AZIM HASHAM PREMJI

Founder of Wipro Limited Azim Hasham Premji, founder of Wipro Limited, India's biggest and most competitive IT company based in Bangalore, was born on July 24th 1945 in Bombay. Premji was forced to leave his studies in computer science from Stanford University, California, USA at the age of 21 to take over the family business of vegetable oils when hi father M.H. Premji, suddenly passed away in 1966. He has since after a gap of over thirty years completed his degree in Electrical Engineering. The Amalner-based vanaspathi manufacturing company, the Western India Vegetable Product later became Wipro Products Ltd, Wipro Technologies and Wipro Corporation.

Under Premji's leadership Wipro embarked on an ambitious phase of expansion and diversification. The Company began manufacturing light bulbs with General Electric and other consumer products including soaps, baby care products, shampoos, powder etc. In 1975, Wipro Fluid Power business unit manufacturing hydraulic cylinders and truck tippers was started. But Premji's ambitions did not stop there. In the 1980s Wipro entered the IT field, taking advantage of the expulsion of IBM from the Indian market in 1975. Thus, Wipro became involved in manufacturing computer hardware, software development and related items, under a special license from Sentinel. As a result, the $1.5 million company in hydrogenated cooking fats grew within a few years to a $662 million diversified, integrated corporation in services, medical systems, technology products and consumer items with offices worldwide. The company's IT division became the world’s first to win SEI CMM level 5 and PCMM Level 5 (People Capability Maturity Model) certification, the latest in quality standards. A large percentage of the company's revenues are generated by the IT division. Wipro works with leading global companies, such as Alcatel, Nokia, Cisco and Nortel and has a joint venture in Medical Systems with General Electric Company. Premji's story of success and prominence clearly shows how determination and perseverance, when coupled with knowledge, clear vision and proper planning, enable one to reach the peak of success and leadership. A straight forward person, he doesn't believe in resorting to bribery or corruption to get things done and associates quality with integrity. He is an absolute workaholic and according to him work is the only way to success and survival in a competitive environment. A tough employer, he expects his employees to be competent and will not tolerate lies or deception from anyone.

Azim Hasham Premji finds himself in the Forbes Billionaire List 2000, placed in 41^st position with a wealth of $ 6.4 billion. Over the years, Azim Premji has been privileged with many honours and accolades. He was chosen as the Business India's 'Businessman of the Year 2000', He was named by Fortune (August 2003) as one of the 25 most powerful business leaders outside the US, Forbes (March 2003) listed him as one of ten people globally, Business Week featured (October 2003) him on their cover with the sobriquet 'India's tech king'. The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education have both conferred honorary doctorates on him. He is also a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee for Information Technology in India.

In the year 2001, Premji established Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a vision of influencing the lives of millions of children in India by facilitating the universalisation of elementary education. The foundation works closely with the state governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc and the programs cover over 5000 rural schools. Premji contributes the financial resources for the foundation.

Personally, Premji is known for his humility and helping mentality. Easily one of the richest men in the world, he always travels in economy class. One of his favourite recreational activity is hiking. He leads a quiet life with his wife Yasmin Premji who had worked for 'Inside Outside' (editorial) in Mumbai and his two sons in a simple, but elegant villa in Bangalore. The elder son, Rishad, works in the USA for GE and the younger one, Tariq, has co-founded a dotcom and works from Bangalore. Mr. Premji who holds 78% stakes in the company does not believe in naming one of his sons as his successor just for the norms.

MAHLER'S 5th SYMPHONY

Overfull fountain,

he rises abundantly

from where springs

are fed, creates from

why hearts must beat

timpanic against

gravitation.

His concerted breezes

blow confusing beauty in

through windows where

merely walls once were.

Triumph, sorrow,

fire, spirit,

love, joy—

all play and pray

in sonic sanctum.

After the applause

we bring our amazement

home and listen to

the wallpaper sing

MOON AND MARS CONJUNCT

Walking at night

to the corner mailbox,

breathing deeply of

cool September air,

I look up and see

Mars by the full moon,

quiet friends,

like a tiny garnet

by a round opal

set in the sky’s

planetary ring.

A carful of teenage girls

zooms by,

emanating shrieks and

laughs and

whoops,

careening between curbs

through our

planned community.

The red taillights

soon zigzag away

into velvet distance,

and silence prevails,

broken now by

this old mailbox accepting

my letters with a chuff

and a clanky groan

 Has anything changed?

Yes, my letters are

in the mailbox;

yes, the car has painted

a picture in my ears;

yes, the moon is

imperceptibly

closer to Mars now—

but nothing deep

has changed.

The night has merely

taken a breath.

MUSIC FROM HANNAH

When Hannah comes over to visit our place,

She fetches our old violin from its case

And places it under her chin to be played

With its missing E-string and its horsehair all frayed.

Under Hannah Moore’s unafraid, amateur touch,

The violin squeals and scratches so much

That sooner or later some listener will say,

“Oh, Hannah, let’s please put the violin away.”

Pretty soon she snaps open the old trumpet case,

Tries out the three valves, puts the mouthpiece in place,

And blows such a blast for a trumpeter’s call

That the pictures all rattle and sway on the wall.

When Hannah brings over her flute, however,

We can sit here and listen for nearly forever

To her musical phrases both smooth and staccato

Which pleasantly shimmer with a heartfelt vibrato.

She has listened to Mozart from A to Z,

And she loves any Beethoven symphony;

Carmina Burana, the Nutcracker Suite—

The best compositions to her are a treat.

Our piano’s been host to her musical fingers

Playing Mozart sonatas with feeling that lingers.

Just give her an instrument, fancy or poor,

And you’ll soon hear some music from Hannah Paige Moore.

TO SLEEP

Body and bed go soft.

Final thinking fades to formless vapor.

Mattering gives way to “all is well.”

Breathing forgets breathing.

Shapeless shadows welcome a friendly falling.

Wishes murmur up through moving images.

Dewdrop opens into endless ocean.

Time unknown . . .

Innerly free . . .

Floating . . .

Drifting . . .

Peace . . .

80-megaton alarm clock explodes.

RASIC CHART

What is R A S I C CHART?

R = Responsible - Who owns the project / problem

A = To whom “R” is Accountable – Who must sign off (Approve) on the suggested work / process changes before they are released.

S = Can be Supportive – Can provide resources or can play a supportive role in implementation.

I = To be Informed – Must be notified of results , but need not be consulted.

C = To be consulted – has information and / or capability necessary to complete / guide the work , Can be an expert of an attribute

When R A S I C CHART?

The RACI Model is relatively straight forward tool , which can be used for identifying roles & responsibilities during an organizational change process. All transformation processes do not happen on their own ; People have to do something to make the process happen. Therefore, it is useful to describe What should be done by Whom a

make a transformation process happen.

Why RASIC?

·         Agreeing on Roles and responsibilities

·          Ensuring key accountability for project deadlines

·          Effective communication during project

·         Ensure clear directions for all stake holders

How is R A S I C CHART prepared?

1. Identify all the processes / activities involved and list them down the left side of the

chart.

2. Identify all the roles and list them along the Top of the chart.

3. Complete the cells of the chart : Identify who has the R A S I C of each processes

4. Every process should preferable have one and only one ‘R’ as a general principle.

5. Resolve overlaps Every process in a role responsibility map should contain one and only one R to indicate a unique process owner. In the case of multiple R s , there is a need to “Zoom in” and further detail the sub processes associated with “obtain resource commitments” to separate the individual responsibilities.

6. Resolve Gaps – The simpler case to address is the resolution of the gap. Where no role is identified that is responsible for a process , the individual with the authority for role

definition must determine which existing role is responsible or new role that is required.

Update the RASIC chart and clarify with the individuals that assume that role.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN NOW

Where have you been now, oh Patrick me boy,

Before your grand entrance that brought so much joy?

Were you out in the starlight quite happy and free?

Had you any idea who your parents would be?

Were the comets your friends, Patrick Harris me boy?

Did you reach toward the moon thinking "What a nice toy?"

Wherever you've been, Patrick, welcome to Earth—

It's a fairly nice place once you get past the birth.

You will have the best care you could ask for, me lad,

From Mika and Brian (you know, Mom and Dad),

Who will give you a bed, healthy food, and much love

In a home where you'll heighten the blessings thereof.

Three things Grandma Linda and I wish for you:

May the heaven within you guide all that you do;

May the bumps on your path make you fearless and strong;

And may life for you, Patrick, be happy and long.