Windhu - "Pulse"

In today's fast-paced corporate world, we've all encountered leaders who seem to have a stockpile of motivational catchphrases. They implore their employees to "be passionate," "find that burning desire," or "discover your hunger." While these words sound inspiring, we must ask ourselves: do these leaders genuinely inspire, or are they merely skilled in the art of rhetoric?  Let's explore the idea that authentic leadership goes much deeper than buzzwords and focus on the leaders who lead by example instead of merely commanding. Imagine you own a fruit tree, and one day you came to the tree and ordered it, "Next time I come to you, you better have some fruits for me!" Would you say that is how all farmers get their fruits? Not at all. Everyone knows that you have to cultivate it. Just like you cannot order your tree to bear fruits, you cannot order your employees to be passionate or to have a hunger for success. Just like that, you can...

  In modern organizations, efficiency and clarity are paramount. It's no secret that the success of any entity hinges on its ability to adapt and streamline its operations. However, some organizations seem to have missed the memo, as they persist with outdated and redundant structures that not only hinder productivity but also stifle growth. One such problematic structure involves the presence of two heads in a single unit. Picture this: within an organization, there exists a division comprising several departments, each of which houses multiple units. This, on the surface, might seem like a reasonable organizational structure. However, the problem arises when a unit introduces a functional head, may it be a manager or another or whatever the title is given, as long as there are two leaders within a single unit sharing overlapping responsibility within the same unit, is a recipe for failure. The issues with this structure become glaringly evident when we examine the dynamics ...

In the world of organizational culture, the prevalence of a "push it" mentality often serves as a glaring indicator of more profound issues. It signifies more than just a commitment to excellence; it frequently represents the single most significant indication of an isolated, blame-oriented, and ultimately toxic culture.  In environments where the "push it" mantra prevails, collaboration becomes an afterthought, and leaders, whether consciously or inadvertently, exacerbate this toxicity by embracing this phrase. In this article, I will dive into the perils of the "push it" culture, and I will try to shed some light. If you have been hearing the phrase "you have to push it" or "I expect you to push it harder", that means you are already working in a counterproductive environment.  The Toxicity of "Push It" The "push it" culture, seemingly rooted in the pursuit of results, often conceals deeper organizational maladies....

When we look at many nations we will not see any lack of policies, rather most policies look great on paper, but true success comes when we implement policies. It is the implementation which makes that makes all the difference. To understand this concept lets look at Singapore, where they have this as a mantra. "Policy is implementation, and implementation is policy".  In this bustling metropolis, crafting visionary policies is only the opening act. The true spectacle unfolds in the relentless execution of these policies. Singapore's secret to success lies in understanding that words on paper are mere whispers in the wind unless they are infused with life through unwavering action. Preventive Healthcare: In an era where healthcare costs cripple nations, Singapore stands as a beacon of hope. Here, healthcare isn't a privilege but a fundamental right, and the government has championed the cause of preventive healthcare. Singaporeans understand that the path to good heal...

Lets talk about success. Sometimes it feels like people dont just earn it, they are given it, handed to them on a platter? It may sound so familier, but in reality that may not be the real success, it may just be like a line drawn on the ocean, vanishing as soon as we start drawing. I am here to talk about real success, the one which you earn it, let's cut through the clutter and dive into the heart of success – where hunger meets unwavering focus and dogged persistence. This isn't about fancy words or complicated formulas; it's about embracing these three fundamental forces and weaving them into our journey. Andrew Carnegie, ever heard of him? The US lawmakers turned over every rock, hoping to unveil his secrets. But Carnegie just smiled and said, "I can focus on a single thing for 5 minutes." Now that might sound like small change, but it's a pocket-sized gem of wisdom that could light up your path. Now, let's rewind to the mountain-mover. Imagine this: ...

Staff engagement, a concept praised for its ability to motivate employees and cultivate a positive work environment, can sometimes become a double-edged sword.  Initially, the intention behind organizing non-work-related activities, such as futsal competitions, was noble. These endeavours sought to provide employees with opportunities to connect and engage beyond the confines of their workspaces. The vision was to ignite motivation and foster unity. However, somewhere along the way, the true essence of these activities became distorted. The Penalties of Being Human Ironically, in their pursuit of encouraging staff engagement, companies implemented attendance marking systems and penalties for absence or tardiness. What was once voluntary and enjoyable participation has now been replaced by fear-driven coercion. Employees attend these events not out of genuine interest or enjoyment, but out of the dread of being shamed, penalized, or left out. The spirit of choice and voluntary engag...

In the pursuit of excellence, organizations often turn to ISO certifications as a symbol of their commitment to quality management. However, it's not uncommon to witness a stark contrast between a company that genuinely strives for quality and one that merely focuses on satisfying auditors during certification periods. This disparity is rooted in the misconception that documentation alone can create a culture of quality.  ISO Certifications  ISO certifications, such as ISO 9001:2015, establish a framework for quality management systems, emphasizing processes, inputs, outputs, and metrics. While these standards provide guidelines for organizations, their true value lies in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, some companies perceive certification as a mere paperwork exercise rather than a catalyst for achieving true quality. The Audit Illusion During certification audits, organizations may prioritize matching inputs and outputs...

To understand how an agile project management methodology like scrum and the DevOps mindset work together, let's look into an arbitrary software development team called the dream team. I will tell you how they use scrum with their DevOps practices like a small story so that it wouldn't feel like you are trying to learn these concepts by reading an article.  The dream team was tasked with building an online bookstore. Their vision was to create a platform where readers could easily browse and buy books. In the team, there was a Product Owner, a Scrum Master, a UI/UX designer, a couple of developers, and a database engineer. They started their journey with a meeting led by the Product Owner, who had a clear idea of the features needed for this platform. This list of features, known as the product backlog, included user authentication, a book database, a search function, a shopping cart, and a payment system. The Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the rest of the team then held ...

  In a world ruled by technology, IT professionals dedicate their lives to creating the systems we rely on daily. Despite their significant contributions, many find themselves undervalued and underappreciated. It's time we ask the difficult questions and put forward a compelling argument for the need to understand and invest in IT departments. Let's consider an analogy: imagine trying to build a three-story building with only a civil engineer. Can the engineer do it alone, or would adding one more qualification make it possible? The idea is absurd. Just as constructing a building requires a team of skilled workers, so does the development of complex software applications. Yet, some leaders expect IT professionals to work miracles with limited support and resources. Why do some leaders expect IT professionals to create complex software applications with little investment in resources, technology, or personnel? Why do they expect miracles from IT professionals while providing lim...

In a world where opportunities for women in technology were scarce, a trailblazing heroine named Ada Lovelace emerged. Born in the 19th century, Ada defied societal norms and dared to explore the computing world. Working alongside Charles Babbage, she crafted the world's first computer program, setting the stage for the future digital revolution. In the next chapter of this inspiring saga, we meet the indomitable Grace Hopper, a woman who held her ground in a male-dominated field. A United States Navy rear admiral and computer scientist, Grace developed the first compiler and significantly contributed to the COBOL programming language. Her perseverance and dedication continue to inspire women in computer science to this day. As the story unfolds, we encounter the remarkable Dr Erna Schneider Hoover, who revolutionized telecommunications with her groundbreaking invention of the computerized telephone switching system. Her innovative spirit and determination paved the way for the mod...

  The history of human progress is a testament to the impact of research for the sake of research. Visionaries like Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein have expanded our understanding of the universe by fearlessly pursuing knowledge and sharing their discoveries through academic publications. The scientific method, which promotes the validation of any claim through verification, is a cornerstone of the research process and has driven transformative innovations. Consider the rise of smart cities, which integrate cutting-edge technologies to enhance urban life. Between 2018 and 2021, Singapore produced more than 1,500 research papers on smart cities, while Amsterdam published more than 950 such papers. These contributions demonstrate the critical role research plays in realizing the potential of smart city initiatives. Where ever, there was an attempt to redefine the norm, it was the 'research' that made that happen. Bitcoin, a revolutionary digital currency, emerged from ...

After getting a new job at a renowned company, I set out on a mission to get approval for an academic research paper for presenting at the upcoming research conference. Filled with determination and a desire for innovation, I started my journey to present my paper at an international research conference. Little did I know that my good intentions would be met with resistance from the very management board I aimed to impress. Although I made sure to work outside my regular office hours and keep my official responsibilities unaffected, I found myself confronted with a series of questions that felt like an intense interrogation. "What's in it for the company?" they demanded. I attempted to reason with them, explaining that presenting our findings at the conference would not only contribute to academic research but also display our company's dedication to its vision in academia. However, that wasn't enough. The management board's focus remained on the financial out...

  Have you ever wondered about the incredible ability of the human immune system? It's a complex network of cells and proteins that work together to identify and neutralize billions of threats, from viruses and bacteria to other invaders, 24/7. It's like a superhero, always on the lookout for danger and ready to spring into action when necessary. Our limited understanding of this immune system concept has long put it in the forms of various algorithms such as the negative selection, and clonal selection processes, however for the most part these algorithms have stayed within the level of proof of concept.  Imagine if we could harness an Artificial Immune System (AIS) that can have the power to protect our digital world.  Like a biological immune system, this AIS learns the normal behaviour patterns of a network and detects any deviations or anomalies. Like a digital sentinel, always on guard, constantly monitoring and adapting to new threats. Traditional IDs and IPS needs...

  First lets look how to do it the basic way. To train a conversational AI chatbot for answering office-related queries using Dialogflow, you will need to follow these steps: Create a new agent in Dialogflow. Collect a dataset of office-related queries and their corresponding answers. This dataset can be obtained through various means, such as scraping websites, conducting surveys, or manually creating a dataset. Create intents in Dialogflow for the queries in your dataset. An intent represents a user's intention, such as asking for office hours or requesting a vacation day. Add training phrases to each intent, which are examples of how a user might ask the question. Provide responses for each intent, which will be the chatbot's answer to the user's query. Test the chatbot using the "Try it now" feature in Dialogflow. Once the chatbot is working well, you can deploy it to a platform of your choice, such as a website or mobile app. However, if you follow the basic ...