Meetings ... Meetings ...

It is interesting to see things from the other side of the table. Back at previous place, we always like to get the "kids" to do the running and implementation. The feeling was that they have the capacity and resources to do what we think were ops.

Working in new place makes me appreciate the efforts of people who work in the "kids". It is not easy implementing policies decided by the big guys, especially when there are other agendas behind the decisions. While we understand the public message that needs to be protrayed, it is equally important to ensure the facts and figures (no matter how ballpark they are) that the "parent" wants are publicly defensible. It does not help to talk big but deliver peanuts. The "parent" may score brownie points but the "kids" are the ones who bear the grievances of all.

Like today. We had a 4-hour meeting with the "parent", strategising the downturn measures. It was not long that I heard this familiar request:

"Can you give us the ballpark figures for the required budget by next tues?"

Typical deadline that any "parent" will set. Somehow, the "parent" thinks that it is very easy to come up with the ballpark. =_= It may sound effortless because it is just ballpark. But it is not. In case you are wondering why not, we are looking at hundred millions dollars' worth of measures. We can't just pluck figures from the sky and then held responsible for underutilising the guessestimate.

Talking about budget. I really need to get used to seeing figures in hundred millions dollars. Back at previous place, we would question the "kids" left, right and centre for projects that just cost few millions dollars. If we were really good in the questioning, we could slash the project cost by a few millions. If not, a couple hundred thousands. In new place, these are peanuts. Many programmes cost hundred millions dollars, affecting anyone aged 15 to 65 years old. It makes me wonder if previous place's efforts were really worth it. Notwithstanding that we should be prudent in the expenditure, we should look at cost cuttings in a more holistic manner. Unfortunately, not many people at previous place have such mindset.

Anyway, today was a day of meetings on downturn measures. It is really interesting to be at the heart of the excitement, getting first-hand news and working on the measures. An opportunity that does not come frequently.

We have been told that situation is likely to worsen in the next few months. We are expecting busy months ahead. But then, it is good to be busy for a case and see the impact of your efforts. To me, this is real work.