A pleasant experience - TCS

A lot of media coverage was given to TCS for the title sponsoring the New York Marathon event recently and a lot was said about the brand building exercise - some positive and some criticism. While listening to one such debate about TCS, I recalled a pleasant and a seamless experience I had at the TCS campus some months back.

I had chosen to be a scribe for a visually challenged friend of mine for the RBI recruitment examination to be held at the TCS office in suburban Mumbai. I expected that since this is a government conducted examination, there will be a lot of hassles. However, on reaching the campus, I realized that the entire examination exercise was outsourced to TCS and its employees and staff was responsible for conducting the examination.  

 

The entire experience of registration, verification, examination was very pleasant and very smooth. The best part was the treatment of the candidates. Not once there was a display of sympathy; neither was any apathy shown. The treatment was just about adequate. Adequate attention was paid to all the requirements of the candidates.  

The watchmen and the security staff was given the respinsibility of administration and ushering the candidates inside to their respective places, technical employees of TCS was given the responsibility of examination (the exam was a computer administered test), the managers were given the task of verification and other asks where fast decision-making was necessary . The entire team comprised approximately 15-20 youngsters with 3 managers of mid-age.  

Some instance which I found noteworthy were - 

1. The verification process - a lot of candidates had brought only the original document of identity proof whereas the requirement was that a photocopy that had to be attached. A government organisations would have asked candidates to go outside and get copies. The TCS employees on the other hand took the originals and got the photocopies made and returned the originals to the candidates without giving trouble to anyone.  

2. Knowing that the candidates were visually impaired, arrangements were in place to communicate using loud speakers and there were volunteers available in case of any trouble.  

3. Seating arrangement was paid adequate attention to. It was ensured that there is adequate space between two candidates so that when a candidate speaks to the scribe others are not affected.  

4. The canteen of the office was opened up for the candidates inspite of it direct being a holiday for the staff.  

In short, careful planning was done for conducting the examination and attention to details was paid by the company in every regard.  

For me personally, this meticulous planning and implementation of the examination smoothly was a demonstration of the company capability. This pleasant experience will make sure that I will always look upon TCS with respect. No branding exercise can help inculcate such a goodwill. 

However, it is good to see that an Indian brand is participating in an event of global repute and doing well. I hope many more Indian companies are able to create an impact globally .  

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On Multi-level marketing

Multi-level marketing phenomenon has been in the Indian market since a long time now. I got to know of this concept when my maternal uncle joined the Amway bandwagon. Ever since, I have come across a lot of multilevel marketing brands from Tupperware to Speak Asia to now Q-net that have made it to the upper middle class Indian markets.

Tupperware and Amway are product-specific companies while Speak Asia is online survey based and Q-Net is selling what - Luxury holidays and luxury products which one doesn't really require.

I was approached by one of my batchmate who had joined one Q-net to discuss about the prospect of me joining her circle. I met her and a collegue of her who had recently joined Qnet leaving an esteemed job at a global logistics company. During the meeting, I wasn't informed anything about the company or its products. The pitch rested heavily on how doing something on my own - part-time was the only way to have assured money for the future and how joining Q-net was the best solution. The pitch was more about motivating me to do something other than a job rather than about explaining me about the company. Details of the company and the products were sent to me by email. Examples about how a lot of people who have joined Q-net have become rich suddenly were provided. At the end of the meeting, inspite of telling very little about the company or my role, the person had the audacity to tell me that very limited time is available  and he needed me to confirm my intent soon by transferring around Rs. 2 lakh. Imagine someone - a stranger- asked me for Rs. 2 lakh over a cup of coffee. I straight away declined to join such a proposition and never gave a thought about the episode.

However, today I was shocked to know that one of my friend who, I believe has a good financial acumen, has actually joined such an entity. He is a Chartered Accountant and is extremely calculative about the investments he makes. Yet, it is extremely disappointing to know that he has joined such an entity. Someday or the other, I believe such an entity is going to bust. Some news has already started cropping up in this regard.

I fail to understand how the lure of fast money is so prevalent - even among learned, well educated people working for some of the best MNCs in the country. How can people working at good posts of respectable companies be duped to fall for such schemes? How can such educated people  invest so much money somewhere without and paperwork and without and guarantee is beyond my thinking?

In my opinion, one must never believe any investment scheme which promises more than 12-14% return. Such schemes are bound to bust eventually.

I hope others do not fall prey to such ponzi schemes and do not invest in such phony schemes.

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