Wasted opportunity – MRTS Stations in Chennai and Solar Energy

Every day as I walk into the MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) station at Taramani, Chennai (India) the feel of wasting a colossal opportunity to use the station space for public utility and as an example of energy efficiency strikes me hard. The truly bumpy ride to the station in an auto rickshaw and the lumps of cow-shit and dog-shit covering the floor inside the complex don’t actually bother me as much. 
Photos soon.

The ground floor of the station, except for the ticket counter at the west end is entirely wasted. Much can be done about this space about which I plan to post a blog later.

When I go up the platform floor and as I wait for the train to come in, it is hard to miss the huge rooftop and side covers. What better place to install and harness solar energy than this vast collectible area of solar energy. The station needs lighting very badly to ensure safety of passengers. If solar panels are installed, it can easily supply entire power needs of the station lighting and also leave enough for other uses.

If the ground floor space can be made viable for social/commercially use, the spare solar power can satisfy their lighting and other small power needs too.

This is true for most of the MRTS stations as well. The very design of MRTS stations lends them for this solar power application very well.

If the government can lead by example by using space in its control for harnessing renewable energy, it will promote faster public and private adoption. Needless to say, it will also promote a sustainable solar cell manufacturing industry; provide jobs for installation and maintenance personnel as additional social benefits. I am sure any wholesome analysis (Cost-Benefit, Social Benefit, Economic impact analysis) will support this cause.

Ratio of Impactful influence

I have read about ‘Zone of Influence’ and ‘Length, Breadth and Depth of influence’ in managing people. 

When I analyzed the India-Australia test series of 2013 played in India when India won the series 4-0, I realized there was another element to the above dimensions of managerial influence.

This I think is appropriate to be called Ratio of Impactful Influence. 

Dhoni has to manage 11 players in the team (not considering the other people he has to probably manage outside the playing field). Out of this 11, if he can have a impactful (positive) influence on a certain number of people, his ability to steer the team to achieve team goals in a way he thinks is right would be easier. 

For whatever we may hear individuals tell media, a close reading of behavior, body language, choice of words and timing of performance can educate the observer of the true undercurrents of the inter-personal relationships in a team. Gautam Gambir and Virendra Sehwag probably were unconformable with Dhoni’s leadership (may be attributed to numerous reasons which are not part of this topic). 

Dhoni can’t influence the likes of Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VV Laxman. So, in a team of 11, Dhoni had 5 players whom he could influence. That is, 5/8, about 62.5%. On the other hand, he had 2/8 negative influences, that is about 25%. This gives a ratio of 62.5/25, 2.5, which I call the Ratio of Influence. 

Now, in this series, Rahul Dravid and VV Laxman were not part of the team. The Equation changed as negative influence: 2/10 or 20% (leaving Tendulkar as non-influenceable), positive as 8/10 or 80%. The ratio of influence now became 4.0. 

I see this as a game-changer for the team. Dhoni now had a ratio of influence that enabled him guide, demand and achieve from the team what he wanted. The results are there to show. 

I am trying to see if this is a trend with other teams as well or other comparable areas where such an ration can be observed.

As I post this blog, I can sense this ratio thing as a backdrop in bringing NRN back to Infosys. Having a good leader is essential and also essential is a team whom he can influence and get things done. And when this influence exceeds a thresh-hold, the probability of the influence being impactful increases.

I have seen this happen in my work experience working in teams (small and big) and as a member and leader.

A little thought about this ratio could help form efficient and productive project and task force teams either in sport or in business.