Friday, November 30, 2012

Creative Capitalism with Social Business...

Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus debates on why his previously published views on Creative Capitalism missed the mark... A B&E exclusive

My interview titled as “I don’t believe in ‘Creative Capitalism’!” was published in Business & Economy as a part of a cover story titled “Saving Capitalism” on October 16, 2008. The interview gives a completely different presentation of my actual views on the subject. This will create total confusion in the readers mind. I would like to clarify my views on the basic issues. I hope you will publish my letter to remove the misgivings in the minds of the readers.

The appropriate title of the interview would have been “Creative Capitalism with Social Business”, because that is what I have been pleading for. I was very excited when Bill Gates proposed the path of “Creative Capitalism”. It made my job immensely easier. It needed courage and conviction for Bill Gates, a life long beneficiary of capitalism, to say in unambiguous words that capitalism as practiced now misses out many important issues of human life ¾ poverty, health, nutrition, housing, etc. He took the initiative to direct capitalism to those areas and called it “creative capitalism”. Of course, any human organisation has to be creative. That is not the creativity Bill Gates was referring to. He had very specific idea of the nature of the creativity. I support his initiative fully. As one, the leaders of the business world, his voice will carry tremendous weight.

I have been proposing something different. I have been saying that human beings are multi-dimensional. There is a selfish dimension to a human being, as well as a selfless dimension. Selfish dimension is very adequately (and sometimes, unfortunately, very aggressively) addressed by the existing type of business, i.e., profit-maximising business. The selfless dimension remains unaddressed by the business world. I am suggesting creating a new type of business to address this dimension: a non-loss, non-dividend business with a social goal. Instead of being profit-driven, this business will be cause-driven. It will make profit, but profit will not go to the investor, except to getting back the investment money. Creative capitalism and social business will be working in the same direction, but in different formats, one within the existing format, and another within a new format.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

TERRORISM: PROPAGANDA WAR

Allegations echo from Delhi blasts and Jamia shootout. Is India losing the communication war?

 Finally, after waiting for decades, the Supreme Court ordered establishment of three institutions at the state level with a view to insulating the police from extraneous influences, according functional autonomy and ensuring accountability. These included a State Security Commission to lay down policies and give directions relating to preventive and service-oriented functions of the police, a Police Establishment Board, comprising the Director-General of Police and four other senior officers to decide on all transfers, postings, promotions and a Police Complaints Authority at the district and state level to look into allegations of misconduct by police personnel. It is worth checking out if any of these mechanisms are in place. “Everyone loves cop bashing. They are under constant pressure to show results. Politicians use them as domestic servants and commission agents,” Tarun Vijay, Director of BJP’s Shyama Prasad Mukerjee Research Foundation, told B&E.

The crisis is compounded because there is no real-time intelligence. Questions CPM MP, Nilotpal Basu: “How does the police know who is hiding in a ghetto unless you have credible sources there and how can you have credible sources when a community (Muslims) is feeling alienated?” he asks. That is a point to ponder. When there is so much to be made of terror attacks, with the Karnataka government even unwilling to take action against Bajrang Dal thugs assaulting and intimidating Christians, a sense of discrimination is bound to set in. For India, that does not bode well. Organised and articulate, bleeding heart liberals are quick to condemn the police, freely distributing character certificates to non-state forces. Now with the latest blast in south Delhi’s Mehrauli claiming two lives, the circle of explosions and encounters appears to have become more vicious.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sayonara already?

Japan urgently needs a worthy successor after Fukuda's resignation

He had hoped to outlive his hapless predecessor, Shinzo Abe. But fate had other things in mind. After staying in office for less than a year, Yasuo Fukuda resigned from the office of Japanese PM on September 1, 2008. An organisational man by nature, Fukuda never managed to get full support from his own party members. And the loss of control of the upper house of Japanese parliament made it almost impossible for him to get through any kind of reforms. And it was his failure to do much on the reform front that made matters worse for him. A cabinet reshuffle last month could have been used by Fukuda to include people with a clear idea of what needed to be done, but he did not. During the same reshuffle, there were signs that Fukuda is being pushed to the extreme. The party elders showed their support to Taro Aso, who is now expected to succeed Fukuda as the next Prime Minister.

Often known for his colourless and laidback attitude, Fukuda was finally forced to resign. His resignation is the second in a row after Abe and he is the third to do so without holding general elections.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

N. K. Minda, MD, NK Minda Group

B&E: What kind of opportunities exist for the Indian component industry in foreign markets?
NKM: Indian auto component industry is today emerging as one to be reckoned with. With more and more global auto majors setting up manufacturing facilities in India, the Indian auto component sector is getting exposed to internationally accepted manufacturing practices. However, concerns about quality still remain. Also, we are still lacking in original research & development activities. But slowly I am sure that these issues will get resolved and India’s potential of emerging as the global auto hub will also be realised.

B&E: What effects has the rupee appreciation had on the company?
NKM: The Indian rupee has been depreciating in the recent past rather than appreciating. We typically have clauses in our export import orders wherein foreign currency fluctuation beyond a certain limit are factored in. Our exports are largely to Europe and are Euro denominated, so we have been relatively insulated from dollar fluctuations.

B&E: In terms of profitability, market share or turnover, what are the plans?
NKM: The NK Minda group has crossed the Rs.10 billion turnover mark and our next aim is to triple this turnover to Rs.30 billion crores in the next 3-4 years. In terms of profitability we are in challenging times and the aim is to increase our net margins to 10%, so that we can justify the faith of our stakeholders. Today we have roughly 70% market share in off road switches, 50% share in four wheeler switches, 40% market share in horns, 70% market share in CNG/LPG kits, 15% market share in automotive lighting. Besides this we are into EOVM (Electronic over view mirrors) and automotive batteries where we have just entered. The plan is to have domestic leadership in all product categories where we are not the leaders in the next couple of years.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Legacies under legislation

Kerala government envisages policy to give IPR to traditional knowledge

The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2008 introduced in the Kerala Assembly by the State government targets the protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and biodiversity, which has been inappropriately used by companies in absence of legal property right.

The policy proposes to commit all traditional knowledge, including medicines under “knowledge commons’’ and not to the “public domain’’. Knowledge has been categorised into two. One, the preserve of particular communities, especially tribal, institutions or families down the ages and second the knowledge whose practice sustains the livelihood of many. For example, Kottakkal ayurvedic massage belongs to the first category and practice of ayurvedic medicine by many practitioners belongs to the second. For the first category, the family, community custodian will have rights over the knowledge.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Leaking roofs

Have roof; you ain’t homeless hon!

We thought that it would start and end with the Indian version of poverty definition (where, cleverly, the Indian government calculates a lesser number of people as being below the poverty line). But then, the same manipulative definition is also applied to homeless people. As per the official definition, only people who do not live in a ‘census house’ [structures with a roof] are considered homeless. Thus, this definition ignores and leaves out the population that live in makeshift arrangements, construction sites, shelter homes, or unacceptable housing. Worse, as the census counting takes place during the day, most homeless people who are day labourers, are missed out in the census. As per Action Aid, the total number of homeless is 80 million in India; and in most metros, the homeless are double the official estimates. But perhaps the worst is that a specific UNDP report now states that 95% of legal urban space is used and kept for the benefit of the most privileged ones in India. The repeated land scams across India furthers the UNDP statement! So what do you do if you’re homeless and want to be counted?


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Invest in e-bonds!

With e-marriages you now get to choose your guy or gal just as you’d choose some gadget... list out the specifications you need, click and you get what you want!

Jerome P. Crabb had once said, “Getting married is like permanently grafting your hand to the cookie jar. No matter how sweet those cookies may taste, you can’t help but wonder what would have happened if you’d chosen some other dessert – brownies, for instance, or frozen yogurt, or maybe chocolate strudel.” And while some keep wondering about their choice, there are a lot more who get their hands into the cookie jar without even knowing whether they are interested in the sweets. For them convenience matters more than the end choice that they make, a choice that leads to marriag–that calls for life-long commitment. Marriages, till date are quite a family affair. So, while the debate on arranged marriage vs love marriage is still going strong, and will probably go on forever, the latest craze happens to be self-arranged: e-marriages.

For laggards, self-arranged e-marriages are about the ‘wannabe’ brides and grooms, who log onto web portals where they shortlist a match for themselves based on criterion like religion, caste, personality traits, pay packages, family details and photographs. With more and more marriage portals like Shaadi.com and Bharatmatrimony.com, e-marriages are in vogue and have given a new meaning to the concept of arranged marriage.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Fighting the fight

Jiggling and joggling to wake up the souls...

The bullring was bursting with cheers –‘Ole’ ‘Ole’ of more than twenty-five thousand aficionados of bull fighting. The applause surged and all stood up in ovation for the flamboyant horse-mounted lancer’s (called rejoneador) extraordinary (rather ruthless) antic of stabbing the bull. And the next hit, superbly stylish and almost fatal, that made the fierce animal lose its balance for some seconds and then run around helplessly in pain excited the spectators who waved their white handkerchiefs – an unequivocal indication to reward the rejoneador for his flair and feat. Well, the reward was no less brutal than the game – two severed ears of the dead bull – and he is then killed with one final blow on the head.

Sitting for the first time (and surely the last time) in the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, I felt as if I was guilty of animal cruelty...

This was just one of those several sadistic bull fighting events, which take place in Spain during San Isidiro, the world’s most famous bullfighting festival every year. For this, the bulls are bred and trained to be hostile of which the most aggressive and irritable ones are picked for the fight. While many laws have been enacted in Spain to abolish cruelty against animals, bullfighting has been exempted from all. Unfortunately, even while making rules for reducing the goriness of the game, the national authorities of Spain could only think of safety of the humans involved by introducing operating theatres on the premises and adding more padding to the lancer’s horses. As a result of this, and more across the world, the international body – League Against Cruel Sports (that aims to end cruelty against animals) in association with Spanish animal welfare groups has come up with the campaign called ‘Balls to Bull fighting’.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CONSERVATION EQUATIONS

Even as five animals are felled by poachers in a span of a few weeks, forest officials in Assam are positive that the Rhinoceros Unicornis population can be saved!

I f there can be anything that can, even momentarily, diminish the anguish that can be caused by an image of a dying rhino, its horn hacked off, it is perhaps the reassuring words of a man called MC Malakar, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Assam. Hounded by the public and Press alike, he has decided to go on the offensive. “What makes you even think that the gene pool of rhinos in Assam may be unsafe?” he shoots back, even before one can finish a question on whether the rhino is safe, given the department’s efforts to take it to the 3,000 mark by the year 2020, as stated in the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 plan. The tirade continues: “At a meeting recently, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) demanded that I agree that we had failed in protecting the rhino. Why should I? Hasn’t the population of rhinos gone to over 2,000 at Kaziranga from a few dozens at the turn of the 19th century?”

According to an analogy that Malakar provides, “It is like trying to keep out all the mosquitoes using a mosquito net. No matter how hard you try, one or two will get in. It is simply not possible for us to put one guard behind every rhino there is in the state”. In terms of the threat to the Rhinoceros Unicornis, the “one or two”, incidentally, translates to a swarm of well-armed, well trained poachers who have brought down over 26 of these pachyderms over the past 17 months alone in Assam.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Ma, we’re re‘pink’ing our strategy!

US slowdown is affecting employment across the globe, but the financial services sector leads the rest

Steven Tyler never uttered these words! But his group’s song was the rage of the 90s – ‘Pink is my favourite colour’, by the raucous Aerosmith! And you’ve been of late noticing how your boss has started crooning the song whenever you pass him by. Relax, it’s just a coincidence. Research shows that when bosses want to throw you out, they don’t sing Aerosmith songs :-) More seriously, international experts have been strongly commenting since last quarter that recession would not necessarily affect the skilled employment market that fast, especially in developed countries. Closer home, Dr. Naresh Malhan, MD, Manpower India comments that the impact on new recruitments “would not be imminent... especially when most businesses are plagued by talent shortage.”

On taking a global perspective, B&E realised that irrespective of how many experts we could put on one side of the table, it was the pink slip strategy that coloured every aspect of our finding, on whichever sector we touched. And there’s no better example than the global financial sector, with the sub-prime mistress raking in every penny uttering its name.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012

MALAYSIA: A NEW CHAPTER

Ethnic Indian minorities show their might in the just concluded general elections by supporting Anwar

In the cities, 10% of the local Malays embraced the opposition. Over 2.5 million ethnic Indians arrived in Malaysia during British rule, the majority of them Tamil Hindus, but also Punjabis and other north Indians.

Ibrahim Suffian, director of programmes at the Merdeka Centre, an independent polling agency, said dissatisfaction was most evident among Indian voters. “There were all kinds of stories of how Indian voters volunteered help to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (pas) throughout the country,” he said.

“It is clear that what the people want are accountability, transparency and the rule of law,” says Anwar Ibrahim, the long incarcerated de facto leader of the opposition People’s Justice Party (pkr). Ibrahim is prevented from running until next month owing to a politically motivated corruption charge. But both his wife and daughter were victorious. Yet the tipping factor was the general feeling that the government had been lagging behind in curbing prices and bureaucratic high-handedness. The ruthlessness was most noticeable in cases involving temple demolitions and political insensitivity in relation to matters concerning religion and racial origins. Perform or perish was the only choice given to the Malaysian contestants this time. This had never happened before.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Let’s just kill the Nano!

With new entry compacts, Hyundai & Maruti are out to prove they are ready to fight the Rs.1 lakh car

Maruti Suzuki’s A-Star debut at this year’s Auto Expo was met with skepticism after the initial hoopla. Analysts who had earlier anticipated that progressive consumerism would shrink the entry level segment further; were aghast by the audacity with which Maruti made this bold move. According to market reports, the stylish car will be a sub Rs.3 lakh product, offering entry level customers a wider product range. As a repercussion to the impending Tata Nano (the Rs.1 lakh car), volume players are on a scramble to provide the customer with an alternative that is not basic (unlike the Nano) but is highly affordable nonetheless.

Taking the bait of even higher volumes, expected to be generated by the ‘high attention’ entry segment, India’s number two player, Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has unleashed its plans as well. Reportedly, the South Korea major is developing an entry level small car, albeit one that is not directly competing with the Nano. Comments HS Lheem, MD, HMIL, “Hyundai does not have any plans to enter in to this segment immediately. What Hyundai might look into, in the near future, is the possibility of a car a notch lower than the existing Santro, keeping in mind parameters like technology, safety and regulatory norms.” Like Maruti Suzuki, perhaps Hyundai India thinks that the Indian consumer will eventually bid adieu to the lowest rung segments and lap up their latest offerings. 


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Friday, November 09, 2012

SEARS: CORPORATE LEVEL STRATEGY

Lampert must move himself out of a hands on role in Sears

Lampert is hardly short of ideas, but recently, quite a few have fallen flat, for instance, his ploy to focus less on market share and more on profits. As per company data, net income for the quarter ended November 2, 2007, was a measly $2 million, compared to $196 million for the quarter ending October 3, 2006 (which included $101 million of pre-tax gains). Lampert then admitted, “We are very disappointed with our performance for the third quarter. We cannot blame our results entirely on the retail and macro-economic environments. We have much on which to improve...”

Lampert must now realise that he may have to oust himself now from a hands on role in the company, as his time is fast running out. Bringing in a new CEO is the easiest advise to present, but presents a huge execution challenge. Without that, Sear’s ploy for a more dynamic organisational structure in order to unleash growth may all be in vain.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
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Thursday, November 08, 2012

NAVIN CHAWLA: WHOSE FRIEND, WHOSE FOE?

The EC’s proximity to Congress is too close for their comfort

BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley, who’s been leading the charge, says that Chawla’s proximity to the Congress is too close for comfort. “He is shackled, he can’t function independently, detachedly,” he scoffed, adding, “this is setting a terrible precedent. Now all will be tempted to pack the EC with favourites.” (The BJP is demanding Chawla’s dismissal under Article 324(5) of the constitution) Yet, how justified is the demand? Says constitutional expert, Rajiv Dhawan, “The BJP has no business asking for someone’s removal just because it disapproves of him. Every time the Congress was in a crisis, it reacted by amending the constitution. It’s unholy!’’

For amending the constitution, a party needs two-thirds majority in Parliament. And with the Left continuing to waver, this is a Herculean task for the Congress. The BJP fears that by the time the next Lok Sabha polls are held, Gopalaswami will have been succeeded by “pro-Congress” Chawla.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
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Wednesday, November 07, 2012

POLITICAL UPHEAVALS: GOA

Kamat manages to save his throne for the time being

Analysts opine the current trouble started ever since Kamat decided to scrap the 12 SEZs that were to come up in Goa. The decision taken on New Year’s Eve was resented by most parties. Many of the real estate companies operating in the country had purchased properties across the state with an eye on developing them. Ranged against these vested interests are human rights activists, the RSS & the Catholic Church who fear that the peaceful life of Goa would be lost in the maze of urban development. Kamat, buckled under pressure after large-scale protests threatened to stop the New Year celebrations in Goa. Clearly, the politicians ranged in favour of SEZs, were trying to turn the tables on Kamat. But the Chief Minister has turned out to be one better: he has managed to placate all his detractors and what better way to do it than either expand the ministry or give them top places in PSUs and other government corporations. Kamat is all poised to do just that.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012. An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
 
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links  
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
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Tuesday, November 06, 2012

The Bangash family on Hindustani classical music…

The inimitable impressions of the Bangash family on Hindustani classical music…

From the outside, it might seem simple enough to carry on the legacy and many would chastise those who patronise every new generation of the same family and neglect artistes from not-so distinguished dynasties. “It is a great bonus. Like in any field, be it films or for that matter even a business house, a legacy always helps. You get the opportunity, the attention and the love of people. Having said that, one must keep in mind that eventually your work has to speak for itself. We cannot keep getting invited to a concert hall or to a music festival because we are sons of a famous father or for that matter, having seven generations of musicians behind us. Your work has to speak for itself. In fact, your legacy and your worth should speak through your work,” opine the sons of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan. “There are a section of people who would blindly love you because they loved your father. Then there are a section of people who love you for your own space and finally a section that would come to tear you apart! The mantra once again lies in the fact that one must never take any concert for granted. Smallest of concerts can become the turning points of your life and the biggest of concerts can be disasters. Every concert should have the same feeling and approach as if it’s your first concert,” assert the brothers.

The impression that many have of Amaan and Ayaan being privileged and given opportunities that most music enthusiasts would label as ‘unfair’, is something Amaan and Ayaan have had to contend with. While they shrug off such sentiments with a, “Like the saying goes ‘it’s not as easy as it looks’,” they also have been putting in their all to come into of their own. With concerts in 20 different nations already behind them and capital world music and electronica albums to their credit, the two have moved on and today are often compared with their father. “In all honesty,” remark the boys, “it’s an honour to be compared to a man like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. For at the end of the day, you’re being compared to the best! We don’t think anyone takes anyone’s place in life. There is room for everyone. Our father has already done the unthinkable to the sarod. But then, the work that we have done with the sarod had also never been done before. Today, the youth connect to the instrument, we see it in films, hear it in lounges and even clubs! Collectively as a family, we are trying our best to carry forward the tradition of Indian music.” The illustrious Ustad Amjad Ali Khan perhaps sums it up the best, “It’s a commitment from generations. We must surrender ourselves to God and to our guru… We feel happy and honoured to have received so much love and blessings from the whole world.” 



Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012. An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
 
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links  
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
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