Posted in Management Lessons, tagged Business, Ethics, HR, Interpersonal Relations, Leadership, Management, Results, The Book, Values on January 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Often, your truly is asked about the contents of the book entitled ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’.
The video clip here covers in brief some of the 110+ topics covered in the book.
Enjoy, and be a smarter and happier manager!
(Related Post:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/10/14/surviving-in-the-corporate-jungle-a-video)
Posted in Management Lessons, tagged India, Liberty Seguros, Portugal, The Book, Vida Economica on December 8, 2017| 2 Comments »
A recent trip to New Delhi gave me an opportunity of calling upon His Excellency Joao da Camara, the Ambassador of Portugal in India. He was kind enough to spare some time for me to be able to present my book ‘Como Sobreviver Na Selva Empresarial’ to him.
It happened to be a day when the smog enveloping the capital city of India was at its worst. A brief meeting with an amiable person like His Excellency left one breathing easier. The brief encounter proved to be an uplifting experience. His grace, warmth and hospitality yet again reminded me of the genial and affable disposition of the people of Portugal.
The informal meeting took place in his tastefully done up office. The frankness with which he spoke and the warmth he exuded was typical of the people of character, resource and rich culture he represents.
He spoke warmly of the centuries old connection between Portugal and India. He mentioned families of Indian origin who have made Portugal their home for the past six generations and who make it a point to scout around for Indian brides who would eventually marry the sons in their families.
He mentioned the richness of India’s ancient culture and the diversity of its citizens. He turned out to be a close friend of Ms Clara Nunes dos Santos, a senior diplomat in the Portuguese Government, whom I was fortunate to have met in Oslo a few months back, when she was the Ambassador of Portugal in Norway.
Recapitulating the historic ties
It may be recalled that Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, was the first one to have crossed the ‘Cape of Good Hope’ in the year 1488, opening the sea route to India.
Vasco da Gama, another nobleman from the household of the King of Portugal, finally landed at the port of Calicut on the 27th of May, 1498, heralding an era of European dominance of India.
In 1510, the capital of Estado Portugues da India (Portuguese state of India) was transferred from Cochin to Goa. In the 17th century, Goa became the capital of the vast Portuguese empire which spread from Mozambique to Nagasaki, controlling the entire Indian Ocean trade.
When India gained independence from British rule in 1947, relations between the two countries turned a wee bit sour over Portugal’s refusal to surrender its enclaves of Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Indian military intervened, ending Portuguese rule over these areas in 1961. Eventually, with the signing of a treaty in New Delhi in 1974 with the new democratic Portuguese Government, amicable bilateral relations were restored.
Trade and commerce between the two countries has only looked up thereafter, even though much potential remains to be explored in the future. During the visit of Prime Minister of Portugal His Excellency Antonio da Costa to India during January 2017, as many as six agreements have been signed between the two countries. These also include an agreement on defence cooperation.
One feels happy to have made a very modest contribution towards an exchange of softer management ideas between Portugal and India. The book authored by me first got published in Portugal. The original English version, ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’, followed thereafter.
(A Portuguese version of this article can be found at Book Portugal Ambassador India Vida Economica)
(Related Posts:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/a-meeting-with-the-ambassador-of-portugal-in-norway
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/10/14/surviving-in-the-corporate-jungle-a-video)
(Note:
(The English version of the book, entitled ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’, was released recently.)
Posted in Management Lessons, tagged Finland, India, Leadership, Liberty Seguros, Management, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, The Book, Vida Economica on October 14, 2017| 3 Comments »
For those interested in the art and science of management, here is a video clip which captures the journey of my book so far.
Feedback is welcome.
(Related Posts:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/a-tale-of-two-countries-and-a-book-launch
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/surviving-in-the-corporate-jungle-some-comments)
Posted in Management Lessons, tagged Comments, Endorsements, The Book on October 1, 2017| 3 Comments »
Practising managers have had a look at it. Entrepreneurs – of the social as well as the anti-social kind – have gone through it. Management consultants have flipped through it. Eminent personalities have browsed through it. Academicians have devoured it.
Here are some of the comments received so far in respect of the book ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’.
“Behind the veil of humour and punch – there is a message. As the human drama unfolds itself in the corporate jungle, the best and worst of human natures battle for space. Sure enough, the early warnings in the book might help the hapless to survive and the smart to succeed. However, buried in the crevices of the chapters lies a deeper secret. The secret of an inner tuning – developing an inner compass based on personal values that not just protects you but also guides you towards happiness and fulfilment. Most importantly, it helps you to use the right lens to see reality and truth as such, cutting through a smoky screen.”
Mr K. V. Rao
Resident Director – ASEAN, Tata Sons Ltd , Singapore
(Excerpt from the Foreword to the English version of the book)
“Here we have another work with a series of teachings based on the vast experience of a manager and consultant from the distant antipodes, whose admirable curriculum can be consulted in the work that deserves to be widely disseminated in Portugal, and which satisfies us that it will be part of the library of technical management works and insurance and sales techniques whose introduction to the Portuguese publishing market Liberty Seguros has been supporting.
What really surprised me the most is that management is really a universal science. That is, the formula for success, whether in India or in Portugal, in terms of the main vectors on which business philosophy rests, it is similar.”
Mr José António de Sousa
President and CEO of Liberty Seguros, Portugal
(Excerpt from the Foreword to the Portuguese version of the book)
“Mr Bhatia’s book soothes the frayed nerves of a manager with fresh insight in challenging situations.”
Mr Sandip Choudhury
Regional Finance Shared Service Lead (VP) North America, Mylan Inc., Southpointe, PA, USA
“Ashok’s book makes one think, smile and reflect over our organizational lives taking us by the hand with delightful kindness into a realm of effectiveness….”
Prof Jose Fonseca
Dean, School of Business and Social Sciences of Universidade Europeia of Lisbon, Portugal
“For those who worry too much about the managerial challenges in their careers, here is a ready reckoner which will not only provide a fresh perspective but also bring a smile to their frown.”
Dr Paul Griffiths
Strategy and Knowledge Management expert; Director, Latin America at Lafferty Group; Partner, Corporate Edge, Chile
“Whether for entrepreneurs or for career oriented managers, the book shows a fast 360° way to navigate the choppy waters in which Homo Organizationum operate.”
Mr Marco Paulo Abrunhosa Cardoso
A wisdom seeker, Kotka, Finland
“It is impossible to not to finish the book in 1 or 2 days. Revisiting the book reminds us about simple principles that have a huge impact! All of this with a great humour!”
Mr Miguel Dias
Founder & CEO, CEO World, Portugal
“A lot of great wisdom here by Ashok who has based his perspectives on many years of relevant, and sometimes difficult, experience. Well done.”
Dr Jack Jacoby
Master Strategist, Director, Corporate Repair, Mentor, Facilitator, Motivator, Troubleshooter, Australia
“This book captures not only the strategic thinking but also the tactical skills required to navigate one’s way to success, inner satisfaction, happiness and most importantly – peace.”
Mr C S Dwivedi
Vice President – Manufacturing & Corporate Planning, HCL Infosystems Limited, India
“I found this book both entertaining and insightful. Lots of serious thoughts, couched in a somewhat light-hearted manner – this, and the succinct but sharp points, make it eminently readable. The format enables consumption in large doses, or even a few pages at a time: very useful in today’s time-stressed, short-attention-span world.”
Mr Kiran Karnik
Director, Reserve Bank of India; Chairman, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi; Former President, NASSCOM; Columnist and Author; His latest book is “Crooked Minds: Creating an Innovative Society”.
“The book is interesting. It is written in simple and lucid language and in a style of humour and fun. From time to time cartoons appear and make reading the book that much enjoyable.
The book is unusual because it undertakes at least two difficult tasks simultaneously. The first task is to link management arts with management science – which a typical academic knows how difficult it is. The second task is to connect theory with practice. Accordingly, many an instance contain relevant references and quotes.
The biggest contribution of the book, however, lies in how inconspicuously but effectively the messages of values are enmeshed in the given instances or topics. While knowledge and skills can be taught, attitudes and values however cannot and ‘should not’ in a traditional sense be ‘taught’. The moment a value is ‘taught’ (“Be honest”, for example), the learner stops listening and questions silently, ‘Who are you to teach me’, ‘Are YOU honest?’ Knowledge and Skills are like the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, which are visible. Attitudes and values are like river Saraswati, which is invisible. Leading by example is the only instrument, therefore, for a teacher to ‘teach’ value .”
Prof G P Rao
Management Educationist, Founder Chairman (Honorary), SPANDAN Society, Hyderabad, India
“This is a unique book which covers a vast area of business management. In particular, it touches upon leadership, administration and refined concepts in the domain of human resources. The author deserves credit for having summed up his forty year long practical experience and present it in a crisp and humorous manner. One only wishes the language used was somewhat simpler in some parts, though.”
Mr R Mananathan
Chairman, Manatec Electronics, Puducherry, India
“Mr Bhatia’s book is replete with rich management lessons which would be useful to managers and business owners of all kinds. He also draws upon such of our ancient scriptures as Ramayana, Mahabharata and Thirukkural.”
Mr P Rangaraj
Chairman and Managing Director, Chemin Controls and Instrumentation, Puducherry, India
“I read this book through summer and liked it very much.”
Ms. Clara Nunes dos Santos
Ambassador of Portugal in Norway
“The book captures in light tone a very meaningful message for those in Management and Business. These days when people have “no time’, this book acts as a pill that awakens the dormant mind of the reader and gives him the needed gusto to face important issues in the day. It is a ready reckoner for the Management Leaders.”
Dr Ananda Reddy
Director, Sri Aurobindo Center for Advanced Research, Puducherry, India
“This one is a must read for all professionals, whether young or not-so-young. Beneath all the humour lies a deep spiritual connect. When the author speaks of values and ethics in business, he makes a profound statement. He also touches upon Circularity Leading To Sustainability, a concept which I, as a professional in the same field, strongly advocate myself. Gone are the days when managements could take an ostrich approach to such issues as global warming and environmental degradation. This book has multi-faceted messages. Those who read it are likely to feel as if they have just completed a distance education course in management.”
Mr Prakhar Goel
Manager, Peterson Projects B.V., Netherlands
“Ashok Bhatia’s compilation of gems of wisdom in the area of management comes as a pleasant surprise. As a seasoned meteorologist, I have survived many kinds of weathers in my own career and can readily identify with many of the thoughts expressed in his book. The youth of today can surely practice quite a few things mentioned in this book, as long as they ensure that their bosses have not had access to its contents!”
Mr Ashok Kalra
Chief Meteorologist, Indigo Airlines, Retired Wing Commander, IAF, NCR, India
“Great experience shared in simple but powerful way. I am really delighted AKB. All the best and I am sure readers will draw benefit.”
Prof Rammohan Pisharodi
Marketing Professor/Chief Editor, Alliance Journal of Business Research at Oakland University, USA
“The author has brought his rich corporate experience and wisdom in this book with simple messages. While most of the authors are serious while discussing the corporate practices with tons of do’ and don’t kind of advises, he presents the message with a sense of humor. I think he has covered almost all functions of management with the message to survive in the corporate jungle.”
Mr S Ganesh Babu
SME Business Transformation Consultant & Performance Coach, Pondicherry, India
“Few strengths of this book are short lessons, supporting pictures, quality references and unique solutions. If it is gifted in various programs in educational institutions to students, they will be prepared to enter the corporate jungle with a positive approach.
Self-evaluation, Enrichment, Discipline, Lessons learnt, Rights, Feedback, Training etc are some topics which can also be covered in the next edition.
A book worth reading and gifting to friends and students.”
Mr Dileep Bhatia
Nuclear Scientist turned Career and Values Counselor,
Rawatbhata, India
“Can teaching management to aspiring managers be also fun? Yes, thinks the author who sums up his four decade long experience in this delightful book. Capturing more than a hundred topics, often backed by appropriate illustrations, the book is easy on the nerves, even as it makes one exercise one’s grey cells in a meaningful manner. By highlighting the relevance of a manager’s Spiritual Quotient, it heralds the advent of a new age: The Age of the Spiritual Manager.”
Dr G Anjaneya Swamy
Dean, School of Management, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
“There are many hard-core management books written over the last five decades by logical die-hards, but not many from the kinder hearts.
One such in the recent past is this book. The beauty of this book is that it deals with every possible situation and topic that one is likely to come across while passing through the Corporate Jungle. The solutions provided are not in any copybook style but each one is distinct, much like Dhoni’s helicopter shots. These are quite breezy, short, and to the point. Some chapters get over just as you start in.
AKB’s experience of over four decades shows through the wisdom he conveys, often with a dose of subtle humour. The book is truly a light hearted reading in Management for all ages and races. May the Portuguese translation of this book be only the first of many translations to follow in other foreign languages.
Mr Hariharan Subramaniam
Industrialist, Author, Architect – Indian Institute of Governance, India.
“The short chapters make the reading quite easy and there are many insights shared by the author in such a small book. A lot of valuable points have been shared. The book is a treasure and I have no intentions of gifting it to someone I hate, as recommended by the author.
The chapters I liked the most: Consultants, Corporate Strategy, Interpersonal relationships and Promises.”
Mr Gowrishankar Sundararajan
Senior Director, Malaysia Blue Ocean Strategy Institute, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
“For those who eye the realm of management with a tinge of green hued envy, this book would be an eye opener, since it lays bare the kind of dirty tricks managers often play on each other. To those who are already a part of the crab basket phenomenon called management, it could provide some invaluable tips. Overall, a good read, with some profound lessons!”
Mr Sunil Jain
Chairman, Chemisynth, Gurugram, NCR, India
“I am so much enchanted (if that is the word I am searching for) with the wonderful piece of work mentioned below that I almost read it in a single go. Hence, it will be foolish of me to write a criticism of the book. What I can do is, boast my association with the author Mr. Ashok Kumar Bhatia through Facebook. A Plum fanatic (he loves to address himself as a person suffering from Wodehousitis) Ashoke kept no stones unturned to describe, in a humorous way, “the modern tactics of dealing with corporate culture” with an uncanny talent of conveying the right message to the audience in minimum words. Thereby, making it an interesting read! Though the comparison with Peter Drucker is dangerous, I would prefer to risk it with him.
Thanks, sir for your wonderful piece of work! Hope to get more from you in the future. All the best!”
Suryamouli Datta
Associate Consultant, Tata Consultancy Services, UK/India
Related Posts:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/a-tale-of-two-countries-and-a-book-launch
Surviving in the Corporate Jungle: A book review by InertiaSpeaks
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Posted in Management Lessons, tagged CEO World, Finland, IMiF, India, Leadership, Liberty Seguros, Management, Norway, People for Pondicherry Heritage, Pondicherry, Portugal, Switzerland, The Book, Vida Economica on July 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
How does one handle bosses and secretaries? What are the scientific laws which govern interpersonal relations? What kind of management lessons can be drawn from Indian epics?
Launched in the Portuguese market in March 2016, the book ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’ was recently unleashed upon unsuspecting business magnates and management honchos at Pondicherry in India.
The book, published by Partridge India, presents insightful lessons for managers at all levels – the aspiring kind, the practicing and the tired kind, and even the retired kind. For hassled business executives and entrepreneurs, relentlessly chasing goals and deadlines, the punchy prose – infused with a Wodehousean humour – should come as a relaxing and uplifting read.
No connection with Vasco da Gama
One does not claim to be a descendant of Vasco da Gama, but it so happened that the original manuscript, penned in English along the coast of the Bay of Bengal over the last three years, found its way to Porto, Portugal, on the Atlantic coast. CEO World, a unique start up there, managed to secure the support of Liberty Seguros. Vida Economica took it up for publication in Portuguese.
The Portuguese version, ‘Como Sobreviver Na Selva Empresarial’, has found its way to the office of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Portugal, His Excellency, Mr. António Luís Santos da Costa, GCIH, who has roots in Goa.
It has also been presented to Ms. Clara Nunes dos Santos, the Ambassador of Portugal in Norway, and to Mr. José Manuel Castro Santiago, Minister – Counsellor at the Embassy of Portugal in Switzerland.
The book has also been discussed at IMiF (International Minds in Finland), a select group of entrepreneurs and intellectuals in Finland.
English version launched at Pondicherry, India
Recently, a book launch function was organized at Pondicherry, India, by People for Pondicherry Heritage (PPH), a group of individuals and NGOs who are passionate about protecting as well as showcasing the unique heritage of Pondicherry.
Ms. Sunaina Mandeen of PPH spoke of the need to preserve our values and our rich heritage, the latter including works of literary kind.
Ms. Sunaina Narang introduced the author to the audience.
While launching the upgraded English version of the book, Mr. R Mananathan, Chairman of Manatec Electronics Private Limited, spoke warmly of several topics covered in the book. He found it to be a unique book which covers a vast area of business management. In particular, it touches upon leadership, administration and refined concepts in the domain of human resources. He felt that I deserve credit for having summed up my forty year long practical experience and present it in a crisp and humorous manner. He wished that the language used could have been somewhat simpler in some parts, though.
Mr. P Rangaraj, Chairman and Managing Director, Chemin Controls and Instrumentation Private Limited, said that the book is replete with rich management lessons which would be useful to managers and business owners of all kinds. He was appreciative of the fact that the book also draws upon such Indian ancient scriptures as Ramayana, Mahabharata and Thirukkural.
The book presentation on the occasion touched upon some of the hundred odd topics covered in the book, like Meeting the Boss halfway through, Female Power and Stress, among others.
The presentation also brought into focus a new perspective on leadership by means of an upgraded Blake Mouton Grid, wherein a third dimension is proposed – that of the Concern for Ethics. It advocates the importance of developing not only one’s intelligence and emotional quotient, but also one’s spiritual quotient.
The book transports the reader back to an era when the instructive yet delightful works of such luminaries as C Northcote Parkinson, Lawrence J Peter and Sharu Rangnekar ruled the management book market.
The launch of the book in two countries is a reaffirmation of the fact that managerial knowledge and skills happen to be universal in nature. Books can act as bridges between two countries and two civilizations and bring these closer to each other for the purpose of forging mutually beneficial relationships.
Press coverage
Here is a press report covering the launch event: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/the-art-and-science-of-management/article19338392.ece
Details
“Surviving in the Corporate Jungle”
By Ashok Kumar Bhatia
(http://www.amazon.in/Surviving-Corporate-Jungle-Ashok-Bhatia/dp/1482888505)
(Related Posts:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/a-meeting-with-the-ambassador-of-portugal-in-norway
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2017/05/23/an-interaction-with-senior-professionals-in-finland
ashokbhatia 
‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’ – Some comments
Posted in Management Lessons, tagged Comments, Endorsements, Leadership, Management, The Book on November 27, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Practising managers have had a look at it. Entrepreneurs – of the social as well as the anti-social kind – have gone through it. Management consultants have flipped through it. Eminent personalities have browsed through it. Academicians have devoured it.
Here are some of the comments received so far in respect of the book ‘Surviving in the Corporate Jungle’.
“Behind the veil of humour and punch – there is a message. As the human drama unfolds itself in the corporate jungle, the best and worst of human natures battle for space. Sure enough, the early warnings in the book might help the hapless to survive and the smart to succeed. However, buried in the crevices of the chapters lies a deeper secret. The secret of an inner tuning – developing an inner compass based on personal values that not just protects you but also guides you towards happiness…
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