The Hindu Business Line : Strategic planning can do better than just feel good

STRATEGIC planning has been on corporate radars for the last about four decades. While the exercise has contributed towards much `feel good' around, it hasn't lived up to the expectations of many, says H. William Dettmer in, Strategic Navigation, from Pearson Power (www.pearsoned.co.in). He, therefore, borrows lessons from military experience to help businesses take on competition. Thus, first, get to know John Boyd's theory of manoeuvre warfare and the OODA loop, where the acronym stands for `observe-orient-decide-act.' Then comes the CM or constraint management model, which speaks of S-IO Map or strategic intermediate objectives map, and S-CRT or strategic current reality tree, apart from `evaporating clouds' and `future reality tree'. Hoshin kanri finds mention in many places and the phrase refers to the model used by the Japanese. "It promotes doing and review as well as planning," explains Dettmer. The book provides many examples, such as of the S-IO of Lucent Technologies. Good read, so you can know the many techniques, such as METT-TC, where the letters refer to mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, and civil considerations.

Know your human rights

SOUTH Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) has brought out, Handbook of Human Rights and Criminal Justice in India, from Oxford (www.oup.com). The book educates one on the criminal procedure law through chapters devoted to FIR (first information report), investigation, bail, detention, trials, legal aid, and so on. In his foreword, A.G. Noorani calls the book `a primer to civil liberties' and lauds the `excellent documentation and citation of cases'. Intro defines `human rights' as the rights to which all human beings are entitled. The phrase covers "a broad range of rights, from the right to freedom of religion to the right to food and shelter." Adopting a simple style, the book explains the law, its background and the rationale. For instance, the discussion on bail cites Moti Ram vs State of MP, in which a poor mason was asked to furnish Rs 10,000 and sureties. "The Supreme Court found it unfair to ask an indigent person to deposit such a high amount of bail bond and upheld Hussainara Khatoon ruling that bail covers release on one's own bond, with or without sureties." Essential addition to the professional's reference.

Capture readers!

WHEN writing news stories, forget things such as `superb system', `wonderful experience', and `a nasty cut on the forehead', advises Dilip Awasthi in, The Special Correspondent, from Viva (www.vivagroupindia.com). "Instead choose facts and statements, which will help the reader choose the right adjective." The `handbook for reporters' has racy discussion on the art of interviewing, packaging a story, hi-tech reporting and so on. Among "20 capture readers tricks" are these: Run better photos bigger; run one good profile per day, preferably on an ordinary person; reserve a corner of a page, each day, for one terrific news feature, 300 words or less; on Saturdays, scrap the op-ed page, and replace it with pieces written by readers; run a Q&A interview everyday in a predictable place; commit even more space to peppy or recreational spots; and include one story a day that makes people laugh. Don't forget to read the chapter on `better words and expressions'. Helpful inputs.

Choose the right career

IN THE choice of vocation there are three factors, said F. Parsons in 1909. The factors were: "A clear understanding of yourself, a knowledge of the requirements and prospects in different lines of work; and true reasoning on the relations of these two groups of facts." Citing this, Robert Nathan and Linda Hill advise, in the second edition of, Career Counselling, from Sage (www.sagepublications.com), that career counsellors should not accept their clients' demands and expectations for `advice on the best career'. Why? Because "to reach the point where a rational decision can be made, emotional issues such as managing relationships, coping with loss and change and recovering from damaged self-esteem may first have to be addressed."

Secondly, any advice has to appreciate that `job for life' is no longer a reality. Thirdly, employees may have to "take responsibility for managing their own development... such as a secondment, rather than waiting for promotion." And, most important, any decision is `a matter of personal responsibility'. A counselling approach empowers people to take such responsibility where they, not the counsellor, are the `expert', emphasise the authors. A book you can spend many sessions with.

Be a better listener

HANDY guide that you can carry with you is Rath & Strong's, Six Sigma Team Pocket Guide, from Tata McGraw-Hill (www.tatamcgrawhill.com). Do you know why many Six Sigma projects fail? It's the soft side, says the book. "Lack of team skills, internal politics, and bad communication." To overcome these, the book offers many techniques. Such as on `how to be a better listener so that people will want to help you'.

The authors advise that you tune in to nonverbal communication cues, and concentrate on the speaker. Remember that nonverbal cues include aspects of speech other than words (i.e. volume, tone, speed, pitch, and so on), gestures, facial expressions, eye movements, physical proximity/ position, and bodily contact. During the conversation, constantly monitor your concentration level; "if your attention starts to wander, force yourself to refocus on the speaker," says the book. "If you miss something, bite the bullet and ask the speaker to repeat or rephrase." Valuable assistance for effectiveness.

Tailpiece

"What's your reaction to India sending the N-plan to Bush?"

"Nuclear!"

ReadingRoom@TheHindu.co.in

D. Murali