checker

17. Live Forever - Oasis

18. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

19.  Life On Mars? - David Bowie

20. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley

21. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland

22. What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye

23. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

24. Be My Baby - The Ronettes

25. Creep - Radiohead

26. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

27. Respect - Aretha Franklin

28. Family Affair - Sly And The Family Stone

29. Dancing Queen - ABBA

30. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys

31. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix

32. Yesterday - The Beatles

33. Jonny B Good - Chuck Berry

34. No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley

35. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

36. Every Breath You Take - The Police

37. A Day In The Life - The Beatles

38. Stand By Me - Ben E King

39. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown

40. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

41. What'd I Say - Ray Charles

42. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits

43. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

44. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers

45. My Generation - The Who

46. Dancing In The Street - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

47. When Doves Cry - Prince

48. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

49. River Deep Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner

50. Best Of My Love - The Emotions

Hope you find this list sensible and reasonable .. 🙂

https://www.joe.ie/music/the-50-most-iconic-songs-of-all-time-have-been-revealed-513205