Interesting article..in this fast fast world..someone is actually trying to slow it down..chk it out
Slow Down Culture
It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for
them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes
2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's
a rule.
Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general
sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to
posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the
slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate,
debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At
the end, this always yields better results.
Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned
companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.
The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the
hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would
arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance
(2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say
anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have
a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even
when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since
we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will
be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?" Imagine
my face.
Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement
establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to
taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.
Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what
it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger
movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness"
generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity"
(life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the
"quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per
week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have
established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been
driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's
attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!"
This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower
productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality,
productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It
means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.
Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined
and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity
of living.
It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and
more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious
quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of
products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a
girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any
minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then
they dance to a tango.
Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when
we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time.
Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the
present, which is the only time that truly exists.
We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less.
The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to
live each moment.
As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy
making other plans.
Slow Down Culture
It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for
them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes
2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's
a rule.
Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general
sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to
posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the
slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate,
debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At
the end, this always yields better results.
Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned
companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.
The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the
hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would
arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance
(2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say
anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have
a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even
when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since
we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will
be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?" Imagine
my face.
Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement
establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to
taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.
Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what
it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger
movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness"
generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity"
(life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the
"quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per
week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have
established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been
driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's
attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!"
This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower
productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality,
productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It
means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time.
Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined
and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity
of living.
It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and
more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.
It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious
quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of
products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a
girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any
minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then
they dance to a tango.
Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when
we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time.
Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the
present, which is the only time that truly exists.
We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less.
The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to
live each moment.
As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy
making other plans.
Comments
And EMEA clients are more easier to handle as far as I have seen :-)
Slow world padikka nalla irukku.. Namma oorlayum konjam implement panna sollungappa :-D
//"Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door.//
This was top.. Naama ennaikku aduthavana pathi yosichirukkom :-(
Egjactly.. Avanungalodavum wrk pannadhaala dhaan I said EMEA was better. Konjamaavadhu co-operate pannuvaanunga.. Indha japan and HKG makkals irukkaanungalae chancae illama gudhippanunga chinna chinna vishayathukkum :-)
Egchkuse me.. adhu pazhaiya project.. Indha company pathi naan sollala ;-)
Idhu naan anubavicha kodumais.. Production problem-nu vidiyakaalaila 3 manikku ezhundhu adha solve panni mudichadhum thoonga polaamnu paatha appo pudichu vechikkittu namma oorla enna weather evlo temperaturenellam keppanga paarunga.. mandailiyae 4 saathu saathalaam pola irukkum :-(
dats a gr8 article...u know even d indian it giants are like dat...slow work..they recruit hell lot of ppl n keep them in bench ;)
enna maadhiri "faaaasta" velai seiyaravangalukku idhu oru nalla read :)))
antha sledai mathiri double quotesa mathininga paarunga...athuu... :) namma katchi makkal eppovumay ellathulayumay fast.. :D
Dhrogis of India !!!
//i used to do tt with my counterparts in other countries.. //
Neengaluma?? Ungalukkellam manasaatchiyae kedayaadha? Edhir katchila adhellam edhir paakaradhu thappu dhaan.. :P
yessungo..namma oor inum antha alavuku varla
Ippo utharnathukku G3 ya yeduthukonga.... rendu wheel plus avanga BF kodutha chocolate la irunthu aluminium foil vechu panna vandi vechutu summa sar burnu chennai makkal beedhi'ku undaakuraanga :)
@G3,
naan sonnaalum sollatiyum...gils sonna maathiri ulagathukey therium...orutharuku therinjaa thaan athu secret...ellorukum therinja athu NEWS.... :-)
@g3,
ennathu ithu titanic pose ah...puthu kadhai ah iruku :-)
ROTFL//epdinga ithu...room poatu yosicheengala..chancela ponga
@notaamai:
subera soneenga..last point oru materum ila...orkut fotova pathutu nakka udraanga