Archive for October, 2007

A day of work at Wipro

Published by
Bharat
6 months, 1 week ago in Health & Lifestyle. 11 Comments

What is culture?

I am supposed to be the culture vulture of the campus outfit of Wipro Technologies. I had spent the first ten years of my  career with an organization that is steeped in culture, a culture that is unique and distinct in each of it’s flavours, I am speaking of the Indian Army of course.  And when I joined the campus team and was given the sobriquet of the Culture Vulture, I got down thinking. This article is born out of that thinking, ………The last ten years of my life was spent with the Indian Army. Ahh., those were heady days of adventure and fun. The work was hard of course but that ever present threat to one’s life was a drug which always had me on the high. Sweet was the aroma of adventure and sweeter the ache in my muscles after the long arduous treks in the mountains. How much ever the work, however hard the task, we always went about it with a cheer. Never did we cry, never did we crib. We always used to convert the work assigned into a challenge. 

     In the National Defence Academy,  our punishment for failing to get the weekly haircut was to be sent on a 20 KM trek with 20 kilos on  backs. Did we cry?  Did we crib?  Did we write to our parents crying our hearts out ? OH NO!!   We were bashful enough to engage ourselves in a competition with each other, for the closest time possible to complete the run. Oh! They were days. We were on a masochist trip.

 What challenges could the corporate environment throw for me. And then they told me to resource people for Wipro Technologies, I laughed to myself and thought “Yeh to baya haath ka khel hai ”.  And then the requirements started pouring in. 

My boss called me up early one day and said, Bharat, we have an urgent requirementand we need tons of resources, What are you doing about it? Hardly had I had the time to articulate a reply and my mobile phone started buzzing. This time it was the campus head: “ Bharat, Can you a draw a strategy for us for next year?”         

Even as I was trying to make a plan this task, I receive yet another call. Oh our operations manager:  “ Bharat, We want you to plan and conduct a drive  the  day after tomorrow”

Continue reading ‘A day of work at Wipro’

Competency Development

Published by
RajeshK
6 months, 2 weeks ago in Technology Trends. 5 Comments

Competency Development

I again thank you all for the good encouraging comments for the last post. It’s good to see this much amount of interest on Open Source. Especially guys like Praveer and Raghul, who have been able to talk a good amount of detail on the examples they’ve pointed out.

Specifically what Raghul talked about, got my thought process going. He was talking about using open source at colleges for learning purposes. The statement he made is of great magnitude and importance. If you really see, it’s a two-sided phenomenon. Using
OSS for learning and competency development is one aspect, but the reverse aspect is of much more importance. It’s not easy to contribute to the community unless we are good developers. Competency is a must for contributing to open source. For e.g, if you see the profile of the developers of some of the most popular open source software like Linux, Apache, MySQL, Gnome etc, you would see how experienced they are. This is not by accident or coincidence and some of these guys would be the first to jump out and say that they are still learning!!!

So I thought I’ll spend some time on how important competency development is and how learning never stops.

The foundation/starting point for this in our industry is being a good programmer in at least one programming language. This is not easy, but to think of it all you’ve got to do is just keep programming!!!!! And this can be fun too. In fact some of the first C programs we ask our freshers to do, is to pick up their favorite game and implement it. This also interests you as you’re able to relate to it. This is why you see only a million sudoku solvers available on the web.

Whichever way you approach it, do not forget the end goal. Ensure that you understand all the important aspects of the language. It is also a bit context sensitive, as some of the finer aspects depend on the domain in which you are programming. For e.g somebody who programs on the embedded/systems software domain in C, will always code to the limitations they are working with. They need to take care of things like Endian-ness, structure padding for cache-line optimizations, double pointer manipulations etc… These are the things that come with practice, but once the foundation is right these are relatively easy challenges J

So, invest your time in competency development which would make it easy to scale up to your goals.

Who is Oscar ?

Published by
Ved
6 months, 2 weeks ago in Sports & Entertainment. 5 Comments

First of all, thanks for the nice comments on the articles in the Sports & Entertainment category. And yes, I will be writing about HDD and Blue ray Discs soon !

Now coming to a topic which has been in the news since India’s official entry to the Oscars® was challenged in court by another film maker. Some of you may have thought, who is Oscar® ?

Well, Oscar® is a trademark of the academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (called the Academy in short) representing the statuette given annually for excellence in Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in America.

Some facts about the Oscars® for you!

  • The Oscars® have been presented since 1929.
  • Voting is by secret ballot
  • Tabulated by Pricewaterhouse Coopers since 1935.
  • Official name of the Oscar® statuette is the Academy Award of Merit.
  • The statuette itself is 13.5 inches (34 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 lb (3.85 kg) and made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base.
  • It depicts a knight holding a crusader’s sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes.
  • The spokes signify the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers and Technicians.
  • Why the statuette was named ‘Oscar’ is contested and has many theories to it. there is even a theory that the statuette maker remarked that the statuette looked like his uncle Oscar and therefore the name stuck !
  • The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be held on 24th February 2008 at the Kodak Theater in Southern California and will be hosted by Jon Stewart.

All trademarks acknowledged as belonging to respective owners

Antenna Up in the Air!

Published by
Kannan
6 months, 3 weeks ago in Learning & Development. 16 Comments

Hey There! Thanks for your encouraging comments for my first blog, gives me more zest to key down my thoughts, on learning journey.   

Btw, folks we just announced our quarterly results, hope you had a chance to read details of our company performance. Please do, if you haven’t done it till now. We are rocking at Wipro; we have published very positive quarterly results, reaffirming our culture of success. We are so proud to be a Wiproite and to be part of a happening organization. We are proud to be part of this era, economy is booming, times are at its best, we should be so happy to be part of this generation.  

Yeah, all is well in the environment around us, but are “you” ready to rock n’ roll. Are you equipping yourself to thrive in this hot environment, are you learning every day, every second?  

The point I am trying to drive, is to ask you… are you learning… are you learning about the organization that you are going to be part of, are you learning about the generation that we are in, are you learning about technology… are you asking questions, - “Why” is a very important word, which will drive the way you think. Fine, let me give you folks some homework…  

Now, go get answers (come on, don’t ask me how relevant these questions are, it doesn’t matter, knowledge will never go waste)… & now, the questions… “Do you know GDP of India, do you know US Dollar rate, do you know amount of FDI inflow, Do you know the top 3 challenges of the country, Do you know the top 3 challenges of IT organizations in today’s scenario, Do you know about SEZ, Do you know the technologies that drive business, Do you know Why Java or Why .Net, Do you know the implication of waterfall model or spiral model, do you know what customer wants, Do you know how you can add value to customer, do you know what is customer centricity, do you know how innovative solutions help build business relationship, Do you know?” 

If you re-look at the flow of question, I did try to start with macro queries and drove down to those which are relevant for you, as an IT professional. Equip yourselves. It’s a competitive world out there and there is absolutely no time, tomorrow never comes. Do it today & NOW.   

Continue reading ‘Antenna Up in the Air!’

Gateway to Technology

Published by
Niranjan
6 months, 3 weeks ago in Fresher's Talk. 8 Comments

I got a new life from Wipro Technologies - an opportunity to explore the world with world-class standards. In my company, I was the youngest employee to propose to start a new team for robotic technology. Moreover I had filed a US Patent with Wipro Technologies in the field of Image Processing and Robotics. The project which was created in my final semester (during college) was approved by Azim Premji for Technology Implementation. After years of hard work, now I’m recognized world wide as a Roboticist! [Pronounced roh-bot-uh-sist] 

I have hands-on experience in embedded systems end-to-end development for mobile robots in manufacturing industry, wireless systems, etc. Having won the Expert’s Award in Innovation from Wipro Technologies, I’m supremely enthusiastic to face more and more challenges in my organization. I’ve worked with case studies, business reports, strategy reports and market studies, which will help in transferring technology to business solutions. My ambition is to be the Chief Technology Officer for Innovation and Robotics in Wipro. 

The credit goes to MES Engineering College and Wipro Technologies for providing me the launching ground to be creative, innovative and more thoughtful in life. With the help of advanced facilities, outstanding labs and infrastructure, I was able to innovate new ideas for the welfare of mankind. It is from the campus placement, that I got another opportunity to explore the world of corporate life.  

I’m proud to me a Wiproite and a MES’ian!!

Shakir,

Project Engineer and Robotic Innovator

[MES College of Engineering]

Thank You for the Responses

Published by
Priti
6 months, 3 weeks ago in Entry. 8 Comments

Thank You for your encouraging responses on Campusarena. We are delighted to learn that you have found this initiative effective and useful. Given that our discussion category is a blend of Wipro Specifics and Topics of common interests; you may want to invite your friends and associates to join in the discussions. Stay Connected and keep those comments and suggestions coming in!!

Joining Wipro Technologies!

Published by
Niranjan
6 months, 3 weeks ago in Fresher's Talk. 48 Comments

Written Test! Technical Interview! HR Interview! Each round had in its own way, challenged me to prove my mettle. But then, hard work and determination do not go in vain. I knew it was my day. And there you go! I came out with flying colors and at the end of the day was given the appointment letter along with a big “Congratulations!”

I received the news of the job offer like a starry-eyed kid who jumps at the sight of a colorful balloon or an ice cream. Yes! I made it to Wipro Technologies - a company that stood out from the rest because it brings out the creative side of all its employees which is evident from its tagline “Applying Thought”. With lots of dreams in my eyes, I looked forward to joining the company.

The D-Day – i.e., the DOJ (Date of Joining) arrived very soon. Carrying a lot of expectations in mind, I set out on my way to Wipro. The first five minutes made me realize that the wait for coming here was well worth it. I was completely bowled over by the world-class infrastructure and the friendly atmosphere that greeted me when I stepped in.

And then, it was time for our PRP and FRP – the training sessions. It was as though college life had begun all over again. All the apprehensions that I had regarding corporate life got swept away in a second. It was a great learning experience to study together and interact with people from all over India. I got exposed to different cultures, their languages and traditions and yes, I made lots of friends for life!

The atmosphere was highly competitive and brought out the best in us. I performed well in the exams and was one of the toppers. It was awesome! My journey in Wipro turned to be a great one. And hey! That was not the end of it. There were more surprises in store! It was time for the farewell party. We had a lot of fun and the toppers were awarded exciting prizes. The whole experience was really fantastic and will remain stored in the lanes of my memory forever.

I was put into a project very soon. I clearly remember the day I had to go and report to my Project Manager. I was really nervous as I expected someone who was like the stereotypical “Boss” character. But then, Wipro never fails to offer sweet surprises. What I saw was completely opposite to what I had expected! My PM was ultra cool, extremely friendly and helpful. So were my colleagues. Though I was the only fresher in our team of 23, everybody received me with great warmth. It was just the beginning……….

 Till date, they continue to encourage me and help me out in every stage…..

From then on, it’s been amazing, exciting and challenging – all at the same time. Tough tasks, deadlines, appreciation from clients have all become an integral part of life. I have learnt many things like working under pressure, handling difficult tasks with ease and it has undoubtedly made me a better person. At Wipro, good work is always recognized and paid off in the form of appreciation from clients and appraisals as well J.

Hmm, thinking that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy? Well, Wipro takes care of that too. Regular team outings, cultural festivals, DJ Nites are a part and parcel of the work culture here.

So guys, if you want to prove yourself to the world and at the same time, develop and grow as a person, this is the place TO BE!

Welcome to Wipro Technologies! All the Best to all of you out there. Hope you have a great journey here, just the way I did.

Shivaramakrishna,

Project Engineer,

(Univ. College of Engineering, Osmania University)

‘Careers’ in Hindi Cinema

Published by
Ved
6 months, 4 weeks ago in Sports & Entertainment. 5 Comments

This being our campus blog where we would be engaging in dialogue with young ambitious minds such as you, we would expect a post about careers wound’nt we ? Well… Yes but then this post is not about career options in the Hindi Film Industry. It’s not about how you can get admitted to the FTII (Film & Television Institute of India) or the Satyajit Ray Film Institute. This post is also not about whether it is better to do a course in Sound Engineering before doing a course in Editing or is it better to do a course in Acting before taking up Direction. The post is also not about how you could get selected by Ramu (RGV) or Sanjay Leela Bhansali in their next venture !

This post is about starting off a discussion about the growth and change in which ‘careers’ have been dealt with in Hindi Cinema. I have chosen Hindi Cinema for the topic because of late, the Hindi Film Industry hogs all the limelight so I can safely presume the topic will be one of common understanding. The post is not detailed though I could go on with the comparisons and examples. I thought I would only start off a discussion and conversation with this brief one.

 If I look back at my childhood days and days of watching Hindi movies on TV in ‘Eastman Colour’ and try to recall the professions of the protagonists or the heroes I can recollect the following careers exposed- Mill worker, Mine Worker, Policeman, Dacoit, Gangster, Factory Worker, journalist or working in a ‘daftar’. Daftar being the operational term for an office and very often even after the movie ended you would not be clear on what line of business the office was engaged in but you would see a lot of people poring over many a ledger. Then how can we forget those factory strikes for some reason or the other allowing the story to plunge into one of despair and providing opportunity for the rich factory owner to face off with righteous factory worker. This and many more were ‘career’ oriented scenes that remain etched in memory from the 70s and early 80s.

The late 80s saw the birth of the Banker, the Entrepreneur and the righteous & ambitious promotion oriented young man (the angry ones of course being represented by none other than the original angry young man). The 80s saw a development in the technology of film making and scripts underwent a change with foreign locales opening up and well into the 90s, the script opened up to allow us to peek a little more into the work life of the protagonist for the stories or the romance found itself in the offices.

The late 90s and the years up-till now saw the new careers of the heroes emerge. Now you have Heroes as Chefs (take Saif in Salaam Namaste and Amitabh in Chini Kum), Heroes or Heroines as Marketeers (remember Bipasha in Corporate),Heroes as coaches (as in my current favourite Chak De). You still have the Heroes in some business which you cannot identify (remember Aamir Khan in Dil Chahta Hai going off to Australia and handling some business we don’t know about). My friends made a movie called Kadhale En Khadale (in Tamil and not Hindi ) which featured another of my friends as an IT Engineer who also goes for an on-site opportunity ! Times dure have changed, haven’t they ? The film of course did’nt do well but I was among the few who did watch it.

I am sure some of you will say the story does not demand any details on the profession of the heroes for the movie to entertain the viewer but then if we really think about  this can’t we think of a lot of movies where the profession of the main characters interest us? I am sure we can.

What’s more interesting and what interests me about this topic is the fact that our cinema only reflects the prevalent scenario of the time. In the early 70s and 80s a government or public sector job were considered the only options and that was reflected in the ‘careers’ of our own heroes and heroines. But post the dot come era and the invasion of the Internet and opening up of economy you have diverse careers from Event Management to Radio Jockeying to Software to Marketing to being a Chef, the reality of which has only found its way into the cinema we watch. Cinema imitates life rather than the other way round is’nt it ?

Do you remember the weirdest or the most memorable ‘career’ of a main character in Cinema in recent times ? Why don’t you post that in a comment. We would love to read that for sure !

DVD Region Code Explained

Published by
Ved
6 months, 4 weeks ago in Sports & Entertainment. 6 Comments

When I said I would put in a post or two under the Sports & Entertainment category, most people who know about my blogging thought it will be only about movies and TV programmes and my views on them, but then Entertainment is a serious business folks and there’s more to it than just what we see so here goes, a post on something that will interest all us DVD watchers !

Digital Video Discs or DVDs are pretty much a household phenomena now and with DVDs come what are called ‘Region Codes’.

Those of us in India will pretty much be facing this message- Region Error when you try to play most International DVDs or DVDs purchased on Amazon.com.

The region code encoded in a DVD is to ensure that the DVD is played only in players enabled for the region in which the DVD is meant to be distributed. This is supposed to control the distribution of DVD and therefore piracy.

What region is your DVD ?
All you need to look at the back of the DVD case for a sign with the region indicated.

0-”playable in all regions”

1 -Bermuda, Canada, United States and U.S. territories

2- The Middle East, Western Europe, Central Europe, Egypt, French overseas territories, Greenland, Japan, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland

3- Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan

4- Australasia, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Oceania, South America

5- The rest of Africa, Former Soviet Union, the Indian subcontinent, Mongolia, North Korea

6- Mainland China

Or look for the words - For Sale in India only (or whichever country it mentions and you are in)

But then - DON’T WORRY !

If you have legally bought a DVD you have every right to watch it on your player.

All your DVD players come with preset region code. Ex: If you but a player in India it will be enabled to region 5.

How do we get this menu for your player ?

Well…
-Call up your Player Brand’s customer care and ask them for instructions and access codes. (They may ask you why and you would have to explain the whole scenario) They will the  guide you on this.

Follow the instructions to the T and Voila ! your DVD player will play almost any DVD from anywhere. (Why the ‘Almost’ ? I believe there are some enhancements in DVDs which do not allow them to be played even in region free players. Haven’t come across any so far, but will let you know if I do.)

And, of course, do not play pirated DVDs for they are the bane of the entertainment industry!

Message from the Editor!

Published by
Priti
7 months ago in Entry. 30 Comments

We see Campusarena as a platform for students to voice their views and opinions. It was created with the primary objective of interacting with students and to present a Human face of Wipro. Through this blog, we would like to facilitate one to one interaction with the Campus Hiring Team and our employees so that students get a sneak preview of what Everyday Life, Work environment & Culture @ Wipro is all about.

We believe we offer a world of Opportunities…beyond just a Job!!  We welcome you to share your thoughts and contribute to the discussions.

Happy Blogging!