An ODE to Judea Pearl, Causality and Bayesian Networks

Introduction On this anniversary of 9/11, I would like to offer a blog in the form of a tribute to an extremely courageous and brilliant scientist, but more importantly a great human being known, as Judea Pearl, whose work has pioneered the science of Causality and AI. Judea Pearl epitomizes great courage and humaneness, because […]

The Tyranny of Positive Thinking in Indian Corporations … Manipulating Optimism within, but without Faith

This blog explores and critiques the impact of positive thinking and its many derivatives on leaders and managers in India. I believe that the ideological stances and axioms behind positive thinking, positivist psychology, and its cruder interpretations by consultants, management gurus and coaches, create a set of complex defense process that not just isolate and alienate the human being, but obfuscate various ways in which corporate capitalism manipulates, and oppresses all its stakeholders.

The Grand Experiment at Antelope

INTRODUCTION Wild Wild Country is a remarkable and beautifully narrated documentary on Netflix, covering six episodes, each episode covering a milestone of a surreal tale across four years in Antelope, Oregon, USA. The narrative begins in a small nondescript town of 75 odd denizens, living in Orlando USA, who one day discover that a large […]

Inter-generational Conflict in the Modern Corporation: The Unconscious Politics of Yayati & Puru

Introduction There are so many occasions when one comes across a powerful creative leader or a band of leaders straddling organizations, and who relentlessly lament that the next generation of managers has not lived up to expectations, and let the system down. The next generation of managers are accused of being cowardly, over-compliant, cynical, and […]

The Terrifying Potential of Social Innovation & Yet the Heart Aches …

Last week, I was privileged to be invited as a part of the staff for the Group Relations India’s 10th annual conference in Mumbai on a theme – “Meeting the Other, Meeting Ourselves:  Fear and Longing in working with difference.”   If I were to look at the theme itself – the recruiting of members […]

Personality Testing: Caveats & Provisos to Consider when using Psychometrics (Part II)

   Preamble   If you are reading this blog, chances are that you may have read Part 1 and are curious to know about the other three themes or caveats that you must consider while using personality testing.   Part I and II of this series exhorts you to mull over the following, before you […]