Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓

You will recall that GAVI Fund was the silvery lining of the cloud. Linux, Wikis brought in a new form of collaboration in the world. Coupled with outsourcing business model all over the world we are observing a new business model growing: Crowdsourcing.

The rise and grow of crowdsourcing is mind blowing. When you think that the word was only coined in June 2006 by Wired Magazine.

Procter & Gamble, and many world leaders companies have joined in band wagon in this business model and have already benefited largely in specific fields where crowdsourcing can provide lucrative solutions.

“The main advantages of crowdsourcing are that innovative ideas can be explored at relatively little cost. Furthermore, it also helps reduce costs. For example if customers reject a particular design, it can easily be scrapped. Though disappointing, this is far less expensive than developing high volumes of a product that no one wants. Crowdsourcing is also related to terms like Collective Customer Commitment (CCC) and Mass Customization. Collective Customer Commitment (CCC) involves integrating customers into innovation processes. It helps companies exploit a pool of talent and ideas and it also helps firms avoid product flops. Mass Customization is somewhat similar to collective customer commitment; however, it also helps companies avoid making risky decisions about what components to prefabricate and thus avoids spending for products which may not be marketable later.”

I see in crowdsourcing a more efficient way of developing innovative products as well as a way to market test the product. Some application in designing T-shirts and its production are well on stream. This could very well work for innovative fashion garments in Mauritius.

This week, some serious decisions have been taken up by the leaders of the European Union in respect of limiting the emission of carbon dioxide and the pollution of the atmosphere to ease or slow the earth warning. This to me is a good sign and good news and yet there is still so much to be done.

During this summit of the Top leaders of the EU, an agreement has been reached. The Nordic countries; i.e. Denmark, Finland who were for the limiting the generation of power by nuclear plant and its exclusion from the renewable & ecological energy debate have now accepted to comprise albeit with some limitations.

Why? There could well be the self interest of each country, which is pushing the technologies where they are well ahead. We can understand the financial gains that could be reaped for the investment made in the different technologies made. France, well advanced in nuclear generation pushed and argued that the nuclear generation had to be included because of the technological break through of today such as:

Thorium generators,

Reduction of radio active waste to a very low controllable quantity

And the risk of accidents as we had in the past at Chernobyl almost reduced to nil if properly controlled.

Conservation and gained in efficiency has been the route favored by the Nordic countries. They have developed an array of technologies to make better use of the energy produced. Other countries like Germany have focus on the development of technologies based on photo voltaic cells. The sun is blessing us with more than enough energy which we need; we have only up to now fail to tap as much as we suffice.

You will recall that I had a meeting with my brother who was involved in the Canadian nuclear power plant industry, and who is much better informed than me. He is confident that with the progress that will be made, Mauritius could be powered with a nuclear plant for the generation of electricity.

For us in Mauritius:

1. What are we doing to gain more from the energy we are now producing? Where are our conservation and efficiency gained programs? In Switzerland for example, they have introduced a tax on Incandescent lamps which is used to subsidize more efficient and more expensive lamps for lighting. Old technology lamps sells cheaper than new technology lamps because of economy of scale production and the fiscal depreciation applied. Thus the state has to initiate ways to reverse the trend for the sake of energy conservation.

2. What are we doing to tap and use the free energy provided to us by our blessed Sun? Just like it is often compulsory by law the include parking area in new high rise buildings some states in the US, specially the “Sun belt” states, it is now compulsory to build in solar and geothermal generators in the building.

3. Are we looking towards new sources or new technologies at a lower cost to satisfy our hungry industrial and domestic needs?

We have once more the honor and great pleasure in welcoming Imai Masaaki the Japanese top management guru and his team in Mauritius to lecture on “Survival of the fittest- STRATEGIES OF A LION”.

Should you have the time I would highly recommend that you attend this lecture which will be held at the cyber Tower on the 6^th March from 17.00- 19.00.

The Kaizen Institute has chosen Mauritius to conduct their worldwide meeting this semester and we are benefiting of this event.

During the days I was still active in business, a few Gemba Kaizen workshops and programs were run in some of the units, I used to manage. The Gemba Kaizen exercises gave excellent results on the overall performance fast and at almost no cost.

Elimination of wastes ( MUDA) and running a continuous improvement system in any business unit have worked and is still working miracles all over the world. I recall with much pleasure that in May 2001, SEBNA a bottle plant situated in the Rogers industrial zone were the first unit in Mauritius to contract the program which was brilliantly conducted by Jayen Murthy of the Kaizen Institute.

More so, in today’s difficult times, lean management is the way to remain competitive. This system of operation is often also called the Toyota way as most of the tools proposed by the Kaizen Institute were originally inspired by Toyota manufacturing methods.

This year 2007,today we celebrate at the same time the Chinese Lantern festival and the Indian Holi Festival.In Beau Bassin,this afternoon, I could continuously hear the drumming of the Chinese Lion dances and the firing of the crackers.
Whilst the meanings and traditions of these festivities abound on the web, I would like to highlight what aroused me on the Holi festivities:

Social Significance
Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival.
Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and forget any feeling of hardship that may be present. Besides, on this day people do not differentiate between the rich and poor and everybody celebrate the festival together with a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood.
In the evening people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revitalizing relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people.

Biological Significance
It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun.
We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time. And, also for incorporating so much fun in the festival.

As Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.

Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies.

I have the feeling that our dear country needs to live more of the spirit of the Holi Festivities…..more so within the goverment majority.

Do you know who is Yan Kwok?

I propose that all Mauritians bloggers and all those who has some interest in the internet and related technology should know of Yan KWOK. I only met him a couple of times in 1997. Hats off to him for what he has done when he was still a student in Cape Town. If I am not mistaken all of you who are using the .mu are contributing to Yan KWOK’s  wealth.

Through linkedin, I managed to trace him up.

The question I am asking myself is: Does Mauritius need persons of his competence and experience? Why have the authorities of Mauritius acted in such a manner to keep  Yan KWOK away from Mauritius?

Yes indeed, we need brains and drive for our country to prosper. So Mauritius needs the competency and experience of people the like of Yan.

I am of opinion that the authorities have been unfair to Yan. He was foresighted enough during his university days to see potential in making some money out of the then upcoming ICANN whilst all the government authorities ,I presume were completely out of the picture.Should Yan be penalized for his business acumen  and initiative?

I move that the authorities in spite of the ego and arrogance that they hold would do well to recognize Yan’s deeds and publicly welcome him to put his knowledge to the service of the nation. Perhaps, then. the action could be set as an example for our bright stars evolving in the world to come home to set up shop.

Article paru sur le journal il y a quelques jours.

Le même message évoqué par J Michel Billaut. Il nous faut se battre pour que les tarifs permettent le développement.L’ avenir de Maurice est en jeu.

Je suis d’opinion que les tarifs de l’inter connectivité ne sont pas d’ordre économique mais de l’ordre politique et de vision de l’avenir du pays. Comment faire pour bouger la politique ? Avez-vous une idée ? Une lettre ouverte aux autorités ?

Today,with such a lousy weather,post Cyclone Gamede, sticky,warm and humid, I have spent most of my day browsing on Thorium Reactors.

For those of you interested in “greener” source of energy,this might be one of the solution. I believe, India is well advanced in the search and deployment in this field. May we in the future, could look towards “mother India” for some help!As a matter of fact India is working very hard to find renewable source of energy to cater for its explosive demographic expansion. India is the 3rd world largest producer of energy from wind powered generators and very advanced in solar power generation too…

By the way,does anybody got any idea of the progress being made in the experimental wind turbine installed at Grand Bassin? We are great at launching project, also great at not following through and concluding the project. Is it a typical Mauritian trait?
I shall be discussing with my brother on this matter as soon as he lands in Mauritius this week. He had been involved with building one of the Candu(Canadian atomic energy) Nuclear power generator in Korea a few years ago and should be better informed than me.

Are you for or against Nuclear reactors in Mauritius?

“Where the east meets the west” is perhaps an overused slogan. Mauritius lives it in its reality.The metissage has given us a new breed of people and a somewhat strange and confusing culture.

Are we Mauritians real Chinese or real Indians or real French, Europeans or Africans? Through the years and living in an environment off the mother base, we have evolved into a new hybrid. We have become Mauritians.

Would a Singaporean be a Chinese on asking any one in Singapore? He would bluntly reply , I guess I am a Singaporean. Same for a Thai!
This confirms my thesis the metissage has produced a new hybrid. Let us be proud of our Mauritian upbringing. I used to qualify myself to people who inquired about me, during my extensive traveling days, as someone who would : firstly speak English with a French residual accent and speak French using English idioms yet be proud of the fusion;secondly look Asian from my features yet almost westernized in my education; thirdly lives on a continent which is neither Europe nor Asia. The person who I would be talking to would be in confusion.

You will recall that the color green comes from the mixing of the yellow and blue colors.

A proud “Green” happy fusion Mauritian, I am and pray that we all were.

I recommend you to read Sanderson Beck from where I regular source for a wealth of knowledge at no cost.

In reply to Christiane’s blog entitled “Our mixed Heritage”, I posted a comment along these following lines:

Mixed Heritage or Metissage is the term I like. As often in nature, cross- breeding enhances the subject, when it strengthens the positive and minimizes the negatives.I for one, looking back at my ancestry, can claim French creole, and Chinese blood, and am very proud of it. Apart from the genetic aspect, I am also proud of my cultural metissage: my mother born of the union of a china man, and a half mulatto, half Chinese. My mother was raised in an environment close to the Vadamotoo family, the “madras baptises” we could say. My mother, who lived in a poverty stricken family since  her early childhood,   managed to get a good education with the help of her neighbors, the then wealthy “Madras” family who considered her as a sister. My mother later married the son of a well- to- do Chinaman, after much persuasion and numerous objections & refusals from my father’s parents. Considered as a mixed marriage by my father’s parents, their union was not at all acceptable. There were not only racial differences; in the late 40’s there were concerns of social ranking, community peer pressures, economical consideration and reputation. If it were not for the perseverance and tenacity of my parents, my brothers & sisters and I would probably never found this world. In the final analysis, my parents had a very successful married life. My mother brought into my father’s family some other values and qualities which have enriched the more Chinese values of the latter. She had to learn the Chinese dialect to converse with her mother- in- law.  Almost nearing her death , my grandma sought forgiveness from my mother for her inappropriate opposition to the latter’s marriage and told everyone around her that she had a most kind, and considerate daughter- in- law. Success is always the result of drive, determination and efforts.

 

A few days have passed since. Thinking back, I said to myself  that we are blessed in Mauritius to benefit from the proximities of the different cultures and customs and to have first hand experiences of them. Stephen Covey, who I believe would be visiting Mauritius soon, taught me a lesson whilst talking of his habit 6: Synergize is valuing the differences. In fact the Covey leadership center had made a film on Mauritius to demonstrate the cultural differences which, when properly channeled could bring in growth and harmony beyond imagination: 1+1 = 3 or more. I thus conclude that the cultural “half blood” or shall I dare say “double blood” is better than each of the single elements that made up the metissage. Vive le metissage!