INDO-AFGHAN TIES

Karzai is so eager to invite Indian businessmen that during his recent Delhi visit on November 17, he announced visa on arrival for them and hoped the Indian government will reciprocate the gesture. The Indian Government however, is yet to respond to the proposal. Karzai has visited India five times in as many years, only to invite investment. He recently constituted a semi-autonomous organisation – AISA, for the purpose. Seeking to allay apprehensions on the security situation in Afghanistan, Karzai said that his country was “picking up”. “My government has not done enough to portray a new Afghanistan.

We will have to find a way to do it,” he pointed out. Karzai also promised to cut red tape, “I am trying to have single-window clearance for investors”. He was quick to add that Tata Motors had principally agreed to enter the Afghan market; presently dominated by Toyota. Also, India’s Punjab National Bank has already started its operations in Afghanistan. And what could a better place for investment opportunities than a country that’s trying to rebuild itself? It’s a country with abundance of raw material but hardly any finished products to woo potential investors. Of course, recent events in Afghanistan clearly indicate that quelling violence and making the nation safe and stable for foreign investors is going to be a big challenge for Karzai and his team. Indian investors will be watching him carefully

TIME TO DIG UP FURTHER....
Indian children have grown up to the sound of Kabuliwalahs, selling dry fruits and woollens. Kabuliwalah used to be vendors from Afghan capital Kabul and were known to love children and lend money to the needy. Afghanistan produces one of the best watermelons, peaches, grapes, almonds, pistachios and pomegrenates. Indian businessmen trading in Afghan dry fruits have to transport their goods through UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran or Turkmenistan. This hikes their prices and they can’t compete with the dry fruits produced indigenously in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. With Indo-Afghan trade on the upswing, hopes of getting cheaper Afghan dry fruits have been revived. Besides, Indians can put up food processing plants and cold storages to preserve juicy fruits in Afghanistan. They can also install power plants, leather processing units and woollen garment factories. Kabul will then, be not very far from Delhi!

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Also Read:-

http://pankajsir.42tales.com/

Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following links:-

• Hindustan Times Article - Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal (Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal(Publisher of JAMMAG)

...IN FLESH AND BLOOD. THE GOD AND THE GODDESS, HERE...

SUPERLATIVES...

It starts with the eyes. Eyes that hold a soul unto themselves… ones marked with a depth that seems to reach all the way to the apogee of the ambit of emotions. Then, there’s the voice. The kinds that shake the cliché of ‘melt-your-knees’ back to its feet. And then there’s everything else that sets apart the legends from the legions; so much apart from the rest that their own paths inevitably had to cross. Coursing pretty ‘dangerously close’ to each other in portions, the paths of Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha were, however, such that only the one looking over their shoulders – the incorrigible Fate – could’ve known that they weren’t destined to meet. Turning 65 this October 11, Amitabh Bachchan was born to noted Hindi litterateur Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his second wife Teji in Allahabad. Ungainly height, spindly legs... Amitabh was simply not the ‘hero-types’ in the industry when the pink-lipped-chocolate- dipped heroes reigned.

Though Saat Hindustani marked his official debut in 1969, it was the zeitgeistic Zanjeer of ’73 that launched the ‘angry young man’ whose tacit tempestuousness revolutionized the concept of the hero in Indian films for ever. And then followed Deewar, Trishul, Sholay, Shakti… everything he touched turned to gold, including Rekha. For the gauche and gaudily-attired 13- year old debutant of Sawan Bhadon (1970), the make-over was nothing short of an alchemical wonder. Born on October 10, 1954, the younger days of the daughter of Tamil cinema’s stalwart Gemini Ganesan and one of his many wives, Pushpavalli, were a blur before she surfaced in Mumbai, her childhood fast forwarded .

Lots of forgettable movies later, her association with Amitabh as lead co-star led to the rise of the revelation called Rekha, rumoured to have been chaperoned by the Big B himself. In the process were produced some supersuccessful films that set the screen afire with more than just their sizzling chemistry – oft en grist for the media mills. From the days of her poor Hindi to ones when she even dubbed her voice for other actresses, Rekha’s flawless inflection was just another case in point to her transformation. Her rendition of ‘Qaida todke…’ in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Khoobsurat’ was just as consummate as any of Amitabh’s popular songs in Mr. Natwarlal, Sharaabi or Silsila.

With a voice that nearly every mimicry artist begins his show with, his baritone was, ironically, rejected at an All India Radio audition! Dejections, though, weren’t things that went away with their initial days of struggle. As age began to show, the press was quick to write off Amitabh with his films flopping one after the other in the early 90s. To add to Bachchan’s bag of woes, his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) ran into huge debts following their efforts of hosting the Miss World Pageant in Bangalore in 1996. Rekha, however, was more hit on the personal front as two of her marriages met fatal failure, with the death of her husbands – actor Vinod Mehra and businessman Mukesh Aggarwal – each time. But then almost in evidence of their deified dimensions, they rose to subsume success and sanity once again.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

More IIPM-News:-

IIPM News

Dialectical dilemma for Communists

IIPM : WHAT’S SECURITISATION?

Fair game?

It’sa far better ‘car’ drive together

If only muttering Vande Mataram could reduce poverty

Ms. ‘Write’ Woman

Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following
links:-

• Hindustan Times Article -Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal (Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal (Publisher of JAMMAG)

CROC CALLIGRAPHY!

Is it still a figment of your imagination? Now no more... Cartier is out with a downright ferocious pen this time. This pen is wild and whacky and equally precious too! Inspired by a live crocodile of Maria Felix, the Mexican actress, this fountain pen sports a pattern of two crocodiles coiled all around it. This pen with a gold-plated nib is priced at Rs.1,65,000 and is sure to bring out the crocodile hunter within you!

For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Read More IIPM-Blogs:-
http://20six.co.uk/pankaj007/

http://pankajdon.pimp-my-blog.net/

http://www.toadfire.com/blog_main.jsp?user=pankajdost

http://www.mybloghome.com/userviewblog.php?viewcat_blog_id=119&blguid=365

Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following links:-

• Hindustan Times Article - Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal(Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal (Publisher of JAMMAG)

Premium Segment of Indian Bikes

The past few months have seen exhilarating competition in the premium segment with the launch of the Apache 150 in May 2006. The bike has received rave reviews, as the market share of TVS has increased to around 12% in the period from April-July 2006. Already, the Apache is the number 2 brand in the premium segment, beating Honda Motorcycles, though still far behind Bajaj Pulsar. Says K. N. Radhakrishnan, President, TVS Motor Company, “Riding high on the style and design quotient, TVS Apache has met with wide acceptance amongst youth and upwardly mobile professionals.” The premium segment saw sales figures of 384,409 units in the period from April-July 2006, a growth of 42.07% over last year. In the same period, the executive segment recorded sales of 1,668,558 units, growing by 16.66%. Quite a few new launches in the premium segment like Hero Honda Karizma 250 Fi, Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTFi and Yamaha Gladiator 250 are on the anvil.

The premium segment focuses more on technology and flamboyance. According to Shahwar Hussain of The Auto Magazine, “The 100- 125cc segment is huge, contributing to nearly 90% of the market, but the premium segment will soon overtake it as more people will now buy premium segment products.” Meanwhile, there are enough proponents of the executive segment, with the high selling Hero Honda Splendour, Bajaj Platina and TVS Victor. Manufacturers maintain 70-80% of total production capacity for this segment. Radhakrishnan puts it thus, “The launch of value-added bikes in the entry level economy segment has brought a fresh lease of life to the 100cc category.” As the segment attracts middle income groups, product range is oft en extremely diverse and allows buyers to have bikes custom made. Hero Honda,with sales of 982,000 units for the period from April-July 2006, is the market leader followed by Bajaj with sales of 394,000 units in the same period.

For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following links:-

• Hindustan Times Article - Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal(Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal(Publisher of JAMMAG)

BUOY YOUR ANCHOR, IT’S ROUGH WATERS

THE MOVE TO CHECK FDI FOR SECURITY THREAT HAS STALLED PORT INVESTMENTS; PRAY LET IT NOT STOP EVERYTHING
“No nation was ever ruined by trade,” is what Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of United States of America, oft en liked to say. It’s pretty much the same today. A country’s economic strength is increasingly being measured in terms of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) it can attract. Several countries, including India, are gradually relaxing norms to encourage foreign companies to set bases on their soil. However, there’s a gnawing worry: Are we endangering the nation in the process? Early last month, India’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat finalised the first draft of the National Security Exception Bill.

For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Read More Blogs:-

http://managementschool.blogmatrix.com/

http://pankajnegi.wordpress.com/

http://www.pankajworldofiipm.blog-city.com/

http://www.bloggator.com/blog/3182


Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following links:-

• Hindustan Times Article - Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal (Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal (Publisher of JAMMAG)

Bollywood Masala?

‘A GENERATION AWAKENS’, AN AUDIENCE IS BORN…
The scenes of songs in the rain where the heroine’s sari clings suggestively to her, and where she flutters her eyelashes and sighs helplessly waiting behind a tree for the hero to find her, are slowly fading away. Of course, like any versatile audience, we Indians enjoy popcorn movies. Sometimes we like unwinding without having to think for three straight hours like, recently, in Golmaal. We enjoy seeing our actors and actresses all dolled up, dancing and gyrating for our entertainment. But we also enjoy movies that massage our grey cells. Realising this, Bollywood is witnessing a spurt of ‘thinking’ movies – increasingly liberal, increasingly rebellious – in mainstream cinema. Take Mani Ratnam’s next project.

For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Rashmi Bansal Publisher Of JAMMAG Magazine Caught Red-Handed, for details click on the following links:-

• Hindustan Times Article - Publisher goes underground


• Rashmi Bansal (Editor of JAMMAG)


• Rashmi Bansal (Publisher of JAMMAG)

NOT THE TIME TO ROCK & ROLL YET...

WITH RISING INPUT COSTS, SMALL COMPANIES WILL HAVE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS
A whopping Rs.14.895 trillion is what India needs to pump in the infrastructure for the next five years, says CII in a recent report. The private sector, too, will have to contribute an enormous Rs.600 billion every year, further adds the report. According to RBI’s August bulletin, capital expenditure by the private sector has shown a remarkable growth in FY06, but is expected to increase at a decreasing rate in the current fiscal year, courtesy rising input cost. The aggregate capex of the services industry catapulted from a mere Rs.42 billion in 2004-05 to Rs.196.69 billion in 2005-06, taking the total capex to a record Rs.824.50 billion (an 8% increase over last year). Also, there has been a substantial increase in the project cost & average cost, which primarily hints at two things.

For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

DRESSED TEXTILES DELIGHT

AND SO THE TEMERITY OF TEXTILE IS ON TO CASH THE SIZZLING HOT MARKET
It’s festival time again and the bigwigs of the Indian textile industry are weaving up massive game plans to cash in on the sizzling hot opportunities. And why not? It’s that time of the year when people can be motivated through special offers to upgrade their wardrobes, which they are otherwise used to putting off till later. As per KSA Technopak’s ‘PAN India Survey’, the textile sector generates a whopping 60% of its annual sales in September & October alone. Notwithstanding the Rs.5 billion losses due to the recent floods in Surat which might have taken a bit of the sheen away from this sector, the apparel behemoths with latest global trends and smartest deals are ramping up their act to pamper the consumers. So, starting from textile titans to the new kids on the block and dashing designers – all are sprucing up their act to roll on this festival carnival.


For Complete IIPM – Editorial , Please Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-B&E , 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Another Blog By Me:-

IIPM Students Life > Campus Placement

IIPM-Press Release:- DANGEROUS OB ‘SEZ’SIONS PART II

IIPM-4Ps and B&E Editorials

Almost everyday, a Special Economic Zone comes up. Policy makers are evidently happy and are encouraging more such zones. However, the equally crucial infrastructural and administrative bottlenecks persist.

Consequently,there’s a touch of the obsessive about the SEZs. Touted as the magic potion, can they deliver? Will they overcome the pitfalls that kayoed earlier projects?


Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath must be a happy man. And why not! His hopes of attracting investments to the tune of $100 billion for the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) appear to be making that crucial move from dream to reality. The decision by the Ennore Port Ltd. (ELT), a public sector company, to jointly set up a huge 2,500-acre SEZ in northern Chennai, with Tidco and Sipcot, is a shot in the arm for Nath. It marks an important milestone for the United Progressive Alliance government which has made all efforts to obsessively pursue what the previous six-year-old government of the National Democratic Alliance began.

Yet, despite this sudden rush of real estate developers, who seem to be racing to grab every possible chunk of land to turn it into SEZs, we need to look closely at how much difference the SEZs will really make to the Indian economy, especially the export sector. And much because the current trend seems more like a bumper harvest for real estate developers and enterprises eyeing lucrative tax holidays, rather than a genuine matter of enthusiasm for exporters. The SEZ Act, 2005, was brought forward by the government to replicate the Chinese success story in India. But the Act, which was to boost investments, has many shortcomings in its current form. For example, the government has allowed just 3.9 square miles and 0.039 square miles for multi-product zones and IT, gems & biotechnology zones, respectively.

Contrast this with the findings of a Morgan Stanley report in June 2006, which states that the minimum size of a SEZ should be somewhat between 40-50 square miles. The difference becomes obvious when one compares these SEZs with Chinese counterparts like Hainan (which is as big as Kerala). “SEZs were set up in order to give facilities that were not there in the other parts of the country. But we have seen that exports are doing well even without SEZs. So, we need to have an open mind and it would be wrong to assume that SEZs are the only option to improve our exports,” says Anjan Roy, Economic Advisor, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Other than that, it is also difficult to understand the logic behind setting up numerous SEZs in the interiors of the country.

Unlike China, where SEZs were set up in late 1970s to attract investments,India went ahead with its SEZ policy to improve its exports and not to attract investors. But, considering that the level of infrastructure (especially road transport) is still pathetic in India, one wonders as to how any of the SEZs could be of real help. Further, with exports estimated to grow at a rate of 20% and more in the coming years, ports are under severe pressure. Currently, 12 major ports in the country handle 75% of the total trade traffic, while the remaining 25% is covered by more than 187 small and medium-sized ports.

While no major change in any of the technologies or the setup has been brought about, ports are getting overburdened, affecting their traffic flow. Something can be done, but with the prevalent attitude, lack of speed has become a concerning factor. Only recently, the National Maritime Development Programme stressed that in order to boost India’s port infrastructure, the country needs to invest a whopping Rs.607.50 billion in major ports over the next seven years. And without these investments, the Shipping Ministry’s desire to double the current cargo handling capacity of ports over the next five years will remain a dream. But the inefficiency of Indian ports is not the only concern for exporters. It is the lack of coherence in government policy regarding exports that seems to be keeping exporters from showing enthusiasm for SEZs.


For Complete IIPM-Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Link:-
http://pankajspider.joeuser.com/

IIPM-Publications:- SIDHU WILL SHOW VISA THE WAY

A jaunt on the road to success sure gets more convenient with a Visa Card or two in tow. That is why cricket’s ubiquitous celebrity – the baadshah of boisterous – Navjot Singh Sidhu has been caught clean by Visa International to spread the good word about the company’s sponsorship of the imminent ICC cricket tournament. And words are what Sidhu can rattle off at the drop of a hat; not just that, switch on any channel – sports or news – chances are that his rumbustious Sidhuisms are doing the rounds. His quotes and his penchant for witticism (bordering on the corny and the eccentric at times, but nonetheless hilarious!) exemplify his friendly and flamboyant nature. Which is probably why Visa ‘got him’.

The ‘Visa Clean Bol’ contest kick started from the first of August in order to promote holiday packages for the ICC Champions Trophy 2006. Winners who devise the best ‘Sidhuisms’ will get to be at the ICC. All you have to do is shop till you drop and foot the bill with your Visa card, and you’re entitled to take part in the contest. Visa is looking at leveraging Sidhu’s wackiness for added impetus – all this to draw in the crowds. The swashbuckling wordsmith is bound to shore up responses to the company’s initiatives, outdoing Visa’s earlier tie with Sachin. In the meantime, here’s a potential Sidhuism winner for the contest: “Fields and the competitive arena were never meant to be churches!” Howzzat! 4Ps

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

10 MOST POWERFUL ADS IN 2006!

6IF YOU CAN’T TAKE THE HINT, YOU’RE PROBABLY NOT IN THE LOOP, OR WORSE, EVEN DUMB...

FCB-Ulka is a master of the art of stumping viewers with its uniquely crafted commercials, and the Tata Indica V2 Xeta campaign proved to be yet another milestone for the advertising agency. “The Indica Xeta was planned by Tata Motors as a car that will take on the strong petrol offerings of Maruti (Alto) and Hyundai (Santro),” explains M. G. Parameswaran, FCB Ulka Executive Director and CEO, Mumbai, adding that the agency was briefed to work on a communication plan that launched the new brand with an impact. The brand name Xeta was derived from the engine of the car that provides extra efficiency torque advantage. Boasting a powerful fuel-efficient engine, ample space, great looks and an unbeatable price, the Xeta was truly a luring proposition targeted at the younger first-time car buyer, say the agency guys. And in sync with the attributes of the brand, the creative brief was evolved to say that a car buyer must have a hole in his head if he did not purchase, or at least consider the Xeta!

“From there was born the ad film, which said that not considering a Xeta is equivalent to saying no to four lovely women who are inviting you for a day out at the beach,” simplifies Parameswaran. “While we have used humour in the past, like the ‘Liar, Liar’ commercial last year, we have more often used a very rational selling message,” says Parameswaran, going on to mention that “for the Xeta we decided to use humour, a more emotional overtone to cloak a very rational offering.” The commercial begins with a group of four attractive girls driving their Indica Xeta on a sprightly number. They are hot, chirpy and going to have a good time. Midway, they spot a good-looking guy standing on the road and stop the car. As they sing to him: ‘We want a sizzling hottie, who would like to get naughty. Do you know any man, who’ll help us rub suntan?’ The ‘hottie’ thinks for a while and blankly points out, mumbling, “Maybe you should try the beach café.”

The disgusted girls leave the bloke behind, who’s quite foxed as they speed their vehicle away collectively exclaiming, “Dumb!” The voiceover in the next shot goes, “Fortunately, life gives you a second chance. So, here’s the new Indica Xeta...,” wittily concluding, “If you still miss it… you gotta be dumb!” The commercial carries a refreshing hue to it and was shot in Goa by the Director, Rajesh Saathi of Kerosene film, with the film scripted by Dharmesh Shah. Parameswaran grins, “I was told that the shooting was quite incidentfree, in spite of having some explosive- looking models.” He, however, reveals that the original model cast for the film backed out because he did not want to be labelled ‘dumb!”

But the bold statements in the ad, that too coming from a bunch of scantily clad, beautiful and liberated looking women, was found to be vulgur by many, which triggered the old debate about sex in advertising to start all over again. Nevertheless, Parameswaran is excited about the outcome of this commercial, beaming, “The film has won excellent reviews from ad experts; your magazine has featured it in its Top 10 rankings now for over three months. Another newspaper rated it as the ad of the week.” An ace attempt to create a new brand with a distinctive identity and a set of cool appealing to- the-youth values, the film has worked brilliantly, leaving thousands quite literally ‘dumb’ struck!

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

Mr. Head on Wheels

IIPM-Best MBA & BBA School

IIPM-4Ps Article

Here’s yet another red-blooded, driven entrepreneur, who has much more to his credit than just a legendary surname! A mechanical engineer from Pune University and Masters in manufacturing systems engineering from the University of Warwick in 1991, Rajeev Bajaj joined Bajaj Auto first as an officer on special duty and streamlined the manufacturing systems to improve the production quality and profitability. Since then, this bold Bajaj has concentrated on completely refurbishing the image of Bajaj Auto from old and ugly scooters to stylish and sleek two-wheelers! His role in this successful transition is applause-worthy, thanks to the manner in which he conceived and executed a realistic and result-oriented plan that focused on a few significant issues and delivered results! Rajeev is now steering Bajaj Auto towards the future with twin engine (petrol and LPG/CNG) two wheelers! That’s youth power for you!

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

YET ANOTHER FACE OFF

THE AMBANI BROTHERS CONTINUE TO TAKE THEIR RIVALRY TO NEW LOWS

There was indeed a lot of bad blood between the Ambani brothers post the split. Largely though, the two seemed to be charting their own destinies. In the more recent past, however, the two seem to be crossing each other’s paths more oft en, and this is creating further complications in their relationship (or what’s left of it anyways!). After relentless altercations on issues like SEZs, airport and many others, the duo are again caught in a mêlée. This time, the bone of contention is the Navratana gas sector. On July 26, 2006, the Petroleum Ministry put a red cross to the gas supply agreement between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Anil Ambani owned Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL). The Ministry rejected RIL’s proposal to supply gas to RNRL at $2.34 per mBTU (million British thermal unit), which is less than half the market price of $4.7 per mBTU.

So what does all this mean for RNRL? States Vijay Narayanan, Senior Research Analyst with Almondz Capital Markets, “If the current opinion is upheld, RNRL will have no option but to purchase gas at prices higher than the current.” He elaborates that even a one dollar rise in the price of gas will raise the price of electricity by around 30 paise per unit. This would, in turn, result in higher electricity generation costs. But this cannot be effectively passed on to consumers as electricity prices are regulated by law. These developments have put RNRL on the offensive, and it has accused RIL of manipulation. A spokesperson with RNRL states, “RIL is deliberately misleading the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas by withholding the full facts of the case. RIL’s attempt to mislead the Ministry is solely motivated by its selfish desire to secure a higher price for gas.”

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, 2006

An IIPM And Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Initiative

IIPM-Press:- DIDN’T WE DEFEAT TALIBAN?

TALIBAN MIND-SET UNDEFEATED..

The helplessness that marks the ‘eyes’ of the woman photographed twice in the span of 17 years by National Geographic remains the same even after the time lag. Aptly reflected in them is the unaltered position of women even in post-Taliban Afghanistan. They remain as humiliated as before, with their honour compromised and their socio-economic positioning fragmented. According to the UN and the Human Rights Watch, the attacks on girls’ schools have increased considerably post-Taliban, reducing the female student intake in secondary education to 5% in comparison to 20% of boys. The UN contends that about 300 schools educating girls were burned down post-Taliban. In another incident in May 2006, a female legislator, Malalai Joya, was attacked by her colleagues for ‘daring’ to participate in the male domain – Parliament! That Parliament, mind you, was formed after decimating Taliban!

The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission even contends that about 38% of women are wedded forcibly and about 50% are subjected to domestic violence leading to high number of suicides and self-immolation. Clearly, it is not the Taliban philosophy, but the culture of demeaning women that has to change. And for this, it is urgently required that women are integrated into all sections of governance in Afghanistan, as well as being provided social development.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Editor:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

SIN’EDIN ZIDANE! THE TRAGEDY OF SENSIBILITIES...

IIPM-Management School

IIPM-4Ps Editorials

TO ZIDANE IS DEDICATED THIS WEEK’S CASSANDRA; AND TO WHATEVER HE STOOD FOR IN HIS LIFE

Those who the gods may destroy, they grant their wishes. Zinedine Zidane may be pondering that bit of ancient Greek wisdom today. Having announced that he would end his professional career with the World Cup, Zidane had his wish fulfilled. After France barely survived the tournament’s first round, Zidane performed at the top of his game and led the team to the brink of a second World Cup championship. But instead of finishing his career in triumph, or at least with an ovation, he was ejected from the final for head-butting an Italian player. There have been few such tragic moments in football history. Whatever the provocation that led to Zidane’s behaviour (probably a racial comment), his violent act seen around the world has tarnished his image.


The sad paradox is that while the world had been learning of and celebrating his legendary kindness as a person, he will now be distinguished for all time by an act of aggression. Indeed, Zidane’s status as an emblematic champion of the world’s most universal and popular sport does not fully explain why people have been so obsessed with him. His human qualities, as much as his amazing talent and technical feats on the field, counted equally in establishing his popular acclaim. Football has always been this way. For example, for the Argentineans, the diminutive Diego Maradona represented the revenge of the weak and the deprived. As a result, his countrymen excused his frequent bad behaviour time and again. Similarly, Pelé became the symbol of a harmonious, inter-racial Brazil.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Editor:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY…

IIPM-Best Business School

IIPM-Business And Economy

...could end up withnothing for anybodyif a fi scal crisisderails growth

Money may not be able to buy love. But the UPA government appears convinced that it can buy enough votes to propel the precariously perched present regime into a second term at the Centre. A few days after the bomb blasts in Mumbai shook the nation, the Union Cabinet announced the formation of a Sixth Pay Commission for central government employees. This will inevitably lead to a hike in salaries; and analysts estimate that the wage bill of the government could go up by as much as Rs.200 billion every year. But of course, this is one rare decision of the government that the omnipresent Left has welcomed with open arms. Says Atul Kumar Anjan, Politburo member of CPI, “We welcome the 6th Pay Commission report. It is a long pending demand of workers and employees.” When asked to comment on the reaction of businessmen and industry bodies like the CII and FICCI that this move could trigger inflationary pressures, Anjan is contemptuously dismissive. “It’s their practice to oppose any benefit to wage workers or government employees.

The Left parties are hopeful that inflation will be under control,” he adds. If vain hopes and misguided socialism were enough, India would have eliminated poverty, illiteracy and unemployment by now; farmers would not be committing suicide by the hundreds and many states of India would not report infant mortality rates worse than those in Sub-Saharan Africa. And now, analysts are worried that the current government is displaying alarming signs of going back to the bad old days of a peculiar mixture of misguided socialism and crony capitalism. In fact, the Sixth Pay Commission is just another example of how the UPA government appears determined to wear the robes of Santa Claus and dole out goodies, freebies and subsidies as if there were no tomorrow. Simultaneously, the government seems to be veering towards the bad old days of paternalistic and somewhat authoritarian ways, where the rulers were simply not held accountable by the public for their decisions and still had the powers to decide what is good and bad for Indian citizens. This is not just a display of bad democracy, it is also terrible economics.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Editor:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

IIPM-Press Article :- KRRISH RETURNS!

Indian Animation Industry Must Invest In Technology & Manpower

Picture this: Cinema hall operators all around the world are planning to dethrone the all time famous superhero in the new flick – Superman Returns – so they can showcase the new Indian superhero, Krrish! Reason: People are flocking to theatres to watch the zing & special effects associated with Krrish; and amazingly, over 50% of them are foreigners. And it all started with the epic fl ying superhero Hanuman, an animation movie credited with the revival of the Indian animation film industry. While the Indian film industry as a whole is booming and expected to clock revenues worth $3.3 billion by 2010 (FICCI- b PwC Report), the growth is set to be driven by the animation sector.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Editor:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

IIPM-4Ps:- SPARE THE LAW, SPOIL THEIR ETHICS!

IIPM-The Largest Business School

IIPM-B&E

CORPORATE MISDEMEANOURS ARE HERE TO STAY; LAW MUST TAKE ITS COURSE

What’s common between Exxon-Mobil, Wal-Mart and GE besides being the only three to have ever occupied the top spot on Fortune 500 list of top global corporations? Well, they have all been booked during the course of their glittery past for ‘unethical’ acts! And there are many more names to add to the gang of unethical practitioners! The latest is Microsoft , which was fined $357 million on July 12, 2006 by EU for its unethical, monopolistic act of ‘non-code sharing’? Microsoft , of course, is an instance o fl outing norms to protect market leadership. More shameful have been stock market frauds for petty personal gains.

The twenty major frauds since 2002 eroded a cyclopean $236 billion from shareholders’ wealth’! The biggest losses ever, due to corporate frauds were in Tyco ($84.2 bil billion), Lucent ($55.5 billion), WorldCom ($26.9 billion), Enron ($25 billion) and Xerox ($9.8 billion). Most astonishingly, according to a Price Water house Coopers’ Global Economic Crime Survey 2005, 62% of larger companies have been victims of frauds, as compared to 36% among smaller fi rms. Other famously infamous instances of fl outing norms are Hyundai Chairman Chung Moong Koo’s arrest for bribery, Samsung’s fixing of chip prices globally, Toyota selling SUVs that failed regulatory standards and Wal- Mart engaging in unethical pricing.

Rudy Hoskens, Director, Dispute Analysis and Investigation, PwC Belgium puts it thus, “It will probably not be possible to rule out economic crime, but a company can at least create an environment where ethical behaviour is discouraged.” But then, why are we so hard on the companies? They face gargantuan pressures to perform, and have to strive to create shareholder value. The Devil’s Advocate forever beckons the corporate bigwigs to bend the rules here and there, be it to protect market share, drive down costs or make some quick dough. And they do tend to succumb every now and then to the temptation. It’s up to the law of the land to protect the people.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Editor:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

More About IIPM:-

Home About IIPM IIPM Programmes IIPM Placement IIPM Alumni IIPM Alliances IIPM Ranking IIPM Director's Desk IIPM Dean's Message History of IIPM IIPM Mission IIPM Curriculum IIPM Project Based Learning IIPM GOTA

IIPM-News:- BURDEN OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS

GE’S FOCUS SHOULD ACTUALLY BE CONSOLIDATION AND CONCENTRATION AND ‘NOT’ FURTHER DIVERSIFI CATION…

September 2001 - a fateful month in the history of corporate America! Hold it! No reference is being made here to the terrorist attacks; we are referring to Jeff Immelt taking over as CEO and Chairman of General Electric (GE) – the icon for all conglomerates! And he had to follow up on one of the most iconic CEOs of all time – the inimitable Jack Welch. And at a time when America was reeling from the impact of the dotcom bust, and yes 9/11. Owing to his restructuring initiatives, GE’s revenues have increased by 50% in five years to touch $144.3 billion in 2005. But dismally, Wall Street GE’s share price is southward bound (currently at $32.88 on the NYSE)! According to Peter Dunay, Chief Strategist, Leeb Index Trader (NY), “...it’s going to get worse for GE. We don’t expect the stocks to perform any better in the near future...” A weird paradox for sure. It’s been a more or less satisfactory performance by GE in terms of revenues.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy,

Initiative:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

LABOURED MIGRANT

...IS THE CONDITION OF MIGRANT CLASS

On the trains that ply from the impoverished eastern region to the promised land of the Western India, the socio-economic stratification of India is aptly displayed. These overloaded trains carry along those who are denied opportunities in their homeland; they make up the much derided factor of production; labour. Displaying the scale and growth of regional disparity, these migrations have serious implications. The per capita income ratios between the highest & the lowest earning states, Punjab & Bihar respectively, (as well as between Maharashtra & Bihar) are 4.19 & 3.94 respectively. With poverty concentrated in eastern states & rain-fed regions of western India, the local residents participate extensively in inter-regional migration as that constitutes a significant livelihood strategy.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Author:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

THE SHIA SHOCK

WITHOUT DOUBT, CIVIL WAR BECKONS

As the Hizbollah pound rockets into Israel, the renewed confidence banking on daredevilry of the Shiite group is more than apparent. And that audacity is not an isolated gimmick, but can be read as the growing confidence in the Shia population across the region, to challenge the might of US and its Zionist ally – Israel. For example, in Iraq, the immediate aftermath of Saddam’s ouster was an infinite American control over Iraqi oil; but the move also created a geo-political void that got filled in by religious & ethnic aspirations. Despite an all out American support to the ‘secular’ alternative of Allawi’s Iraqiyah Party, it was the Shia dominated United Iraqi Alliance that won the largest number of seats in the post-Saddam Iraqi Parliament.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Author:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

Read More IIPM-Blogs:-

Pankaj

Unknown

Aman

DOlly

Pankaj Negi

Sandeep

Rahul

HOT HIDEOUTS HOT HIDEOUTS FOR HEDONISTS!

HEADIER THAN A TEQUILA SHOT!
In the day time, Cabo San Lucas is amazingly spectacular. The Pacific and Sea of Cortes unite under the El Arco, where the waters are rippled with the play of about 800 kinds of fishes. Its stunning and esoteric landscapes provide for golf courses that could contend with the world’s best, while its designer boutiques and chain restaurants keep the city slickers at home too. But, let not these activities wear you out, for the latter half of the day promises to be as spicy and tantalising as the Mexican salsa itself! Put on that mariachi hat and enter into Rock star Sammy Hagar’s Cabo San Lucas where much of the food is spiked with tequila and the interiors lined with ladies’ underwear apparently tossed onstage during Hagar’s shows! Spend the evening hopping across the 400 bars and restaurants in this party paradise, but make sure you end it at El Squid Roe where tequila gets sprayed into everyone’s mouths until the clock strikes three, when all clubs close, and the carousing simply spills onto the streets and beaches!

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy,

Initiative:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

Some More IIPM Blogs by my friends....

Money on Movies

Reliance’s famed fables!

MISSING THE KODAK MOMENT…

AND THE ELEPHANT DID DANCE...

Sense and Skype’bility

Here comes the killer, honey!

Bumber Crop, Traders Lost...

There were clear indications from experts about a bumper crop and most traders, including one Delhi-based trader who lost Rs.6 million, sold turmeric short (in layman’s terms, they gambled on turmeric prices falling in the future). However, a selective and shadowy group of big traders cornered the market and the small traders realized that they did not have the resources to go on gambling. Most went bankrupt, or withdrew with heavy losses. And without surprises, something exactly similar seems to have happened with the commodity mentha oil. Overall, there have been four confirmed cases of suicide amongst Delhi-based commodity traders in recent weeks. Though one would not wish to connect, but in fact, there are many traders who claim more than 200 small traders across India have committed suicides.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy,

Initiative:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

PLAYING WITH FUTURES: MANIPULATING COMMODITIES MARKETS

Dheer Singh Patel, a farmer in Madhya Pradesh, could not make money despite having a better harvest of Arhar dal this year because there was a glut in the market. Surendra Dhyani, a trader in wholesale grains market in Khari Baoli, Delhi, sold his stocks at much lower prices than last year, hoping he would buy fresh stock at further lower prices. To his dismay, the market went up instead of down, and so much so that he couldn’t afford to buy fresh stocks at such high prices. And Eluri Parvathi, an Andhra housewife, is testing out alternative food concoctions on her family because she can’t afford to prepare sambhar, as pulses are being sold at exorbitant prices between Rs.45 to Rs.60 per kg. It’s been said before, and tritely, we’ll say it again – devastated by poor returns and a mountain of debt, the Indian farmer is preferring suicide to a life of misery and penury.


For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy,

Initiative:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

IIPM-Publications:- Does it make ‘Civic’ sense?

Honda must ramp up capacity & move towards a small car launch
Honda Siel may have boasted of having the best suspension technology, but that may not be enough to ensure a smooth ride in India for Honda’s Civic. The company launched the ‘Civic’ in India on July 4, 2006 and has set a target of selling more than 10,000 units of Civic in financial year 2006-07. That is quite ambitious, considering that Civic is positioned in the A4 segment, which clocked sales of 23,326 units in 2005-06, a drop of 9% from the previous year. This launch will certainly increase competition in the A4 segment and fire up strategic think-tanks among players like Toyota, Skoda, GM. Mohit Arora, Director-India, J. D. Power Asia Pacific explains “Some players may employ promotion tactics, while others may look at launching new models or upgrades. Hyundai is likely to launch the new Elantra shortly.” Besides competition, Honda has a major, potentially debilitating challenge, and that is the capacity crunch it faces in India.

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy,

Initiative:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

Copyright IIPM:- 2006

DON’T DARE ASK A SWISS FOR THE TIME

Chocolates, of course, are some of the best engineered products in Switzerland (ask a foodie), but seriously, those are Switzerland’s value-added engineered products that are the true reason for the Swiss brand becoming elite. Unarguably, the best examples of Swiss workmanship are Swiss watches. They are very high on quality, and though perceived expensive, also cater to the value-for-money market through the Swatch brand. In fact, Nicholas Hayek’s Swatch group is the largest watch company in the world, and owns some of the world’s costliest brands like Omega, Rado, Calvin Klein, Mido, Longines, Tissot, Breguet, Leon Hatot, Union, Hamilton, Blancpain, Balmain, Certina, Endura, Glashutte, Les Boutiques, Jaquet Droz, and obviously, the brand Swatch itself... Swiss watches alone, worth $9.97 billion were sold in 2005; a mark of how coveted these watches are globally!

For Complete IIPM - Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source:- IIPM-Business and Economy, Author:- Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri - 2006

Read More About IIPM:-
IIPM-About ! IIPM-Academics ! IIPM-Rank ! IIPM-History ! IIPM-Index ! IIPM-India ! IIPM-Business School ! IIPM-IIPM ! IIPM-B School ! IIPM-Education ! IIPM-India ! IIPM-Management School ! IIPM-Management Education ! IIPM-News ! IIPM-Article ! IIPM-Management ! PM-Business ! IIPM-Centers ! IIPM-Faculty ! IIPM-Business_Management

Read More IIPM-News Article Blogs:-

Turn around for the truth: Ehud Olmert

It’s better! It’s cheaper! It’s not Indian!

Back to the future

Value of Technology

Cold War is over

The war in the telecom market

Big Bull’s Drive Towards The Big Crash

IIPM-Publications

IIPM-Bangalore ! IIPM-Chennai ! IIPM-New Delhi ! IIPM-Mumbai ! IIPM-Pune ! IIPM-Hyderabad ! IIPM-Ahemdabad

Set on fire by the ‘big bull’, Harshad Mehta, Sensex witnessed its first ever major bull run in the year 1992 by surpassing the 2000 mark on January 15; 3000 on February 29; and 4500 at the end of March 1992. But the rally came to a halt with news breaking out of a major scam and Mehta going to jail; markets crashed like never before, from 4500 to 2500. In fact, on April 28, 1992, the Sensex registered its biggest single day fall till date by losing 570.42 points; markets remained closed for five days thereon. The scam also exposed the intermeshed brokerbanker nexus.

For Complete IIPM-Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source IIPM-Editorial,2006

NACO (IIPM-Press Release)

When the whole world is going gaga over the HIV/AIDS scare, can India be far behind? Soon after the first few HIV cases were reported in the country in 1986, the government went ahead and launched the National Aids Control Programme (NACO) in 1987. NACO is responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of the program and coordinating multi-sectoral coordination for the same, with dollops of foreign grants and government funds. Needless to say that the government’s timely intervention has managed to control the AIDS spread in India, with only 5.1 million HIV infected people in the country. In contrast, a similar drives needed to control the rising TB deaths in India. More than 4,50,000 people die every year from TB in the country. Is someone listening?

For Complete IIPM-Article, Click on IIPM-Editorial Link

Source IIPM-Editorial,2006

Vioxx Consumption

Yes, Merck could try to now retread the inorganic path to expansion by supporting star products like Cozaar; however, after the Carol verdict, smelling blood, more than 4200 similar – and increasing – lawsuits alleging health related problems due to Vioxx consumption have already been filed. On a conservative basis, if even 10% of these law suits were to be decided against Merck, the damage could well exceed a whopping $100 billion!...

Source :- IIPM Editorial

For More IIPM Article, click here

Copyright IIPM – 2006

LIGHT-HEARTED (IIPM-Article)

ARTICLE-IIPM EDITORIAL

The Acciden­tal, a narrative of bizarre occurrences at a nondescript town styled by Ali Smith; A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry which depicts the loss of youth and innocence in the struggle and events surrounding war and the popular Zadie Smith’s On Beauty, a light-hearted account of an American and British family as neighbours, so dif­ferent and yet so similar.

For Complete IIPM Article, Please Click IIPM-Editorial

Source: IIPM Editorial-2006

Troubles of Man (IIPM-Press Release)

And although I’m sure that Sri Yukteswar would shudder if he heard me quote him in this context, computers may at best help to reduce ignorance which “is not only a trouble in itself, but is also the source of all the other troubles of man.”

For Complete-IIPM Article, Click here

Source:-IIPM-Editorial,2006

Bollywood and Bal Thackeray's popularity (IIPM-Press Release)

Maybe that is the reason why even Bollywood could not resist itself from portraying his signature style of politics (if not the character himself) through one or the other films. Be it Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh in 1984, Mani Ratnam’s Bombay in 1995 or more recently, Ram Gopal Verma’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s Godfather, namely, Sarkar, Bollywood always has got the best of it when it comes to cashing in on Bal Thackeray’s popularity.

For Complete, IIPM Article, Click here

Source:IIPM-editorial,2006

SHELL, SECOND LARGEST OIL COMPANY

IIPM-PRESS CENTRE RELEASE

Shell, the second largest oil and gas company in the world with profits of £9.4bn in 2004, has caused oil spills, gas flaring, and incomplete social initiatives adversely affecting health and environment in countries like Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa and Brazil.

For Complete-IIPM Article, Click here

Source:-IIPM-Editorial,2006

Boots moots UniChem merger

IIPM-KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

UK-based leading health and beauty retailer, Boots Group PLC, has announced plans to merge with the third largest pharmacy network in Europe, Alliance UniChem. The deal is being valued at $12.3 billion. The combined entity will form the largest pharmacy chain in Britain with 2,200 stores.

For Complete IIPM-Article, Click here

Source IIPM-Editorial,2006

B&E this fortnight

IIPM-KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

Porsche scripts Volkswagen breatherGerman luxury sports carmaker, Porsche AG has increased its stake in Europe’s biggest carmaker Volkswagen AG to 10.3%. However, it has further announced plans to increase its share to 20%, to ward off hostile attempts to take over the Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker.

For Complete IIPM-Article, Click here

Source:IIPM-Editorial,2006

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

ARTICLE AND PUBLICATION,IIPM

Meanwhile, in Britain, there is no shortage of the “evil and fanatic racial discrimination” that Qutb denounced. The London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission received 320 complaints of racist attacks in the wake of the bombings; Scotland Yard says hate crimes are up 600 percent from this time last year.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source:IIPM Editorial-2006

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

ARTICLE AND PUBLICATION,IIPM
Meanwhile, in Britain, there is no shortage of the “evil and fanatic racial discrimination” that Qutb denounced. The London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission received 320 complaints of racist attacks in the wake of the bombings; Scotland Yard says hate crimes are up 600 percent from this time last year.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source:IIPM Editorial-2006

NET BANKING

PUBLICATION AND RESEARCH, IIPM

These issues have the potential to seriously dent the e-retailing or net banking dreams of many players. Before jumping on the bus to El Dorado, companies must remember that they could also end up getting a one way ticket to nowhere.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click here

Source:IIPM-Editorial:- 2006

CHINA FACTOR

There is, however, a China factor in Japanese domestic politics as well. The Chinese are not too pleased with Koizumi who has refused to go the whole hog in admitting Japanese guilt for World War Two atrocities in China. But inside Japan, there is growing public opinion in favour of a more conciliatory approach towards China; and the LDP rebels are hopeful of exploiting this feeling. They have been careful to maintain equidistance between the LDP and the DPJ and are hoping to win a sufficient number of seats to play the role of kingmakers after the elections...

Source: IIPM Editorial

For More IIPM-Article, Click here

Copyright: IIPM-2006