Customer relationship management : A tool for marketing
Customer relationship management (CRM) consists of the processes a company uses to track and organize its contacts with its current and prospective customers. CRM software is used to support these processes; information about customers and customer interactions can be entered, stored and accessed by employees in different company departments. Typical CRM goals are to improve services provided to customers, and to use customer contact information for targeted marketing.
While the term CRM generally refers to a software-based approach to handling customer relationships, most CRM software vendors stress that a successful CRM effort requires a holistic approach.[1] CRM initiatives often fail because implementation was limited to software installation, without providing the context, support and understanding for employees to learn, and take full advantage of the information systems.[2] CRM can be implemented without major investments in software, but software is often neccessary to explore the full benefits of a CRM strategy.
Other problems occur[3] when failing to think of sales as the output of a process that itself needs to be studied and taken into account when planning automation[4].
Overview
From the outside, customers interacting with a company perceive the business as a single entity, despite often interacting with a number of employees in different roles and departments. CRM is a combination of policies, processes, and strategies implemented by an organization to unify its customer interactions and provide a means to track customer information. It involves the use of technology in attracting new and profitable customers, while forming tighter bonds with existing ones.
CRM includes many aspects which relate directly to one another:
Front office operations — Direct interaction with customers, e.g. face to face meetings, phone calls, e-mail, online services etc.
Back office operations — Operations that ultimately affect the activities of the front office (e.g., billing, maintenance, planning, marketing, advertising, finance, Analysis — Key CRM data can be analyzed in order to plan target-marketing campaigns, conceive business strategies, and judge the success of CRM activities (e.g., market share, number and types of customers, revenue, profitability). manufacturing, etc.)

Posted By:-

ASHWANI SUHALKA PGDM 2nd Yr

Gender Gap in India
In the latest gender gap index report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) India keeps company with the worst in the world. Among the 128 countries that have been evaluated by the WEF India ranked 114 followed among others by Yemen, Chad, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Even China, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Botswana fare much better than us.
The survey considers the proportion of resources and opportunities made available to women on educational, economic, political and health parities. It is only in the realm of political empowerment India has done somewhat ok ranking 21st. That is also thanks to a long spell of prime minister ship by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It raises question as why women are at receiving end if they are politically empowered.
India is still largely a feudal and patriarchal society. In many parts of our country especially in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab women are often treated as if they were a piece of property. In these parts the sex-ratio is most skewed because families often snuff out the lives of girl children before or immediately after they are born. In many parts of India women are viewed as an economic liability despite contributing in several ways to our society and economy.
India's policies and projects for women are woefully inadequate. For instance the literacy rate for females is merely 48% against 73% for males. Public health is another area of failure. Hundreds of women in rural India die every year during child birth for want of medical attention. There are thousands more who do not even have access to a primary health centre. Importantly reforming property laws more vigorously so that gender parity becomes a reality must rank among the government's priorities.
While these changes are necessary they will amount to nothing if we as a society continue to deny our women the dignity, liberty and opportunities that are rightfully theirs. No society will ever prosper as a whole as long as half of it is constantly treated as somehow less than the other half.

ASIM SINGHAL

PGDM IIIrd

The problem of old age in India
A man's life is normally divided into five main stages namely infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. In each of these stages an individual has to find himself in different situations and face different problems. The old age is not without problems. In old age physical strength deteriorates, mental stability diminishes; money power becomes bleak coupled with negligence from the younger generation.
There are 81million older people in India-11 lakh in Delhi itself. According to an estimate nearly 40% of senior citizens living with their families are reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another, but only 1 in 6 cases actually comes to light. Although the President has given her assent to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act which punishes children who abandon parents with a prison term of three months or a fine, situation is grim for elderly people in India.
According to NGOs incidences of elderly couples being forced to sell their houses are very high. Some elderly people have also complained that in case of a property dispute they feel more helpless when their wives side with their children. Many of them suffer in silence as they fear humiliation or are too scared to speak up. According to them a phenomenon called 'grand dumping' is becoming common in urban areas these days as children are being increasingly intolerant of their parents' health problems.
After a certain age health problems begin to crop up leading to losing control over one's body, even not recognizing own family owing to Alzheimer are common in old age. It is then children began to see their parents as burden. It is these parents who at times wander out of their homes or are thrown out. Some dump their old parents or grand parents in old-age homes and don't even come to visit them anymore. Delhi has nearly 11 lakh senior citizens but there are only 4 governments' run homes for them and 31 by NGOs, private agencies and charitable trusts. The facilities are lacking in government run homes.
Rights of the Elderly
Parents cannot be evicted from a house without due process of law if they have been staying there from before.There is three enactments that can be applied.
Under section 125 of the CrPC,a magistrate can order a child to maintain his old parents under the Maintenance of Parents Act.
The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act say an aged parent can demand maintenance from children in the same way that a wife can demand it from her husband.
The Domestic Violence Act too provides parents with the right to seek relief from any kind of abuse.
A National Policy on older persons was announced in January 1999 which identified a number of areas of intervention-financial security, healthcare and nutrition, shelter, education, welfare, protection of life and property for the wellbeing of older persons in the country.A National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to operationalize the National Policy on older persons.

ASIM SINGHAL

PGDM IIIrd

World Bank approves $4.3 billion in loans to India news

World Bank approves $4.3 billion in loans to India news

The World Bank approved four loans worth $4.345 billion to India, to support the country's infrastructure building and bolster its economic stimulus programme. This loan is second largest volume of lending to a single country in a single year.
The World Bank has also approved loans for projects in five countries, but the loan to India was the largest said the World Bank.
Other loans and credits approved were, €1.0 billion to Hungary, $200 million to Latvia, $71.50 million to Nepal, and $65.2 million to Vietnam.
The first three loans totalling $4.2 billion, while modest in relation to India's $1 trillion economy, will contribute to India's large needs for infrastructure and help bolster the country's response to the global economic and financial crisis and lay the foundations for stronger growth in the future, the World Bank said.
Of the $4.345 billion, $1.195 billion is earmarked to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), $1 billion to the fifth Power Sector Support Project and $150 million to the Andhra Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, while $2 billion is for supporting the Indian banking sector.
ASIM SINGHAL
PGDM IIIrd

NEGOTIATING TIPS

Negotiating is the process by which two or more parties with different needs and goals work to find a mutually acceptable solution to an issue. Because negotiating is an inter-personal process, each negotiating situation is different, and influenced by each party's skills, attitudes and style. We often look at negotiating as unpleasant, because it implies conflict, but negotiating need not be characterized by bad feelings, or angry behaviour. Understanding more about the negotiation process allows us to manage our negotiations with confidence increases the chance that the outcomes will be positive for both parties.
Things be remember at the time of Negotiation:
1.Solicit The Other's Perspective
In a negotiating situation use questions to find out what the other person's concerns and needs might be.

2.State Your Needs
The other person needs to know what you need. It is important to state not only what you need but why you need it. Often disagreement may exist regarding the method for solving an issue, but not about the overall goal.
3.Don't Argue
Negotiating is about finding solutions...Arguing is about trying to prove the other person wrong. We know that when negotiating turns into each party trying to prove the other one wrong, no progress gets made. Don't waste time arguing. If you disagree with something state your disagreement in a gentle but assertive way. Don't demean the other person or get into a power struggle.
4.Consider Timing
There are good times to negotiate and bad times. Bad times include those situations where there is:
. a high degree of anger on either side
. preoccupation with something else
. a high level of stress
. tiredness on one side or the other
Time negotiations to avoid these times. If they arise during negotiations a time-out/rest period is in order, or perhaps rescheduling to a better time.
Conclusion
Negotiating is a complex process but one worth mastering. If you keep in mind that you are responsible for the success or failure of negotiation, and if you follow the tips above, you will find the process easier.

ASIM SINGHAL

PGDM IIIrd

How to manage yourself in corporate, Read it, its very important for you

1. Get it done/work hard.
2. Set an example/standards.
3. Enjoy yourself .
4. Don't let it get you down.
5. Know what you are supposed to be doing.
6. Know what you are actually doing.
7. Be proactive, not reactive.
8. Be consistent.
9. Set realistic targets for yourself - no, really realistic .
10. Have a game plan, but keep it secret .
11. Get rid of superfluous rules .
12. Learn from your mistakes .
13. Be ready to unlearn - what works changes.
14. Cut the crap - prioritize.
15. Cultivate those in the know.
16. Know when to kick the door shut .
17. Fill your time productively and profitably.
18. Have a Plan B and a Plan C
19. Capitalize on chance - be lucky, but never admit it.
20. Recognize when you're stressed .
21. Manage your health .
22. Be prepared for the pain and pleasure.
23. Face the future .
24. Head up, not head down.
25. See the wood and the trees.
26. Know when to let go.
27. Be decisive, even if it means being wrong sometimes.
28. Adopt minimalism as a management style.
29. Visualize your blue plaque.
30. Have principles and stick to them.
31. Follow your intuition/gut instinct.
32. Be creative .
33. Don’t stagnate.
34. Be flexible and ready to move on.
35. Rememeber the object of the exercise.
36. Remember that none of us has to be here.
37. Go home.
38. Keep learning - especially from the opposition.
39. Be passionate and bold.
40. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best.
41. Let the company see you are on their side.
42. Don’t bad-mouth your boss.
43. Don't bad-mouth your team.
44. Accept that some things the bosses tell you to do will be completely wrong.
45. Accept that the bosses are as scared as you are at times.
46. Avoid straitjacket thinking.
47. Act and talk as if one of them.
48. Show you understand the viewpoint of underlings and overlings.
49. Don’t back down - be prepared to stand your ground.
50. Don’t play politics.
51. Don’t slag off other managers.
52. Share what you know.
53. Don’t intimidate.
54. Be above interdepartmental warfare.
55. Show that you'll fight to the death for your team.
56. Aim for respect rather than being liked.
57. Do one or two things well and avoid the rest.
58. Seek feedback on your performance.
59. Maintain good relationships and friendships.
60. Build respect – both ways – between you and your customers.
61. Go the extra mile for your customers.
62. Be aware of your responsibilities and stick to your principles.
63. Be straight at all times and speak the truth.
64. Don’t cut corners – you’ll get found out .
65. Be in command and take control
66. Be a diplomat for the company

Positive Work Behaviors: 8 Straightforward Tips For Moving Up The Corporate Ladder :
Positive work behaviors is by far one of the most straightforward tips I can give you when it comes to moving up the corporate ladder. Do you sometimes feel that whenever people speak about moving up the corporate ladder, it almost always has a cunning undertone?
For career newbies especially, my recommendation is to always focus on positive work behaviors that you can start practicing now. When the time comes, moving up the corporate ladder will seem effortless. This is because you do what is right and focus on the positive. Bosses will notice and when the right time comes, the promotion you want is just a natural next step.
So what are the 8 straightforward positive work behaviors for moving up the corporate ladder?
IdeasRegardless of how junior you are in an organization, you can have ideas that positively affect the company. Do not be contented with just doing your own work. Do not be shy or embarrassed about sharing them either. What’s the worst that can happen? They laugh at it and reject the idea? Well, then you turn it into something positive. Ask why can’t it work, and you would have learned something new. That information can be used to come out with better ideas.
ImpactBe smart enough to choose some projects in a year that are considered a challenge for your level of experience. Be hardworking enough to see it through. But have the wisdom to cross check with your bosses to make sure it is a challenge and not impossible for your experience. That way you can create an impact in the company. This positive work behavior ensures that you aren’t just the average worker clocking in and clocking out without making an impression.
ImpeccableThis positive work behavior is to be flawless in your language and dressing. Know that you are judged at all times. First impression or not, people judge you on how you talk and what you wear. You are lucky if you work in a company with dress codes, then just dress up or down accordingly. Being impeccable when it comes to dressing doesn’t mean expensive clothes. It simply means to dress well. Being impeccable with your language doesn’t mean using bombastic words. Quite simply, it means abstaining from vulgarity.
IndependentLearn to work independently. In the age of empowerment, most employees are given the freedom to fail. Even if this culture is not practiced in your company, learn to work with minimal supervision. When you can work independently, it allows your boss to concentrate on other things. But remember to always update your boss on what and how you are doing. Working independently as part of positive work behaviors will help you in moving up the corporate ladder.
IgniteBe an ignition of your company. Take the initiative to start something. It does not always have to be work oriented. It can be something fun or informal. For example, if you know some of your colleagues enjoy exploring different restaurants, why not start a group that does it after work Fridays? When you are a positive ignition, you can move up the corporate ladder quickly.
InterestShow interest in your company’s initiatives. Be an interested party in things involving your department. Some career newbies I know come across as being cynical with initiatives that are being carried out by the company. As part of positive work behaviors, show interest in these initiatives. Give it a chance and support them. Do not send signals that your bosses see you as being merely contented as being a passenger of the company. That doesn’t help in your plan of moving up the corporate ladder.
IntangibleDo not always focus on the tangible benefits when working. There are a lot of values in doing things that at the moment does not seem to benefit you. For example, helping a colleague on a project. Volunteering to cover for someone who’s sick. Taking on an extra project when your boss seems inundated with work. Positive work behaviors like these may not have immediate tangible benefits but in the long run, helps you in moving up the corporate ladder.
IntegrityThis positive work behavior means to have a sound moral character. Practiced at its most basic level for a career newbies, it can be as simple as not talking bad about a colleague and gossiping. Do not be drawn into wrong doings like cutting corners. Be honest in your dealings with colleagues, clients, business partners and suppliers.
Posted By:-
ASHWANI SUHALKA PGDM 2Yr

RIGHT DRESSING SENSE FOR MEN :- Men want to dress as perfectly as same as the women may want to wear their makeup. A good dressing sense can do wonders with the right kind of fashion, cut and color. One also should be particular about the comfort level despite the fashion, adding confidence which corroborates to a high self image.
There was a time when men thought that it is just plain white and black for them which prevented them from going for patterns even, let alone choose a color. Most old fashioned men spent whole of their lives without realizing that they could have looked striking handsome, if only they would have chosen better dressing.
Each shirt in the wardrobe does not need to be of the same outline, design or color. Each is a different one with a little variation. One can always put a hundreds of permutation and combinations according to the choice, occasion and fashion. The men's dress shirts do not require being of sameness and dulling in outline, fashion, and design. One should keep in mind that designs are dependent of fabrics. Fashions are also about style, collar, placement of buttons and pockets.
Purchasing a branded shirt can limit one's choice to maneuver perhaps it is a style statement all the same. But in tailor made shirts one can play around with one's own expectations and ideas if one is little innovative.
One has to pay attention to the suiting and the pants which have to go with the shirt's design. However, it is more important to have the confidence to carry anything that one wears. With colors, or patterns, and ties maybe one easily come near the sense of self.
Of course one can look smart with a freshly pressed shirt and neatly smothered pants. The casual attitude should be careful of the look that is expected of him which is an acknowledgement of somebody looking at the person.
Light fabrics with well defined seam are considered to be the sign of a person who is soft with a firm approach towards his goal. It is a perfect statement in the business fraternity.
It does not cost anything to be knowledgeable about fashion. It saves one from spending otherwise in building an image which can be instantly done through a fashionable approach.
Posted By:-

ASHWANI SUHALKA PGDM 2nd Yr

Vijender becomes world number one

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh has achieved yet another first for Indian boxing by becoming the world's

top-ranked pugilist in the middle weight (75kg) category. The 23-year-old Bhiwani boxer, who won India's maiden World Championships medal in Milan earlier this month, has 200 points and is ranked higher than the reigning champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan. Atoev, to whom Vijender lost in the World Championship semifinals, is third in the list with 2100 points and Olympic silver medallist Emilio Correa Bayeux (2500) of Cuba occupies the second spot in the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) list updated after the Milan event. "I am obviously elated at being ranked the highest in the world. It's a fantastic feeling and would motivate me to do better in future events," Vijender, who broke India's Olympic jinx with his bronze in the Beijing Olympics, said. Among the other Indians, former world youth champion Thokchom Nanao Singh has slipped three places to eighth with 1400 points in the light fly weight (48kg) category. Nanao, a silver medallist in this year's Asian Championships in China, lost in the second round of the World Championships. Olympian Akhil Kumar, whose World Championships campaign was cut short in the first round itself due to a wrist injury, has gone down a rung to 10th in feather weight (57kg) category with 1050 points. Fellow Olympian Jitender Kumar (54kg) also lost some ground because of his first-round exit in Milan as he dropped a place to 14th with 838 points. Suranjoy Singh was 17th in the fly weight (51kg) category rankings. World Championship quarterfinalist Dinesh Kumar held on to his sixth spot with 1550 points in the light weight (81kg) category.

DIPANKER SUHALKA
PGDM 2ND YEAR

Pakistan to lodge 2014 bid

The Pakistan Cricket Board will bid to host the 2014 World Twenty20, their chairman Ijaz Butt has stated.
The security situation in Pakistan has prevented teams from touring the country of late, and has also meant that Pakistan lost the right to host the 2008 Champions Trophy and the 2011 World Cup.
The Champions Trophy was moved to this year and is currently taking place in South Africa, while the ICC has moved Pakistan's share of 14 matches from the 2011 World Cup out of the country to be redistributed between co-hosts India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Butt is currently attending the Champions Trophy in South Africa in a bid to lobby for the return of international cricket to Pakistan, and hopes that 2014 would present a viable opportunity for a major event such as the World Twenty20, which the national team won in England earlier this year.
Butt told Pakistani newspaper The News: "These coming few days are very important for Pakistan cricket. I am planning to attend some crucial meetings with the other board counterparts in an effort to muster up their support.
"The next two Twenty20 World Cups have been already been allotted.
"We would bid to host the 2014 event in Pakistan and hopefully by that time the conditions to host international events would be ideal in our country."
The ICC board is set to meet soon to discuss the composition of the next Future Tours Programme, and Butt revealed an agreement has already been reached to stage a number of series with local rivals India in the coming years.
He added: "The ICC has given guarantee for the series that would be organised after every two years. They have also accepted that the series could be organised at neutral venues until the time the situation improves in Pakistan."

SUDEEP SINGH
PGDMSEC-B
III-SEM

Vodafone joins the iPhone throng

Vodafone has confirmed it will be selling Apple’s iPhone in the UK and Ireland has confirmed it will be selling Apple’s iPhone in the UK and Ireland from early next year, joining Orange as notches on Jobs’s bedstead.
Vodafone will be selling the iPhone from "early 2010", and while we don't have details of tariffs and contracts, consumer groups are already falling over themselves to herald a new era of customer choice and competition-driven reductions in price. Unfortunately, Vodafone's enthusiasm to sell the iPhone has almost certainly locked the operator into a deal that puts Cupertino firmly in control.

Apple has been hawking the iPhone around operators for the last year or so, though rumours indicated that the 3GS was to be excluded from any deal. T-Mobile has been selling iPhones to its best UK customers for the last few months, and unlocked iPhones have been legitimately available for ages. However, subsidised handsets with network support have been restricted to O2, despite strong demand for the handset elsewhere.
But Apple's demands for a share of user revenue, as well as control over the pricing and marketing of their baby, put some operators off signing a deal with Cupertino. This will likely result in near-identical offerings, differing only in the colours of the attached logos.
Our understanding is that Apple not only reserves the right to get involved in pricing of handsets, but also expects "partner" operators to contribute generously to Apple-controlled advertising. This is on top of the ongoing revenue share to which operators around the world have signed up. Operators used to demand exclusivity before agreeing to such things, but such is the lure of the iPhone, that Apple can call the tune without having to offer the additional inducement of an exclusive deal.
Apple already offers the iPhone through multiple carriers in many countries, but the company is very careful to maintain control of the platform, regardless of the network from which their customers get their iPhones. Apple considers iPhone users to be Apple customers - network operators are just dumb pipes to Cupertino.
Not only dumb pipes, but dumb pipes that will pay for the privilege of bringing customers to the iTunes door: doubly surprising given Vodafone's announcement of Vodafone 360. This is supposed to engender customer loyalty - or at least reliance - neither of which applies to iPhone-touting Apple fans.
This deal will prevent a few customers from leaving Vodafone, and perhaps bring in a few more, but those customers will be loyal to Apple, not Vodafone or Orange. It may not be worth the investment that the operators have agreed to make, promoting what is rapidly becoming a competing service.
SUDEEP SINGH
PGDM SEC-B
III-SEM

Value of Time Management

Time management - make the most of every minute

Successful people know exactly how to manage their time. The more successful you get, the more you have to organize your time. And vice versa. Life is ultimately all that any of us have; time is the fabric of life. Time is the stuff from which your life is made. What you make of this precious material is down to you - wasted time is wasted life. Great time management literally can make your life great. Of course time is limited but it can feel limitless - as if we have all the time in the world.

Time is the most valuable asset you possess

What millionaire wouldn't give all their worldly possessions for just one more day alive? It's when we think we are going to lose something that it suddenly becomes valuable. Getting great time management skills is one of the most important things you can do to increase your satisfaction of life. How much time do you let leak away? People say: 'time is money' but time is also achievement, success, progress and satisfaction.

Managing your time means not wasting time on irrelevancies

Maybe your time management problems arise because you don't prioritize properly: perhaps you procrastinate or feel that you never seem to progress towards realizing your ambitions. This time management session can change all that. Anxiety, indecision, deadline pressure, habits of laziness, excess emotion, feeling overwhelmed, lack of organization and planning, being easily distracted and even perfectionism can all prevent the best possible use of your time. As can tiredness.
Time management is all about acquiring habits of excellence.

This Time Management - Value Your Time download will lay unconscious templates deep within your mind so that you'll really feel the preciousness of your time. Time wasting will be a thing of the past and you'll become more productive and work towards the fulfillment of your ambitions quicker that you thought possible.

RBI likely to start hiking rates by April 2010: Citi

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank is likely to reverse its soft rate regime by as early as April next year and increase its key policy rates by 125 basis points each by 2010-end due to rising food prices, global financial major Citigroup has said. "Headline inflation is now rising, inflation momentum is notably picking up the most in India ... Korea is still likely to hike first in Q1, 2010, followed by India and Singapore by April 2010," Citi economist Anushka Shah said in a note. Rising food prices have pushed the wholesale price-based inflation (WPI) into positive zone and the consumer price index for industrial workers into double digits, Shah said. Food accounts for 57% in CPI and 14% in WPI. Going forward, she expects prices to stay firm though improved pulse production and high foodgrain stocks could be mitigating factors. The headline WPI is likely to rise to 5% levels by December, she said. "We expect RBI to begin its policy tightening cycle in 2010 and expect 125 bps of cumulative hikes in 2010. This would take the repo and reverse repo rate to 6% and 4.50% respectively, by the end of 2010," she said. Currently, the repo rate (rate at which RBI lends to banks) is 4.75% and the reverse repo rate (at which RBI borrows from banks) is 3.25%. Since October 2008, RBI slashed 425 bps in repo rate and 175 bps in reverse repo.

POSTED BY: PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM III SEM,'B'

Banks to block all credit cards for payment default on one

NEW DELHI: Customers having multiple credit cards will now not be allowed the luxury of using either in case they default on making payments for even one, thanks to stringent measures being adopted by the banks. As per the prevalent practice, banks are blocking only that card on which there is a payment default and the other cards held by the customer are not touched. However, the banks have now revised their credit card terms and conditions, pursuant to which all the cards would be blocked if there is a payment default on even one. The country's largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank, has already informed its customers about the change, coming into effect from October 5, while other banks will soon follow the suit. As per the new terms, if a customer holds two or more cards and defaults in making payments in one of the card accounts, "ICICI Bank is authorised to block the credit limit as made available to the card member under all other ICICI Bank's card accounts as well as withdraw such privileges/ benefits as made available under all such card accounts, till such time the defaulting card account is regularised by the card member." "The card member also agrees and acknowledges that ICICI Bank shall not be required to provide any additional notice for the above," as per the revised terms. In their constant pursuit of recovering dues from credit card customers, banks recently also empowered themselves with a tool that allows them to ask employers to deduct the outstanding amount from the salary. Employees who may have defaulted on payment, however, cannot object to this deduction of dues at source, according to the new clause introduced in the 'terms and conditions' adopted by many of the banks. Such deductions will be remitted to the bank and will continue till the entire dues are recovered. The amended 'terms and conditions' say that "no law or contract" governing either the card holder or employers prevents the bank from seeking such deduction and subsequent payment by the employer to the bank. However, the new clause is applicable only for customers who default on their credit card payments. Prior notice has already been sent to all out customers to make them aware of this clause. "Only the defaulters in repayment need to be concerned and it is not of concern to regular customers," an ICICI Bank official had said.

POSTED BY: PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM III SEM, 'B'

Cost of right to education: Rs 1.78 lakh crore

NEW DELHI: After the euphoria comes the real test. The cost of implementing the historic Right to Education Act over the next five years by Centre and states works out to a whopping Rs 1.78 lakh crore. The new law will come into force from the next academic year and since right to education is now a fundamental right, it is mandatory on the part of the government to provide what is demanded. HRD ministry sources say the total demand of Rs 1.78 lakh crore when finetuned will only work out roughly to just one-third of the staggering amount. They said that nearly Rs 50,000 crore can be provided to the kitty by the Centre and states from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan fund. This brings the demand down to Rs 1.28 lakh crore. The ministry expects that in the 12th Plan nearly Rs 60,000 crore will be allocated to SSA. But this will still leave the effective demand to Rs 68,000 crore. Then again, Centre will have the tough task of persuading the states to step forward to share the cost of fulfilling the commitment. On Friday, HRD ministry sent the proposal to the finance ministry and a copy to the 13th Finance Commission for early perusal. But sources expect a long winter of discussion and negotiation with states, finance ministry and Planning Commission before it can be finalised. The focus of discussion will be the funding pattern of RTE. Currently, SSA is funded by the Centre and states in the ratio of 60:40. It will be 50:50 by the 12th Plan. In case of RTE, chief ministers are already gearing up to do a collective bargaining. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has written to PM Manmohan Singh demanding that the funding pattern for RTE should be 90:10 between Centre and states. He has circulated the letter to other CMs as well. Earlier, Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik had demanded a 75:25 funding pattern for RTE between Centre and states. Bihar has also said it cannot bear the extra burden since it is already shelling out 25% of its annual budget on education. The demand for additional Rs 68,000 crore will go towards improving the infrastructure in schools, student-teacher ratio and in hiring more teachers. While SSA has a student-teacher ratio of 40:1, RTE stipulates a ratio of 30:1. The RTE law stipulates that from class one to class five, if a school has 60 children there should be two teachers, for 61 to 90 children there should be three teachers, and for 91 to 120 children there should be four teachers. There are similar stipulations in case of buildings, working days, play material, games and sports equipment.

POSTED BY: PALLAVI SINGH
PGDM III SEM, 'B'

MARKEL WINS SECOND TERM

Paris: German voters on Sunday gave Chancellor Angela Merkel a second four-year mandate to govern the country. They also gave the right-wing coalition of Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic alliance (CDU-CSU) and the market-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) led by Guido Westerwelle a comfortable majority to form the next government. With over 14 per cent of the vote, Mr. Westerwelle has emerged as the veritable kingmaker in this election, while the Social Democrats (SPD) have suffered a crushing defeat.
The right-wing coalition won 332 of the 622 seats which will finally make up Bundestag. In Germany’s unique system of voting, each voter has two votes — one for the candidate of his choice and another for the party of his choice. The votes given to parties are then converted into seats and attributed according to the number of votes polled.
Despite winning the election, Ms. Merkel’s CDU-CSU Christian Democratic coalition has notched up its poorest electoral score since 1949, winning just 33.8 per cent of the vote. “The result is a bitter pill for the Chancellor to swallow,” the influential daily Die Welt commented.
This is, above all, a victory for the ultra-liberal FDP party and the new government’s policies are likely to see a definite shift to the right, since the Free Democrats will wield greater power within the coalition, experts say.
The campaign was so listless and boring that voter participation dropped from 77 per cent four years ago to just about 70 per cent, in a country where voters take their electoral responsibilities very seriously.
The Social Democrats (SPD) who had governed alongside Ms. Merkel in Germany’s second post-war “Grand Coalition” fared very poorly garnering only 23 per cent of the vote. The party had won 34.2 per cent of the vote in 2005. Admitting defeat, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the SPD’s leader who has served as Foreign Minister under Ms. Merkel, described the results as “a bitter disappointment” and called upon young people to breathe new life into the Social Democrats.
Their main left-wing rivals, the Die Linke party led by Oskar Lafontaine and made up of SPD dissidents, former communists and left radicals made an impressive showing with 13 per cent of the vote. The Greens validated pollsters’ predictions by winning 10 per cent of the vote but failed to make inroads into the SPD.
In a speech from her headquarters in Berlin, Ms. Merkel said: “We can celebrate our victory today. We have obtained a solid majority to form a new government with our partners the FDP and that is good. I would like to the Chancellor of all Germans, not just those who voted for us, so that we can take the country forward.”
Mr. Westerwelle described the results as “excellent” and promised he would work for “an equitable fiscal system, equal opportunity in education and for individual freedoms.”

ANSHU KUMAR
P.G.D.M-1st sem

Is time = money ?

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get rich easily, while others are destined for a life of financial struggle?
Is the difference found in their education, intelligence, skills, timing, work habits, contacts, luck, or their choice of jobs, businesses, or investments?
Is there a "money and success blueprint" out there?
There is some great discussion in response, but one reply in particular made me stop and think. One person put forth the following hypothesis:
1.Time is money 2. Knowledge is power
Physics says “Power = Work / Time”
so...
Knowledge = Work / Money
and therefore...
Money = Work / Knowledge
Well this didn't set well with me. This leads to the conclusion that the more you know, the less money you make, and that the only way to get rich is via hard work. This is simply not true empirically.
My hypothesis goes more like this:
Money = Work * Knowledge
This just makes sense. Either knowledge or work increases the money you make. If either of them approaches zero, though, so does your income.
So let's go with this for now. We'll also take the law of physics as a given, so that gives us...
Money = Power * Time * Knowledge
This rings very true. Money is power and knowledge applied over time.
So one of the original hypotheses -- those popular maxims -- must be wrong. Let's check them...
If Knowledge = Power, then...
Money = Knowledge2 * TimeorMoney = Power2 * Time
Possibly, but not obviously true. If we accept that it's impossible to have power without knowledge or knowledge without power, then I supposed it works. Let's test the other hypothesis though...
If Time = Money, then...
Power * Knowledge = 1
This implies that the more you know, the less powerful you are, and the more powerful you are, the less you know. It is again empirically obvious that this is simply not the case.
Therefore, I must conclude that in fact, time does not equal money!

POSITIVE BODY LANGUAGE IS MUST:- It's no secret that the secret to success is acting like you are successful already. Having good body language is like two voices proclaiming your praises instead of one. In addition, people are always more likely to remember what they see, and a few seconds of body movement can be worth an entire interview of words. But how does one go about getting better body language? Read the following tips to get a better idea of how to sell yourself using your posture and expression:
Stand Straight Slouching gives the impression that you have something to hide. For this reason, many evil cartoon characters are given hunches and furtive, huddling walks. Keep your head up and smile as you walk. Relax, and let your arms hang at your sides. This walk will give someone the impression that you have nothing to hide, and that you are used to being listened to.
Show Animation
Use your hands while you speak. Making hand motions increases the chances that people will pay attention to you. Also, being animated helps someone get excited about a project or story that you are describing to them. Excitement spreads, if there is someone to spread it.
Pay Attention
One of the key aspects of good body language is paying attention to someone, and also looking like you are paying attention. Nodding the head occasionally and making positive remarks will let someone know that you are interested in what they are saying. Take notes, if that is appropriate.
Speak Carefully and Slowly
When someone is nervous or unsure of themselves, they often tend to speak at a rapid pace. Speaking slowly and calmly will give someone a sense of your calm. Speaking at a moderate pace will make you look, feel and act more confident.
Make Eye Contact
Looking someone in the eye is an easy way to let them know that you are confident. Because this look is traditionally challenging, it sends the message that you are not afraid to stand up for your goals. Try not to meet the eye for too long. Maintain contact for as long as you feel is necessary, and then look somewhere else.
Keep your Body Relaxed
Tension spreads through people. When someone is nervous and tense, other people have that same sense of urgency. Take deep breaths and let yourself relax before an important meeting or date. Let arms hang loose and keep shoulders and head in a relaxed and straight position.
Break the Invisible Wall
People often keep a sphere of personal space around themselves. Stepping into this space for a minute will help gain confidence. Touching a hand, shoulder or shaking hands with a firm grasp are all signs of confidence and strength.
Use Decisive Movements
The more you appear to be in charge, the more people will approve of you. Keep your movement brisk and to the point, and you will appear to get many things done at once.
Posted by:-

ASHWANI SUHALKA(PGDM 3rd Sem)

4 Magical Ways To Build Self Confidence :

You have probably noticed those people at work, school, and in your daily life that always appear to be self confident and on top of world.
Everything seems to go right for these people and they always seem to present themselves as calm, collected and successful in everything they do.
If you are paying attention you have probably noticed that these self confident people usually are successful in every area of their lives.
Is this because they are smarter? Or is it because they have more money? Maybe they are just lucky?
The reality is that none of these things are necessarily true. Self confident people understand the impact of believing in themselves and relying on their abilities.
This confidence ultimately creates opportunities for success and with each new success another self confidence building block is put into place. Success builds upon success reinforcing self confidence with each new achievement.
Self confident people perceive themselves as able to achieve those things they set out to do and this perception creates reality in their lives.
Yes, perception creates reality. You can become the person you want to be. You have heard it said that if you can believe it you can achieve it.
So start believing in yourself, acting on that belief and you will start building self confidence in your life.
Here are some helpful tips to build self confidence one success at a time.
1. Make a list of your strong points.
All the positive things about yourself and the things that you are good at doing. Think of compliments you have received or things that come easily to you. It doesn't matter what it is, if it's good, write it down.
2. Choose two of those things that you want to work on to improve even more.
It's important to succeed and by concentrating on the areas you are already good at you will have a better chance of becoming even more sure of yourself. Remember that success builds upon success.
3. Exude confidence even if you don't feel like it.
Talk to yourself in an encouraging way and stay away from negative thoughts and people as you can.
Instead surround yourself with positive, confident, and successful people. This will become a habit and one that will build confidence.
4. Look at yourself in a different way than you are used to doing.
It can change your life and help your confidence level to rise. See yourself as the self confident person you want to be and before you know it you will become that person.
If you have a set-back do not let it get the best of you. Remember the times when you exhibited self confidence and how good it felt and then try again and each time will help you to build confidence and confidence building will become a way of life.

Posted by :-

ASHWANI SUHALKA (PGDM 3rd Sem)

Groom Up!
10 ways to a better you. Quick tips on how to enhance your personality;-Developing an impressive and attractive personality is a complex and continuous process. In any relation (temporary or permanent) one must realise that one cannot take the other for granted and neither underestimate the other. This stands true even for attracting the opposite sex.It is therefore imperative that one has to cultivate SELF both from within and outside, simultaneously. Within includes attitude, thoughts, opinions, feelings, intelligence, knowledge, appreciation, and wit. Outside includes mannerism, behaviour, cleanliness, communication skills, gait, poise, and style and dress sense.
The above strengths do not get cultivated at the press of a button. It could be natural through upbringing, grooming, family and environment for the lucky early starters. It could be a conscious effort and determination for the others. However certain pointers could always be kept in mind, which will provide an edge to the individual. Yet one must remember, that one has to accept and cultivate such pointers from within (may be gradually), as being phoney will not sustain for long and will boomerang.General Pointers:
Physical -
1. 1. Be Healthy and clean; smell well.
2. 2. Dress well befitting the occasion. Choose clothes that suit your physique.
3. 3. Check on your walking style, standing & sitting postures.
Intellectual -
4. 4. Read well - newspapers, magazines of all sorts, other good books.
5. 5. Be aware of the happenings around - social, cultural, political, economical.
6. 6. Be understanding and balanced - this will get across to people.
7. 7. Develop Communication Skills
Behavioural -
8. 8. Check on your manners, courtesies - politeness.
9. 9. Your style of speaking. Be a good listener and less critical. 10. Have a smiling and pleasant face .

Posted by :-

ASHWANI SUHALKA (PGDM 3rd Sem )

How To Manage Your Time

Time management is an art and it is certainly, not easy to perfect it. In the rush to do things on time, we often fall short of our own expectations. There is so much on our mind at any given point of time and it seems, to seek an organized life is like asking for the moon. However, once you know how to manage your time properly, things start falling into place. You will be able to fulfill all your responsibilities and will not feel frustrated due to a dearth of time for everything. Read the article for some useful tips on how to manage your time well as it is very much like managing your life.

Time Management Tips

Make A Time-Table For The Day
It might sound a little clichéd but it is the basic and most realistic way to begin with. Make a time-table for yourself listing the tasks that you have to complete in a day. It is like a to-do list which will keep reminding you what’s on the agenda for the day. If you struggle to remember things, a time-table will be of immense help. Accordingly, one can set deadlines for accomplishing one’s tasks. However, it is also mandatory to stick to your time-table to achieve the desired results.

Prioritize
Setting your priorities right is very important for being able to manage your time. Determine your priorities to know things that are to be done on a priority basis and what can be delayed for the later part of the day or the week. Sticking to the time-table will not help much if one fails to determine the order in which the tasks are to be done. You may not be able to finish off everything within the stipulated time limit and therefore, it is advisable to begin with tasks that you can’t afford to procrastinate.

Pitch In All The Factors
Sometimes, we fail to factor in, the transportation time and preparation required to get ready to perform a task. In that case, our task will take more time that what we might have assumed and consequentially, we’ll struggle to stick to the time table we have prepared. It is important to mull over all such factors which are capable of eating away a considerable time.

Delegate Responsibilities
Due to a paucity of time, it becomes important to delegate your chores than assuming that no one can do things better than you. It is not a wise thing to do, if managing time is your call. Delegation of responsibilities to juniors and colleagues will be, especially, beneficial at the official level.

Take A Breather
Don’t drown yourself in the sea of responsibilities you have to carry out. You will end up feeling stressed out and totally spent. In a day filled with a maddening flurry of activities, it is essential to take a time-out or break to rejuvenate yourself. Always remember that working to the limit is not the sole aim of your existence. Take a breather, whenever necessary.

Posted by:-

ASHWANI SUHALKA (PGDM 3rd Sem)

Inflation rises to 0.37% on higher food prices

Inflation further rose to 0.37% for the week ended September 12 from 0.12% in the previous week dueto increasing prices of essential food items.The wholesale price-based inflation stood at 12.42% during the corresponding week a year ago. Among items that got costlier during the week include mutton, spices, wheat, maize, sugar, mustard oil and gur. On the annual basis, prices of potatoes were up by 14.87%, onions by about 20%, cereals by 11.39% and milk by 7.35%. At the same time, rice got costlier by 14.94%, wheat by 5.12% and pulses by 15%. Although inflation continues to remain below one%, the 52-week average inflation for the week ended September 12 was at 3.22%. Inflation for the week ended July 18 has been revised upward to (-)0.54% from (-)1.54% estimated provisionally.
SUDEEP SINGH
PGDMSEC-B III SEM

India to have UNESCO-supported institute to promote peace

NEW DELHI: India will be the first country in the Asia-Pacific to have a world-class institute in collaboration with UNESCO for promotion of peaceand sustainable development.The Executive Board of UNESCO has approved India's proposal to set up Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development in Delhi, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said on Wednesday. A Category-I institute, it will foster a culture of peace through education, promote sustainable economic and social development and respect for human rights. It will work on several areas, including global warming and non-proliferation. "For the first time since UNESCO was set up, a Category-1 institute in the Asia-Pacific region has been approved by the Executive Board of UNESCO. It will be cleared at the general conference of UNESCO in October," Sibal said. The government will invest Rs 100 crore while UNESCO will put in $500,000 to set up the institute, Sibal said. At present, there are 11 UNESCO Category-I institutes and most of them are located in developed countries. The institute will do research on Gandhian thoughts on social justice, equity and peace. "Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy is central to the concept of peace and development. The thoughts of Gandhi should guide future civilisation. The institute will work on all aspects of Gandhian philosophy," Sibal said. UNESCO had sent two teams for appraisal of the proposal this year. Category-I institutes are an integral part of UNESCO and are governed by UNESCO's rules and regulations. These institutes are designed to serve as centres of excellence and expertise in the area of specialisation to members states and to contribute to UNESCO's programmes, objectives and strategies. The board of management will comprise 12 members, including seven from Asia Pacific region.
SUDEEP SINGH
PGDM SEC-B III SEM

ONGC projects production to rise 15 per cent by 2012-13

NEW DELHI: For the first time in several years, state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has projected a 15 per cent increase in its oil production
to 29 million tonnes by 2012-13 and said it will invest over Rs 50,000 crore in developing new oil and gas fields. ONGC's domestic oil production had been stagnant at around 24-25 million tonnes for the past several years as output from ageing fields like Mumbai High entered the natural decline phase. "We are investing heavily in improving recovery from our oil fields and developing new ones," ONGC Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma told reporters here. "Crude oil production is likely to increase to more than 29 million tonnes in 2012-13 from 25.4 million tonnes in 2008-09." Natural gas production is slated to rise more rapidly, first to 72 million standard cubic meters per day in 2012-13 and then to 100 mmscmd by 2015-16. ONGC's current gas output is at about 62 mmscmd. ONGC, he said, would invest over Rs 50,000 crore by 2012 in developing new oil and gas fields and increasing output from existing ones. "We have managed to arrest natural decline to a great extent by Improved Oil Recovery and Enhanced Oil Recovery campaign and redevelopment projects. More than Rs 30,000 crore has been invested in these since 2000," he said.
SUDEEP SINGH
PGDM SEC-B III SEM

Thought for the day(2)

"A compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly, unless you want to hurt the giver."

"That's the key to having it all: stop expecting it to look like what you thought it was going to look like."

"If there exists no possibility of failure, then victory is meaningless."

"In the long run men hit only what they aim at."
"The business of life is to enjoy oneself."
"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine."
"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."
"Success is the ability to close the door on your past, regardless of your failures and move ahead."
"Kindness is the noblest weapon to conquer with."
"Individually, we are one drop, together, we are an ocean"

More Likely to Have Positive Impact Than Negative

Online reputation management company RatePoint released some findings from a released some results from a survey on customer reviews. The company reports that customer reviews are six times more likely to impact a business positively than negatively.

"Consumers love to see the unedited reviews of their peers when making purchase decisions," said Neal Creighton, CEO of RatePoint. "Proactively asking for feedback and promoting it to prospective customers can significantly impact the decision-making process."

Here are some stats from the survey:

- 24 percent of small businesses say an online review has had a positive impact

- 4 percent of SMBs reported a negative business impact from an online review

- Approximately 31 percent of small-business owners say they are not sure if an online review has impacted their business

- More than half of small businesses surveyed reported perceiving a decline in business due to the current economic climate

- 20 percent report growth

- 24 percent report no change

- Of those who responded that a review had positively impacted their business, 55 percent reported business growth or no change in business

- Of those who responded they could not be sure if a review had impacted their business, 71 percent reported a perceived decline in business

"Participating in online conversations is a low-cost, high-return marketing tool for SMBs," Creighton said. "With the summer and hospitality business is in full swing, now is the time to capture and promote what customers are saying about you. In the reputation economy, it's in a small business' best interests to use these conversations that are already occurring as a way to build trust and stand out from their competitors."

It can be hard to accept survey results as indicative of the world at large, but the numbers are what they are. It's an interesting look at the impact of customer reviews. If you are going to openly try to get customer reviews, you would be wise to offer a product you are proud to stand behind.

ANSHU KUMAR
P.G.D.M-1st sem

Snaps of teachers' day

world record

Will more Indians will eat better in 2009?

2008 was a rotten year for food prices. Prices climbed so high that very few could eat as well as they might have. The worst hit were families that came to cities and towns looking for jobs. From growing their own food, even if it was on one-acre plots, they had shifted to the market economy where food could only be bought from shops. With prices being what they were, depending on shops meant misery and malnutrition all round.
But the financial crisis of 2009 may not hit these urban poor as much. And things would only get better from now on, says the US government. But will it?
A new report by the US Department of Agriculture says:
"The Asian food-security outlook over the next 10 years indicates that just over 20 percent of this region’s population will remain food insecure. After averaging 2 percent per year throughout the 1990s, Asia’s population growth is projected to slow to about 1.4 percent per year through the next decade, thereby reducing pressure on resources. The expected improvement in the food-security situation in India will be the dominant factor in this projection. In 2000, an estimated 20 percent of India’s population fell short of nutritional requirements. By 2018, however, this share is projected to be only 10 percent, or 135 million people.
The country’s population growth, which averaged about 1.7 percent per year during the 1990s, is projected to average under 1.4 percent during the next decade. The Government of India places a high priority on reducing poverty and improving food security by raising agricultural productivity. The country’s economic and trade reforms in the 1990s helped to improve agricultural production incentives, but overregulation of domestic markets has increased costs, limiting incentives in the agricultural sector. The potential to increase food production is large, however. Currently, India’s yields for rice, a staple food, are at a level about one-third of China’s and one-half of those in Vietnam and Indonesia."
The report basically makes the point that with slower population growth and better farm productivity, India can manage alright. In short, grow more food and reduce the number of mouths. And voila, you have a solution.
My point is what about shop-bought food in cities. Shops could be overflowing with grains, milk, fruits, vegetables, but if a family doesn't have enough money to buy, what's changed? And this will be the story of more and more families who migrate to cities, where costs of living are significantly higher compared to villages. Until these families are able to earn more, they will continue to remain food insecure. That means they will each eat less than 2100 calories a day, the minimum needed to stay alive and do your normal work.
And millions more will join their ranks in the coming years. We all know the reasons why. Poverty is getting worse in our cities. India and China together have 37% of the world's slums, by the way.
To make matters worse, income disparities are increasing. When a large number of people can afford to buy ordinary parmal rice at Rs 50/kg while an equally large number finds even Rs 2/kg a burden because they earn less than Rs 50 a day, you know the gap will soon widen to breaking point. Even ration shops are now harder to find in cities while slums are rapidly bloating.
The financial slowdown in 2009, in fact, seems like a weapn of destruction specifically targeted at the urban poor.When factories, shops, small businesses and services cut costs, their least paid and least skilled employees are the first to get axed. Contractors at building sites lay off entire families with alacrity. All this means that people who were able to make do last year, are now on the streets, desperate and hopeless. The rise in urban thefts, crime and alcoholism are symptoms of this fresh trauma in 2009.
Unless we do something to help the urban poor directly, I don't think we can reduce India's food insecurity in any significant way. Last time I checked, no one was paying too much attention to the urban poor. All the schemes and subsidies - credit, healthcare, insurance, housing, education, employment, self-help groups, and income transfers - were all directed at rural India.
We seem to assume that by simply moving out of its village, a family automatically reaches Emerald City, that beautiful capital of the Land of Oz, and is therefore, in no further need of our attention. But poverty is a far more dogged companion. And equally ugly everywhere. It's time charity began closer home.

POSTED BY: PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM 3 SEM, 'B'

WORK FOR A BETTER WORLD

A LOT IS SAID AND WRITTEN WHEN THE HIGHER RANKS OF LARGE ORGANISATIONS GET INVOLVED IN SOCIAL WORK. BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CHIPPING IN ACTIVELY TOWARDS ISSUES OF SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, WITHOUT MAKING MUCH NOISE! “EMPLOYEE PHILANTHROPY” IS THE LATEST TREND CATCHING UP IN INDIA INC.

It’s said that it’s always better to give than receive. In social psychology the term reciprocity represents the ideal that positive actions will inspire reciprocal positive actions. A theory that is encouraging many employees of corporate India to go beyond just making money. They aspire to make a difference to the community, while helping their organisation with the responsibility revolution (read: CSR initiatives). In doing so, employees affirm, they learn critical career enhancing skills like leading through tough times, managing with few resources and inspiring others with a common sense of purpose. Tushar Guha, Founder & MD, Nrityanjali Management Services (NMS), a training and consultancy firm says that being a part of any philanthropic activity creates a sense of belonging for the employee, builds teamspirit and ultimately, enhances employee productivity. Girish Dalvi, Head-Operations, who organises several cultural events for the residents of old age homes and orphanages couldn’t have agreed more. “I spend a lot of time performing folk and classical dances for them,” he says. “Being a part of such initiatives has given me tremendous confidence and even enhanced my communication skills. It has also helped me become a better administrator. I am also able to understand, appreciate and accept different viewpoints, as I have become more sensitive towards the needs of others.” “Other than being a provider of information technology services and business solutions, Perot Systems also works with ‘Deeksha’ (an NGO that addresses environmental and educational issues). Their association with the NGO has provided employees a new outlook to life and a framework for character building. Though, being a team leader at Perot has helped me achieve a lot in my career, my role as the service project coordinator at Deeksha has helped me become a better employee,” says Madhavi, Team Leader, Perot Systems. “The children I worked with at Deeksha have helped me perceive things, in a more positive light and also, changed my approach towards my work, in a good way,” she adds. “Volunteering programmes that use and hone skills are an effective and inexpensive professional development tool. Fostering team spirit is possibly one of the most visible qualities that emanate when employees participate in community programmes,” says Deepanshu Sharma, GM Marketing Strategy, AMD, a Bangalore based micro-processor provider. AMD has been a part of many initiatives, including working with non-profit organisations like ‘Trees-for-Free’, ‘People for Animals’ and ‘Parikrma Humanity Foundation’, which is dedicated to the cause of providing topquality English education to poor children. “Being a part of these philanthropic activities has made me realise that every small story of their success acts as an encouragement tool and gives us hope to keep our commitment towards achieving milestones by marginalising our problems. The process of leading the community activities at AMD has given me an opportunity to hone my leadership and inter-personal skills,” says Milind Nagda, Senior Design Engineer at AMD. As these cases illustrate, employees now want to work for and support organisations that share their ethical values, besides other things. They also want to be part of a cause that can make a bigger difference to their work experience.

POSTED BY :PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM 3 SEM, 'B'

Why companies hate a drought: Show me the money,

Come on, confess. Aren’t you convinced that someone somewhere is profiting from the sharp rise in your monthly food budget? Don’t you just hate companies that market and process essential commodities for making things tough? The government is equally convinced too.
But mention profits to a company in the food and commodity business these days and its managers sigh. If only. And that’s really the biggest absurdity this year.
Even though the country is in the throes of an official drought, for most large and rule-abiding players in the sector there was hardly any extra money to be made in the summer of 2009.
In some commodities there was over supply. So profits were never a possibility. Exhibit A is wheat. There is so much wheat in the market currently that the price doesn’t fully reimburse handling and interest costs. Millers in the South complain that a lot of the subsidized wheat meant for ration shops is ending up in private chakkis, which has depressed prices. But no one is listening. As long as atta and maida stay cheap, the government can live with it.
In some cases, consumers are more spooked by the scarcity psychosis. Things are not actually so bad. Take chana, gur, spices, vegetable oils, and potatoes. On commodity exchanges, prices of their future contracts for October, November and December are steadily higher than prices for the September contract. When people see this steady rise in prices, they believe it confirms a shortage.
On the contrary, it shows that processors and traders have adequate supply right now to meet demand. All they need is an assurance that stocks will be available later at reasonable prices. So the market is rewarding anyone who builds up inventory over the next few months.
Had there been a real scramble, prices in the near months would have been much higher than those in later months because every one would have paid a premium for immediate delivery. So currently, no one can milk over-the-top profit in these commodities.
Then there is sugar, which has become a bit like the emperor’s new clothes. Analysts say they can see profits coming in the new season. Yet no one has been able to pin point from where. India is dreadfully short of sugar, and consumers and the government can’t be blamed for believing that if it is selling for Rs 35/kg, somebody is certainly fattening off sugar. Sugar barons themselves have boasted to shareholders that every Re 1-per-kilo rise in retail prices would add tens of crores to bottom lines. They may be in for a rude shock.
It was easier to make money in the 2008-09 season because the industry started out with about 10 mn tonnes sugar that was made when cane was cheaper and sold when wholesale prices were zooming. Those who refined imported raw sugar further boosted profits.
But things may not be so smooth in the 2009-10 season that starts October 1. For one, there will be barely 2 mn t unsold sugar lying in godowns. So the strategy of selling cheaper stocks at a hot new price is all but dead.
Moreover, India is expected to produce maximum 15 million t sugar. But it has the capacity to make 26 mn t. This means the industry would be operating at virtually half its capacity for a shorter period because cane is almost certain to run out sooner, after buying raw material (aka cane) at record prices to stop it from getting diverted to gur or worse, fodder. If the levy quota is raised to 20%, mills will be left with even less to profit from open market prices.
In short, higher fixed cost and higher raw material cost will get loaded on to each kilo made and sold locally. However, margins will be capped by competition and by imported ready-to-eat refined sugar. So while consumers will pay more, companies may not be profiting as much. Some companies will certainly do well. But their number won’t be large. Lastly, there are commodities where companies had genuine opportunity to help tide over the shortage through free trade. But they fell victim to government meddling. Take pulses. States began the onslaught by imposing such absurdly low stock limits on traders and processors that you were left doing business in single truck loads. Then they sent police to ‘crack down’ on hoarders in a script straight from those Eighties potboilers where the ‘lala’ owned dingy godowns stacked with precious foodgrain and vegetable oil. The raids made no difference because inventories weren’t there.
Now Delhi has muscled in. It has forbidden companies from storing imported pulses (and sugar too) for more than three days at government-owned ports and warehouses. This means a cargo of 50,000 t has to be unloaded from the ship and moved out of the port within 72 hours. Given current infrastructure and the lack of private godowns in Kolkata and Mumbai, where 70% pulses land, such a rule says just one thing to companies: stop importing pulses (and sugar). Or we will get you. Sure. Some companies already have. How this menacing attitude makes dals cheaper food ministry won’t say. Truth is despite the filmy stereotypes and the consumer paranoia assiduously nurtured by the government, no company loves a drought. It muddies the waters too much. The annual corporate production, sales and profit numbers get shot to hell. Nightmares of raid keep managers awake at night.
From the potato farmer struggling with spiralling labour and diesel costs to large companies with squeezed margins, everyone is waiting for 2009 to go away so that they can get back to business as usual. Except government babus, that is. For them, each change in the rule book is a potential personal economic stimulus package. Plus, they love the flood of meetings.
POSTED BY : PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM 3 SEM, 'B'

A week long affair…

A SIX-DAY WEEK IS PASSE, AS MORE AND MORE ORGANISATIONS ACROSS INDIA INC. STRIVE TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES STRIKE A WORK-LIFE BALANCE WITH A 5-DAY WEEK, FINDS OUT RAMIYA BHAS
The five day battle… While many organisations are now catching up with the trend of allowing their employees to work for five days a week, there are still some that feel that bringing the week down to 5-days brings down employee productivity. “We follow the five day week and prefer it that way. We focus on higher employee productivity and efficiency, than hours spent doing a particular job,” says Mona Gupta, Senior Manager-HR, Cincom Systems, India. Kaushal Mashruwala, Managing Director, Savvion India, concurs with Gupta and adds that they allow their employees to pick a day, on which they can telecommute and work from home. Organisations that have followed this norm swear by its efficacy, and say they prefer it this way as they want their employees to get the much deserved break from the hectic work routine. “The five day work week gives employees the necessary break from a demanding work environment and thus is a bigger draw when compared to a six-day work week. We recognise and appreciate the importance of work-life balance and thus we prefer the Monday - Friday work cycle. Though this concept was once more acceptable in the old economy, it has become a point of controversy now. This is largely because IT companies which follow the new people driven economy believe in investing in the well being of their employees and work life balance has become a critical complement to the success of professionals at the work place,” concurs Anita Venugopal, VP, HR, SAP Labs India. However, Venugopal and most industry experts say that if there is a need to finish an assignment on a short deadline, they encourage their employees to come in on the weekends and complete the desired assignment. “Many professionals sometimes come into work on Saturdays despite company policy, to complete pending assignments amongst others,” she explains. Productivity matters The most important thing for an organisation to be successful is to meet the desired results. However, organisations have realised that though work is important, so are the employees and that their personal lives should not be hampered by excessive work. To help their employees get this work life balance, organisations have lesser working days. Does working only five days a week hamper the productivity and the outcome of an employee? While many think so, experts say that this thought is irrelevant and only a mindset as work gets done at its own time. “Productivity requires good planning and time management skills. If people set longer timelines to complete work, they tend to stretch. When there is lesser time, the same work can get done sooner also,” explains Gupta. Mashruwala adds, “In the IT industry, productivity is state of mind while you are working. You can’t have better productivity, given the circumstances, with six-days working over a long period of time. Of course, there are project deadlines and to meet them employees do have to put in that extra effort on short term basis.” Gupta further adds, “Work and productivity depends on business requirement and planning. If there is a sudden situation that demands that switch, it should be done. If it is a practice, set as a result of trying to do things in a rush, at the last minute, due to inadequate planning, it only stresses employees. That, in any case, reduces productivity.” Venugopal adds to this and says that many IT companies across the globe work only on weekdays as they find it mutually beneficial for them as no business takes place during the weekends. She also adds, “It’s better not to keep on switching between five - six working days. Rather than doing so, they can keep a five-day week constant and pitch for benefits on coming into work on weekends. Our experience with employees is that they are responsible enough when it comes to coming in on weekends if they need to work, without being forced to by company policies.” For the employees While many organisations believe in taking different stands, for employees it’s a whole different ball game. Experts say that most employees prefer choosing an employer who gives them those two days of leave as compared to just having the Sunday off. They say that it helps the employees to strike a work-life balance and spend some time with their families and their wards. “We no longer have jobs that are typically nine to five. Due to global set ups and different working zones, the whole week, irrespective of what time the office gets over, people tend to carry their work with them. That gives them hardly any time for themselves/ families on week days,” explains Gupta. “Employees have strong family commitment with parents or children. A 6-day working model takes a toll on family’s emotional and relational wellbeing. The new people driven economy offers far more options to balance work and home life. It is time that employers take advantage of these flexible options while re-establishing a healthy balance in employees’ personal and professional life,” adds Venugopal. Mashruwala adds to this and says that five days of work put in by an individual with a relaxed mind is more productive than six days of work put in by an exhausted mind. And time away on the weekend gives the employees a chance to have time to pursue other interests. Employees feel more relaxed and when a new week begins, they come in refreshed and energetic. In the end, experts contend that with a five-day week organisations add more value to the employees’ life. While, it is a matter of company policy, in this day and age of people centric organisations, HR managers need to grab every opportunity to make Monday mornings something to look forward to.



POSTED BY: PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM 3 SEM 'B'

Guest lecture

Date:15/09/09
Time: 3PM to 5 PM

In these Tough Times………
Seminar- Workshop for students


Due to recession for each job posting there are ten qualified applicants waiting to fill the positions!! That means you will have to compete with more talented people for the same job!!
The workshop In these Tough Times…. held in IIMT College of Management, Gr.Noida for students looking forward for their first job!

Introduction of Guests :
Ms.Surabhi: Graduate from Bits-Pilani, and have long association with educational NGO’s and have worked in state of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi. Have experience with MNC as design engineer and now acting as founder of MeracareerGuide.com.
Contact: surabhi@meracareerguide.com

Mr.Love Chopra: He has done engineering in the measures of I.T.,after that he has started his professional career. Now he is responsible for recruiting I.T. professional. In 2008 Presently working with Computer Science Corporation (CSE) India, and involved in a great venture called MeracareerGuide.com.
Contact: lovechopra@meracareerguide.com

At the on set honourable Mr. G. Kathuria introduce the guest to the students.The subject of guest lecture was how to get job in the present market scenario.
Ms. Surabhi started the seminar by asking students about their career outlook and what are benefits of doing PGDM or MBA.
She gave tips on making effective c.v. and also clarified the difference between job requirements for PGDM students and other students.
She also shared interview tips and explained how a person should behave in front of interviewer, what should be the body language and dressing sense of a person at the time of interview.
There were many queries from the students regarding c.v. and last minute interview tips to which she gave her views and solutions. Some queries were also replied by Mr. Love Chopra.
To close the lecture By Ms. Surabhi shared their mail id & contact information to clarifies any query at later stage.
The seminar was very informative and all students are benefited by this seminar.

India launches warship 'INS Kochi'

India's latest addition to the Navy - warship INS Kochi, a Delhi-class destroyer, was inaugurated on Friday. This is the second warship of ‘Project 15-A’, built by Mazgaon Dock Limited. Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma on Friday said a serious relook at the inefficiencies of Navy is required and an indigenous warship building system needs to be conceptualised. Verma said, "Fluctuating funding in the past has compelled the Navy to resort to (warship) building in abroad, but now there is an urgent need to emulate worldwide trends in warship building (in the country)." The 6,500-tonne INS Kochi, launched by Verma's wife Madulika, is the second warship in the 'Project 15-A' under which three guided-missile destroyers with stealth and multi-role features will be built. "The destroyer has been launched using pontoon-assisted technique, employed for the first time in the history of indigenous warship building. The technique helps in overcoming slipway constraints which hinder heavier vessel movement into deeper waters for fitting its superstructures such as decks," chairman and managing director of Mazgaon Dock H S Malhi said. INS Kochi has advanced stealth features that make it less vulnerable to detection by enemy radar. Its weapons system include nuclear capable supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile.

DIPANKER SUHALKA
PGDM 2ND YEAR

Scope of Foreign Language Courses

In the current era of globalization and industrialization, difference in language is an obstacle in communication. Everyone should be comfortable while talking with another person whether he is from our own country or from abroad. Knowledge of at least one foreign language is the demand and need of rapidly changing time. Language skill is very essential in the professions like travel and tourism industry, hotels, business etc. Realizing this fact, several institutes have started the courses regarding foreign languages. Most of the people are attracted towards this career option due to wide of foreign language courses. India is rapidly progressing in the field of foreign languages.Scope of foreign language courses in India Career in foreign languages is a good choice for a bright future. India has many well-established international companies. These companies require foreign language expertise for transactions, reporting and translation of documents. Due to amazing scope of foreign language courses, they are gaining tremendous popularity among the people.
Knowledge of foreign language is considered as an additional qualification. Once the individual gets trained in foreign languages, many job opportunities in different fields are waiting for him. The employment options are available in teaching, diplomatic services, travel and tourism, air hostesses and flight stewards, interpreters, translators in Government sectors, industries and Research Organizations, in hotels, multi-national companies and as Public Relation Officers. Foreign language courses in India Due to vast scope in foreign language courses, plenty of students opt for courses in various languages. Some of the major languages that are taught in India are French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Persian. Bachelor's degree course in foreign language is 3-year full time program. The candidate should have completed 10+2 in any discipline. Integrated Master's course in foreign languages is the five years program. The graduate or undergraduate students can apply for the course. Diploma or Certificate courses of 6 months to 1 year are also available. After completion of bachelor's course, one can progress for M.A. M.Phil and Ph.D program in foreign language. Institutes in India offering foreign language courses Considering the increasing of foreign language courses, majority of the colleges in India have started various courses. Some of the popular institutes in India are School of Languages in Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, University of Pune, Benaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, Alliance Francasie, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages in Hyderabad, Ram Krishna Mission in Kolkata and Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai.

BY: ASIM SINGHAL

PGDM IIIrd