Corporate world and Human life

Fun, cheer, long working hours and generous salaries - welcome to the world of IT. Many educated youngsters in India have made IT their life's goal. This is not a surprise, given the fact that IT is one of the few careers in India that guarantee both material comfort and financial security.
For college hires joining IT companies, it is an exciting journey full of learning, at least for the first few years. Apart from technical learning, they also get accustomed to corporate culture and business etiquette of six sigma companies. These leanings together with fun filled events, travel to foreign countries, generous salaries do make life seem a bed of roses.

Hierarchy chains in IT companies vary from company to company. As the size and capacity of a company increases, so do the number of designations above the level of manager. New designations keep getting added to the hierarchy from manager to CEO. As the levels in the hierarchy pyramid increase, so does the competition to reach these levels. No longer are hard work and efficiency the only parameters governing growth. Many other factors play a crucial role, these factors vary from company to company.

Good attitude and aptitude are a must for youngsters to gain entry in to India's major IT companies. In an ideal world, these two will result in efficient work, would bring good results, which in turn will secure career growth. But the available count of designations is always less than the number of people eligible for the same. Under such situations it is more a question of making supervisors aware of your extra-ordinary contribution to the organisation. Whether you really contribute or not is of no concern. The image or brand that you create for yourself matters more in securing a progressive career.

Valuing relationships at workplace, fostering youngsters, integrity, honesty, gentlemanly behaviour are traits that look good only in books titled as "Bhagavad Gita" and "My experiments with Truth". Inside the corridors of global corporates, these traits stand no chance of success when compared to self advertising and influencing higher up people. These traits together have been given a fancy identity under the name of corporate culture.The reasons for promotions and games that Indians play to secure these are so extensive and complex. A simple analysis of this is beyond human efforts.

The question whether corporate culture has a place for truth and integrity has no straight answer. The answer is yes, provided if a person is smart enough to twist truth and integrity to fit the corporate culture. But even then, good values like truth and honesty have to be twisted and compromised to fit the complex maze of corporate culture. Sans compromises to human values, success is out of reach.

Having said all this, let us now proceed to see the effects of this corporate culture outside the workplace. A person who excels at this art is sure to find success at workplace. Now, can these traits claim him success in the roles of a dutiful son, a loving partner, a selfless parent and an honest citizen? It takes only plain simple common sense to understand that selflessness, love, duty and honesty do not figure amonng the mandatory traits for success in the corporate world. Thus corporates are churning out highly competent employees who do not understand how to build a simple and satisfactory family.

The person who earns beyond his needs has neither the time nor the means to lead a peaceful and happy life. But he keeps working for money and growth, as these he belives, will lead him to happiness. He seldom stops to think if what he believes is true.

Employees of MNC corporates jump in to the rat race for success. But their definition of success excludes a peaceful, happy life. This simple truth can be understood if man stops to contemplate on the quality of his life. In the words of the Buddha, "destination does matter, but the journey is all that matters when we reach our destination." If life's destination is happiness, what is the use of living a life that does not permit relishing this happiness?

Let us stop, contemplate and restart our journey; understanding fully the quality of life we aim for, the journey we undertake to achieve this.