Showing posts with label Guru economist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guru economist. Show all posts

Friday, March 19, 2010

No idiot here!

Kareena Kapoor is one gal who likes everything around her to be perfect; whether it is her make-up, her clothes or even her director for her ad films! That’s right, this Bollywood princess does not work with just about anybody. So, while she worked with Karan Johar for a paint ad, and her favourite Imtiaz Ali in a snack ad, she recently recommended her “3 Idiots” director Rajkumar Hirani for a cosmetic ad! And so, Hirani is returning to the ad world after almost three years to ensure that Aall Izz Well for Bebo!
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-



Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Friday, March 05, 2010

Miller mills fresh rumours!

We wonder what Sienna Miller is hinting at by flaunting the ring that Jude Law presented to her when they got engaged. Although her friends claim that it is nothing more than a piece of jewellery to her, which she really likes, and that she is not wearing it on her ring finger, the grapevine is still speculating about the possibilities. Though the couple broke up when Jude had an affair with his children’s nanny, they reunited recently and have apparently put their past behind. Well, we hope this time the ring stays on her finger, for good.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-



Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

A swipe at the wipe

Give up using toilet paper, and save the planet!

People who are conscious about global warming, and know exactly how our pursuit for comforts is adding on to the problem, usually frown at those driving around town in SUVs, but even they would find it hard to believe that toilet paper is contributing even more to the problem than those fuel-guzzling cars! Yes, believe it or not, in order to save the planet Americans and people around the world will have to learn to clean their derriere with something other than the rolls of soft, white toilet paper! What’s more, in US, a 3% excise tax on toilet paper is being proposed under the Water Resources Protection Act too, as the tissues end up in waste water and need treatment by sewage treatment plants!

Leaving aside clay and stone, sponges and salt water, people in USA began to wipe their behinds with paper about 150 years ago, and today, perhaps as a result of globalisation, people around the world have begun to emulate the Americans. So, while an average American uses 57 squares a day and 50 pounds of toilet paper in a year, the real growth is being experienced in developing countries. But the cost of using tissue paper is immeasurable, as apart from tree farms and previously logged second-growth farms, they are being made from the centuries old Canadian boreal forests. While toilet paper made from recycled fibres is available, people choose to not use them as these are coarse, and in order to keep enjoying the softer, fluffier paper, we’re happily trading our wild forests, which are incredibly important for maintaining the ecological balance – for removing greenhouse gases from the air, and for providing habitat and water purification systems to thousands of species. These finer rolls of paper also require more water and more toxic chlorine bleaches for their manufacture.

Americans, reportedly, are totally averse to switching from the softer to coarser environment friendly wipes.

While in European and Latin America about 20% of the toilet paper rolls sold have recycled content, only 2% of the 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper sold in US are completely composed of recycled fibres. Says NRI Ruchika Chawla, “From the time Americans are born, wiping is the only concept known to them for cleansing themselves. Washing is not introduced in childhood as it’s in India, so although the consequences are grave, Americans can’t do without toilet paper. I believe they’ll recycle more cans to make up for the damage, but not give up their toilet paper!”

While countries keep haggling over the Kyoto Protocol, we as concerned and responsible citizens need to keep track of our carbon footprint ourselves. It would take very little effort from Indians to forego the roll and opt for water bidets, which use a jet of water to clean, especially since the use of water has so far dominated the toilet habits of Indians. Hopefully, Americans too will discover the utility of the bidet and perhaps limit their use of tissue paper only to dry off. Seventh Generation, producers of recycled toilet paper, estimates that one million trees could be saved if every US household substitutes just one packet of the soft napkins with 100% recycled ones. Clearly, flushing away old habits is the way forward…

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-



Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Obama’s concern over his remarks & speeches came true...

Obama’s erred this time by speaking his heart out spontaneously instead of speaking a well, politically-correct, pre-written speech. He just failed to translate his thoughts into politically correct language and is now paying the price for the same (at least, he has to bear the cost of brew party he held for the two!!). The biggest irony and hypocrisy get highlighted when one analyses the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. The poll shows that 27% of Americans think that Professor Gates is more at fault for getting arrested than Crowley and 29% of respondents blame both Gates and Crowley. Thus, around half of US believe Gates was at fault and that too for the charges that were dropped the very next week! Welcome to US, the only country where people make fuss out of charges that do not last even for a week!! Even in the recent case, Prof. Gates was arrested for burglary or disorderly conduct but Cambridge state law clearly permits its people to the extent of shouting at police force for a valid reason.

Wrong judgements and hasty decisions by police force is not a new phenomenon, as the case may seem this time. Here goes few examples Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant, was shot dead (with around 41 bullets) by police officers who mistook his taking out of wallet for a gun. Similarly, Sean Bell was shot to death by NYPD by firing 50 shots. Same can be iterated about Omar Edwards and many more non-Whites of the US.

The customary approach of Whites on Blacks clearly makes the case against James Crowley. This prevailing attitude is what clearly makes the case for Dr. Louis Henry Gates too. President Obama is unquestionably right with his comment that Crowley allowed his ego and super-ego to get in the way. And this is not for the first time that Obama has expressed his concern on his remarks to be taken otherwise. Take for instance, the 100th anniversary of the NAACP’s founding. In his concluding words, “…I’ve noticed that when I talk about personal responsibility in the African American community, that gets highlighted…But then the whole other half of the speech, where I talked about government’s responsibility ... that somehow doesn’t make news.” After all, in a country like the US where people lose their trust on their Prez in just a year’s time, it is perhaps safer to speak prepared speeches. Better safe than suffer, isn’t it Prez?
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-



Outlook Magazine money editor quits
Don't trust the Indian Media!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

An open letter to RATAN TATA - "IIPM-News"

Dear Ratan Tata,

This humble hack dares to be presumptuous enough to write with trepidation and a certain gumption that would hardly ruffle the feathers of a mighty and towering giant of an entrepreneur whose companies have been on a quest of global conquest in the last few years; albeit without the marauding violence and contempt displayed by the rampaging armies of George Bush Jr. I marvel at the vision, stamina, will power, fortitude, leadership skills and chutzpah you must have to manage a group with about 80 companies. I was an even more ardent admirer of your predecessor the late J.R.D. Tata.

Like all hacks, I was going through a bunch of newspapers the other morning when I stumbled upon this headline: “Tata Seeks Special Funds in Banks.” Like most hacks, I was curious; wondering if the mighty Ratan Tata now wants to buy up a bank or two after gobbling up Corus, Jaguar and Land Rover. After reading the story, I must admit I was puzzled; you may say even baffled and bamboozled. The question kept ringing in my humble head: the mighty Ratan Tata, the great global entrepreneur, the saviour of India Inc. and India, now going to the government with a hat in hand?

It seems you have found some time from your maddeningly busy schedule to write a letter to the humble Dr. Manmohan Singh. He must have felt elated because he was dejected when Barack Obama didn’t call him. In the letter, you have taken up the responsibility of saving the brightest jewels of India Inc. from distress and even disaster. In keeping with the Tata tradition of corporate ethics and social responsibility that was so exemplified by J.R.D. Tata, your mission is selfless and charitable. You want ‘select’ Indian banks to create a special contingency fund for ‘credit-worthy’ Indian companies. And what would that fund do? It would rescue allegedly top performing and leading ‘credit-worthy’ companies from despair, if the dollar and euro loans they have taken are recalled or have to be repaid in a hurry. That is because the global financial meltdown might compel many foreign banks and institutions desperate for liquidity to refuse to extend or roll over the loans after December 31, 2008, when they close their books of accounts. Visionary leader that you are, you have chosen to be pre-emptive and pro-active in saving the honour, the very izzat of ‘credit-worthy’ Indian companies and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs that are not considered ‘credit-worthy’ by you have no izzat anyway.


I don’t know if this humble missive will reach 10, Janpath or if Sonia Madam will even read it. But I hereby nominate you for the next Bharat Ratna for your pioneering efforts to save corporate India. Your efforts are so refreshingly different from the controversial actions of Vijay Mallya and Naresh Goyal, who have acquired a nasty habit of going hat in hand to the government. After announcing global conquests a la Vasco da Gama through Kingfisher and Jet, the duo have now hunkered down and want a series of bail outs from both the government and the consumer. (As a frequent flyer, you might have heard of how consumers are bailing out Mallya and Goyal by paying through their noses for air tickets). You are also so refreshingly different from the likes of Rahul Bajaj who claims to bat for India Inc. by allegedly asking for more protection from foreign competition.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
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IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
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The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs

Thursday, January 22, 2009

IS GREEN THE WAY TO GO?

When the oil shock first reverberated across the globe in the 1970s, the Detroit duo refused to change, in the fond hope that green will be the colour of envy for rival Japanese auto majors. But today, when Toyota and Honda lovingly brandish their nimbler, fuel-efficient machines at the American consumers, it’s GM and Ford that are not just going green with envy but are literally gasping for survival! To avoid falling into a similar trap, the impulse of going ‘green’ is running faster than blood in India Inc.’s veins. From IT giants to luxurious hotel chains, from automobiles to mutual funds, corporate India is moving fanatically ahead with green initiatives. But will the gamble eventually pay off? Deepak R. Patra digs in...

Gambling may be almost an indecent (well, we said almost, didn’t we!) word in civil society but the green gamble is one that companies globally and in India are almost being coerced into. Cautiously watching and gauging their every activity are not just environmentalists and governments, but also a fast-growing breed of aware consumers who are ostensibly choosing the natural colour over their made-up counterparts. But hey, do consumers, really care as much? Go talk to modern consumers; they are sensitive, they understand responsibility toward environment, are concerned about climate change and want to help protect the earth from effects of global warming. Indeed, a 2007 global McKinsey survey of 7,751 people in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States suggested that 87% of consumers surveyed worry about the environmental and social impact of the products they buy. Encouraging news for India Inc.! But, at the time of actual buying, there appears a mismatch between words and actions. As per the 4Ps B&M and ICMR survey conducted across five big Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore (see pages 70), merely 32% of consumers surveyed had actually bought/or were willing to buy only those products that are marketed as ‘green products’. Even the aforementioned McKinsey survey concluded that no more than 33% of the consumers in their survey were ready to buy green products or have already done so. And possibly then also, they may only be buying organic foods (for personal health) or energy-efficient lighting (of course, that helps them reduce their electricity bill!).

However, more than a few contrarian instances prevail. The green gamble has already paid GE’s Jeff Immelt more than billions of dollars in revenues from his Ecomagination initiative; WalMart’s 2008 report on consumer behaviour reported a 66% increase since last year in consumers’ decisions to purchase five key eco-friendly products viz. CFL bulbs, organic milk and baby food, extended-life paper products, et al. Clearly for WalMart’s 200 million consumers, environment reigns high even in their shopping baskets.

With global success stories like these to swear by, almost every marketer in India is wondering whether the green gamble will pay off this side of the Indus! And instead of losing sleep over the question, they are following the age old way – that of testing the market by soft-launching green products and services and letting consumers be judge and jury. Leading the pack without hesitation are the IT behemoths, who know that they can’t forever avoid the growing breed of environmentalists who swear by the sword to oppose them for anything that hurts the environment. If HCL Infosystems, the lone Indian-origin hardware company, introduced a complete lineup of eco-efficient consumer and business notebooks, compliant with the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive last year, global giant Dell plans to produce (and also market in India) laptops and desktops that will use 25% less energy by 2010. Many IT majors have even begun designing their products in consideration of its environmental impact at each stage of the product’s life cycle. While the first steps have only just been taken in India, globally technology giants have been benefitting from their green initiatives for some time now. Apple, in fact, has discovered that going green literally translates into alternative revenue streams. Apple recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste in 2006, equivalent to 9.55% of all Apple products sold seven years earlier. Watchers at Apple expect these revenues to reach 20% in 2008.

Even Big Blue is keenly acquiring green hues, and is not restricting itself to merely eco-efficient notebooks. Under ‘Project Big Green’, IBM is selling green solutions to those corporate data centres where energy constraints and costs are limiting their ability to grow. The promise is that these solutions will help each data centre to cut their energy costs by half (a typical 25,000 square foot data centre spends $2.6 million in power annually). In India, the Big Blue (or should we say green!) has already executed data centre projects exceeding 2.5 lakh square feet for over 55 clients. Neeraj Sharma, Director, Infrastructure services, IBM (India) told 4Ps B&M, “Monetarily speaking, IBM saw strong signings performance of its Green Data Center services offerings that were announced in the second quarter of 2008. Nearly $220 million in new business have been signed in the 2nd quarter of 2008.”
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs

Monday, January 19, 2009

On a note of faith - "The Sunday Indian Magazine Story"

“Not every heart is capable of finding the secret of God’s love. There are not pearls in every sea; there is not gold in every mine.”

The above couplet is said to have been a favourite of theThe renowned 12th century Sufi saint Baba Farid, the patron saint of Faridkot, the town now believed to be the home of Ajmal Amir Kasab, one of the terrorists who stormed Mumbai and was captured by the Indian police. As neighbours refuse to acknowledge him, and scores of bereaved families look to the government for justice, why not look for peace, and meaning in our lives, through the time-tested healing powers of Sufi music…

When Sufi artists sing, their art is a passionate offering to God, and with them, the listeners too rise above their troubles and their hearts begin to resonate with the music, healing in prayer and music… “Sufism is about faith in life… it’s about compassion, living in the moment, accepting life the way it comes. It heals because it has the power to take one into a trance, and closer to the higher self. That is why when listening to soulful rendition of Sufi poetry, without even realising people start crying. It is in Sufi poetry that one translates pain also very lovingly, for it is about loving God as one’s beloved, and loving one's beloved is loving life...” says Sufi singer, Rekha Bhardwaj.

Aiming to take the heart away from all else and turn it solely towards God, the Sufi musicians have often battled the school of thought that pronounces all music as haram (forbidden). Says Sufi singer Zila Khan, “The extremists might have distorted Sufism and said that it ought to be haraam because one gets too immersed in it and may forget to pray to God… that it’s an addiction, it could take you away from reality and your responsibilities. Anything that makes you forget God is banned and is wrong, so do it in moderation, then nothing is wrong. I look at everything with logic, even praying to the almighty 24x7 is forbidden in the Quran, so even music must be done taking care of our other responsibilities as humans.” “Sufism is beautiful, innocent and pure,” says Zila, and it is of little wonder that it has travelled through so many countries and its teachings have influenced people through the centuries. Even non-religious folk have felt the effect of Sufi music, as unknown to them, it has reached out to them, in concerts where Sufi poetry meets western rock/pop music (Remember Junoon crooning away Sayonee, or Baba Bulle Shah’s words echoing on the airwaves as Rabbi Shergill’s voice swept us away to another plane), or when Bollywood took a break from the usual latka-jhatka songs, and served us the soulful voice of Kailash Kher. AR Rehman has often brought in Sufi hues to his harmonies, and this technique is yet to fail him. Every time Pakistani Sufi artists have crossed the borders to bring to the Indian audiences magical evenings of music, we have all thronged to welcome them.

There are many ties between the two bickering brothers, India and Pakistan. One of them is Sufism. But while terrorists exploit the gullible state of affairs, it is for us to hold on to what is true and beautiful and to remember that at the end of it all, all that matters is for us to be true to the God within and without…


“Sufism is beautiful, innocent and pure,” says Zila, and it is of little wonder that it has travelled through so many countries and its teachings have influenced people through the centuries. Even non-religious folk have felt the effect of Sufi music, as unknown to them, it has reached out to them, in concerts where Sufi poetry meets western rock/pop music (Remember Junoon crooning away Sayonee, or Baba Bulle Shah’s words echoing on the airwaves as Rabbi Shergill’s voice swept us away to another plane), or when Bollywood took a break from the usual latka-jhatka songs, and served us the soulful voice of Kailash Kher. AR Rehman has often brought in Sufi hues to his harmonies, and this technique is yet to fail him. Every time Pakistani Sufi artists have crossed the borders to bring to the Indian audiences magical evenings of music, we have all thronged to welcome them.

There are many ties between the two bickering brothers, India and Pakistan. One of them is Sufism. But while terrorists exploit the gullible state of affairs, it is for us to hold on to what is true and beautiful and to remember that at the end of it all, all that matters is for us to be true to the God within and without…
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Most deadly Japanese warriors

The Accord has taken over the market, and is the number one seller with sales touching the 1,900 unit mark (A5 segment size: 3200 units). “With a market share of 24%, Honda has been at the top of the premium segment. We will continue to provide the latest technology to the customer on a regular basis,” says an optimistic Masahiro Takedagawa, President, Honda Siel. Even Gaur adds, “Honda is an established brand in India and enjoys a brand equity few can match. The company caters well to the customer with the best of products.”

In the mainstay A3 segment, Honda has however lost its sheen after the advent of the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and the Swift Dzire. The company’s City has been subjugated to the number four spot and apparently a newer version is on the cards. India by far is a very important market for Honda outside the developed world but now the company is no longer in an ‘You can’t touch me! Ha! Ha!’ position. The competition is firing all cylinders and the ASIMO robot may not really be the mean-bad guy, but Honda urgently needs to re-direct all its resources from the robo-labs to the car-labs... Or else, only the mean guys (ASIMOS?!!!) would need the Honda!

Shinji aoyama, president, hmsi

B&E: On HMSI’s future plans.

SA: Our production is about 1.2 million. Now we will take a few years to expand our production to 3 million units. Currently we sell about 80,000 units every month; we would like to increase this figure considerably. But we have no plans for a new plant.

B&E: On HMSI’s consumer base.
SA: Our customers are young and those who want style from the product.

B&E: Will HMSI be affected by the current market downturn?
SA: I think the overall industry has been affected by the slow down. However, HMSI will not be affected by this situation in a major way.

B&E: On HMSI’s hybrid plans.
SA: No hybrid plans for now. However we are looking at the 800cc + segment where we intend to launch products. These will be CBUs therefore expect a price range of above Rs.10 lacs.

B&E: On the new CBF 125.
SA: The new bike will target style conscious young customers and there will be a lot of demand from there. We expect to sell 80,000 units of the bike in this financial year alone.

B&E: On the scooter segment.
SA: We can expand in the scooter segment. If we offer more efficient products and offer more value, the scooter promises great growth for us...

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Is there a war on in Georgia?!!?

Georgia has been used by Russia as a platform to send the West and its allies a warning signal; a clear one
Georgia lost an imprudent stake in thumbing its nose at her authoritative neighbour, Russia, which bombed the Georgian cities and snatched control of her seceded province of South Ossetia. While Russia stopped its assault after a week of adventure, it did not do so before stretching her attacks on ‘mainland’ Georgia. Tanks, heavy artillery and infantry were already on the outskirts of the Gori in central Georgia when ceasefire orders were finally read out. This was the first ever attack on a Georgian city in ‘Georgia Proper’. The attack is said to have intensified after Georgia announced a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from South Ossetia, which many believe were actually chased out by the Russian forces.

The present military manoeuvre – which includes aerial bombing of capital Tbilisi – indicates that Russia’s plan in the clash had gone beyond securing South Ossetia and Abkhazia that are supposed to be pro-Russian, to delivering the death blow to the Georgian military apparatus. Georgia, part of former USSR is a vocal ally of the West – a fact that has not gone down too well with the Kremlin. Western diplomats are worried that Russia has used relatively low-level conflict in the Caucasus region to expand its sphere of influence and to send a warning signal to the West at the same time. It has also opened second front at Abkhazia—another breakaway province of Georgia. While the US has criticised what she calls Russia’s “Disproportionate Response”, Russia has asked the US to mind her business. Talking to B&E, noted Russian military expert Yitzhak Brudny said,“Russia could not have possibly let go of this golden opportunity to teach Georgia and its neighbours a lesson. The message is clear, ‘Behave properly or perish’.”


The West too has to share the blame. They never tried enough to make President Mikheil Saakashvili see reason. Saakashvili on his part completely misjudged the situation. President Bush on his part has declared Georgia as a citadel of democracy in otherwise jittery Caucuses, all the while ignoring its crackdown on protestors following a keenly fight election. The US went on to help reinforce its armed forces and urged NATO to take Georgia in its fold. A headstrong that Saakashvili is, his adventurism was fuelled by all the pep talk by the US and NATO. So, he concluded that he could incite Russia with impunity. The Russians concluded that it was time to teach him a lesson. Andrew Wilson, a celebrated Caucuses expert at European Council on Foreign Relations told B&E, “Saakashvili may have thought the Olympics would give him cover. But this only made him look duplicitous. The Georgian may therefore already be losing the all-important propaganda war.” With Georgia, Moscow has sent a clear warning to the expanding West: Thus far, and no farther. West has few options but to succumb.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs

Monday, October 20, 2008

On second thought...

With rising disposable incomes & soaring aspirations, the second hand car market is on a roll

spirations have led man to the moon! The quest of being the best among peers is what spears a man ahead of the race. But all these desires come with lots of constraints – lack of finances being one of them. One such aspiration that has remained long unfulfilled for many Indians is the desire to own a family car. But no more! The second hand car market has made all those dreams of driving an opulent vehicle come true. The growing used car market across the country in the form of both organised and unorganised players is a testimony to the vast potential of this segment.

According to the Society of Automobile Manufacturers in India, the used car market currently in India stands at over one million units, almost as big as the new-car market (1.3 million units). But the used car market in India is highly unorganised, with the organised players accounting for just 20-25%. The main organised players are Maruti (True Value), Hyundai (Advantage), Ford (Assured), Mahindra (Automart India) & Honda (Auto Terrace). The situation is however, completely different in developed markets like the US and Europe, where organised players have grabbed nearly 90% of the used-car market pie. “Consumers’ decisions are fast getting influenced by the quality of after sales service and the value addition. An organised channel definitely adds to the value proposition with quality assurance through warranty,” assures Nikhil Kumar, General Manager Marketing, First Choice, M&M. Buying decision of a consumer really begins with scouring the used-car market for the best bargains. And it’s a known fact that very few Indian buyers pay an expert to evaluate the vehicle and mostly rely on personal mechanics and friends. Thus, a decision of going to an unorganised player might result in a redundant purchase.

One thing that surely brings both the organised and unorganised players onto a common platform are the kind of bottlenecks and hurdles that the Indian used car industry is facing. Soaring oil prices, hardening interest rates, imminent entry of Nano et al, are making the ride bumpy and uncomfortable. Discounting the competition on this front, Ravi Bhatia, Chief GM, Sales & Support, Maruti Suzuki True Value asserts, “Nano will only make the market more lucrative. Also, the price of it is yet to be finalised, so the end picture can be totally different.” What’s more? The consumers in this segment have smartly shifted to CNG vehicles to balance the oil price rise crisis. “The recent hike in CRR by 25bp and Repo Rates by 50bp is expected to push the interest rates higher might impact demand of this auto segment,” explains Vaishali Jajoo, Automobile and Transportation Analyst, Angel Broking. However, on the flip side, since the second hand car has a higher interest rate than a first hand car, this might deter consumers.

Nonetheless, the industry is eying an unprecedented growth to support the shift from two-wheelers to four-wheelers or to a higher model. “Second hand car market is growing at 19% and the new car market is growing at 12%. With this outlook, used car market would overtake the new car market by 2012,” explains Bhatia of Maruti True Value. Be that as it may, the fast growing used car market has grabbed the eyeballs of at least three global players who are planning to park their moolah and set shop here. Japan’s Gulliver International, Britain-based Manheim & a Dubai-based operator are expected to set up local operations on the Indian shores. Rising interest rate and oil prices, notwithstanding, increasing income levels & soaring aspirations is sure to fuel the used car market to hitherto never before seen heights.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Saturday, October 18, 2008

‘future’

SAAB AERO X

This Ethanol driven 400 bhp monster is SAAB’s answer to the environmentally concerned speed junkies. The cutting edge design features a canopy style door opening and all wheel drive system.


KIA SIDEWINDER
The Sidewinder is a specialised car designed for drift racing. Central to the design is a high performance gas turbine powering each wheel independently.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
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The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
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Friday, October 17, 2008

“This is the right time to invest”

High inflation is a temporary phenomenon. There can’t be zero inflation & 8-9% growth, says A. P. Kurian
While markets are going down, inflation continues to hit the Businessroof. And under such circumstances, one of the most affected is the Indian mutual fund industry. In fact, its miserable run over the last couple of months have left investors really disillusioned. Following the AMFI data, the joint average AUM of the 34 fund houses in the country plunged to Rs.5,296.29 billion in July, compared to Rs.5,647.52 billion in June. This 6% drop in AUMs marked the second successive month of losses. However, in the meanwhile, A. P. Kurian, Chairman, Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) shares with B&E’s Sunanda Roy, the initiatives taken by them & concerns that need to be addressed.

B&E: What are the industry’s biggest concerns/challenges at present? How do you plan to deal with them?
Kurian: The mutual fund (MF) is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Indian economy. It is poised to grow at a very robust rate. There are several estimates available. I think, the McKinsey report says 30-35%, there are other reports also. We would surely follow a robust growth rate for several years now. This is because currently the households that invest in Indian MFs are very low. Unfortunately there are more unique numbers but we know that the folio numbers are about 40-45 million. So if you take an indication as to how many folios does one individual holds, say two folios! Then roughly about 20-25 million people only have invested. That shows the large potential that is still available both in terms of increasing the proportion of savings invested in the MF market and the number of households that are there in the whole country. Even among households, from various instruments, the proportion of savings that is in Indian MF is comparatively less! Regulatory framework that has evolved in terms of standard and coverage is world-class. Further improvements can surely be done. Coming down to our own standard and practices, they are also reaching the world class level. In the service area, we are almost on the top of the list in terms of giving your account statement, redemptions credited to your account, buying and selling through Internet et al.

Let’s come to the product. We have the traditional ones, we have the sophisticated ones like the Quant funds which are managed through a mathematical model and implemented through a computer system. Though they are very small in numbers! We have ETFs, Gold ETFs, FMPs, Sector specific funds, SIPs (which are growing at a very high rate). So, there is product innovation always and differentiation. It is a happening industry day in and day out. This is inspite of the constraints or strict conditions in which we are functioning.

B&E: So, what constraints are you pointing at?
Kurian: One of the strict conditions is that you can’t invest in MFs without a permanent account number (PAN). Even if we accept only through bank, still we are ought to follow the know your customer (KYC) norm.

B&E: Are these constraints set to remain for a long time?
Kurian: Yes! It is set to remain. We tried our best to explain to the authorities that we should be spared of this because we are going through a bank and let the bank do all the formalities. But nothing happened! To relieve the investor from the burden of doing this again and again while investing in different funds, AMFI came into the picture. We catalysed a common platform and you have to do it only once and then you can invest in all the funds. Particularly these are not applicable to some of our competing products. You go to open a bank account; I don’t know whether a PAN is required. You just have to give the address proof and identity proof. In case of ULIP also, PAN is not required. We have to compete with the traditional products like bank deposits RBI bonds and now with ULIPs which are getting positioned as an investment product. All these are areas of concern to us. We need to have a dialogue on that; we need to get it sorted out. That’s what we are pursuing now.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Power waltz with the dragon

The JV makes sense, but it will increase ADAG’s debt significantly

Beware! The beasts are on a prowl – the Ghost and the Darkness have hit the Indian terrain! The epitome of strategic alliance of the two lions from the Hollywood blockbuster can be well compared to the business alliance between Anil Ambani promoted Reliance Infrastructure Limited (R-Infra) & Chinese power equipment maker Shanghai Electric Corporation. No doubt, with this unprecedented deal (Indian domestic power utility player tying up with a power equipment-manufacturer), Ambani is looking at a larger picture. The Chinese component of that picture is expected to increase in the coming time in view of the ongoing Indo-China business treaty. Even if its with or without the Chinese partners, to say the least! But then, will the alliance really support Ambani junior in getting his desired chunk of the power and energy market flesh?

“We are committed toward playing a major role in the energy sector. We will continuously seek opportunities and undertake projects to maintain our position as the largest private player in the sector,” declared Anil Ambani, Group Chairman, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) on one such imperative business covenant. This $3 billion deal (apart from four other JVs with a committed investment of $400-600 million) between the two majors will give a much needed push to the power and energy initiatives of ADAG. “Ambani surely seems to be betting big with the project and wants to become the biggest player in the infrastructure and energy sector eyeing the huge opportunities that are up for grabs”, agrees Shailesh Kanani, Infrastructure & Real Estate Analyst, Angel Broking. Taking this into consideration, they already seems to be working on that line, where the Reliance Power and EPC orders have been given to R-Infra for optimum utilisation. The 4000 MW Sasan ultra mega project under R-Power is boosted through Rs.128 billion construction support by R-Infra. Moreover, it’s an open secret that the Chinese are known for their cost effectiveness. So, with ADAG’s domestic expertise in terms of customer outreach and human resource support and Shanghai Electric technical know-how and cost effectiveness, Ambani is looking to augment his dominance on energy & power supply domain.

Moreover, this venture will result in Ambani’s power ambition taking a head on with competitors like BHEL and L&T. However, Kanani discounts the competitions when he clarifies, “Well, with the kind expansion & infrastructural growth that India is eyeing, the pie is way too big to accommodate each of these players.” Nevertheless with the country still needing an additional 100,000 MW of power and energy to meet the growing demands for electricity over the next 8-10 years there is plenty for Anil to exploit. So its a great strategy to get into opportunistic win-win collaborations. But the downside to the move is that the initiative would also result in aggravating the concerns related to the quality and after-sales supported by Chinese manufacturers known for supplying comparatively cheaper equipments. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is already on the move with a watch dog eye by setting up a technical committee to test and verify the quality and suitability of the equipments supplied by the Chinese counterparts. Another chink in the armour is that with increasing economy turmoil backed by market volatility, increasing input cost with rising inflation et al, the aim of raising around Rs.95 billion as debt for the proposed plant and that too, when a major chunk is expected to be sourced from foreign banks is a little too much of a financial dependence, which ADAG should be wary of.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Read these article :-
ZEE BUSINESS BEST B SCHOOL SURVEY
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)
IIPM makes business education truly global (Print Version)
The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM)
IIPM Campus

Top Articles on IIPM:-
'This is one of Big B's best performances'
IIPM to come up at Rajarhat
IIPM awards four Bengali novelists
IIPM makes business education truly global-Education-The Times of ...
The Hindu : Education Plus : Honour for IIPM
IIPM ranked No.1 B-School in India, Management News - By ...
IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
Moneycontrol >> News >> Press- News >> IIPM ranked No1 B-School in ...
IIPM ranked No. 1 B-school in India- Zee Business Survey ...
IIPM ranked No1 B-School in India :: Education, Careers ...
The Hindu Business Line : IIPM placements hit a high of over 2000 jobs
Deccan Herald - IIPM ranked as top B-School in India
India eNews - IIPM Ranked No1 B-School in India
IIPM Delhi - Indian Institute of Planning and Management New Delhi ...
domain-b.com : IIPM ranked ahead of IIMs