Old School Organizations vs. New School Organizations

A little summary that I have compiled about the "Work Place Differences" that I have seen between Old School Organizations (read: Manufacturing, CPG) vs. New School Organizations (read: IT Services). I may be mistaken about some of the observations alright, but here goes:

Old Organizations
> Employee Feedback Process Absent, Taken Lightly
> Inflexible Hours
> ‘Old’ Crowd, ‘Old’ Work Ethics:
- No moving out from Cubicles
- ‘Domain’ clustered groups Only
- Paper Documents and Meetings
> Dull Workplace, Lacking Buzz
> Lack of Common Courtesy
E.g. People don’t look/speak at you if they are busy.
> No Group Activities
> Poor Decision Making Process/Initiative
> No ‘Individual’ Accountability/KRA’s
> Hazy Deliverables, Roles & Responsibilities
> Focus on Method, Not Deliverables
> ‘Passing-the-Buck’ Tendency
> Everybody Afraid of Screwing Up
> Interaction with Stakeholders Informal
> Career Path Un-defined > Dependent on whims and fancies of Others
> ZERO Perks

New Organizations
> Employee Feedback Process in Place, Taken Seriously
> Flexible Hours
> Younger Crowd, Younger Work Ethics
- Movement across the Office Floor
- ‘Cross-functional’ groups Easy
- Paper Documents, E-Mails, Phone Calls and Meetings
> Fun Workplace, Something Happening
> Right Balance of Courtesy
E.g. People would look and talk up at least for a minute and ‘Tell’ you when they’re busy.
> Weekend Group Outings are like a Norm
> Decision Making Process – Quick & Structured
> Fixed KRA’s/Accountability from Day 1
> Clear Deliverables, Roles & Responsibilities
> Focus on Deliverables, Also on Method
> Structure/Process Doesn’t Allow "Passing the Buck"
> ‘Freedom’ Feeling Everywhere
> Interaction with Stakeholders Formal
> Clear-cut Career Path Defined from Day 1
> Perks like Gifts, Diary, T-Shirts etc. USUAL

hmmmm....

A Good Year, Wall Street and Gladiator

Well, just scribbling down some movie quotes (read: wisdom, read: attitude) that I truly appreciate. I do believe these quotes have relevance in today's tough corporate life & rough economic conditions and deserve more than a little thought:

A Good Year
Uncle Henry Skinner: You'll come to see that a man learns nothing from winning. The act of losing, however, can elicit great wisdom. Not least of which is, uh... how much more enjoyable it is to win. It's inevitable to lose now and again. The trick is not to make a habit of it.

Max Skinner: This place does not suit my life. Fanny Chenal replies: No Max, it's your life that does not suit this place.

Wall Street
Carl Fox: Stop going for the easy buck and start producing something with your life. Create, instead of living off the buying and selling of others.

Gordon Gecko: It's not a question of enough, pal. It's a zero sum game, somebody wins, somebody loses. Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply transferred from one perception to another.

Lou Mannheim: Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss.

Gordon Gecko: The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.

Carl Fox: Money's only something you need in case you don't die tomorrow...

Gladiator
Maximus: You can help me. Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive.

Maximus: I knew a man once who said, "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back."

Maximus: At my signal, unleash hell...

Quintus: People should know when they are conquered. Maximus replies: Would you, Quintus? Would I?

Maximus: Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead! Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity.

Proximo: Ultimately, we're all dead men. Sadly, we cannot choose how but, what we can decide is how we meet that end, in order that we are remembered, as men.

Marcus Aurelius: You have proven your valor once again, Maximus. Let us hope for the last time. Maximus replies: There is no one left to fight, sire. Marcus Aurelius replies back: There is always someone left to fight.

Gracchus: Fear and wonder, a powerful combination. Falco replies: You really think people are going to be seduced by that? Gracchus replies back: I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it.

Proximo: Marcus Aurelius is dead, Maximus. We mortals are but shadows and dust. Shadows and dust, Maximus!

Maximus: Strength and Honor...

There is No Finish Line

At the launch of this Blog, before I even completely imagine what I intend to post on this Blogpost all the time, only 2 thoughts play in my head:

• "Stop Talking & Start Doing" (which is a brilliant communication message used by IBM these days)
• "There is No Finish Line" (a line made so famous by Nike)

Nike's "There is No Finish Line" is one of the best Ad Campaigns that I have come across. Check it out the Video version on Youtube: http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFxdbl2SXc
And check out the description that apparently read on its First ever Print Ad:

There is No Finish Line
Sooner or later the serious runner goes through a special, very personal experience that is unknown to most people. Some call it euphoria. Others say it's a new kind of mystical experience that propels you into an elevated state of consciousness. A flash of joy. A sense of floating as you run. The experience is unique to each of us, but when it happens you break through a barrier that separates you from casual runners. Forever. And from that point on, there is no finish line. You run for your life. You begin to be addicted to what running gives you.
Beating the competition is relatively easy. But beating yourself is a never ending commitment.


I am hoping to stay inspired by this message for a very long time. Cheers!! :)