UNREAD: How We Work
During the pandemic and the lockdowns imposed worldwide, many online and digital cultural solutions emerged, further accelerating rapid technological change. At this very moment, we introduce the management team of Novelsoft, a company promoting digital culture through collaboration, creativity, and rigorous thinking.
The company’s team stands out for its commitment to continuous learning and collective growth in a technology landscape that is constantly emerging and evolving, using methodologies such as Agile Scrum, Event-Driven Architecture, Data-Driven Technology, and Microservices.
Location: Khan Bank Tower, 22nd floor, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar Business activities: Platform development, data, AI/ML development Technologies used: Office 365, Salesforce Social pages: Novelsoft (Facebook), Novelsoft LLC (Website), Novelsoft (LinkedIn)
1. WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAREER?
D. Unubold, Director of Software Development Department O. Undrakh-Orgil, Director of Data Development Department
D.U.: I originally graduated from the School of Information Technology at the National University of Mongolia with a degree in Software Engineering. I am currently among the people who have worked at the company the longest. During my time here, I have been directly involved in more than 10 software projects.
O.U.: I graduated in Computer Science in India. I first joined the company as a developer. At that time, there were few skilled professionals in Mongolia, so we handled every aspect of software development ourselves—you could say we were full-stack developers of that period. Over time, my work branched out, and today I lead one of the two functions: software development and data development.
We first started working when the company was MCS Electronics. If you look back at the history of Novelsoft, it inevitably connects to companies such as MCS Electronics and ITZone. That is because Novelsoft originated as the Software Department of MCS Electronics and later became part of ITZone’s Software Division. In 2020, this development division of ITZone became Novelsoft, one of the subsidiaries of Mogul Group. In that sense, it is the group’s youngest company. Novelsoft was formed by combining our data team and software department. We currently operate with seven departments.
ITZone itself has a 25-year history. It was founded in 1997 as MCS Electronics, and in 2013 it became an independent company through a management buyout from MCS Group, continuing operations under its current name.
Of course, when people enjoy their work, it leads to greater success. A person should also be able to feel a certain level of happiness from the work they do. If you do not feel that, it means you have not yet found what you truly enjoy doing. Loving your job accelerates your ability to succeed in it. I initially joined as a programmer, but while working, I became more interested in business analysis and project management, so I shifted in that direction. I now work as part of the company’s management team.
In general, we operate in the IT sector. From a technology perspective, we are constantly facing something new and changing. Therefore, future development will depend not on staying in one place, but on adapting quickly to evolving job requirements and technological changes. That is why it is difficult to define a fixed position when it comes to one’s career.
2. WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE WORKDAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
We have very flexible time-management conditions. Unless there is a specific business need to be in the office, employees can work from home. We began testing this remote-work system during the COVID pandemic and continue to implement it today. So sometimes the workday can begin from home. However, this does not mean being unplanned, undisciplined, or doing whatever one wants. The key is to work consistently and deliver positive results.
Because we work at the management level, the first thing we do is check email and respond to the necessary documents and communications. Team meetings also begin at 9 a.m. We hold regular meetings according to planned work, and decisions are made after thorough team discussions. After team meetings, some managers meet with employees, help resolve the challenges they are facing, and even take on a mentoring role.
3. What is your work know-how?
B. Khorolsuren
Head of Marketing and UI/UX Design Department
In terms of work methods, I would divide them into two areas: personal work and working with a team. Leading a team means working with people who have different ways of thinking, different mindsets, and different personalities, so I try to understand them more deeply and communicate closely. In a way, I need to be their friend and partner, and I need to listen. That is why I divide my know-how for working with teams into three categories.
First, always focus on the team. Team members must understand one another and be able to communicate and collaborate with others. Since they have come together to complete work collectively, they need to become one unit. That is why I do not let my team members work alone on a project. They always enter projects together in pairs or groups of three.
Second is creative thinking. After the first approach, the team understands, listens to, and collaborates with one another. At that point, creative thinking needs to be developed. I believe creative thinking means thinking in order to answer the very first “why” question. I also try to assign people to work that they are interested in and want to do.
Third is focus, or concentration. A person’s peak ability to concentrate usually lasts around four hours. Therefore, it is extremely important to create the right mindset for productive work rather than pressuring people based on time. People who can truly focus on their work are always more productive. In general, someone who has learned deep focus can discuss an issue with the team, reach a decision, and then refocus.
A team that can understand one another and unite in this way does not collapse or retreat; instead, it becomes highly coordinated and performs well.
4. What apps and tools can you not live without?
B. Purevmaa
Head of Business Development and Sales Department
Modern digital solutions are designed to make users’ work easier and reduce their workload. That is why Salesforce has everything related to my work and everything that makes my work easier. I can view my daily work plans, meetings, and all information related to email. Since records of my completed work are archived there as well, I can refer to them during our weekly meetings. On the other hand, quarterly and annual reports are also recorded in the app, so it is easy to review work results.
The app is also extremely convenient for team management. For example, our department operates with three to four people. We can monitor performance related to each person’s work, and it allows us to work in real time. Management also does not ask us for reports every day. Since the performance and results of completed work are stored in Salesforce, they can simply log in and view them themselves. In addition, because it is not a system that must be installed on a laptop, I can do everything on my phone while I am out at meetings. It fits the nature of my work perfectly.
5. WHAT IS YOUR BEST WAY TO SAVE TIME?
Make the right decisions. If you can do that, you can eliminate difficulties that may arise later. That is why you need to conduct thorough research first. In general, you should not be stingy with time when it comes to research. Otherwise, something done hastily in the name of saving time may ultimately turn into work that takes even more time. For us, we usually organize our work by year, quarter, month, week, and so on. Then we review it and consolidate the results, so we do not often lose time.
We also try not to let meetings exceed 15 minutes. That is why we write and send out the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. This also saves meeting time.
6. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR WORK?
B. Erdenetuya
Director of Business Analysis and Project Department
Our company always works through team-based management. Therefore, we frequently need to prepare plans. Since we work on projects in organized teams, it is important to create plans that are both detailed and flexible. For this, our company uses OKR, an objective-setting methodology used by technology companies such as Microsoft and Google. We prepare an annual work plan, then create separate plans for each quarter based on it. After the organization sets a shared objective, each team defines its own goals and develops its final plan accordingly.
My role is to lead the Business Analysis and Project Department. Since we mostly implement software projects, I manage my team using the Agile Scrum approach. This means prioritizing the work considered most important and dividing it into regular 7- to 14-day sprints. We then plan our work so that each sprint has a clear objective and should produce a specific, positive outcome by the end.
During workdays, or throughout the sprint period, we hold short daily stand-up meetings every morning. During these meetings, we openly and transparently discuss how each member is progressing with assigned tasks, the challenges they are facing, and the work they plan to do that day.
At the end of the 14 days, we regularly hold meetings to review sprint performance and improve our methods.
7. How do you recharge your energy?
D. Unubold, Director of Software Development Department Sh. Tsend-Ayuush, Head of Architecture Department
For people working on software projects, there are often times when they have to sit for long hours and put in significant effort. Because we spend many hours behind a computer, exercise and physical activity are essential. So, in addition to getting good sleep and rest, we recharge and replenish our energy by exercising and spending time on things we enjoy.
Mogul Group has many interest clubs, including Hiking, Movie Lovers, Gaming, and Yoga. Many of our young colleagues actively participate in the Hiking club, and the two of us are also active members. Of course, hiking not only helps prevent a lack of physical activity, but also supports immunity and brings psychological calm and peace through time in nature. In addition, we play indoor sports at least once every two weeks.
8. What project/work do you enjoy doing alongside your main job?
Because we work in a sector where we must constantly learn and develop ourselves, we also need to focus on internal training and development alongside our main work. Therefore, we are focusing on making the following trainings part of our internal culture. These are professional training activities held once every two weeks.
Reboot camp - Held once a year, this program is designed to help all developers and data team members quickly master technologies that will be used and introduced in the future. The training combines theory and practice.
Internship - A paid internship program for students. This is a brand-new training program that we started this year. We selected five students as the first participants. We plan to organize it twice within one year.
Women in Tech - Also launched this year within the company. Its goal is to increase women’s participation in the technology sector.
Entertainment team - Each quarter, a different team is assigned to take responsibility for all entertainment activities during that quarter. This includes non-work events such as birthdays and outdoor outings.
Oneteam - To improve teamwork, employees are divided into teams and compete by earning points through interesting work-related and non-work-related tasks.
Mentorship - Our company has a mentorship program for employees. It helps software developers advance their careers and professional skills. The main purpose of this program is to guide and train young new employees, and to support developers who are interested in becoming senior developers or software architects.
9. What is distinctive about your work? What are the positive aspects and the challenges?
R. Erkhembayar
Head of Product Innovation Unit
As a technology company—and especially as a software development company—there are naturally many distinctive characteristics. As this sector develops very rapidly, it also requires us to work at the same pace. On the other hand, from the perspective of platform and product development, product management serves as the point where many business functions meet.
Therefore, on one side, it is necessary to carefully observe what problems exist in society and what challenges users are facing. On the other side, in line with technological development, we aim to incorporate the most advanced and best technologies into our products and solve problems that others are facing.
Most importantly, the opportunities for young people working in this sector to grow and advance are unlimited. New technologies are constantly emerging, and every moment brings an opportunity to develop along with them. That is the best part. However, digital transformation has become extremely fast. Keeping pace with it is a major challenge.
Recently, some organizations in Mongolia have started implementing remote work. We are one of the early companies to work remotely. Going forward, we face the challenge of how to improve this way of working.
10. What are you focusing on now? What are your near-term plans?
My team and I are currently focusing on the “Homebook” platform. Through this platform, we aim to build a nationwide social network in Mongolia. In the first stage, we have decided to solve four specific issues.
First, history shows that people have created many technologies in order to stay connected with one another. In the same way, Mongolian engineers are developing our own newsfeed system and chat.
Second, I saw homeowners’ associations as a key area. There are more than 1,500 homeowners’ associations in our country, and more than 900 of them appear to be actively operating. However, their activities and public perception are not entirely positive. In other words, there are issues. So I believe that if we can solve problems related to homeowners’ associations in a digital environment, it will have a positive impact on our quality of life and surroundings. If we can address issues through homeowners’ associations, we can create the conditions for more comfortable living.
Third, we will address parking issues. By installing smart systems for both business and residential parking, drivers will be able to know how many cars are in a location and whether they can enter and park there.
Fourth, there are more than 80,000 small and medium-sized businesses operating nationwide. However, they cannot afford to spend large amounts of money on marketing to promote themselves to others. Therefore, these businesses will be able to create online shops on our platform and introduce their products to others at low cost.
In other words, through our platform, we are contributing to building nationwide technological resilience. Our long-term goal is to prepare the next generation of young people and create a platform and environment where they can study and develop in their home country rather than abroad.
11. How do you develop yourself and keep learning?
O. Undrakh-Orgil
Director of Data Development Department
One characteristic of our company and the IT sector is that we work in partnership with technology companies. Therefore, in addition to providing training to acquire professional knowledge and skills, that learning is validated through international certifications. On the other hand, it means we are learning while being paid, as well as obtaining international certifications. Of course, IT is a field where you must always keep learning. The market also demands it. That is why we continuously update our knowledge and skills. If we stop learning, we will be pushed outside the technology market.
Personally, I used to develop myself day and night without skipping a beat. But after starting a family, I began spending more time with them, so I had less time to study based on personal interests. Now I make time to learn and grow after my children go to sleep.
For company work, I focus on learning the things I absolutely need to know. After all, people do not have to learn everything. If they did, they would be no different from a trash bin. In addition to organizing technology trainings internally, our company purchases the online courses we need from learning platforms. Also, for the projects and new technologies we are implementing, the people leading those projects conduct professional internal training once every two years.
12. Books, music, or films you recommend?
B. Khorolsuren
Head of Marketing and UI/UX Design Department
I would like to recommend Japanese author Kazuo Inamori’s book “A Passion for Success.” Everyone who newly joins an ITZone group company reads this book. The core concept of the book prompts you to ask yourself, “Who are we?” and the core values and internal culture of our organization align with the ideas in this book. Its main message is that if you have the right attitude, motivation, and passion, success will come naturally. Attitude and passion are factors that multiply. If you turn either one negative, problems are inevitable.
As for music, recently I have been listening again to older songs with beautiful melodies and lyrical words. I often play works by bands such as “Bayanmongol” and “Soyol-Erdene,” or songs by singer B. Badar-Uugan. These works, created in a transitional period during socialism when people were being introduced to arts and culture and past traditions blended with future modernity, evoke a wonderful feeling and move the heart.
Click here to read the article about this book!
13. What is the best advice you have received?
M. Ariuntungalag
Data Analyst Team Lead
Previously, I led a team for the first time while working on an end-to-end data processing solution. By end-to-end solution, I mean the entire process of entering and collecting data and then delivering it to end users. After preparing our plan, I worked intensively from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for more than a month. Because I loved my work, I did not even realize how much time I was spending on it.
Then the CEO of Novelsoft, B. Tseesuren, told me: “Work is work. Life is life. You must not become so absorbed in work that you neglect your life.” Although this happened quite a few years ago, those words from the director have stayed clearly in my mind.
When I was consumed by work, I had even brought my team into the same state as me. That is when I realized how important it is to focus well and work productively within the eight working hours we are given. Outside of that, we should spend our precious time with family and friends. If a team is constantly under pressure, they may burn out. A leader needs to prevent that. “Work is work, life is life.” That is the best advice I have ever received.
14. What idea would you like to share with others?
B. Purevmaa, Head of Business Development and Sales Department Sh. Tsend-Ayuush, Head of Architecture Department B. Erdenetuya, Director of Business Analysis and Project Department
Digital transformation has now become very common. Every organization uses some kind of system or app in its internal operations. However, based on what we have observed, organizations often make these choices by looking only at today’s needs and investing in a cheaper platform.
Of course, a business does not remain at the same point. It needs to grow and expand over time. Therefore, even if you start small today, we advise you to choose by considering whether the system can grow with you in the long run and deliver value in the future. We wish you success.