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Raja Simhan T.E.

Change is the only constant. Perry Bedinger on the business and technology scene, in India and globally.

IT is always a tough decision to change jobs. It is even tougher switching careers. But, for Perry Bedinger, Director, International Accounts and Distribution, Harvard Business School Publishing, such changes are nothing new. This expert in technology-enabled learning has been a teacher (with a 30-year history in training and development), lawyer, and tennis pro (he taught tennis). He has served the US Army's Helicopter Training School (he was a Vietnam War veteran). He's been an entrepreneur, owned an information technology consultancy practice... . the list goes on.

"The common thread has always been training and development, asking someone to do something. Whether it's combat skills or teaching computer science, it has always been about training and development, and this is my real passion," he says.

Bedinger was in Chennai recently and met the media. Various issues, including technology evolution, came up for discussion. Here's his take on different issues.

Resistance to change

Harvard Business School Publishing is a non-profit organisation that is made up of Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business press and Harvard Business online (e-learning). Its mission is to improve the practice of management in the changing world. The emphasis is on change, which is basically a transformation, of an operation or a change in stake.

The emphasis on change is interesting because, generally, as Bedinger points out, people resist change. "Because all of us like to have a routine, and change represents a dramatic switch for most people."

Technology is key

What makes today's scene different is that change is happening - and it's happening at a much faster pace. Basically, it is globalisation that is being facilitated by communication and improved travel facilities, be it through the skies or by sea. There are also other reasons like technological innovation and decreasing cost of communication. Communication and technology help and enhance each other.

The transistor is a good example of technological evolution. The transistor's size has shrunk over the years, thanks to one, more information has been put on the circuit board, and two — powerful magnets are being used to make small motors and batteries. Today, technology is all about the computer. And, without the computer, technology cannot advance as quickly as it is now doing.

Company— a non-linear system

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; For want of a shoe, the horse was lost; For want of a horse, the battle was lost;... you know how it goes on. And all for want of a horseshoe nail.

This illustrates the working of a non-linear system. Such a context is true of a company too. A company is a non-linear system, and little changes in the firm can trigger unexpectedly large results. And it is best to not let little problems grow into bigger ones.

Neuron network - IT thought

The neuron networks in the human brain are, in a way, like a computer processor. An organisation uses a number of personal computers (PC) and each PC does a little part of the equation, and sends it to headquarters, which puts it all together. Inside the brain, we have 10 billion neurons, and these work together to create awareness and intelligence in human beings. "We have about six billion people on the planet. What happens when we reach 10 billion? Have we modelled a future plan? Do individuals act like neurons? We need to think about all these."

For example, think about a virus that starts in Germany and reaches around the world through the Internet within minutes. And, if one is wired, and part of a neuron (global) network, a computer user on the other side of the globe, who is hit by the virus, risks losing valuable data on his/her system. Inter-dependence and inter-communication are what neuron networks are all about, and this is also an example of a non-linear system - an action in Germany can have an effect on somebody in Chennai.

China - a story of growth

China has changed dramatically in the last few years. There is a major change every six months. The economic opportunity in China is increasing due to the heavy inflow of foreign investment. "Every time I go back to China, I am told that 10 more McDonalds have been opened in Beijing. This means there is tremendous growth in investment and the demand has increased."

India - look around you

The India one sees today will not exist in the next 10 years. This India is going to change. "I guarantee you." The model has been set. The precedent has been set, and the change is going to be a lot faster.

However, unlike China, India's growth is on a different trajectory. A few years ago it was conventional wisdom that emerging economies would take over the manufacturing sector because they have low cost labour and other such advantages. Wealthier countries would maintain the service industries, because, they had people (intellectual) capital.

However, India has turned that on its head, and is taking over the services industries. This is exciting, because the service industry does not require more foreign investment. It does not ask for a huge capital base or building huge factories - all that manufacturing economies need. So, instead of turning raw resources and foreign investment into capital, India has turned intellectual capital (say in the software industry) into capital. That is where modern industry and commercial organisations are headed - towards becoming much more service-oriented.

raja@thehindu.co.in

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