1

AN EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

SENIOR

2

THE INNER QUESTIONS

WHAT DO WE WANT

WOULD WE LIKE TO FAIL

THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT

THE WAY WE TREAT EACH OTHER

3

MILITARY CANVAS

• INDIAN MILITARY STILL AN ALMOST CLONE OF THE BRITISH SYSTEM.

• IN-DEPTH RUSSIAN ACQUISITION/EQUATION - ANOTHER EXPOSURE.

• NEARLY 50 YEARS OF DIVERSE EQUIPMENT INPUTS

WITH ATTENDANT STRAINED AND CONFUSED OP

VALUES.• WESTERN THOUGHTS - RUSSIAN CONCEPTS - INDIAN

MINDSETS.• ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE GOVT / MOD /

ARMED FORCES YET TO TRULY COMPREHEND - SCIENCE, TALENT, INNOVATION CAN BLOSSOM ONLY WHEN DE-LINKED FROM FEUDALISM AND RANK.

4

MILITARY CANVAS

• WE ARE IN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN A

BUYER’S MILITARY AND A BUILDER’S

MILITARY.

• ENIGMA OF FISCAL CANONS/ PRACTICES.

• STAND OFF RELATIONS WITH MoD.

• DRDO – IS STILL AN EXPERIMENT.

5

ENVIRONMENTAL CRITICAL CONTRADICTIONS

• WE– BREED MEDIOCRITY AND EXPECT

EXCELLENCE.

– PRACTICE SUBJECTIVITY BUT PROFESS OBJECTIVITY.

– PREFER SOFT OPTIONS YET SEEK HARD RESULTS.

6

OUR QUANTUM (FLAG MIS S- !!?)

•SATISFACTION

•PARTICIPATION

•ANGUISH

•RECONCILIATION

“EVERYTHING IS A MYSTERY OR DISCOVERY”

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PARADOXES OF PROFESSION– OUR EXAM & EXISTENCE• BLUE FACTORS

– BOREDOM OF EVERYDAYNESS

– LEASH OF OVER CENTRALISATION - CONTROL FREAKING.

– UNCERTAINTY

– SYSTEM/WPNS UNRELIABILITY - MAINTENANCE DOWN TIME

• PERFORMANCE ANXIETY/COMPLACENCY • INTER-BRANCH / INTER-SERVICE BRAHMANISM.• THE PYRAMIDICAL SQUEEZE.• CULTURE OF INDIFFERENCE (LAPARVAHI)

8

AXIOMATIC REALITIES

1. SLIPPERY PYRAMID2. OPACITY IN PERSONNEL MGMNT3. CONFUSION BETWEEN CIVIL

CONTROL & CIVILIAN CONTROL 4. TRAUMA OF LIC/CI OPS5. WAR TIME ORG ( NOT PROPERLY CAT )

FOR PEACE TIME – DISPROPORTIONATETEETH TO TAIL RATIOS

6. ‘FAMILY’ NOT PART OF DEF BUDGET NOT INSTITUTIONALISED

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OBVIOUS OVERLOADS

1. OUR DAILY BUSINESS IS STRESS INDUCING

2. STRESS INEVITABLE ( BUT REDUCABLE ? )

3. DECISIONS IN UNCERTAIN ENVIRONMENT WITH PADDED/INACCURATE INPUTS

4. INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE NEEDS ‘GROSSLY’LOW IN GRASS ROOT ESSENTIALITIES

“TOO MUCH LOOKING OVER SHOULDERS”

10

GENERALLY PERCEIVED STATUS OF INTER-PERSONAL EQUATIONS

• JCO - WATER ON LOTUS LEAF ATTITUDE

• JUNIOR - INVOLVED, PERPLEXED, ANGRY

• SENIOR - PLAY SAFE, ANXIOUS

• FLAG - SURREALISTS !?

- RECONCILERS

- NOT YET ‘AU-FAIT’

IN CORPORATE MANAGEMENT

• “PREDOMINANTLY ACR CONSCIOUS”!?

11

DEVILS OF DESPAIR

• PROJECT INADEQUACIES - SHORT CHANGED IN LETTER AND SPIRIT.

• POVERTY OF GRASS ROOT ESSENTIALS.• ENTROPY OF ASSETS.• REVOLUTION OF RISING EXPECTATIONS.

– EDUCATION.– STANDARD OF LIVING.– FLUX IN TRADITIONS.

• CHANGING THRESHOLD OF TOLERANCE.• SHORT TERMNESS OF SENIOR MGMT –

PERSONALITY DOMINATION

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THE DAY EACH DAY

• PRESENCE OF DISSONANCE (NOT IN HARMONY)• PEMATA - PERIPHERALS ENGAGE MORE

ATTENTION THAN ACTUALS• MACOT- TAKES PRECEDENCE• SUMP FACTOR - SOFT UNDERBELLY OF

MAINTENANCE PRACTICES - “ADJUSTING”.• EMSA - EXPERTS IN MAKE SHIFT

ARRANGEMENT• SYSTEMS / WPNS UNRELIABILITY – CONSTANT

DANGER OF CONTINGENCY

13

THE OSTRICH SYNDROME OF MY TIME –

“THE GENERAL OFFICER CAGE”

THE GLASS HOUSE IN THE IVORY TOWER

FIELD & FLAG OFFICER

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THE REAL ENEMY OF THE MILITARY

IS IT “US”IS IT STAND OFF RELATIONS

– WITH MOD

– BETWEEN EACH SVC

– CORPORATE IGNORANCE

15

THE CONGENITAL STRATEGIC DEFECTS

• MOD – MILITARY – IMPASSE–MACRO DECISION SHRINK

• HIERARCHY – WISHING FLATNESS

• THE PYRAMID PIGMIES

• EXAMINING PEOPLE FOR FAILURE

• MASTERING PEOPLE, UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGY

“RAINY DAY” SYNDROME – OVER STOCKING/SPENDING/ YET SHORT

• AFRAID TO “COST”

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ACCUMULATED ADVANTAGES

– TRAINED, DISCIPLINED, EASY TOPLEASE PEOPLE

– GOVT NON INTERFERENCE IN THE WAYWE DO OUR BUSINESS

– MANY WELL ESTABLISHED EDN/TRG INSTITUTIONS

– INCREASING FISCAL AUTONOMY

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IMPROVING COMPREHENSION AND COMPETENCE OF FLAG OFFICERS

INDUCTION OF BETTER EDUCATED/AWARE MAN POWER.

GOOD RESOURCES

– GOOD CRISIS MANAGERS

ACCUMULATED ADVANTAGES

18

THELOOKING

“IDEA”

INWARDS

DOWNWARDS

EQUALLY

ACTUALLY

WITHIN THE “ FAUJ “

19

“ GENERAL ” - EXPECTATION

A GENERAL MUST “ DO “

EVEN IF HE

DOES NOT KNOW

TO DO

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SABBATICAL FOR SENIORS/SPOUSES

• LEARNING TO BE SENIOR - HUSBAND/WIVES

• FISCAL/TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

• REGULAR ATTENDANCE ( ONCE IN TWO YRS ) WORKSHOPS/SEMINAR – DOMESTIC/ABROAD ( IF THE IAS CAN – WHY CANT WE )

• STUDY LEAVE

• DISTANCE LEARNING

• LEARNING TO : TAKE NO ``DECISIONS” ``THE DECISION”

21

“ GENERAL “ IMPACT

• DO WE MEASURE ITS VALUE ?

• VALUE OF VOICE – BODY LANGUAGE

• NEED TO BE VISIBLE/INTERACTIVE

• MAXIMISE PEOPLE EFFECTIVENESS

• BEING REAL

22

COMMON “MILESTONES” APPROACHFOR HRD INCL FAMILY

• COMPENSATING SUPERSESSION

• HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & SPORTS

• REMOVING POVERTY OF LOW END PERIPHERALS

MOTIVATIONAL WORKSHOPS - PREPARING PEOPLE TO RISE ABOVE ‘ORDINARINESS’

IMPROVING ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN/FAMILIES

IMPROVING HOSPITAL/MES SERVICES

23

FEW OPERATING TENETS• UNDERSTAND 85/15 RULE - 85% IS THE ORGANISATIONAL

LACUNAE THAT CAUSES BREAKDOWN - ONLY 15% IS DUE TO CREW ERROR.

• UNDERSTAND 80/20 RULE - 20% OF PROBLEMS AFFECT 80% OF THE SYSTEM ALWAYS.

• UNDERSTAND EFFECTS OF “VARIATIONS”.• PREVENT MISTAKES RATHER THAN CORRECTING THEM.• PRACTICE NEED-INESS - PEOPLE RESPOND BETTER TO

NEEDS THAN WANTS OR LIKES.• DON’T GET CARRIED AWAY WITH YOUR SELF

IMPORTANCE.• ATTENTION TO THE JOB ALWAYS - FOCUS ON PROCESS.

24

THE PROCESS

AVOID THE “WHO DID IT” APPROACH

AND FOCUS ON “WHAT IN THE SYSTEM BROKE DOWN”

SHIFTFROM “WHAT HAS HAPPENED”

TO “WHY IT HAPPENED”

``MICRO AWARE – MACRO MANAGE”

25

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• DEAL/COPE WITH DIVERSE EQUIPMENT.• CONSERVATIVE TRADITION OF SEPARATION

BETWEEN THE ARMS AND SERVICES - MEN WHO FIGHT AND MEN WHO SUPPORT - THE NEED TO MELD THE TWO.

• REVOLUTION OF RISING EXPECTATIONS - THE QUESTIONING SYSTEM.

• RE-ENGINEERING OUR INFRASTRUCTURES TOWARDS MAKING IT MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE.

26

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• RE-STRUCTURING OF LOGISTICS TO DOMESTIC AND OP-LOGISTICS.

• GREATER DEMAND ON THE TECHNICAL GROUP TO MEET COMMITMENTS DESPITE DRAW DOWN IN FORCE LEVELS.

• GREATER INTERACTION WITH INDIAN INDUSTRY TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS SUPPORT EXISTING ASSETS.

• TOP DOWN LOOK AT ORGANISATION TO STEM THE LAVA OF BAD DECISION MAKING i.e., PARTICIPATIVE INTERACTION BY ALL COMPONENTS - SAME HOLDS GOOD AT FIELD / SHIP LEVEL.

• HANDLING OUR MIL – NUCLEAR STATUS

27

THE EMBRYONIC-CONUNDRUMS

• SUSTAINING MARTIAL MILITARY VALUES.• MASTERING TECHNOLOGY

UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN!• EXAMINE PEOPLE FOR SUCCESS NOT

FAILURE.• SUSTAINING PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP• TACKLING THE PYRAMID • JOINTMANSHIP – HOW MUCH HOW CAN • DRAWING IN ` MOD `

28

WAY AHEAD

• MILITARY HAS BEGUN TO THINK LONG TERM.• IT WILL TAKE NEARLY FIVE MORE DECADES

FOR THE SYSTEM TO COMPREHEND THE NUANCES OF MANAGING THE MILITARY.

• FOR US TO SPREAD FAITH IN THE MILITARY BY OURSELVES BELIEVING IN THE LINK OF THE ARMED FORCES TO / WITH THE GROWTH AND ENRICHMENT OF OUR NATION.

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• WHERE IS THE LIFE WE HAVE LOST IN LIVING?

• WHERE IS THE WISDOM WE HAVE LOST IN KNOWLEDGE?

• WHERE IS THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE LOST IN INFORMATION?

- TS ELIOT

30

INWARD LOOKING

COMING TO TERMS WITH FINITENESS NITYA – ANITYA

INTROSPECTION

LEARNING TO LAUGH AT OURSELVES

OVERCOMING FEELING INSULTED / LEFT OUT

RESERVE TIME CREATIVITY

YATH BHAVAM – TATH BHAVATHI

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FLUTTERING FLAGS

• ENRICHING OURSELVES– PHYSICAL, VITAL, MENTAL

• EASY TO WORK, DIFFICULT TO PLEASE

• ATTACHMENT IN ASSOCIATION, DETACHMENT IN RESULTS

• ASK OR TELL ! ? REMEMBER YOU ARE THE LAST WORD

• THE MIRACLE MAKERS

32

SELF VALIDATION MAXIMS

• EVERYTHING YOU DO MUST STAND TEST OF TIME.• ASSESS IMPACT OF YOUR ACTION ON UNIT/

FAMILY.• REALISE MILITARY OWNS YOU AND CAN EASILY

DO WITHOUT YOU.• SENSE THE VALUE OF SELF DEVELOPMENT.• ENSURE BODY AND MIND CARE.• SPREAD RELIABILITY /RESPONSIBILITY .• HAVE SOME LONG/SHORT TERM GOALS.• BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST, HOPE FOR THE

BEST.• PROFESSIONAL BENCHMARKS – NEVER FORGET `

REASON TO BE `

33

PROFESSIONAL BENCHMARKS

• WE HAVE TO WIN ALL OUR WARS – LEADERSHIP, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MGMT TO WORK FOR THIS.

• OUR PROFESSION - AUTOCRACY - NO DEMOCRACY - PARTICIPATIVE INCLUSIVENESS BEST BET.

“COMBAT EFFECTIVE ALWAYS”

34

EFFECTIVE MIL EFFICIENCY

``INDIVIDUAL & ORG”

- REDUCE QUANTITY

- IMPROVE QUALITY OF NEEDS/DESIRES

- DIRECT TO HIGHER PLANE

35

FIRST AND LAST

ITS ALWAYS

YOU VS YOUTHE REST IS EASY

IF

YOU REALISE SOON ENOUGH

THAT IFYOU DO WELL, YOU GET NO PRAISE

AND IFYOU ARE IN TROUBLE, YOU’LL GET NO HELP

36

OUR PRAYER

FIRST SAY TO YOURSELF

WHAT YOU WOULD BE

THEN DO

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

- EPICTETUS