LECTURE VERSUS FILMS

Yesterday when one of the GMPian wrote on how to view lectures as films, the subject-chapter as story line and the teacher as the Actor; my memory drifted back to one of the lectures by one of our esteemed professors. The lecture was on ‘Group Dynamics & Team Building’ where the related side topic was ‘5 – Stage Group Development Model’.

To make the students better understand the importance of the various stages of the above mentioned topic the professor related the topic with one of the 2007 blockbuster movie ‘Chak De’. The stages of the Group Development Model were described as follows:

1. Forming group: In the movie, the 16 womenhockey players who come from all sections of India come together to represent India in Hockey World Cup. And in this manner the group is formed.
2. Storming (Members resist the control by the leader): Kabir Khan, the coach of the team appoints makes Vidya Sharma as the team captain. In response contender of the said post and the most experienced player, Bindia Naik repeatedly attempts to encourage the players to revolt against Khan. Bindia finally succeeds in creating a storm within the team.
3. Norming (Members develop camaraderie and norms of conduct in the group): During a fight with some of the local guys who pass comments and try to make pass at one of the team members, all the team members develop a camaraderie and eventually request Khan to withdraw his resignation.
4. Performing (work towards achieving goals): The newly formed coherence in the group helps them in overcoming through a series of additional challenges, like a challenge match against the men’s team to prove their competence. Even though they lose this match, their overwhelming performance leaves a mark on the officials who are finally forced to change their mind and send the team to The World Championship.
5. Adjourning (group disbands either because the job is done or because the members leave): The team is sent to Australia where they face a number of low keys and struggle to remain in the league of the contenders. Finally everyone unites as a team and eventually declare themselves ‘The World Champions’ of the Hockey World Cup. And to end the story all the glorious 16 winners and their honoured coach part and move on in their respective lives.

So here is the lecture that could virtually be related to a movie.

This blog is not only to remind everyone of the excellent learning experience we all have had but also to support the GMPian who requested all to view lectures as films and enjoy the lectures, which would ultimately help us in absorbing more and exploring more.

GMP organizes Dow Jones MD visit @ XLRI

Mitya New is Managing Director Dow Jones India. In this role he is responsible for both the B2B Enterprise Media Group and the B2C Consumer Media Group side of the business. He has been with Dow Jones since August 2008 and was recruited specifically to lead Dow Jones aggressive investment into building a business and editorial operation in India. This investment is one of a series of new investments launched by Dow Jones following the company’s acquisition by News Corporation.
Previous to Dow Jones, Mitya New spent 20 years with Reuters in a number of senior management roles around the world. He was Managing Director South Asia, based in Mumbai 2000-04, Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director Japan 2004-05 and Managing Director Nordics & Baltics 2005-08.
Mitya New was born in Indonesia and spent his childhood in Hong Kong. He speaks German, Italian and Mandarin Chinese.

ABOUT DOW JONES
Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com) is a News Corporation company (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV; www.newscorp.com). Dow Jones is a leading provider of global business news and information services. Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group includes Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions, Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones owns 50% of SmartMoney and 33% of Stoxx Ltd. and provides news content to radio stations in the U.S

XLRI GMP on facebook

Join XLRI GMP on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=80748519714

Another holiday.. another match .. and another win

october 17, 2009 (Diwali), Match against PGPMI guys... GMPians winning the match by 7 wickets, seems winning is already a habit of team GMP.
Posting the match details as captured and narrated Shuvdeep-- the average guy :)

"The evening before the match our captain Dubeyji confirmed that we are going to play against a team whose right name of the batch no one knew exactly.On this news a few players started living in the field from that moment.The guy who was on the field was not a great player but he kept dreaming about big things for the next match.Lets call this guy Average.Average even overheard a small discussion which our opponents were having at Daduu's.Average is a loyal guy and he immediately told his captain what he overheard at daddoo's.
The Team:
Architect-Our player,umpire,scorer and the best teammate.He is our lucky charm.He is making us win.Dubbeyjee (captain),rest all are equal so no special mention with their names.

The night before:
Chotee Diwali,lights all around, all our blocks garlanded with necklaces of yellow pearls.The nearest wine shop yesternight saw a sharp increase in sales at 1945hrs and the at 2130hrs.I hope u will figure it out yourself why I gave these two times and whats the relation with the wine shop.Out of playing 11,4 drank heavily on that night and one was even gambling his luck till 400 hrs.Let's call him Mines.

The morning before:
Out of these 4 one was Average he drank like a fish.With two different sets of his friends,enjoyed both of them heavily and again forgot to call his wife.Anyway that was nothing new for Average.We had a huge breakfast with sewai kheer being served as a what we dont know.Average's head was aching pretty badly.By 830 hrs the team reached the ground.Everyone started warming up,Average was reluctant to even catch the ball.Dubbeyjee was active as usual counting the number of balls and max overs and deciding on other regulations for the game.Others saw a tall guy wearing cap with Magenta colored shorts bowling to one of our players(as a practice ball).He was great and damn accurate.He bowled another ball and the bails were dislodged.Everyone behaved as though they have not seen it.He bowled very well.
The pitch:
The pitch was damp,the outfield was damp and Average's spirits were also damp because of last night's spirit consumption.

The Toss:
Dubbeyjee went for the toss and he won it.Dubbeyjee said initially batting first but later he changed it to bowling first.Dunno,who made him the captain even he cannot call the toss properly.Average heard straight from the captains mouth that we have to bowl first.He was shocked,bowling with the hangover and with our batsmen not very good in chasing.He even profoundly claimed that it was a bad decision.Well,now nothing can be undone.

The Match:
Dubbeyjee opened the bowling with a great ball and suddenly all the players were again the 18 years old.Even average started getting back to life.The next over was bowled by Average and by 3rd ball he has forgotten his hangover,wife,tests and was concentrating to get an early wicket.Dubeyjee took the first wicket and completed by a great catch by Sun(another TT table finalist from B section) Then for the 5th over dubbeyjee introduced our first change bowlers PSS and MG (who are actually better than the opening bowler-Average).TataSteel took great catches while talking on his phone.Dubbeyjee made a sudden change and offered Placecom(our another player) bowling.Two batsmen were getting settled there.Placecom came and took a brilliant wicket and broke the partnership.The batsmen were cornered to the core and they were neither scoring runs nor were able to keep wickets.PSS and MG bowled very well.It was a delight to see their bowls hitting the right areas on the pitch.PSS took a lightening quick catch which coming right on his face.The last over was bowled by Average and he gave a 4.I dont remember exact figures butI think on an average everyone shared 2 wickets,except Average who didnt get a wicket.Our fielding was exceptionally well with everyone taking catches and stopping the runs.Average dived for a catch and missed it.Captain even got a bit angry with him.Well,he deserved that.The scientist from DRDO was calm,silent and very energetic throughout the session.Before I wind up our bowling I would like to say that Placecom and Mines executed a brilliant run-out.I'm sorry, it cannot be described,it can just be seen and enjoyed.
BRILLIANT!!!!!
We were supposed to chase 59 in 15 overs.Our openers,Mines and Headstrong,decent pair, both of them great players and very fit too.Has a bad reputation of getting themselves run-out.The Magenta colored short wearing lambuu opened the bowling for their team.I suddenly felt after seeing his first bowl,that lambuu has peaked ,he will not be able to bowl well.Our batsmen started well,trying their best not to get other run-out.Then we lost Headstrong,He was so frustrated(about I dunno what),he chased a leg-side wide and gave a catch to the wicket-keeper.Headstrong was substituted on the pitch by Sun.The technically best in the team,generally a low scorer because techniques and score are as different as profit and cash.But very reliable and very good in analysing the balls.Today,he removed the tag of low scorer and scored handsome amount of runs and delighted us by his perfectly timed shots.Then Sun decided to set and he got out.His catch was very well taken by the player from the opposite side.Then ,entered the batting arena -the Doctor.Doctor has a peculiar requirement.U know he can Bowl,field,bat ,be a TT champion but he cannot run.While Headstrong at leg-umpire position was very contented that he and Mines didnt get each other run-out,he was again called for being runner with the partner as Mines.The irony was Mines again got run-out and the partner was Headstrong.Though this time Headstrong had no contribution in this wicket.Doctor kept on batting very well with his legs and then even batted very well with his bat later on.He finished the match with a brilliant cover-drive which drove the bowl to the boundary.It was 13th over running.
Everyone batted very well with special performances by Mines,Sun and Doctor.PSS,MG,Placecom,Tatasteel(though he played a few deliveries),Dubbeyjee,Average(not much sure about batting talent).Dubbeyjee was delighted.Average was also happy.He was pondering that who should be man of the match.He felt Dubbeyjee,with his brilliant decisions and captaincy.Bowling first,bringing in Placecom and then performing well too. Well Thats,it from myside.Sanjeev Reddy the IIML champ was our special scorer,the Architect was the umpire for our innings and he was very good and strong in his decisions.Occasional visitors were there.Samtel stayed till last bowl.He is also one of the semi-finalists from section A.I would also congratulate Misha and his team for being able to complete the TT tournament.His patience,perseverance and voice kept the fire alive for the TT tournament.
Cheers Happy Diwali This is Average signing off! "

GMPians Vs Defense......cricket camaraderie wins

Females no longer fancy men with huge chests, bulging biceps and rugged machismo. They have started drooling over fitter and leaner men. The extra protein supplements and 10 egg whites are outdated. Perfect height and weight ratio is what makes a person look healthy and fit……cut….
When you begin to understand the mind-body connection, you can really begin your inner journey. What you think absolutely affects you and the world you live in. Your intellectual fitness has to do with your mindset, your attitude, and what you believe……cut…
AND THIS POST IS ABOUT TODAY’S CRICKET MATCH. (11th OCT 2009)
GMPians grouped for a cricket match against Defense batch (Ds from now onwards). As we, the XLRI GMPians approached the playground we saw some lean, fit and cheerful guys practicing and discussing cricket….;;;”we definitely are in for good competition from an athletic and determined lot” , the thought reverberated through all GMPians(Gs from now onwards). With the mind-body connection the Gs had, a tough challenge was lined up for the sculpted Ds.
The match started with Gs opting to bat after winning the toss. Odd patches of green and rough undulations on the pitch limited the array of strokes Gs usually demonstrate. Good bowling line and accurate length, complimented by good fielding led to early success for Ds and soon Gs were struggling. Some good late hitting by Ranjay propelled Gs score to 64 for 9 in the allotted 15 overs.
BREAK FOR 15 MINUTES.
Taking into account the difficult batting conditions the field was set for a thrilling contest. Ds batted steadily for the first few overs with occasional hiccups. It was the introduction of Parth that turned the tide and swept away the heroics of Ds. Parth bowled a fine line and Mohit from the other end maintained a steady pressure on the batting side. With a 5 wicket grab Parth destroyed the opposite camp and Ds were bundled for a mediocre 36 runs.
Catching was exceptional and a brilliant run out reflected the overall good fielding status of Gs. Ample crowd support and unbiased standard umpiring from Sanjeev Reddy added to the enthusiasm and the competitive spirit.
Finally, the entire Gs team was heard encouraging each other by taking PRACHEESH’s name throughout the contest. It was later explained to amused Ds that chanting Pracheesh’s name was the success mantra and hence was repeated as often as possible.
We were clicked by waiting and pleading photographers towards the end and the match proceedings ended with cold drinks at the canteen sponsored by the winning team’s captain.

My Memorable Badminton Match in IIML

This post is about my experiences in the badminton match against IIML in their campus in Lucknow.

About the Tournament:-

It was in a typical Davis Cup Style where both the teams XLRI and IIML competed for 5 games 3 singles and 2 doubles. Both teams had their own strategy of mixing and ordering their players.


Setting the Stage:-
IIML was leading by 2-1 , as XLRI lost their two matches 1 singles and 1 Doubles. The moral was down both because we thought we had the best badminton team and also one of our best player lost in the singles match.

About the Crowd(boisterous, Bhaiyya crowd, XL ki kudiyan):-

The shady badminton court in the grassland of IIML was eye sore in the IIML campus, but it was jampacked, which I think might be due to following reasons:-

(1) It was the probably the 2nd event happening in the Men category.

(2) IIML crowd was there because there Sportscomm secretary was part of the badminton team and he was indeed a popular guy.

(3) XL crowd was there because XL had the good badminton team and XL had chances of winning the tournament.

My Opponent Naveen:- He was definately the favourite among the crowd . I saw him practicing before the match and his confidence exuded that he is all game to play with anyone. You can easily identify a good player by the way they practice.

My Game Plan for Single:-

(1) Make the person move through out the court , by dropping in front and then slicing it to back.

(2) Restrain on smashes.

(3) Reduce Unforced errors, which i tend to do lot.



THE Match :-

There were around 300 + people as IIML was thinking to square it off and XL was trying save its pride by losing easily.

First set (0-1)

The first set was disaster for me, as i was literally shaking when i was about to serve. The good thing was I was aware of it that "stage fear" has been part of me since childhood and I just need to play a little to get the rythm. I did several unforced errors in the game, did not serve the shuttle up in the air and my opponent took advantage of each of it and won the first set convincingly as 21-14. Though I lost , I knew it was not because he played better.



Sledging:-

It was there between each and every point and the vocabulary seems to be never ending for UP bhaiyya or from our XL guys and gals. There were literally scuffle among both the XLErs and IIML crowd and game was atleast stopped 7-8 times. I think I was competent enough to understand the worst abusive language ,but I was wrong and I quit to the crowd. This blog would be rated A or infact not even published if the details are entered.



Second Set(0-2):- I managed to get a 6-1 lead in this set in the start due to other players unforced errors . But eventually he squared it off in 21-19.



Third Set(1-2):- I was under pressure so as to not loose in straight sets as I was 2-0 down in the 5 setter , However, I knew I had almost won the last set. The XL team was a source of enthusiams and motivation for me and they supported my whole heartedly.

I again managed to get the lead of 5-2 and I just needed to sustain it. By this time I was playing my usual self , going for a rally and then culminating it with a smash. The game was on

as both of us went in for rally and there were less errors. After every point a look in opponent eyes told me that he was defeatable. I sustained the lead and managed to won my 1st game

with a good margin of 21-13. Finally , some cheers in XL camp.



4th Set(2-2):- I didnt knew how much glucose i consume that day. By this time, I was totally in oblivion to surrounding. I was enjoying each and every point earned and cheer from the XL crowd. The IIML bhaiyya crowd got active and started personalised sledging against my name. I was just enjoying it and I didnt even thought with a pinch of salt.This set was the longest and the game stopped several times , mainly due to opponent claiming that I was carrying the shuttle, which was ridiculous as carrying in badminton is a rare event.

I again managed to get the lead and i knew i just have to make him play. I was at my best , My service got improved with each serve as high it could be in the back court and for for every return of the the serve , I was smashing it. My aspiration changed from giving a good fight to make it a 5th setter game of which i always admired Federer ,although in a different game of Tennis. I won this set 21-18. And Now the attention shifted from me to Naveen and he was surrounded by all IIML guys , who were giving him motivational doses.



5th Set(3-2):- In between the set break, I wondered whether there are training session for 5 setters. The game is entirely transformed from hitting smashes to endurance and fitness. All drenched in sweat , the only inspiration for me was seeing my opponent who was also in such a sweaty state and the XL support. I was gulping huge doses of glucose and water to keep my self hydrated.

I changed my strategy a little bit this time:-

(1) I thought of playing power game to win as early as possible and avoid tie-braker.

However, this change costed me as i hit many a times in net and eventually i gave him the lead and he was leading by 4-1.

I went back to basics and again went for rally and quickly equalise it. One thing which i realise is it gives you tremendous confidence when you win a rally . I stick with this game plan and took the lead with points 8-5.His team asked him to took the break as he was drifting away from the basics.

He came back strongly and equalise at 10-10. I puzzled him with some power smashes and then it became very easy for me.He did lot of unforced errors and I eventually won the game 21-17.



And then it was followed with huge cheer from XL group and i enjoyed every bit of it.



Learning from this game:-

(1) Stay there , Be there , whatever it takes to:- When you start playing , there are lot of clutter in your mind like team pressure, personal motives, audience pressure etc. Every thing vanished after a while and all it matters is to play a good game.

GMP Power for the Married

It was my dream to do MBA. Getting into XLRI was more than I had dreamt. While I was rejoicing the start of a new life, I realized that XLRI GMP would be a challenge with respect to time management. Armed with faith, committed husband and supportive parents, I decided to join the XLRI family.
Family accommodation is better than I expected. Apartment has a spacious bedroom, living room, kitchenette and storage area. Bed, cabinets, desk, chair and book stand were provided. The common area of the building is cleaned and maintained regularly. Canteen has great food and friendly staff. There are doctors who visit the campus twice a day. I have the fortune of having 5 great doctors as my batch-mates including pediatricians. I could not have asked for more.
There is a beautiful park right in front of the building for the children to play. My daughter who is now 10 months old waits to go down every evening and watch other kids play. Well, that is a GMP baby club :)
The second term has started. You are wondering what happened to my fear of time management problem? Well, the fear has transformed into a new found confidence. In the first term, there was no time to breathe and I lived in this constant fear of ‘how will I manage everything’. Married people struggled between family and studies while most singles struggled between movies and studies :) [Secret - You get access to lots of movies here]. Back to my fear story - I learnt to sleep less and make the most of my time by focusing well on the task on hand whether it is spending time with family or studying. I am also an active member of four extracurricular groups.
First term has passed and I have realized that I can do a lot more than I thought I could. GMP has shown me how I could exceed my own expectations. I know that whatever happens, I will find a way out to succeed. GMP has made me strong and efficient. Wondering what happened to effectiveness. I was always effective - that is why I joined XLRI :)