Back in the Game

I will be meeting the boss man again in a formal meeting tomorrow. I will essentially be doing the same thing as in the past - reporting on the status of change request and maintenance. I will be with the project office and the new auditor in the meeting. But it will also be without our usual contact in the company. So the rules and actors have changed except me. What comes around, goes around I think the saying goes.

The project I am working on for a factory in Thailand is delayed for 3 weeks. What bad luck I have this year? Project was delayed because the testing server was done for more than a week, pushing back all activities. We had a lot of problems and I had to request a technical resource from the head office to come over and help. He came and helped us but came into conflict with the local team especially my good friend from India. It was an awkward time and I had to explain a lot of things to my boss, project team, stake holder, support team in head office as well as the contributors in Philippines and India.

We are also going through a transition period were all outsource activities will be transferred to a single company in the coming months. The support office has been sold and all contributors will move their work to the new support company based in Bagalore, India. The hardware and infrastructure support has also been outsourced to another well-known company. So work will be a bit messy and confusing in the coming months. A few of the internal staff will be transferring to the outsource as well. So times are really a-changing. What an environment to work in while delivering projects and solutions!

I am really working on multiple roles - a point that was driven to me during a recent seminar I attended in project management. I have often blamed myself for not living up to the standards of other project managers in the company but I suddenly realized that I am overworked not unskilled. In fact I am doing all the roles of project manager, systems analyst and business analyst all at the same time. Also, most of the time I have spent coordinating with multiple contributors and parties in Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, India and France. So it's quite a struggle and I should not be too hard on myself.

I guess the pressure is coming from my friend who is also working on this project. I got into an argument with him but we still managed to go out having fun and drinking a few beers. But I realized my personal relationship with him may have caused some problems as well. But the difficult environment we are in have contributed to the stress and pressure as well. All these difficulties has made me look into myself and I have tried to find out my strengths. To move forward in a strength based framework. I admit it's a new way of looking at things which keeps my perspective fresh.

I have also been listening to audio books about writing from Stephen King and Ayn Rand as well as investing books from Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump as well as Charles Schwab. I love the audio books revolution because it helps me learn about these diverse topics without reading. It has lessened the time for me to learn and absorb new things. I guess listening involves a different set of mental muscles as compared to reading. Understanding and synthesizing all these topics will still be the challenge which I can work on by journal writing here.

Co-Sourcing Endgame

The Indian company that was chosen to be our co-sourcing partner will give their best and final offer (BAFO) soon. A lot of the people in the department are mulling the various options that may be available to them. Yesterday at lunch, our supervisor said that an option maybe to be paid a retrenchment package plus a job offer from the Indian company. This looks like a win-win option becuase we get paid plus have a new job. We just don't know how long we will last in the Indian company if we choose to work for them.

I guess this is the reality that we should be looking at: where information technology is no longer a core business function of manufacturers. An activity best outsourced possibly to an Indian company. I have been reading about this situation in books like 'Wikinomics' or 'The World is Flat' but it is really a different situation when faced in real life. I guess everything is random following the ideas explained in the 'The Black Swan'. But at the end of the day, not really random as this is a business reality that has already been ocurring in the recent years all over the world.

For my case, there are some 'rumors' that I may be moved to another country. Not a good option as I may leave my family to work abroad as my kids are taking their pre-college courses. But it is a good option in terms of career prospect. This is an option that I am seriously looking at if it is offered. Nevertheless, my horoscope for the 'Year of the Rat' portends of change in career or location this year and generally good for me. So even the stars have aligned to depict my fate in 2008. Whatever the outcome, change is afoot. I have joined a health club near the office and exercising nearly everyday. Not only does it keep me physically fit but prepares me mentally for the coming challenges.

Since the start of January I have been attending guitar lessons. I want to keep my mind in tip top shape by learning new things. I have read somewhere that musician's brains have strong physical connections between the left and right hemispheres as compared to other professions. So I hope to improve my brain 'biologically' (?) by learning music skills. Anyway, all these activities like working out in a gym and guitar lessons help to keep my spirits up instead of descending into despair, worry and anxiety due to the circumstances in the office .