Shashikant Adlakha

Critical path and Critical chain method: Both Critical Path and Critical chain methods are types of schedule network diagramming techniques used in developing the project schedule. Critical path is the longest path of schedule network and the duration of critical path is the project duration. Floats are calculated, based on difference between critical and non critical pathway. Free float can be defined as the amount of time an activity can be delayed, without any delay in the successor activity. Total float can be defined as amount of delay in the activity that can be done, without affecting the overall project duration. Floats in all critical path activities are zero. Critical chain is modification of critical pathway with resource optimization. Based on resource availability schedule is prepared. Here buffers are used instead of float. Buffers account for contingency. Buffer is not zero in critical chain pathway. There is no early and late start or early and late finish. There can be only one start and one finish. The Project Buffer is the total buffer at the end of the project. Any delayed activity can consume this buffer. The Feeding Buffer is the buffer added to non critical chain , so that these non critical chain, if delayed, can use this buffer. The Resource Buffer is a resource kept as buffer along critical chain, so that continuity of the work is ensured. Differences Between Critical Path and Critical Chain Method Resources The critical path method does not assume any resource constraint and assumes that it is freely available. The critical chain method, on the contrary assumes resource constraint and builds a realistic schedule based on availability. Critical chain based method schedule may be of longer duration, but is more realistic. Float/Buffer In the critical path method, float can not be utilized before the early start of succeeding activity. While in case of critical chain, if preceding activity gets finished early, succeeding activity can be started earlier and time saved will be added to project buffer. Misuse of Float In the critical path method, team members often do not start an activity, until they utilize the float of the activity completely, till late start. Where as in critical chain, each activity has a realistic schedule and time gained is placed at the end of project as project buffer. Project progress: Floats can not be used to assess project progress, where as buffers can be used to analyze project progress. Critical path method: Critical Chain method: Correlation of Critical chain with lean and theory of constraints: Lean management aims at value creation over entire processes of organization, where as critical chain and theory of constraints are centered on managing time duration and uncertainties of the project. The uncertainties of durations and project completion can be contributed to inadequate management processes, which can be sorted by lean management practices. Lean practice implementation has greater effect on correcting processes unevenness, eliminating wastes and have more impact on whole organization, whereas critical chain and theory of constraint methods are efficacious in task completion on time and project monitoring, by optimizing the resource constraint. Images Sources: Critical Path: www.blog.pmsprout.com Critical Chain: www.blog.pmsprout.com

TRIZ is - theory of Inventive problem solving, postulated by a Soviet engineer Altshuller in 1946. After studying a large number of patents, Altshuller and his colleagues postulated that the inventive principles were present in most of the successful cases. After analysis, they found that when we try to resolve one issue, another issue gets complicated. So an innovative solution is required to overcome and minimize trade-off between contradictory elements. e.g- We want to have hot beverages like tea and coffee, but at the same time we don’t want to burn our oral cavity. - We want a laptop with powerful and fast processor, but at the same time, we don’t want it to be complicated to use or to be much costlier. TRIZ makes use of 40 common principles that have been used in different patents and different areas to find a inventive solution to resolve our present problem. 4 basic principles are generally chosen to look at -supersystems, subsystems, separation of time and space to solve problems. So the primary findings of TRIZ include-The has produced three primary findings: - Problems and solutions repeated across domains(Generalisation) - Technical evolution pattern repeated across industries. - Scientific facts developed across other domain, used to resolve present issue. There has been continuous research and development and invention of new systems with refinement of existing ones. TRIZ practitioners continue to apply the existing and new refined findings to define and improve products, services, and systems Example of TRIZ analysis: TRIZ problem solving can be done by looking individually at each of 40 principles to select the suitable ones or manually taking the help of softwares. Here is my example on Sigma Magic software: Problem:- Low number of walk-in patients at a diagnostic Centre, due to higher testing price. Target: Increase in number of Walk in patients, with out any dilution of quality of test reports. Contradiction: Quality Constraints After analyzing through software and choosing principle 26-Quantity of the substance(Improving feature) and principle 27- reliability(Worsening feature) and opting the business mode: Following principles were selected for obtaining solutions: Principle18: Mechanical Vibration Principle 3: Local Quality Principle 28: Mechanics Substitution Principle 40: Composite material Ideas and ideal solutions were obtained based on the content and recommendation of these principles. The screen shot is attached here. Use of TRIZ across different domains, examples: Samsung: : Samsung has been capitalizing on TRIZ since long and has been used across company and for various projects, patenting the most famous success story Management Problems: for analyzing and solving various simple to complex issues, such as additional revenue generation for various government run departments. -Various consumer based industries, automobiles and aeuronotics companies- Rolls Royce, Ford, Boeing, Johnson and Johnson, GE, LG, Motorola and even NASA – using TRIZ technology for various problem solving in different projects. - Healthcare industry- various principles are used for refinement of patient service- apart from improving healthcare facilities, other comprehensive services have also been included- like ATM, Cafeteria, use of radiology and laboratory services inside the emergency units. Principles commonly used are: Principle 2- Taking out Principle 13- The other way around Principle 25- Self Service Principle 35- Parameter Change .

Analysis paralysis: Analysis paralysis means inability to make a decision on a particular issue in one’s personal life or in a corporate world, especially pertaining to some complex issues, associated with uncertainty or risks. This is attributed to overthinking or overanalyzing data pertaining to the issue. The possible causes may be: - Overwhelming incoming data or with large number of options or possible solutions associated with the issues. - Inexperience to handle the data/information - Extensive experience in data analysis and generating a large number of solutions at each step. - Tremendous risks or uncertainties involved - Striving for perfection There may be overwhelming amount of data to anlyze, The data may be financial data, some health related data etc., in paper or electronic format- graphs, spreadsheets, reports etc. There may be a trend analysis involved in the analytical process. The typical process is Collect data -------- > Analyze data ----------- >Make decision----------> Action In Analysis paralysis, the process gets stuck up at Analyze data step, so rather than going forward, more and more data is collected to analyze further. So a loop is created between these two steps and no decision gets made, leading to process paralysis. Three different types of analysis paralysis are: · Analysis process paralysis: Paralysis is at analyse data step, much time is wasted in going over the information again and again. · Decision precision analysis: decision makers, rather than going over the same information again and again, th seek new information and data, to explore further, rather than making a decision. · Risk uncertainty paralysis: Decision makers want to get rid of all uncertainties/risks, but the information available is not sufficient enough to do that. So decision making is postponed. Common examples of analysis paralysis are: - Dealing with something unusual or new things, with no prior experience - Decisions with associated significant risks, such as human life or financial stability at risk or political influence - Decisions on pricing for the products. Possible outcomes of analysis paralysis: - Extension of deadlines - Loss of opportunities- Opportunity cost - Loss of trust of stakeholders, teammembers - Project failure - Significant impact on financial stability and in worst scenario can lead to loss of human life in health related issues. Ways to avoid analysis paralysis: - Making smaller decisions and decisions with less risk - Use of more trustworthy data - Use experts to Interpret the data - Have a backup plan, if the decision turns out to be a bad one. - Choosing two or three best possible solutions and rethinking between them to choose the best decision/solution - Agile methodology with iterative steps and more emphasis on functionality(value creation), rather than product specification. Extinct by instinct: It is the opposite phenomenon to analysis paralysis, where hasty and careless decisions are taken, just by one’s own instinct or in a corporate, without doing thorough analysis and risk assessment. Extinct by instinct phenomenon can be the consequence of ‘GroupThink’ phenomenon , where a group usually takes a quick, unanimous decision, without any detailed analysis and by conviction of majority of the group members and others who are opposed to it, just give a nod to the decision, for the sake of maintaining good will and groupvalue. The major fall out of Extinct by Instinct: - High risk of turning to be a bad decision, significantly impacting the stability, financial and other key performance indicators of an individual or corporate. - High risk of project failures with significant monetary loss. Ways to prevent Extinction by Instinct: - Data and information analysis to be made before making any decision. - Detailed risk analysis of any decision to be done, before implementing it. - Group thinking phenomenon to be checked, decision based on scientific analysis to be implemented. So it is very important to avoid both contrasting phenomenon- Analysis paralysis and Extinct by Instinct phenomenon and rather a mid state has to be maintained, with prudent decision to be taken based on detailed analysis, but without get stuck at analysis step and making a best possible decision, before the projected deadline.

Standard operating procedures govern all the routine and complex activities in an organization. While utmost care is usually taken in writing SOPS according to quality standards like ISO 9000, keeping in sync with the organization’s internal policies and detailed instruction of each activity being narrated, many of the SOPS(Manual or online) do not have requirements such as associated documents or computerised system to record the proof that all the tasks are actually performed according to the instructions in SOPS. This requirement is sometimes deliberately not included, as these may be audited in various external audits of the company. This results in employees not adhering to the instructions, especially if they are complex ones and giving the lame excuse that –“I forgot”. Also this kind of non compliance can happen when hard copies/soft copies of SOPs are not available at all the workplaces of the organization. Instruction creep refers to increasing number and complexity of instructions, due to changing rules and guidelines from time to time . This happens especially in complex organizations. The constant change and addition of inputs, leads to modification of instructions and considerable overlap , with loss of clarity and effective communications. Regardless of the length or complexity of the instructions, instructions are often perceived at same level and antagonize each other, without proper collaboration. Ways to avoid instruction creep with well-organized SOPS: - Instructions to be written in clear and concise manner. - To be written always from a practical perspective and taking the view and background of the employees, who will be using it on a constant basis. - Instructions must be written in a step by step manner, without having an overlap. - Instructions must be written in simple language with brief sentences, rather than expressed as in technical language or as a jargon. These instructions may be hardly understood by few employees, leading to confusion and chaos amongst other employees. - Directions need to be straightforward with no choices usually and even if it needs to be there- the situation and option must be clearly stated. ‘Must’ word be used, rather than ‘May’, ‘should’- which really have no concrete meaning and do not give a clear cut direction to employees,

Filter bubble phenomenon coined by Eli Pariser, has surged from media personalization, which leads to trapping of users to view particular offerings or a view point without the view of contrasting things. This phenomenon entails use of artificial intelligence and based on features like- past browsing history of user, online searches, demographic data, credit card purchase history etc, it is easy to predict the nature and viewpoint of the user, be it regarding political, social, cultural or commercial products. Filter bubble was allegedly used by third parties like Cambridge Analytica to analyse the facebook profile of millions of people for creating “Psychographic profile’’ of those users and making them view particular political content, thus accentuating bias and influencing the voting behavior and results of election. Use of Filter bubble in business: - Based on the past buying, browsing through particular category of ad contents, users are offered tailored view of that particular categories of product ads, with few preferential sellers, who have subscribed to the business page of platform such as facebook. - This selctive bias of ad contents, works both in same webpage and across the webpage, e.g- Amazon browsing history of certain contents, may cause popping of similar kind of ad contents also in facebook. - Filter bubble helps in generating leads and substantially improve the sales revenue. - Marketing becomes much easier, as interested customers are directly targeted, rather than wasting efforts in finding suitable customers.

Reporting bias means - selective reporting of data/ information or selective ignoring or under reporting of genuine information. Types of Reporting biases and their prevention Publication bias: Causes: Influenced by research findings : Published studies are only included : Positive results more likely published Prevention:- Both published and unpublished studies need to be included - Research should not be directed to a particular outcome- Peer authors involved in similar studies should be contacted. Time lag bias Causes:- Findings with significant or positive results much earlier published, than studies with negative results or null hypothesis. Early positive results of studies are promptly reported, whose long-term results may be actually negative. Prevention: Both positive and negative results need to be published without any discrimination. Multiple (duplicate) publication bias: Causes: Same data published in multiple studies, in different resources as slightly modified versions of the same study. More duplication is found in positive or significant results. Prevention: - Plagiarism check, linking the results of the studies. Location bias: Causes:- Studies may be published in journals with higher indexing in databases, leading to difficultly in tracing. Data may be from a particular location, or group with more chances of desirable result. Prevention: Data to be taken from multiple locations and representative groups. Data to be published in literature, which are easier to retrieve. Citation bias: Citation bias : Citing of studies with more positive results than negative results. Citation of positive findings may be done for funding purpose. Prevention: Citation should include studies with both supporting and contradictory findings. Language bias: Causes: Studies only in particular language, especially English. Non-English studies with positive results are published, where as negative results are not reported. Prevention: All language studies with positive and negative findings should be reported. Knowledge reporting bias Causes: Studies depicting various facts regarding particular action, property, about a particular class of individuals is not reflective of real world frequency and leads to knowledge bias. Prevention: Information about a small group of individuals should not be generalized to the larger population or the entire world. Outcome reporting bias: Causes: The outcome of studies are often influenced by the expected outcome, that leads to erroneous reporting of study results. Prevention: True results should be reported, never altered for the sake of reporting the desired outcomes. Prevention of reporting bias in organizational context: - Reporting of only positive findings and suppressing the flaws in an organization, leads to reporting bias and should be prevented. - Employees should be given free hand to report about any issues concerning management, technical and personal issues to the higher management level personals. - Business research studies and surveys should be conducted regarding possible ways of increasing the market share, revenue generation, possible research and development, and the reporting of results of these studies should not be influenced by any kind of bias due to any person or any particular pre-decided outcome.

The Monte Carlo- model is a popular tool and commonly used in risk analysis in a number of scenarios. This model is properly executed by Simulation software- The software runs a large number of what-if scenarios, using random number generator (RNG) to choose a random value for each input value and summarizes the results using relevant statistics and charts. Defining assumptions of input variables with type of distribution, define forecast and correlation if any between variables are required to be filled. All combinations of input parameters are incorporated into the results, using relative frequencies of different type of distributions of the parameters. Common uses of Monte Carlo analysis are:- - Project schedule risk estimation - Project Cost risk estimation - Best combinations of projects or activities selection to maximize the profit - Portfolio construction and management - Volatility of stocks, derivatives - Expected value of investment - Airlines, hotel industries, real estate, oil companies to decide best price of product/service to maximize profits, using OptQuest tool. - Sales projection of different products, using different assumptions/trends. - DFSS for six sigma projects in manufacturing Example- The following example denotes average statistics, pertaining to a sale of a good. We want to determine the probability of atleast a profit of 80$ each day, also we want to determine the risk of having loss rather than profit. After defining assumptions of different variables and running 1000 simulations, we get the following results: So, the probability of having minimum 8o$ profit every day is 47.36% So the chances of sustaining no profit and rather loss is 22.36%

An elevator pitch describes the overview of a business in a very short time, the time it takes to complete an elevator ride, from 30 secs-up to 2 minutes and up to 80-90 word pitch. An elevator pitch may not include all the intrinsic components, but gives a vivid description of an idea, company, product, person. It is a very simple, yet quite effective marketing tool, especially for small businesses. Knowing the audience or market niche is an important pre-requisite for elevator pitch The important aspects of elevator pitch are: § Brief Introduction § Mission statement and activities of business § Value offered and problem solving ability § Unique selling proposition (USP) and difference from competitors § Asking a question to business leads about business/offering, e. g - in networking events § Giving a call for action- providing means for follow up or further contact. .Advantages of elevator pitch: · Simple and convenient and can be prepared in short time, without much preparation. · The information is in a simplified way, explains all the salient aspects and sparks interest to the listeners.

Ansoff Matrix is a popular strategic framework tool for business growth. It was described by Igor Ansoff , a business manager in 1957. The different growth strategies of this model are: o Market Penetration o Market development o Product development o Diversification Market penetration: This refers to increasing market share within existing segment, by increasing the sale of products or services to the customers. The probable ways are: o Price decrease(economies of scale) o Increased promotion and distribution o Acquisition of competitors o Mild degree of product or service refinement Market Development: This refers to expansion and catching a share of new market in different geographical area, different country etc., using existing product or service with minimal refinement. The probable ways are: o Different Niche/customer segment of market. o Business to Business transactions, rather than only business to customer transactions. o Alliance with a local or regional leading player. Product development: This refers to marked refinement and development of new product or service to gain significant growth in existing market. The probable ways are:- o Significant emphasis and investment in research and development of new products and services o Joint development of new products with other companies o Acquiring quality products from other firms and selling it under own brand. Diversification: This refers to getting increased market shares introducing new product or offerings, in addition to the existing offerings. This can again be classified into: Related diversification: Venturing into related kind of businesses or product, so there is synergy between existing and new products. Unrelated diversification: Venturing into unrelated businesses or products, with different kinds of market segments. In Ansoff Matrix, as move from one to another quadrant, the risk increases. So out of all the strategies, Market penetration option is having the least risk, and diversification entails both product and market development, so two quadrant move is required, so having the maximum risk and unrelated diversification is more riskier than related one, due to lack of synergy. Ansoff matrix, with reference to Apple Inc: Market Penetration: Sale of different products through multiple platforms like Apple Stores, Apple.com, in alliance with various telecommunication companies, like Vodafone. Promotion through various media outlets and own website. Market development: Continuously emerging as a global brand, by manufacturing bases at USA, China and opening exclusive Apple stores and tie up with regional branded stores across different countries. Product development: Product innovation and differentiation has been the major strategy of Apple. Various range of products have evolved with time- I phone, I pad, I watch, I pod, Apple TV, Mac os, ios, I cloud platforms. The versions of different products are also getting updated regularly. The different Apps used in these products are also major source of revenue for Apple. Diversification: Apple started from a simple computer and diversified into a number of related and unrelated products, like Apple watch, Apple Pay, Apple Credit Card, along with new market development for products Image reference: www.tutor2u.net

SERVQUAL model is a widely used multidimensional questionnaire, for inspecting and measuring the service quality of businesses by recording and comparing the expectations and perception of customers/respondants. The questionnaire typically consists of 22 questions of 5 dimensions. Additional questions may be added in the relevant dimensions, e.g- demographics of respondent, brand loyalty with prior use, behavioral patterns such as likelihood of customer for further referral to others. Face to face interview is required and large number of potential customers are to be surveyed for statistical reliability. The dimensions are: Reliability- 5 questions: The ability to execute the promised service accurately and in a time bound manner. Assurance: - 4 questions: The ability of employees to instill confidence and trust in customer’s mind. Tangibles: 4 questions: The physical dimension/appearance of any of the service deliverables or process, like premises, equipment, people etc Empathy: 5 questions: Care and attention to customer perspectives. Responsiveness: 4 questions: Response to customer issues and provision of prompt service. This model can be used in all most all industries and geographical areas,e.g- - In educational context to asses the quality of education - In hospital and other healthcare areas. - IT industry - Art Gallery Example of SERVQUAL model in a hospital scenario Dimension Expectation Perception Reliablity: Hospital promises successful treatment of the disease in shortest time The patient is treated well by doctors and patient is completely disease free in stipulated time Assurance Patient is well informed and assured of best treatment. Patient is well assured by doctors and other staff of hospital. Tangibles Hospital will offer well maintained patient wards and all amenities for comfort. Hospital OPDS and patient wards are hygienic, well maintained and all comfort means are provided. Empathy Hospital provides round the clock emergency services including specialists on call. Emergency services, including doctor consultation, diagnostic testing and pharmacy are provided Responsiveness Patient issues and feedback will be immediately actioned Ward in charge, Quality department and PRO monitors patient comfort and immediately takes action on patient’s grievances. Service quality can be stated as: Service Quality= Perception of service- Expectation of service Service quality is rendered as low, when perception of service is lower compared to expectation and on contrary, service quality is rendered as high, when perception exceed the expectations

A PICK chart is an efficient Lean Six Sigma tool, which was originally proposed by Lockheed Martin, for selecting among different process improvement ideas and methods during define phase of lean six sigma project. A pick chart depicts visual comparison of different actionable tools, with reference to their ease of implementation and their effectiveness or likely improvement gain. In the Visual chart, all the methods can be grouped in 4 categories on a 2*2 matrix; one axis connotes a graded scale of payoff/ benefits/improvement , another axis denotes ease of implementation. The ease of implementation includes the cost factor as well as availability of other resources and compliance to the method. PICK stands for Possible, Implement, Challenge, Kill Possible:- Low payoff, easy to implement These are the ideas, that can be possibly implemented, but the exact payoff needs to be assessed and compared to higher payoff ideas. Implement:- High payoff, easy to do These are the ideas, which are to be immediately implemented, without further deliberations. Challenge- High payoff, Hard to do These are the ideas with good benefits, but because of constraints, it’s difficult to implement. The challenges posed need to be overcome to reap the benefits of the ideas. These ideas are not discarded immediately, and constraints optimization is best tried and still if its not being overcome, then they are rejected. Kill- Low payoff, Hard to do These ideas are to be immediately discarded without much consideration, as there is low benefit and high constraints in implementing ideas. The PICK charts can be implemented anywhere, in any kind of business with much ease and can be quite useful in framing the improvement ideas usually after brainstorming sessions in define phase. Image reference: www.txm.com

- Herd immunity in medical world means overall protection of community, when a substantial proportion of people are immunized or vaccinated against a particular pathogen. Herd immunity acts an important line of defense against the spread of infectious diseases. It protects unprotected individual from infections. - System patches in IT, act equivalent to that of vaccines in medical field. As we can not vaccinate each and every individual due to poor compliance, poor socioeconomic status etc, similarly we can not secure all the systems due to economical constraints, technical and operational issues. e.g-legacy systems in financial and transport sectors, few of the diagnostic equipments in healthcare sector. Network connectivity is now required in all the systems, even for specialized and legacy systems, which are not designed accordingly. Patching or frequently applying software updates, may deter the operations, while not doing so, may jeopardize the security of system. Raising awareness about the cybercrime to employers and employees and installing security measures, helps in enhancing overall online security and confers a herd immunity. So for unprotected systems, apart from active monitoring, herd immunity can play a crucial role in securing the sytems. These systems, should be made to interact with patched systems only, so that spread of malicious code is curtailed and protection is conferred to all the systems. - In business world, by use of strong encryption , anonymized browsing and security software, hacker and government surveillance can be averted. So it will prevent from gaining access to datasets including customer profile, transactions, which can be used for targeting by peers and other companies such as advertisers, insurance companies etc.. If a large number of companies use these privacy tools, they become readily available to other non compliant companies and their employees as well, when ever they needed them and thus ensuring herd immunity and immunity to data invasion. References: -www.mcafee.com - www.lorca.co.uk -www.hbr.org

Scrumban is an evolved agile methodology, in which work is organized in small iterations and monitored with help of a visual board, with combination of tools of scrum and Kanban boards. The main charactersitics of scrumban in comparision to Scrum are: -The iterations(sprints) of scrum are not pre-fixed, but as needed , a kind of replaced by continuous flow system as in Kanban. -The teams involved may be specialized rather than cross functional teams of Scrum. Specialized team obviates the need of a Scrum master, who controls Scrum. - Task limits- Limited by work in progress(WIP), rather than sprint in Scrum. - Tasks are taken up by the team members in a pull system, rather than preassigned tasks to team. - Boards, backlogs and burn downs of Scrum are replaced by Boards only. -The Performance metrics in Scrumban included lead and cycle time, average Cycle time, rather than burndown Chart in Scrum. - Planned meetings are not mandatory, rather on demand and optional meetings are conducted. -Sprint planning is not required and replaced by on demand and bucket planning. - Prioritization of work is carried out by priority columns, rather than backlog refining in Scrum. - New tasks and changes may be added in a live iteration, which is not allowed in Scrum. The key benefits of Scrumban are:- -Quality oriented -Just in time is facilitated - Event driven and caters to the requirement - Continuous improvement(Kaizen) is facilitated -Waste is minimized by eliminating non value added things -Overall process improvement, as and when needed - Workflow issues and resource issues of Scrum get sorted out -Ideal for maintenance projects -Ideal for projects with unexpected user stories and programming errors. Image Source: www.kanbanize.com

Corona virus infection pandemic is right now creating havoc in all parts of the world, with infection that originated from China has travelled to 199 countries with a significant surge in the number of case in European countries like Italy, Spain, Germany, France and in a time frame of March 20 th- March 30 th 2020, there has been a marked increase in the number of cases in the United States, with number of cases in USA, going beyond 150,000. The growth pattern is presumed to be exponential type, with number of infected individuals increasing in proportion to the total number of present cases. This pattern can be exemplified by a task assigned to a person, the person tagging the task to three other persons. All the three persons assigning the tasks to three other persons and so on the pattern continues, so the number of involved persons rising from 1 to 3 to 27 to 81 to 243, so there is a rapid and exponential increase in the number of persons involved. Exponential growth of viral infections has led to predictions of new cases day by day, which may fall short of(26 th March 2020) , nearly equal to or may surpass (27 th March 2020) the number of actual cases that are being observed in the data of worldometers.info. The increase in the number of cases than predicted can be attributed to be due to many factors- due to multiple modes of transmission of virus, including airborne route reported in some studies, relapse of cured cases with re-infection by new mutant stains of virus. The decrease in number of cases, compared to predicted number of cases and flattening of curve can be attributed to- proactive measures of social distancing adapted actively by different countries, poor testing facilities of virus in different regions. The number of deaths arising out of these cases is much difficult to predict, as it depends on vulnerability of the population, demographic data and efficacy of healthcare system. The exponential prediction does not take into account the complexity of pandemic and multiple interactions of the variables and also does not account for the flattening of the curve due to social distancing. The equation used for exponential prediction is- x(t) = x0 × (1 + r) t where x(t) is the value at a particular time t x0 is the base value at time t=0. r is the presumed growth rate t is the time interval between time 0 and day of prediction. Imagesource:https://www.google.com/urlsa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2F2020%2F3%2F15%2F21180342%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19-us-social-distancing&psig=AOvVaw39XxyUJPlQ32Vjm7sdLYLs&ust=1585689691869000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMjumc6Qw-gCFQAAAAAdAAAAABBA

Corona Virus infection has severely impacted human life with a heavy bearing on socioeconomic life and bringing the world to the brink of a deep recession. At this critical time, government and most of the business organizations have already taken proactive and reactive measures, so that their critical operations continue unabated, while simultaneously protecting the health and safety of their employees and customers. In terms of employee’s perspective, there are various changes and challenges ahead and adaptive responses that are needed- - There is wide speculation worldwide regarding job losses, salary cut, bonus omission etc. These looming uncertainties are seriously impacting the employee’s performance in this uncertain time. - While majority of the employees are being given task of work from home option, most are not aptly trained for that. IT departments of the companies might be training employees, but not are all tech savvy and it will take lots of effort and time, before they get fully adapted. -The biggest responsibility of employees is to maintain the critical tasks of the organizations, remain safe during this crisis by maintaining social distance and not going to offices, unless and until it is deemed to be dire urgent by the employers. Even if the employees need to go to offices occasionally, they must take all safety precautions, so that they do not get infected, nor do they spread infection to others. - Each organization has different corporate culture and human resource polices, so its important to stay tuned to corporate announcements, align with human resource department. - All the critical tasks, including attending crucial meetings by various online platforms, submission of projects, meeting the important deadlines are utmost necessary - Marketing and sales personals must tune in to complete digital marketing, so that marketing operation can continue unabated. - Last but not the least, in spite of best efforts by employers to conserve jobs and continue the operations, there may be hard realities and bad financial impacts are very likely, so employees should start looking for other likely sources of income, in case their organization is badly hit.