Arbor Mentis

'Arbor Mentis' - a column by Subroto Bagchi, was published in the business magazine Businessworld.

Towards India Version 2.0
October 3, 2005
What's stopping India from being on top of the world? Health, infrastructure, politics, and terrorism, says Thomas Friedman

Executing a great vision
September 19, 2005
The gap between the best and the average people in any organisation is constant. The trick is to improve the performance of the best

Vision, the future-backward way
September 5, 2005
One can also create a vision in a ‘future backward’ manner, rather than the normal ‘present forward’ manner

The power of inclusion
August 22, 2005
The way to build ‘inclusion’ — extend concern to people who are twice removed from you

Looking beyond self-preservation
August 8, 2005
Great vision is not only about audacious goals, but about one goal that involves a committed leader

Let's talk about vision
July 25, 2005
History shows that visionary leaders have been path creators, capable of action even when the picture was hazy.

Mindsets of the Indian CIO
July 11, 2005
The time has come for chief information officers to think deeply about knowledge and creativity

Of airport cops & aviation safety
June 27, 2005
The Central Industrial Security Force has made a difference to airport security – and how.

It's not just cricket
June 13, 2005
Bob Woolmer, coach of the Pakistan cricket team, shows what business can learn from cricket.

Why SEMCO isn't afraid of China
May 30, 2005
Indian companies are fully capable of competing with China, as long as they have dedication and innovation.

Let's talk about integrity - II
May 16, 2005
Organisations need to invest in a process to deal with matters that constitute breach of integrity.

Let's talk about integrity - I
April 4, 2005
Can organizations that value integrity cope with the fall of government, big business and organized religion?

The spirit of Kamatchi
February 21, 2005
A journey of a destitute, young mother that began in 1926 carries lessons in leadership and decision-making.

Of insensitive advertising
February 7, 2005
Respecting people with disability doesn't come easily to Indians, and comes far less easily to people in business.

Of voyeurism & cyber policing
January 10, 2005
The solution to children misusing technology is not in banning it, but in good parenting.

Application to the headmaster
December 20, 2004
We rarely fail to make the grade in technology but often fail to do a good job of oral or written communication.

The story of Huchhu Fatima
December 13, 2005
It took a potent mix of volunteerism and economic theory for faith, and dignity of life to be restored.

The Cucumber Seller of Chennai
November 1, 2004
At peace with himself and with the world rushing past, this man was dressed in poverty. But in his presence, it was I who felt poor.

Indian? Yes. Air-Indian? No
October 18, 2004
Why does one set of people produce world-class service and another opt for mental poverty?

The Mahatma’s Sadness
October 04, 2004
At first glance, our poor sense of hygiene seems to be rooted in poor education and poverty. It is not.

Lesson to savour at Sibu Cafe
September 20, 2004
To some people, process is a grind. To a small business called Sibu Cafè, it is about liberation and continuity.

The human spirit knows no bounds
September 6, 2004
We all have some disability. But we are not our disability, we are our dreams.

Freedom from, Freedom of
August 23, 2004
After political and economic freedom, it is time India sought freedom again — of the human intellect.

The essence of mentoring
August 9, 2004
The mentor’s crucial role is to question, to test, and to open the recipient’s mind to
alternate ideas.

Tracing the life of an idea
July 26, 2004
The fruition of an idea depends on its innate strength, the attention it gets and how
much it is acted upon.

Made in India: a paradigm shift
July 12, 2004
There is a change in the way the world sees India, thanks to our academic ‘gurus’
and the IT industry.

The spirit of 'only this week'
June 14, 2004
Tenacity, and not ability, often decides who succeeds and who does not.

Chief Minister or CEO?
May 31, 2004
Maybe it’s too much to expect one man, like a Naidu or a Krishna, to look into the interests of both a city and a state.

The half-life of a professional
May 17, 2004
In the half-life state, nuclear fuel becomes a liability, but man can re-enrich himself.

Diversity as competitive edge
March 22, 2004
India is yet to recognize the edge that pluralism and diversity can give it over its rivals.

Managing in difficult times
March 8, 2004
Creative people are at times so attached to their creation that it becomes a deadly embrace.

Building respect brick by brick
February 23, 2004
India’s ability to earn esteem will depend on how many companies of global stature it builds.

Singapore's thinking cop
February 9, 2004
Singapore Police is doing away with the command and control structure, and using KM concepts instead.

Aerotropolis, not just an airport
January 26, 2004
The difference between Changi Airport and any Indian airport is just this: vision.