The Biz of Coding

Managing India Centers of Software Companies – International, Multinational, Global, or Transnational Model?

India Development Centers (IDCs) of Software firms like Microsoft, Yahoo!, Adobe, Google – are basically run on a Global firm model. IDCs are  steeped in the philosophy of making and selling “the same thing, the same way, everywhere”. After all Microsoft Windows, Google Search, and Yahoo! Messenger are globally used homogenous products, so IDCs would be primarily focused on developing such globally deployable homogenous technologies.

Secondarily, the India Development Centers also do some local modifications such as Indian language versions of portals (Google Search in Hindi), content, fonts, user interfaces (Microsoft Office in Indian Languages - Microsoft Bhasha site) etc.

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Understanding International, Multinational, Global, and Transnational firms

In my previous post I had mentioned about the 4 types of classifications of Multi National firms by Bartlett, Brikinshaw and late Sumantra Ghoshal, in their book “Transnational Management” : (1) International (2) Multinational (3) Global (4) Transnational. Here is a detailed description of each type

International
This is the earliest stage of a company which tries to go from being a single nation to multi-nation company. Such companies regard themselves fundamentally as a domestic company with foreign appendages.

Relationship between foreign and home-country operations
The main role of the foreign outpost (s) is to “support” the domestic parent company in various ways such ass incremental sales of domestic product lines, supply raw material, or components for domestic manufacturing operations.

Management of foreign operations
Decisions related to the foreign operations are made on an adhoc basis.

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 2 comments

Four Types of Multi National firms

In a globalized Tech World we are often consumers and /or employees of multi-nation or international companies more than firms that operate within the domestic confines of a single country. According to UN estimates by 1991 there were about 36,000 multi-national companies with 170,000 subsidiaries, and total revenue in excess of $ 15.5 trillion. Together these firms accounted for 25% of world’s GNP.

Bartlett, Brikinshaw and late Sumantra Ghoshal, in their book “Transnational Management” have classified 4 types of multi-national firms:

1. International
2. Multinational
3. Global
4. Transnational

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Winning Against Odds - Persisting In face of Delays

Shilpan Patel has written a lovely post on his blog "Success Soul" about 7 habits to cultivate to fight against odds. I have seen several ups and downs in my life and career and even now I am going through a phase which I wish would pass away soon. In any case his words came as a refreshing reminder of whats important — staying course when delay completely freaks us out and makes us want to give up.

This is what Shilpan has to say:

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 1 comment

Is “Social” in Social Networking a Misnomer?

Real world Social Networks hold Social Capital for people in that network. With Social Networking going Online I wonder whether the Social Capital holds any relevance or value. In other words is "social" part of social networking just a misnomer? Is Social Networking just an advanced version of online communication tool rather than really enhancing what is considered Social Capital?

I recently did a short survey with friends and colleagues in my network and found the Social Networks are primarily working as communication tools. Social Networks and Social Capital as studied by Sociologists — are subjects with much more substance than just communication and playing online scrabble. For example see this early paper "Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital" (PDF) by late James Coleman  (Univ of Chicago) in The American Journal of Sociology. (Its a 1980s paper)

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Bill Gates Logs off Microsoft

Bill Gates logged off Microsoft finally. Its a inflection period for Microsoft and Bill G has been unable to steer his company anywhere near Google or show real leadership in the Web 2.0 world. For a man who has lead Microsoft through several controversial periods, its perhaps time to retire. But Microsoft is on shaky grounds as he logs off.

Bill Gates's role will be covered by 2 people: Craig Mundi and Ray Ozzie who are "Chief Officers" along with Ballmer (with others). Though these guys have significant achievements, none of these individuals have been a part of a significant Web revolution.

Microsoft's official statement:

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Mobile Multimedia — 7 useful primer references

Here are some useful references I have found for mobile devices:

Introduction to Nokia Series 60, Series 40, and Memo Platforms at the Nokia Forum.

Good Comparison of S40 and S60 platforms 

3rd Generation Mobile Video Standard 3GP

Mobile Audio Formats (Nokia Presentation) pdf file and Glossary of Mobile Video terms

Accessibility solutions for Mobile Multimedia

Overview of supporting audio and video on mobile devices.

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Convert Lakh, Crore to Million and Billion

If you regularly view financial reports of Tech players in India and US you would run into issues of Lakhs and Crores being used in India whilst Millions and Billions being used in US. At such times you need to do 2 conversions actually Dollar > Rupee and Lakh / Crore > Million > Billion

Here are some simple conversion tips to remember for such situations

• 1 Million = 10 Lakhs
• 1 Crore = 100 Lakhs
• 1000 Million = 1 Billion
• 1 Million Dollars = 400 Lakh Rupees = 4 Crore Rupees (@ a conversion rate of 1 US $ = 40 Rs)

I found this nifty web converter from Khitij consultancy where you can input a number and get its Lakh / Crore < > Million / Billion Equivalent. This utility also gives a cool converter for currency. This is a surefire way to get around.

No its not over yet. If you have the time to get more confused (or enlightened) go ahead and spend some time reading about short scale and long scale versions of numeric systems at Wikipedia.

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By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments

Vodafone Pre-Registering Indian Subscirbers for iPhone

Vodafone has a live link on their website in India vodafone.in which allows consumers to pre-register for a 3G iPhone. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, both Voda and Airtel are planning to launch iPhone in India by end of 2008.

Voda is allowing both customers and non-customers to pre-register. You basically give your email, contact number and get a promise to be contacted when the pricing and other details are ready. So this seems more like — contact me. Possibly Voda will see the number of interested subscribers to decide on the size of subsidy that Apple could be given in India for iPhone 3G. (Apple is getting $300 per iPhone from Carriers in the US for iPhone.)

Interestingly guidelines for India's 3G auctions are yet to be handed out by the Government of India.

By Ujwal Tickoo -- 0 comments