Face to Face

ECS (name changed), one of India’s largest IT companies, probably the largest, engineered a coup of sorts a few years back when they setup a female-only BPO unit in a country in the Middle East, well known for its treatment of women.

They engineered another coup when they got the Indian PM, during his recent visit to the country, to visit this Centre.

As we all know, conditions and regulations in a host country need to be respected. Even if you are the PM of a big nation. The Indian PM, full marks to him, has never been known to be non-accommodating, especially where uninterrupted oil supplies are at stake.

Though it was a secretive visit, with no coverage in the media, for obvious reasons, some photos of the PM’s visit to the centre seem to be emerging.  We bring these images to the readers of darkofficehumour for their reading and watching pleasure.

Remember, you saw them here first.

The PM walking in with the CEO of ECS and Chairman of Mata Sons (name changed), the holding company of ECS

PM having High Tea with staff, alongwith serious discussions

A worried CEO of ECS and Chairman of Mata Sons wondering how to locate the PM in the crowd

The PM somewhere in the crowd

 

Moment of alarm as an unidentifiable object sighted in the background; subsequent investigations revealing it to be a male of the species

 

Management team of the Centre standing separate from the staff, like in any self-respecting organization. These people are quick learners!

Posing with the PM at the end of the visit. Looks like an amateur photographer!

 

These images underscore the importance of this visit. From the expressions on the faces of the participants it is clear that historical changes are afoot.

Remember, you saw it here first!

E-book version of my book

The publishers of my BPO book, “Some Method Some Madness: Managing BPO in India”, which is the second book in the column on the right, have just released the e-book version. It can be accessed on:

http://www.amazon.in/SOME-METHOD-MADNESS-ebook/dp/B00EE8RZSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1376281242&sr=1-1&keywords=MITHAL%3A+SOME+METHOD+SOME+MADNESS

More details about this book are available here:

https://darkofficehumour.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/the-other-book/

The other book

An interview of mine was carried by The Hindustan Times, a widely circulated national daily, in a section devoted to business, called Mint. Here is a link to the interview:

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/PGQGWLSi3Yx5JYGZJbroAK/Ankur-Mithal–Calling-the-shots.html

This interview was in connection with another book of mine, that I have not talked about on this blog. The reason, as I have explained to myself, is that this blog is dedicated to satire and irreverence whereas this, the other book, is a serious business book.

But so what? It is still my book. And this is my space. So here are the details:

Name: Some Method Some Madness, Managing BPO in India

Publisher: Tata McGraw Hill

Pages: 316

Price: INR 550- in India, USD 27.50 in the US

Synopsis:   This book seeks to capture the essence of managing the diverse and ever-changing domain of BPO business and the day-to-day challenges and possibilities that are faced and offered by the industry. It should serve as a convenient guide for all those who aspire to carve out a career in the BPO business.

In India, this book is available on various websites. The link to buying it on Flipkart is:

http://www.flipkart.com/some-method-madness-managing-bpo-india-1st/p/itmddzfywsnhgvpj?pid=9781259028205&ref=18b89450-680f-4e0b-a255-2d3bb50d8271&srno=s_2&otracker=from-search&query=ankur%20mithal

In the US, it is available on amazon.com on the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/Some-Method-Madness-Managing-India/dp/1259063852/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365355862&sr=8-2&keywords=ankur+mithal

I have also added a link to this book in the column on the right.