Saturday 14 June 2014

The truth of Mu Sigma Products: muPDNA

I recently read a article in a leading newspaper giving details on evolution of Mu Sigma. One of the things mentioned was that Mu Sigma introduced it's first Analytics product, muPDNA in 2013.

I have pointed out in a previous post (read here) that how this product has been built on existing concepts from a freely available book "The McKinsey Way" by ETHAN M. RASIEL. But this newspaper article set me thinking, so what if they have taken concepts from a book. They might have stolen the concepts but they have still given it a new spin and created a product out of it.

Knowing Mu Sigma and its value system, it was hard for me to believe that Mu Sigma can really do something original (of course they keep getting "INSPIRED" just like Bollywood Movies and Music).
I started searching the web to find if something similar was already available. What I found was not something similar, but exactly same.

 Try and spot the difference below (conceptual difference I mean):
















source: http://www.scquare.com/home



















source:http://www.mu-sigma.com/analytics/platforms/mupdna/mupdna.html

Below is a screenshot of what this other product/company SCQuARE is about (source: free PDF download available here)











This company claims to be specialist in these concepts and has a product SCQuARE linked to it.

The important thing is that this company has been around for 20 years. I am sure some "ANALYTICS EXPERT" in Mu Sigma must have gone through their training and got "INSPIRED". Not sure if such blatant copying is against the law and whether you can really patent protect such products but Mu Sigma website does claim muPDNA as a proprietary product with a patent pending.

I am sure many other Mu Sigma products will have parallels like the above. I have no problems with that, I am just pointing out the Truth.

To the people who marvel at the valuations that Mu Sigma keeps getting, my only advice is: be happy with the money, don't claim greatness. Of course I am addressing a select few in Mu Sigma's management here because Mu Sigma employees do not have the money either.

15 comments:

  1. Mu Sigma's products strategy is clear. There is no intent to build products. The only intent is to "show" that they are building products and create the notion that they have a full fledged analytics ecosystem. In an increasingly crowded market, they are using this to sell more services. Then the side benefit is also the valuation play. Before Mu Sigma's defenders line up, ask yourselves how much you like their products? You know they can't build products and know well that their products suck.

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  2. The products might not be at same level as some of its competitors initially, but the products team in mu-sigma is always revamping the products to make it top quality.For example, the muPDNA tool is still evolving to this day (FYI its really good right now).

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    Replies
    1. Mu Sigma's products division is just a services company in disguise. The technical muscle in this company which was weak before is almost non-existent now with so many senior exits. The intended users of Mu Sigma's products are not the customers but the Mu Sigma analysts. Customers pay Mu Sigma to let Mu Sigmans use the products in their client services engagements. It is an open secret that these products are rarely used once the client pays for them. It is just a means to fleece and con customers.

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    2. Considering the fact that a few old hands and big names from even the tech muscle of products (even the biggest tech gasbag who joined tredence) have exited or are exiting, even that looks like it's gonna dip in tech quality even more. Delivery has been weak in this aspect and hiring has been slow too. Overall, a new gasbag regime has taken over.

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  3. It's sad it was hope for India in the form of "original" unicorn. I have heard from my friends working there, their CEO is a good sales man but an unethical and shameless person. I hope that everyone knows about him. He should be questioned in public about his bad behaviour and cheating

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  4. The Products quality sucks esp. AOPS. Glorified excelsheet and ppt at exorbitant prices and fewer features. I know this for a fact that these guys (current and past) are lazy and lack imagination, 'Cause a lot my of my team mates now want to join Products in Aops so that they can chill..

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