Big Brand MNC Software Services Company 1998
10:00 AM
“Hey, I want you to make lemonade for our customer.”
“OK. Send the requirements across.”
12:00 PM
“How is it coming?”
“I have done a study of lemonades. Called up my grandmother for a few as well. I am now looking into which would suit our customer best.”
02:00 PM
“Well?”
“I have narrowed down to four flavours now. I am doing a taste test now with people in the wing. Did you take part? By the way, did you know Monsanto is trying to create a GM variety of lemon. I wonder what they are trying to do. Poke a hole, squeeze and drink straight from the fruit?”
/* laughter */
04:00 PM
“I have finally selected one. Take a shot.”
/* tastes */ “This tastes great. Good job. We will serve this to the customer. I will prepare the process documents right away.”
04:30 PM
“I am done with the documents. Take a look.”
/* reads through the document */ “Looks fine.”
/* clicks send */ “Done. Good job. See you tomorrow.”
“OK. I will spend some time at the library and some TT before leaving for the day.”
Big Brand MNC Software Services Company 2008
10:00 AM
“Hey, I want you to make lemonade.”
“OK”
“I will send the requirements across. Take a look at it and get back to me.”
10:30 AM
“What’s up?”
“I am sorry. I am not sure what ‘lemonade’ is.”
/*thud*/ “Did you check the dictionary?”
/* Silly smile */
“Lemonade is what we call ‘lime juice’.” /* smiling sarcastically */ “I hope you know what that is.”
“Yes. Yes.”
12:00 PM
“How is it coming?”
/* sheepish smile again */ “It is coming fine.” /* Seeing that the manager can see through the lie */ “I had to go out for some time. We are starting Nose pickers Anonymous on campus and I am part of the organizing committee. I had to go for that. I will sit through lunch.”
“There is no need to skip lunch.”
“No. I insist. I am not hungry as I had something at the meet.”
1:00 PM
/* Manager walks by */
“I just got back. I couldn’t bear the hunger.”
1:15 PM
“Could you give me some initial pointers?”
“For making lemonade?”
“You see, I have never made lemonade in my life. So, I am not really sure on how it is done.”
/* sigh */ “Try searching on the internet.”
“What keywords should I use?”
“‘Lemonade’ would be just fine. ‘Lemonade Recipes’ would probably give you more results. It will be great if we could have three or four flavours and then narrow down on the most appropriate for our customer.”
“OK. I will get back.”
1:45 PM
“Firefox keeps crashing.”
“Did you try disabling the extensions?”
“No. How do you do that?”
/* knows how to do it but not in a mood to answer */ “Is Firefox the only browser on your computer? What did you do to Internet Explorer?”
“Ah! I forgot about that. I have been using Firefox for a long time now.”
3:00 PM
“What’s up?”
“I have found one recipe.”
/* takes a glance at his system clock */ “OK. Start using that.”
“Recipe says that I need a squeezer.”
“I think you should raise a request for that.” /* thinks about the “good old days” */
“OK.”
3:30 PM
“I need approval for the squeezer from you and also the Tools Group.”
“OK”
3:45 PM
“Tools Group wants a form to be filled. I am not sure what goes into it.”
“Send it across. I will fill it up.”
“OK.”
5:00 PM
/* squeezer is delivered to the desk */
“What are you doing?”
“I am searching on the internet for instructions on how to use the squeezer.”
/* thuds again */ “Let me show you. Get me that squeezer.” /* thinks to himself “Why didn’t I even assign this? I could have done it myself. But if I do that, he might never learn.” */ /* quietly demonstrates the use of the squeezer */ “Got it?”
“Yes.”
6:00 PM
“I have made the lemonade. Can I leave for the day?”
“Let me taste it. Get me a bit.” /* is handed a small bit */ “I think there is too much sugar in this. Don’t you think so?”
“I am not sure. I thought it was all right”
“Did you get others to taste it?”
“No.”
“Hmm… There is too much sugar in it. We need to fix it. Dilute it.”
/* adds water */
“That would be enough. Let me taste it. Taste fine. Hey, can you taste this for me?” /* hands a bit to others in the cube */ “Taste fine right? OK. We will send this across to the customer.”
“OK.”
/* His eye catches the water bottle */ “Is that the water that we used for this?”
“Yes.”
“Oh No! The requirements specially called for Sierra Springs! Did you not read the requirements document?” /* starts cursing himself */
“Oh! Did it?”
“We will have to start again now.” /* the cursing becomes stronger */
9:00 PM
“How is it coming?”
“I think it is done. Can you do one final taste check?”
/* tastes */ “This tastes fine. Too bad that there isn’t anyone here to concur. Anyway, it is getting late. Let us dispatch it. I will prepare the process documents.”
10:00 PM
“Is the dispatch done?”
“Yes.”
“Should I check it?”
“If you would like too…”
“OK. I have sent the process documents. I hope I don’t miss the cab. See ya then.”
“I will leave after some TT for the day.”
Author’s Note: This was inspired by a conversation that he had with a senior project manager yesterday. 
