Eric S. Raymond’s seminal 1999 essay, “The Cathedral and the Bazaar,” presented two starkly different models of software development. The “Cathedral” model involves a small, exclusive group of developers working in isolation to build a perfect structure, releasing it to the public only when deemed complete. The “Bazaar” model, in contrast, involves releasing code early … Read more
For decades, one name has been at the center of the debate over modern agriculture, food safety, and environmental health: Monsanto. Before its acquisition by Bayer in 2018, the Monsanto monopoly—or near-monopoly—over the seed and agrochemical market created a corporate giant whose influence extended from the smallest farms to the highest levels of government. Its … Read more
For years, the Infosys Chennai Mahindra City campus has been a landmark of the Indian IT boom—a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility that promises a world-class work environment. To an outsider, its gleaming glass buildings, manicured lawns, and impressive amenities look like a corporate paradise. However, for many of the thousands of employees who have worked there, … Read more
When Mae Keane, the last of the Radium Girls, died in 2014 at the age of 107, the story wasn’t her long life, but how she managed to survive at all. She should have died 90 years earlier. The Radium Craze Following its discovery by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898, radium was hailed as … Read more
As waves of mass layoffs roil the IT industry and corporate corruption scandals occasionally surface, a profound silence often emanates from the top. The “CEO Tigers” of India Inc., celebrated globally for their business acumen, are frequently criticized for their reluctance to speak out on the very issues that directly impact their employees and the … Read more
Beyond the headlines of layoffs and workforce restructuring, CTS India has been embroiled in a far more serious controversy: a large-scale bribery scandal. U.S. federal authorities launched a major investigation into allegations that senior executives at Cognizant authorized millions of dollars in illegal payments to Indian government officials to secure permits for its new corporate … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic plunged the global economy into uncertainty, and for employees at Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS), it brought a wave of job insecurity. During 2020, the IT giant initiated significant workforce reductions, which it termed “performance management,” but which employee unions and affected staff labeled as illegal retrenchment. This clash led to widespread press … Read more
For decades, a career in Information Technology was seen as a golden ticket to stability, growth, and prosperity. However, the dream is showing signs of wear as the industry grapples with economic headwinds, automation, and strategic shifts. This new reality is perhaps best illustrated by the recurring waves of job cuts at major IT service … Read more
Verizon, a global telecommunications giant, is no stranger to corporate restructuring. Over the years, the company has initiated multiple rounds of job cuts, impacting thousands of employees across the globe. These events, often referred to as Verizon layoffs, are typically framed by the company as necessary steps for strategic realignment and future growth. However, for … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the global economy, and the Indian IT industry was not immune. Wipro, one of the country’s largest tech employers, found its policies on layoffs, employee bench time, and compensation under a microscope. While the company maintained a public stance of protecting jobs, many employees and labor unions reported … Read more