When money IS object!

He is the finance whiz kid at Tata Steel, and considering the troubles that the company is facing in that area, Chatterjee seems the obvious choice

Finance is the bone of contention for any company at the moment, more so for a company like Tata Steel, which catapulted itself to the rank of the world’s fifth largest steel maker with the historic $12.1 billion Tata-Corus deal. But the new entity has off-late run into a lot of financial problems in the wake of the unprecedented downturn in the steel sector. Add to that the payback of $6 billion loan taken for the deal, which has increased the financial risk profile of the company. Thus, with Muthuraman ready to hang his boots, the need of the hour is arguably a man, who should have it in him to efficiently manage the financial profile of the steel giant. Koushik Chatterjee, the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bestowed with the overall responsibilities for group financial reporting, Investor Relations, financing strategy inclusive of debt and equity raising, corporate M&A, risk management & compliance, taxation strategy & planning and co-ordination of statutory and management reporting might just prove to be the right candidate for the job. Chatterjee has been the calculating brain behind the acquisition of the Anglo-Dutch steel-maker.

Chatterjee has been associated with Tata Steel since 1995. “The succession planning at this level is the prerogative of the Board of Directors. We are sure that the Board will make the necessary announcements at the appropriate time,” states B. Muthuraman, CEO, Tata Steel to B&E. Being a core member of the company’s Board of Directors, Chatterjee with his financial expertise can definitely prove to be a safe bet to hand over the baton. He has also gained significant overseas exposure by working with Tata Steel UK, NatSteel Asia Private Limited, Tata Steel (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Southern Steel Berhad, Malaysia et al.

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

ARE THERE MORE DUBAIS?

B&E UNDERTAKES A FINANCIAL PRIMER ANALYSIS ON THE ECONOMIES THAT HAVE A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF COLLAPSING THAN DUBAI... AND SOME MORE!

As Dubai stepped up on the construction-led growth and started showcasing to the world that something almost impossible could be achieved in a desert land, investors and investments started pouring in. In return, Dubai merrily kept riding upon cheap money that flowed in from various parts of the world – particularly Europe and Middle East. Gradually, Dubai started suffering from the ‘est’ syndrome, which defied basic economics. Whether their markets needed it or not, everything they constructed had to be the tall‘est’, long‘est’, high‘est’, bigg‘est’ et al. So starting from the biggest manmade ice skating rink, to the tallest building in the world, to the biggest manmade islands, to the longest shopping malls, Dubai, in the name of grandiose and opulence, created everything that man had ever dreamt of. Such was the scale of the construction drive that it is estimated that almost 60 percent of global cranes were working in Dubai till sometime back!

It was not that all investors were sold on the Dubai idea.

It was only those who got sold on the dream that Dubai created, and those who wanted to make a quick return on their investments, who were the ones who got drawn to this fairytale island. But then, there were certain sections of analysts who always found the Dubai market extremely intriguing. It is estimated that during the peak of investments flow into Dubai’s real estate, almost 30 percent of office area lay vacant on both sides of the Sheikh Zayed road – the central business district of Dubai. But still, Dubai kept on piling more space and raising old spaces to create new ones. And what was more asynchronous was the fact that real estate prices kept on spiraling northwards in the meanwhile. This was kind of strange as it meant that demand was being artificially created by restricting supplies of already built-up spaces. Thus, in their quest of creating a dream destination for investors, Dubai forgot two basic principles: First, in any market, artificially created imbalances cannot sustain for long (They can sustain till the time investments are flowing; and those too cheap ones).

Read more......

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

POSTULATE I: NUCLEAR WAR

Alpha males that we all are, none of us believes a nuke attack will ever happen in our lifetimes – so we write this treatise to the alpha female

Add to this, 8 million people would be affected by 100 to 600 rem. In general, besides the local destructions, any nuclear war in any part of the world would result in a ripple effect. A study on the ‘Atmospheric chemistry of regional nuclear war’ suggests that the hot smoke from a burning city would tear holes in the ozone layer.

Research by scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder proves that the increased ultraviolet radiation (from the ozone loss) would double the DNA damage along with increasing the cancer rates manifold. This would also reduce crop yields and starve hundreds of millions the world-over.

It is now clear that even a limited and local nuclear war involving less than 100 low-yield weapons, apart from killing a minimum of 20-25 million people, would activate a decade of cold climate titled the ‘nuclear winter’ (report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science). This limited war would also generate 1 to 5 million tonnes of carbonaceous smoke particles, darkening the sky. NASA predicts that 40% of this smoke would stay in the stratosphere for 10 years. The Journal of Geophysical Research concludes through climate model simulations that even a small nuclear conflict would cause mayhem on the atmosphere by “cooling it twice as much as it has heated over the last century.” The journal reports that on an average, global surface cooling of –7°C to –8°C would remain for years – this could well make global temperatures colder than they were 18,000 years ago.

Like we mentioned, it is much easier (and faster) to die from the effects of a nuclear disaster than from those of global warming. Black humour aside, the world in general should gather behind Obama to support his effort to make the world free of nuclear weapons. What would work against him is the fact that the US has extremely less moral authority on this issue. Well, they’ve carried out 1050 plus known nuclear tests till date... 

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

Literacy shocks

Education needed in Lok Sabha

Education is a universal right, an invaluable lifelong asset; but the same does not apparently apply to those who are responsible for its spread across India. In the Lok Sabha, education appears to be inversely proportional to money and muscle power. There are 132 MPs who could not attain their first degree, but are better off than the degree holders, with average assets of Rs.20 million as against Rs.14 million for the latter. They even surpass graduates in their past endeavours – around 30% of the semi-educated MPs (undergraduates or even less than that) are involved in criminal cases as against 21% educated ones. (It is worth mentioning that the top 5 MPs with highest asset values do not have any criminal cases against them. N. Nageswara Rao from Khammam leads with an asset value of Rs.1.73 billion, followed by Navin Jindal from Kurukshetra with Rs.1.31 billion and L. Rajagopal from Vijaywada with Rs.1.22 billion).

The total assets of all MPs combined is valued at Rs.8.78 billion, excluding the value of cars they posses. The average net worth of our MPs is valued at Rs.16.4 million while in the non SC/ST category, it rises up to Rs.20 million. Over 27% of them have assets more than Rs.10 million, and an enormous 50% have more than Rs.5 million. Quite understandably, the ruling Congress Party has the highest percentage of MPs exceeding Rs.10 million of assets (45% of the crorepati MPs come from Congress; their representation in the Lok Sabha is 30%), and 52% of the total assets combined are owned by them. The per capita assets of the less educated MPs sums up to Rs.19.3 million compared to Rs.13.7 million for MPs with better educational qualifications. Coming back to education, the literacy level of our MPs has improved over time as now 75% of our MPs are graduates, but there are 6% still who are not even matriculates.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

HOT ACCESSORIES

Kenwood KDC-XBT8013U

Listening to music was never so exciting until Kenwood launched its in-car audio system, XBT8013U. With an in-built USB input & disk drive, it is compatible with iPhone & iPod. Variable colour illumination, DSP advanced digital sound processor, hands-free phone operation with wireless music streaming via high-performance Parrot Bluetooth unit – it’s just the one for your machine. Price: Rs.17,990

Pioneer AVH-P4150DVD

If you thought that LCDs were meant to grace only your living rooms, then have a look here. Pioneer AVH-P4150DVD is a benchmark in car audio & video systems with 7-inch LCD touch screen colour display. Preventing the loss of original sound (as in the case of compressed CD format), its advanced sound retriever feature helps in recreating the original sound.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

Losing count of all that one counts on

The fear of losing count of all that one counts on, might just temper down thanks to a new research…

A recent Cardiff University research (largest ever study of Alzheimer’s) has uncovered two genes (CLU and PICLAM) associated with the disease, which is giving scientists hope for a much clearer course to develop new treatments. Professors, who are a part of the research, can not contain their excitement after learning about the protective effect of these genes on the brain and at being able to fathom Alzheimer’s disease in an entirely new way. Until now, only one gene (APOE) related to Alzheimer’s was known and that too, the one that stimulates the ailment.

Inheriting any of this gene’s four mutated forms is known to cause Alzheimer’s genetically. This gene releases harmful proteins that get deposited in the brain and these deposits are known as amyloid plaques. While CLU produces a protein that clears these plaques deposited in the brain, the PICLAM gene produces protein that aids nerve cells to form new memories…

This research paves way for a whole new set of inventions, from medicines to equipments. Scientists plan to track the changes in these genes to interpret disease development before it gets too late for those who run the risk of getting the disease. Now, patients will be able to hold on to their memories for longer... unlike the man I mentioned in the beginning, who wasn’t an engineer but a bureaucrat...

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

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.

 

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

" We want to be no. 1”

B&E: What was the vision of Hyundai India when you started off?

HSL: We clearly wanted to be the number one passenger car manufacturer in the country (when we arrived) and today we are at the second spot with a 20% market share (passenger cars), which we are planning to take forward to 22% by the next year.

B&E: Any key learnings you would like to talk about from the Indian market?

HSL: When we entered India, we never realised that the Indian consumer is very focused on the family and looks for a family car; but after some time, we launched products on the same lines and the result is in front of everyone.

B&E: What will be your one line suggestion for a MNC entering the Indian market?

HSL: India is a market with a very high potential, you just need to focus on your target segment.

B&E: What are your future plans?

HSL: We are the largest exporters of passenger cars in the country and going forward, we want to make India a small car hub.

B&E: Hyundai still lags in the SUV segment; how are you going to address that?

HSL: We are doing a feasibility study right now and most probably, one new SUV will be introduced by next year.

B&E: How are the work conditions now at your plant after the strike?

HSL: It was just a small labour dispute, which has been taken care of. We are looking at competitive pricing for the i20 and will shift some portion of its production next year. While India will remain as the main production hub, the European orders for the car will be met from the new facility.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

“We’ve maintained steadiness”

B&E: McDonald’s has had a significantly better run as compared to most multinational QSRs in the India What have been your main recipes for success in the Indian market?

AJ: The foundation of McDonald’s is Quality, Service, Cleanliness & Value, that means we focus on providing our customers with high quality products, served quickly with a smile, in a clean and pleasant environment and at affordable prices. With a brand philosophy of ‘Forever Young,’ McDonald’s India has always modified its strategy to cater to the contemporary market requirements. We have always worked towards establishing an emotional connect with the consumers. We have also strived to provide convenience to our customers by evolving business models like McDonald’s Delivery and Drive Thru.

B&E: When it comes to retail penetration, McDonald’s is still lacking behind in terms of number of stores set up in India. Don’t you feel that you could be seriously undermining your potential as compared to competition?

AJ: We don’t believe in opening new stores or going to a new city, unless our research and supply chain support us to take such an initiative.

B&E: How do you think easy on the pocket and Indianising the menu has helped McDonald’s?

AJ: McDonald’s success worldwide can be definitely attributed to the “Think Global, Act Local and Sell like a Retailer” philosophy. McDonald’s has customised its pricing and menu in India and this has yielded great returns for the brand in India.

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

Have they mastered the Windows ‘application’ yet?

After quarters of misery, Nokia has been able to reassert its position in the Indian feature phone market with dual-SIM phones, and Microsoft promises an edge for it in the smartphone segment. However, it must play its cards well to be able to leverage on the same.

If you recollect your initial experience with mobile phones, interchangeable usage of the term ‘mobile’ and ‘Nokia’ would almost be a given. At a time when we aspired for ‘Made in India’ technology (actually we still do!), Nokia’s products educated customers and companies on what ‘Made for India’ could mean. The phones were sturdy and stylish by the standards of the day, sported easy functionality & enabled a mini ecosystem too. With so many Nokia users, being on low battery was hardly a concern. Someone around would have a charger handy for sure! It wasn’t by chance that Nokia became the undisputed king of the Indian mobile handset market, with market shares exceeding 80% at one time. Everything from the timing of the debut, to the India-focused strategies viz. low cost handsets like Nokia 1100 went in its favour. What could go wrong?

In marketing, one of the central facts of life is that you should “never say never”. At that time, we were awestruck by the fact that Nokia was once into lumbering and the brand name stood for a river. We knew that Google was a great search engine and that Apple had some fairly interesting computers we called Macs and a super cool music player we were falling in love with. Micromax would have sounded like an oxymoronic version of Microsoft, and mean little else (by the way, it’s the name of a fictional Marvel character who can change size at will!). Samsung, along with LG were becoming our favourites in the realm of consumer electronics. But the way these different players combined to give Nokia nightmares in India (and besides Micromax, in the global market too) in a span of 2-3 years shows that breaking status quo in today’s time isn’t as hard as it seems.

The greatest hit came from the most unexpected quarter. When Google flooded the market with its open operating system Android in 2008 by banking heavily on Nokia’s competitors like Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Motorola, the leader (which blindly trusted its Symbian OS) found itself struggling to keep the momentum going. Nokia was still ruling the charts with 31.8% market share in overall mobile shipments (6.8% more than Q2). But smartphone market share decreased from 45.8% in Q2 to 35.3% market share in Q3. It is closely followed by Samsung at 26% (IDC), which has been gaining steadily at the expense of Nokia. Where in 2008, relatively new players like Apple and Samsung gradually started gaining steam against Nokia’s dominance, Symbian became outdated within no time and Nokia was eventually forced to look for better alternatives. But even in the low cost handset market, which remained Nokia’s unconquered forte for long, handset players like Micromax, G’Five and even Samsung were making waves with there first mover’s advantage in the dual-SIM segment.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

Bajaj Auto back to health... and wealth

Rajiv Bajaj’s nifty maneuvers were just the right recipe to nurse Bajaj Auto back to health... and wealth.

But Rajiv shrugged off all paranoia with studied determination. He was convinced that the strategy to let the Bajaj brand take a backseat and promote sub brands would sharpen their marketing strategy. Almost two years down the line today, the move seems to have paid off. In the words of K Srinivas, President-Motorcycles, Bajaj Auto, “At a consolidated level including export, this independent brand strategy has helped us sell four million bikes a year. We have roughly 10% of the global market share by volumes today and the target is to take it to 20% which will double our size,” he told 4Ps B&M.

Today, Pulsar brand variants range from 135cc to 220cc, while Discover covers the 100cc to 150cc segment with three variants. The independent brand strategy has helped Bajaj create a family of products under the umbrellas of these sub-brands. Bajaj now seems unafraid to take on rivals in both the entry level and premium segments. For instance, Bajaj loyalists would remember the Pulsar ‘Hunto’ ad launched by the company in 2011 that took a straight dig at Japanese manufacturers by claiming that ‘Pulsar sells five times more than any Japanese sports bike in India’. A recent commercial for Discover takes a veiled dig at Hero’s flagship brands Passion and Splendor.

While regaining pole position is still a distant dream for Bajaj Auto as its 19% share in the domestic two-wheeler market is not even half of Hero’s 45% share, the Pune-based company has carved a different positioning for its products. Growing at above 6%, Bajaj sold 2.56 million two-wheelers in the domestic market over the last fiscal.

There is another crucial chapter to Bajaj’s comeback story viz. surging exports growth. In 2011-12 alone, Bajaj’s exports grew more than 30% to 1.26 million units, earning Bajaj the distinction of being the largest two-wheeler exporter from India. “Our average exports volumes have moved up from 25,000 units to 1,12,000 units in just five years,” said Srinivas.

Complacency however can still mar Bajaj’s comeback saga. The company may be in a much better shape today, but competition is already knocking. For the first time ever, March 2012 saw rival HMSI edge ahead of Bajaj with a small margin of around 2,000 units, making HMSI the second largest two-wheeler maker for a 30-day period. But Bajaj believes that “one swallow does not make a summer” and is unfazed by rising competitive pressure.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

Successful marketing communication

There are 7 Elements which, if followed effectively, can help create a successful marketing communication & differentiate it from a me-too

Close. The Close should (1) Solicit a buying action (i.e. visit a website, return a business reply card, come in for a test drive), (2) Tie-in with the headline (repeat the benefits), (3) End the communication, and (4) Contain a Marketing Information System code so that the success of the communication can be measured when people respond (unique URL for Web visitors, unique phone extension for callers, and other unique codes for those who will visit a store or return a business reply card).

Photo and Graphic Elements.These should help to communicate the main unique benefits, be visually compelling, show the product looking as good as possible, sometimes function as a size reference, help to break up the Body Text into bite-sized pieces, and show before and after examples if appropriate.

Format. The Format should make it easy for busy or lazy members of the target audience to pick out and remember the main unique benefits of the communication without forcing them to read, listen to, or watch the entire communication.

Signature. The Signature (which typically includes the name, logo and slogan) should brand the communication and further the relationship between the target audience, the product, and the company so the prospect is more comfortable buying.

Everything Else. Good models have no more than 7 elements, so this section includes the other considerations that may be important to your communication, such as design, colour, fonts, size, shapes, selling psychology, empirical results, and putting the “WOW” into the communication so that it will be better remembered and sell more effectively.
 

Read more......

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

PARTY TROUBLES: BJP

Sharad Gupta investigates what led to the failure of BJP and what is stopping it from being a success

The BJP won 19 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka and 10 out of 11 seats in Chhatisgarh. It along with its ally JD (U) won 32 out of 40 seats at stake in Bihar. What was special about BJP’s strategy in these states? “All these states are ruled by the BJP and people voted for good governance. Likewise, people voted for Congress’s state government’s good work in Delhi, Haryana, AP et al,” says UP BJP leader Kalraj Mishra.

BJP may not practice caste politics in states like U.P. and Bihar but the caste factor helped it win many seats in Karnataka. Lingayats are the dominant community in central and north Karnataka and Chief Minister B. S. Yaddyurappa is the most popular leader of the community. BJP in Karnataka has become more a regional party headed by Yaddyurappa than a party controlled from its Delhi headquarter or the Nagpur-based RSS bosses. Yaddyurappa was given a free hand in selecting the candidates.

In contrast, Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh riding on his popular scheme to provide rice at Rs. 3 per kg, ensured that the party organisation and the RSS were kept in good humour. He not only heard out the most grassroot of RSS workers but has also appointed them in his government. “We haven’t forgotten that workers are backbone of the party. This is why in Chhattisgarh, at least 10 workers were active at every pooling booth”, says party’s Raipur chief Rajiv Agarwal. Singh has rewarded RSS pracharks, Saudan Singh and Ram Pratap Singh – both state BJP organising secretaries – by nominating them to the Rajya Sabha.

But in states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the first two are ruled by the BJP and the third was lost to Congress by a narrow margin in the Assembly polls. Gujarat results were more baffling because Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity was on an all-time high and unlike Assembly elections, there was no rebellion from within the ranks of the party and the RSS.

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)

MONEY USAGE: MLA

MLAs need to use the funds

Further researches reveal that even in the financial year of 2008-09, at least 12 MLAs haven’t fully utilised the funds allocated to them under ACDP and around Rs.75 lakh in funds have got lapsed. Similarly, in the state of Karnataka, a shocking 45% of the funds allocated under various drought or flood relief schemes remain unused. The state government had Rs.4.94 billion for drought and flood relief work, but it was able to spend only Rs.2.76 billion out of the same. In Tamil Nadu, information revealed under the RTI act depicts that an alarming 43% of the funds allocated to 15 MLAs remained unused in 2008. Around Rs.450 million had been allocated to those 15 MLAs.

The scenario is pretty similar in most of the states. Actually, these MLAs are guilty of not doing the needful in envisioning the right kind of development projects and ensuring that they are successfully executed. This gives us a clear idea as to why most of these states face a dearth of modern infrastructure and facilities; besides lacking seriously in opportunities for the have-nots to improve their lot and lead better lives.
 

Read more....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
IIPM – FLP (Flexi Learning Program)