Usability and Project Management (IT cos.)

I happen to work in a Full Fledged Usability project from client side in Bangalore for DELL (which is rare in Indian IT companies to do….). Like any other usability projects, there were lot of expectancy from both client and our company. Everyone including us were not sure what and how we will change? This is quite natural feeling in every other Usability projects, because the subject itself is very subjective. So now question arises how to fit USABILITY in SDLC ? That’s where we are struggling to answer and explain to our PM who knows ZERO about Usability, but since Client has asked him to prepare a Plan, he is expecting to do that in sync with development project.

Why we are struggling is that Usability cycle can never be planned for each person, as it is a group activity. Usability process involves speaking to users, preparing task lists and these are all group activity, but as our SDLC demands person hours be it any process or task, we are having a tough task ahead to convince our PM.

Hopefully we would come up with a beneficial and highly successful project so that we can set up an example for our company.

Shameful Article in Times of India FRONT PAGE - 7th Dec, Bangalore

As a regular reader of Times of India, I was surprised to see a news on FRONT PAGE about what and how Kasav eats, drinks and sleeps in Jail. Now who wants to know what that Asshole is doing and that too in front page, the title read “Non-veg, Big B films on Kasav wish-list - 7 Dec 2008, 0251 hrs IST, Mateen Hafeez, TNN” saying what Kasab eats and drinks. Who cares man? Instead of beating that man to blues, we are been told that he is been fed 4 times a day. Is this a news to be in Front page. I was extremely unhappy to see that a renowned newspaper publish such a horrible article in front page.
Sad really ??? read this online…. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3803483.cms?TOI_mostread

I am angry like all Mumbaikar

I am angry absolutely angry on the recent Mumbai terror. Guns, shootouts, this is absolute COWARDLY and DISGUSTING act by so called Islamic group, who claim they are the protectors of Islam..... absolutely bulllshit. I pity them, and I am hope that each one of them who are still in huge die a dog's death.

May the souls of the died Mumbaikars rest in peace...

This is my 50th Blog.....

something to cheer and celebrate

Mumbai and Bhaiyyas

Mumbai and Bhaiyyas (People Migrating from UP) go hand to hand. I have been in Mumbai since my childhood days and have seen a steep rise of bhaiyyas and it still continous. No doubt one day their population has outnumbered so much that people living in Mumbai are feeling insecure. Previously when we used to say Watchman in bombay, all that came to our mind was Ghorkhas, but now Ghorkhas have been replaced by bhaiyyas. Now you will see 90% of private security guard are from UP. That’s a huge number. Same is the case with construction workers, Cab drivers... Well Doodwalas and Carpenters were already been ruled by Bhaiyyas in Mumbai for long time. Now suddenly as this outburst of Marathi sentiments have come up, this has not come as a surprise to me because one day this was to happen. Well its not that I am supporting Raj and MNS but if you go and see New Bombay, Mankurd, Govandi the unskilled worforce has been dominated by bhaiyyas. Why? this is debatable question everyone is wondering ? Answer is simple, First of all Bhaiyyas can work for peanuts, whatever you give they will accept. They used to be loyal, not now though, but still if you think of a carpenter you will always say "Arre woh apna bhaiyya hai na bulao usko". Such is the mark they have made in Mumbai.

Now let me explain other side of Bhaiyyas, I had this dear friend of mine who came from UP in seek of job, which JOB.... any kind of but be in Mumbai. He left his farming business and came, why because in UP he says it’s boring and lazy. So landed in Advertising firm as admin guy, took insult from everyone, used to slog like a pig… no ifs... no buts. He went on to open his own venture though not succeeded much but still surviving. So I always used to ask him why he left UP and came to this over bursting city. He had no valid answer for the same. So many people who are well to do in UP still think they can earn a high life in Mumbai, struggle a lot and not to be surprised they live a dogs life but never think of going back. It’s like USA migration in 1990s when many Indians (especially gujjus and many anadraites) used to go there and work in petrol pumps and slog but would never come back. But USA is a differnt issue as the people in US want to live a ROYAL life and they hate to do such pity jobs, they become criminals but will never accept a labourous job and atleast in US Indians feel they are better paid.

So back to Bhaiyyas, these bhaiyyas think Mumbai is the only place in this world where they can live like a TIGER but truth is that they get f*kd here, and funny part is they still don't mind and they will continue to rule some of the sectors. Now local mumbaikar’s need is to wake up and compete with them aggressively not by force but by work rather than abusing or hurting them.