Reflections!
4 weeks ago a team of 15 people met each other like a new class in Grade 1 … and last week we left each other with tears in eyes and with great respect for each individual.
Especially for IBM CSC’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) team it has been a great journey. We built close relationship across IBMers, VSO team, our customers (incl their helping staff) and citizens.
First of all - our team project was "To design a scalable dashboard to provide indicator trends that will help measure the effectiveness of BBBP program launched by Government of India (GoI)". Our customers were UNICEF and Deepak Foundation.
At the completion of our assignment, we successfully delivered a scalable Pilot Dashboard with 12 key indicators. Our technical solution describes a strategic solution, which will bring the current paper based solution with very little re-use of data to a scalable IT enabled solution using extract, load and transformation of data, modelling of predictive/empirical learning, store and share data across, use of Smart Device Apps and push data to Government of India, State and other stakeholders.
So … the mission has been completed!!!
Our project required intense work together through-out all the project phases. We travelled and experienced a lot of villages and we learned a great part of India’s culture. Discussing the subject "survival of girl child" is not always that easy to bring up with people who you’ve never met. However, in order to identify the best BBBP effectiveness indicators for our proposed dashboard, we interviewed several stakeholders: from high school girl, to CEO of the villages (called Sarpanch), doctors, local village workers and representatives at Deepak Foundation and UNICEF.
We presented our completed project as represented by our proposed solution, respectively to Deepak Foundation and UNICEF. We got a very positive feedback. Now it is time for UNICEF and Deepak Foundation to bring it ever further.
Beyond the project, the 3 of us have had one of the most amazing experiences of our lives.
While the bigger IBM CSC India 35 participants worked from a different location, the three of us were working at the offices of Deepak Foundation. This formed the basis for our intense relationship between ourselves within the IBM team and also with the Deepak Foundation employees.
Who would have thought that we would make such close relationships with the kitchen staff at Deepak Foundation such that the kitchen staff actually had a small internal competition of who would actually serve us? And when we left they (and us) had tears in their eyes?
Who would have thought that the IBM team would be invited home for local Gujarati food by one of the most inspiring and brave women we have ever met? To hear the lady – an employee at Deepak Foundation - tell her own story of her fight to accomplish what she believes is the most important thing in life: Social conditions and Health improvements of the underprivileged, was just amazing.
Who would have thought that we would go out to the tribal villages and dance together with citizens? Not long time ago, it was unthinkable to pay a visit these villages; where they would defend themselves from any outsiders. Only recently in just over a decade, since Deepak Foundation started working closely with the tribal villagers, they are happy to host visit from IBM CSC team.
Who would have thought that we joined the local Navratri dance in Vadodara and have a great time together with the local citizens? Extreme fun! During our stay, India had a 9 nights Navratri festival where they arrange “Garba” dances in different venues around the city. To enter the dance area, we had to wear the local colourful dress and follow the dance steps. It was great fun and local people were happy to introduce the dance to us.
Who would have thought that we get close to the drivers, hotel staff and the hotel guards? After only a few days, the hotel restaurant staff already knew what each one of us like to have for breakfast, the hotel guards were very helpful and were always ready for chats while we waited for our vehicles to arrive, and the drivers were fantastic and made sure we travelled safely.
Who would have thought that we as a team who had never met in-person until a month ago would get so close to each other, as if we knew each other for ages? Besides our professional work on the project, we had many serious talks and a great great fun along the way!
Who would have thought that we as a team performed from the beginning and throughout the project?
Up front we were aware of possible challenges working as leaders from various countries in a completely different culture.
On our side, we think these challenges were more or less blown away by the wish to achieve the goal, to support the local community and the friendship and relationship we as team and our surroundings build together. To all who say that work and friendship can't be mixed, we will answer that "when it happens, it is a strength, an engine that pushes you to go even further!”.
This is called High Performance Culture!!!
The 4 last weeks have been a great journey for us as a team and as individuals. It has been one of the most wonderful times in our life - one of the most amazing experiences!
Last but not the least - Inspiration to follow a new direction that one could pursue - now and/or later.
With a heavy heart, but filled with a lots of love and extremely fond memories!
Florence, Bettina and Tushar
