Showing posts with label IIPM NEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IIPM NEWS. Show all posts

Friday, October 05, 2012

The Faculty Dearth Goes On

Indian B-Schools are Facing an Acute Crisis of a Faculty Crunch and if Steps On War Footing are not Undertaken, Indian B-Schools might fall short of their Own Quality Benchmarks Themselves

When it started in India a few decades back, it was ‘just another professional course’. Soon Indian management education took the entire world of management by a storm. But as things stand, it stands at a juncture where it might get lost into oblivion in the coming years. The reason can be explained by simple demand and supply economics. The coming up of a number of management institutes in India has in a way afflicted the entire B-school with a unique problem – a problem that has given rise to an acute dearth of quality faculty. As per statistics, there were 600 colleges offering 70,000 MBA seats in 2000. However, by the end of 2009, the number increased to 1,400 colleges offering 120,000 seats. Even considering that one institute needs about 35-50 full-time faculties, 1,400 institutes would need roughly 70,000 professors. In a country of 1.2 billion, that would seem like a small number. But only 40% of this demand is being met currently and the rest is met through part-time visiting faculty.

While one reason for quality personnel avoiding the academic field is clearly the low salaries in India (see chart for the salaries international professors get), another is plainly lack of Ph.Ds. As per the emerging trend in the last decade, B-schools have gradually turned towards taking the services of industry professionals who can bring hands on experience from their respective fields to share real-life experiences within the framework of the theoretical models existing in text books. But the biggest drawback of the presence of a huge number of guest faculties in Indian B-schools is the lack of extensive and quality research work that could prove to be the knowledge base of the future. This is because guest faculty work on per lecture or per class basis and do not have the time or the interest to leave their high paying jobs in the corporate world to indulge in quality research within the university or institute.

Even Dr. Vijay Govindarajan, Professor of International Business at Tuck School of Business and founding director of Tuck’s Center for Global Leadership sounds his concern (read his interview in this cover story package). According to him, the quality of Indian management faculty is abysmal. “The student quality is world-class and as good as Harvard or Wharton. But the quality of faculty is abysmal because there is no research culture in India. If you don’t research, you keep teaching the same things over and over again. Research is the process of discovering knowledge, without which, you are retelling someone else’s ideas.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
 
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS: SUCCESSION

 An IPO in the pipeline means that the US government could be well on its way to make a swift exit from running GM. This portends positive tidings for GM, which is recovering on the numbers. But a far more daunting challenge is looming up on the horizon. By Pawan Chabra

The company has also said in its S-1 filing sent to B&E, “Operating in a large number of different regions and countries exposes us to political, economic, and other risks as well as multiple foreign regulatory requirements.” There is no denying that the strategy of dumping brands like Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Hummer has fetched success to the company in no time. While the IHS Global Insight research report forecasts global vehicle sales to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0% from 2009 to 2015, GM has returned to profits even after the vehicle sales are running about 25% below the recent historical trends. In fact, it is expected that when the consumer sentiment improves further, the auto major will scale new heights in the coming times. Similarly, the rating agency, Moody’s has remarked in its global automotive outlook update, “Compared to where the industry was a year ago, when General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. were in the throes of bankruptcy protection, and when many economies were still in recession, the turnaround in volume sales, demand, and to a lesser extent in pricing, has been faster than we anticipated.”

But the challenges that GM faces today is even beyond getting its IPO right on the bourses. Ensuring a sustainable sales performance will be a relatively easier task with the launching of fuel-efficient and competitively priced models; but the larger problem of succession planning is what could be a much more daunting concern in the coming time. The appointment of Dan Akerson on September 1, 2010 got the fourth CEO for GM on board in the past 18 months (see table). Akerson has taken control to ensure a smooth comeback of the company from Ed Whitacre Jr., a former telecom executive despite the fact that the telecom executive turned PE expert has never run a heavy-industrial company in his career so far (forget about one of the size GM’s operations).

The major problem that GM has been through is to find a suitable leader to run GM successfully. Whitacre was selected by the US Treasury, and apparently wasn’t planning to be there for the long term. So it was decided that the company should pitch a more stable leader before the IPO. Even auto czar Steven Rattner, who led the Treasury Department’s auto task force, has written a book ‘Overhaul: An insider’s Account of the Obama Administration’s Rescue of the Auto Industry’; mentioning the difficulty of finding someone to manage the world’s largest automaker.

For the ones who haven’t heard about Rattner’s role in the scheme of things that often, he was the one who went through, among other things, the daunting task of finding GM’s next CEO; a job that was rejected by the likes of Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. Rattner fired Rick Wagoner as the Chairman and CEO of GM, and promoted Henderson as his replacement and eventually appointed Whitacre as the Chairman & CEO of the auto major. However, after Whitacre’s unexpected exit in August, Rattner was pushed again in a tight spot. And as finding an outsider would have taken much more time with the IPO development looming, Rattner decided to go with Akerson as he was one of the most promising names on the board of the company. In the book to be published on October 14, Rattner points out that Akerson himself had declined the offer of being the CEO of GM twice (as he neither wanted to leave his PE job at the Carlyle Group nor move to Detroit); before he finally opted to take up the role. GM may be back to learning the ways of the market, but it’s hard to say that all is well with a hesitant General at the helm, and little view on the leadership. Where in heavens is Plan B?


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, August 31, 2012

INDIA’S 100 MOST PROFITABLE COMPANIES

John Danner, Senior Fellow, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
 
Conversely, big company managers need to understand what it takes to really listen to customer’s needs and wants, be willing to improvise as well as maintain high quality consistency, and give their people freedom to explore as well as execute new ideas. These are precisely the skills and culture that entrepreneurs relish, whether by personal style or market necessity or both.

But, today’s business schools train students to manage the enterprises of yesterday’s successful entrepreneurs. Classes focus on the issues involved in running large, established companies. Indeed, many MBA graduates see their future careers in the offices and cubicles of these firms. The crucible for both entrepreneurship and innovation usually requires experimentation, failure, reformulation and resilience. Reality is probably the best teacher for this.

Even business schools can provide such a crucible, by encouraging students to “creatively collide” with one another’s ideas, and experiment with their business visions early and often knowing that failures are highly likely but also represent superb learning opportunities to improve strategies for later efforts. The more interdisciplinary the crucible, the better opportunities for experimenting and learning at an early stage.

Profound economic growth, not to mention meaningful improvements in global security and environmental sustainability, will not come from today’s markets in the developed world; it will come from new ventures, products and services focused on the needs and aspirations of the four billion people who now live on less than $10 a day. This is where the future and fate of capitalism resides.

That’s the entrepreneurial challenge for which B-schools need to prepare their students, whether as future CEOs and business managers responsible for ensuring their large corporations survive for another generation, or as would-be entrepreneurs courageous enough to create the next “Power 100s” of the world.


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

POWER: TRANSMISSION LOSS

T&D losses and power theft have to be addressed in a flagrantly strict manner – arrest the power stealers and publicise their conviction

They not only trouble consumers but also lead to huge financial losses. Assocham estimates that 1/3rd of the investments in the 11th five year plan is wasted because of T&D losses.

Regulation over return has hurt private interests in T&D which needs to change. Privatization of the distribution process has helped states like Delhi and parts of Maharashtra, but the model has not been successful in Orissa. The reason is that state electricity boards play a role in regulating tariffs and political interests come into play, which discourages private companies from investing. States like Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, which are considering giving their power grid to private hands, must keep this in mind.

But there’s a shortcut to all this. Start arresting power stealers and publicise this in a big way to reduce power theft. It worked for reducing drunk-driving, it’ll work for this too.


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Only a united world can fight global terrorism and usher in peace

Take for instance, GPS and satellite phone that can be used from any part of the world, making it unfeasible for the victim country to track the devices. In such cases, almost all countries need to come together and share information about any susceptible movements.

A report released on December 3, 2008, titled 'World at Risk' talks about possible Taj AttackWMDs attack on US soil in the next few years to come. The same report states that "were one to map terrorism and weapons of mass destruction today, all roads would intersect in Pakistan" and bluntly singles out Pakistan as a prime suspect.

Rice's recent visit was primarily aimed at decreasing the chances of next attack on the US soil. However, it also acts an opportunity for Pakistan to undo its age-old image of being a pro-terrorist country. But will Pakistan, with the help of Ms Rice and thus US, eliminate its domestic terror camps and further help the world fight against terrorism? Time can never tell, but the sooner it is, the better!....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 08, 2009

What is the point in creating when there’s so much of pain and uncertainty around?

And, if you leave out some of these mad men, we do have a reasonably stable democracy that is now being repeatedly invaded by barbaric medieval folk whose every act is redolent of Stone Age cruelties. Snuffing out innocent lives is their idea of life. This “idea” is not about living, it is about dying! You have to confront this at close range to feel the hurt and angst that we in Mumbai do.

The only kind of reflection that makes any sense after all this is the one that promises to throw up credible solutions. What civil society needs is to find actionable inputs – and to ask those who are responsible for our safety, why on earth have they failed to create terror-proof mechanisms? Why are cops still armed with World War I rifles and defective gear, while the terrorists have no trouble barging into high-security areas armed with sophisticated automatic rifles, grenades and RDX? How come there was no attack in America after 9/11 and why is it that China never sees such acts of terror?

The civilised among us live in inclusive societies built around all kinds of freedoms. Without these rights – including the one that helps us create – life for us is meaningless. Yet as we are today, we feel thankful if we manage to survive till the next day. And make a note of this: we are weighed under this collective sense of hopelessness despite being in the majority. Yes, this is not resilience; this is, if anything, the powerlessness of the majority.

A major problem concerns the scores of competing identities in India. We continue to be divided along caste and religious lines. There are so many languages and castes and sub-castes, and in recent months we have seen all sorts of regional identities receiving disproportionate space in the media. Yet for the superficial and gullible folk, all this passes for democracy! And this fragility of ours is known to the entire world – especially those who have more homogenous populations and scientifically thought-up systems to counter the omnipresent threat from global terrorism. Why can we not close our ranks and strengthen our porous borders and so-called soft terrorist targets? What’s so soft about these that, even though we claim to be the world’s largest democracy, we are unable to put foolproof security systems in place? And ah, well, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi-Trident hotels were certainly not soft targets! Is it not a shame that our security forces could manage to catch just one terrorist alive – who too, by the way, could have died had he been more grievously injured than he was? What have our security agencies done – apart from passing the buck? Surely we deserve to be told why they failed to get wind of the meticulously planned attacks?....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, January 05, 2009

Army ignores all politicians in Pakistan’

Captain Alok Bansal, a serving Naval officer and Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, tells Mayank Singh that politicians in Pakistan want peace, but not the Army and ISI

What lies ahead in Indo-Pak relations?

I feel that developments will affect Indo-Pak relations but not very significantly, if the US manages to pressurize Pakistan adequately. Recent developments have indicated that Pakistani Army and its rogue intelligence agency, ISI, are not under political control. The US might either take action against Lashkar (Jamaat ud Dawa) unilaterally or force Pakistan to hand over some of the people demanded by India to diffuse the situation.

Do you foresee any military options being exercised?

That possibility now is bleak but if the 20 men are not handed over and the issue does not fade from public memory, India may be forced to carry out a surgical strike on LeT HQ at Muridke or even target killing of its leadership by covert action.

Is Pakistan involved in the carnage?

I personally feel the recent attacks have been carried out by terrorists from LeT who have been influenced by Al Qaeda and trained by sections of Pak Army and ISI. The political government was neither consulted nor aware of the operations. The political leadership in Pakistan genuinely wants to improve relations with India but there is a strong bureaucratic-military resistance.

What according to you is the internal state of Pakistan?

Pakistan is a withering state and is being kept together by its Army. If the Army is weakened the state will wither away. The economy is in bad shape. The entire Pakhtoon belt has been affected by the virus of Islamic radicalism and the other ethnic troubles.

What can be done to control such activities?

Maritime security needs to be beefed up, at present the politicians and bureaucrats do not understand matters maritime. We need to set up an elaborate coastal security infrastructure, with coastal radar stations, transponders on fishing boats and marine police. Fishing needs to be regulated and vessels operating beyond a certain distance must have some communication equipment. There are multiple agencies dealing with maritime issues, to begin with an expert on maritime security, serving or retired, must be appointed as maritime security adviser with a maritime security advisory board. Delhi being so far off from the seas, not many security experts understand the peculiarities of maritime operations. ( Logistically, Karachi to Mumbai is three hours by a speed boat)....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, January 02, 2009

Developmental Imperative - Known response, sans solution

Rana Nayar, Prof. of English, Punjabi University

Though terrorist strikes are always unpredictable, our response to these has become egregiously, hideously predictable. Every time such an incident rocks Bangalore, Ahmedabad or Delhi, leaving a few scores or a few hundred dead and many more injured, the respective state governments immediately go on the backfoot. The opposition suddenly turns offensive and starts making well rehearsed noises. Of course, the victims and their families are not even left alone to stitch together their tattered lives or absorb the daily growing influence of violence. After the Delhi blasts, the politicians (we have no statesmen left!) were, as usual, back to their games. Ironically, it was Narendra Modi who, having failed to contain terrorism in his own state, made a claim that he had forewarned the Central government. Rather than act, our former Home Minister Shivraj Patil was busy showing off his sartorial elegance and scoring brownie points by claiming that he had prior information on it, much before Modi chose to communicate it to him. No one seems to have thought it to be worthwhile to ask the Home Minister as to what he really did with the information he claims to have had.

Later in the day, when the Cabinet met to discuss the situation, the usual shibboleths were trotted off about how terrorism is a threat to the unity and integrity of our nation; how it is a law and order problem that demands more stringent vigilance on part of the security forces, but definitely no stringent laws to back them up in their fight against it. Of course, there was nothing startlingly new or refreshing about the response of the government. Over the years, our politicians have repeatedly been saying that terrorism is a ‘law and order problem’ or a ‘global phenomenon.’

Whenever our political leaders or decision-makers are either not able to deal with something or just want to shrug it off peremptorily, they often label it as ‘global.’ It sure is a refusal on their part to recognise the specifically local and national character of ‘terrorism’.....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, December 22, 2008

Where Assam failed, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh set an example in stemming the tide of illegal Bangladeshi migrants

States in the northeast, the worst affected by the Bangladeshi problem, have often shown varying and sharply contrasting responses to the migrants problem. The Assam blasts had been claimed by the Islamic Security Force (Indian Mujahideen), which is believed to have among its ranks illegal Bangladeshis from the northeast. Strangely, Assam’s Congress government has for weeks now, been in the dock, blamed for trying to place the blame on militant groups like National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), to avoid displeasing its alleged Bangladeshi votebank in the state.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh continue to explore every legal provision that could help them detect and flush out illegal migrants . “Our legal provisions are such that even Indian citizens are not allowed to settle in the three autonomous councils that we have in the state,” HS Lyngdoh, Meghalaya deputy chief minister told TSI. “So where is the question of allowing illegal Bangladeshi migrants to settle in our state?”

Meghalaya has for many years now a check post at Jorabat, on the Assam-Meghalaya border, where police routinely picks suspected illegals from interstate buses. “It’s a deterrent,” says Meghalaya IG (special branch) Dr SB Singh. And how bad is the situation in Meghalaya? “It’s much more comfortable than in Assam,” says Singh. Expectedly, the state is now upset with Assam because of its failure on the Bangladeshi front. “We have check posts on every road coming into the state,” says Lyngdoh. “However, given the fact that we have a border dispute with Assam, we do not have a border so to speak with the state in many forest areas, which, therefore, are beyond our control. Once our border is sorted out, we will handle the problem there as well.” As a lot of illegals allegedly get their identity papers made in Assam, Lyngdoh said that such papers would not be accepted in Meghalaya.

Fearing a situation such as Assam, where illegal Bangladeshi nationals now dominate a number of districts, groups like Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) and the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) have been demanding stringent measures against Bangladeshi illegals in that state.....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Spot of bother

Astronomers have discovered something odd in the night sky. Millions of stars are racing at high speeds toward a single spot in the sky. The whys and wherefores of this cannot as yet be explained, simply because researchers don’t know what it is that is pulling so many galaxy clusters towards it. That is why they are calling it ‘Dark Flow’. Another mystery to ponder over about outer space....Continue

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Saturday, December 13, 2008

For world 'piece'!

Since the last week of August, Russia has been consistently visible across the news spectrum, especially amongst the western media, facing brickbats from various critics and analysts. Russia’s decision to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has not only annoyed many developed countries but has also raised the age old latent question: Is cold war over?/ Does this mark the revival of Russia?/ Is Russia indirectly challenging the super power(s)?

The in-depth analysis of the latest 'Russian Doctrine' makes it evident that she is preparing both mentally and militarily to face her obvious enemy. Russia knows very well that she needs to work on her core strengths (world’s leading oil and gas supplier) that shall not last till eternity and may exhaust very soon. The nation is also facing a problem due to a decrease in population, a majority of which are migrants and not Russians. Presently, only 70 per cent of Russians constitute the country's military. To make matters worse, it is estimated that this percentage will be reduced to 60 in the near future.

Recently, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Russia and said, "In contrast to Georgia's position, Russia's international standing is worse now than at any time since 1991… and the cost of this self-inflicted isolation has been steep." Moreover, Putin was also found stating that the scramble of USSR was the greatest disaster of the 20th century, but now Moscow is in a position to undo the damage.....Continue
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, December 05, 2008

Eloquent justice for the dumb

Adeaf and dumb rape victim from a remote village in Ferozepore district of Punjab could possibly never had the chance to come out with her version of the ghastly incident, but for a landmark ruling by Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, ordering the trial court to record evidence of Sundari (name changed) as victim, with the help of sign language experts. The rape led to pregnancy and she gave birth to a girl child. The HC recognised it as a confirmation of the sexual action of the accused.

The High Court had to step in after the prosecution closed its case before the trial court, expressing helplessness in examining the victim, arguing that she was unable to communicate being deaf and dumb. The case was put before the High Court by Sundari's father as the state government seeking revision of trial court order, declined to allow sign language experts to speak for the victim....continue
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, December 01, 2008

Independents seem to hold the key for next Assembly

IIPM Publication
Three of the four Assembly seats in Rajouri district have rebels contesting against their own party nominees. None of the rebels of major political parties -- National Conference, Congress, People's Democratic Party and BJP – stayed away from the elections for Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote Assembly seats of the bordering district.

So far as noise making goes, the PDP election manifesto – titled 'make Self–Rule happen' – echoes its role of filling the political space between separatist and mainstream parties with its soft separatism agenda. It emphasise bringing Jammu and Kashmir politically, economically and constitutionally closer, foreseeing a "shared sovereignty" of a united J&K between India and Pakistan.

NC president Omar Abdullah released his party's Vision Document for J&K "At the political level, the NC Government will try to convince those who have taken recourse to violence and intimidation as means to achieve their goals to come on the dialogue table," the Vision Document says. Meanwhile, the only party displaying lethargy is Congress despite having ruled the state for three years in coalition with the PDP. Though it is open to elections, the party is yet to release a poll manifesto. While former chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will spearhead the poll campaign, the party lacks a concrete programme to approach the elections held in an environment of strife.....Continue


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, August 07, 2008

K. V. Sridhar, National Creative Director, Leo Burnett


IIPM Ranked No. 1 B-School In Global Exposre - Zee...

K. V. Sridhar, National Creative Director, Leo Burnett: Sambit is a great creative guy. There are some creative types who try and do different work and he is one of them. He basically enjoys positioning a brand and taking things forward. The way he has been working for Coca-Cola is spectacular. In fact, he has been completely involved and responsible for the launch of the Minute Maid brand. The tagline ‘Where is the Pulp’ was his brainchild. We wanted to position Minute Maid as a different and natural drink, as pulp is the real differentiator. The way he brought in energy into the brand, which otherwise would have been just another rational copy is superb. Sambit has brought in loads of attitude into a simple thing like pulp and also at the same time ensured that the ad caters to the young generation. He has come up with a fantastic way of positioning the product, keeping in mind all the things that make a brand really successful. He is a genius in commercial advertising. He has been very successful in the 3600 kind of thinking, which is a more in-the-face kind of communication. He has a strong vision and thinks in a holistic fashion. You don’t get to see his kind of maturity often.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
4Ps Power Brand Awards 2007
When IIPM comes to education, never compromise
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, July 21, 2008

Tailoring to perfection


When IIPM comes to education, never compromise

Saville Row is still miles away from the indian sub-continent. But here’s a man who’s taken it upon himself to create space for his brand on the global stage

Sparkling lights, dazzling crystals, glamorous dresses and pulsating beats… one just cannot desire for more from spectacular models walking the ramp with unique fits and royal cuts. And who deserves credit for all this? Well, it’s none other than the Indian Textile industry which is currently upbeat and all enthusiastic about its much exaggerated novel innovations and celebrity endorsements. So there we were, all set for an encounter with S. Krishnamoorthy, President & Head of Textiles Unit, Grasim Industries Ltd, a flagship of the Rs.175 crore Aditya Birla Groupwhich has been synonymous to urbane chic fashion and classy apparels for ages now.

We entered his office and the sight that greeted us made us believe that in the midst of this glitz and shimmer surrounding the word fashion and apparels, there still exists ‘simplicity’! We shook hands with a man whose impeccable simple charm and efficacy has enabled him to roll aside the biggest boulder on his path to success. Krish, as his business card pronounces his name (and not the fantasy Indian Super Hero) was somewhere in his sixties, simply dressed and was taking his brunch bites off his plate. He was done with it in a while and then began our chat session with a man whose friendly approach and warm smile was unbelievable considering the industry to which he belonged.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Science (in 1973) and has further completed a Diploma in Wet Processing of Textiles from City & Guilds, London. His industry ride started in 1974 with a stint at Madura Fabrics and later on joined Arvind Mills in 1995. There, he laid down a plant which later proved to be a marvel as it turned into a shopping place for all the premium brands in the world, currently producing about 34 million meters of high value shirting. On being asked about his alliance with Grasim for 8 long years, he humbly asserts, “The experience with the Birla group has been awesome. We have certain values like integrity, commitment, speed, passion et al.” Crowned as one of the most dynamic Sales & Marketing personnel in the Indian textile industry and credited with the growth of Grasim Brand in the domestic arena, he claims that, “To dominate in Indian market you need to have a strong brand image. And that’s what I have done with Grasim. I made it a Grasim Brand; the brand from then to now. And today, we command a huge 15% market share!”

Taking key consumer insights into consideration, Grasim earns many applauds for its fabulous product range which includes sub-brands nurturing a whole array of choices such as Freedom (the softest fabric currently available), Ice Touch (a fabric which keep body temperature at 5 degrees cooler), Venetia (the latest line of Italian stripes and checks), Medova (international fabric launched for the first time with Modal), Caramel (soft, smooth and light weight fabric) and many other exclusive showroom products. Today the Grasim group has forty-five exclusive brand stores under its umbrella and plans to add thirty more by next year. And what about its global operations? Well, it is fast spreading its wings across continents and is foraying into European and many other markets explaining which he adds, “In our case, 50% of our total revenues come from the domestic market and the rest comes from exports. And that is because we have focused on both the markets.” Grasim is also belligerent about increasing its pan-India presence through its strategy of establishing itself in the tier two and tier three cities as well. And apart from roping-in Akshay Kumar as its brand endorser, it has also tied up with Godrej Aadhar and ITC’s eChoupal to tap the ever growing demand and revenues in the rural and rurban markets. “I think the overall industry has grown phenomenally during the past two years. Globally speaking, the reason for this forward march is the abolition of quota systems and in the domestic market the prime reasons are an increase in purchasing power and of course, the retail revolution,” asserts Krishnamoorthy who is also an active participant in the Indian textile industry and a member of CII for textiles.

But while there’s prosperity for one, the others are not deprived of the furious pace at which the industry (both in India and globally) is marching ahead at; and that’s precisely where competition creeps in. When asked about the same, he calmly responds, “We might not have created a strong brand name and though we are invisible in the global markets, yet our revenues are equally distributed geographically...” Confidence for sure in his tone, something most expected from a veteran who has had his share of experience in domestic & global sales, marketing and exports as the President of Grasim Industries.

With an ode to the enormous amount of success attained so far, we couldn’t help but wonder about his next agenda. “We are also looking at the JV route; we are talking with some European markets together for technology & design for womenwear...” Sure enough, this man exuded confidence that would ratle his competitors and please his customers. Meet this leader and you’d believe us when we say that Krish is indeed a “self made man”!

Edit bureau: Neha Saraiya

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, July 11, 2008

“...But can a minority really make a difference,” asks adman Prahlad Kakkar


IIPM - Admission Procedure

There4ps Business and Marketing were times when social causes or issues were picked in advertising only with the purpose to add some creative awards to your kitty. Very few ads involving social messages were made by mainstream brands. The reason was simple: clients were not willing to take the risk. They are always scared of entering into any sort of controversy that such ads may lead to. For example, if a brand started addressing the issue of reservations and says that reservations should be abolished, it becomes controversial and the brand may have to face some opposition from a certain set of people in the society.

However, in the recent past there have been numerous changes in the advertising landscape. Marketers are now ready to take a little risk and they are picking up realities of Indian society and incorporating them in their communication. This is a huge step and a very welcome change that the advertising fraternity is taking. I believe that marketers and advertisers should incorporate social message in their communication, instead of restricting it to a plain vanilla selling exercise. However, ads like this have a risk of eliminating certain set of people from the usage of the brand. Take the recent Idea commercial (featuring Abhishek Bachchan) for that matter. There is a risk of alienating sections of society, especially fundamentalists. However, gradually a minority of clients are waking up and incorporating such issues in their commercials. But it’s a silent minority. What we should do is that we should create a forum where we can discuss issues like this. Once we start discussing such issues as planting trees, education, corruption, we will surely go a long way.

Another reason why marketers usually shy away from incorporating social issues in their ads is that advertising is something that is used to sell a product or service. So people might get the impression that you are using a social cause to sell your product. It may give the consumer a feeling of being conned, which can prove fatal for the brand. But, if treated correctly, such ads have the potential to generate immense goodwill for the brand and for their marketers!

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
When IIPM comes to education, never compromise
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)