Friday, May 23, 2008

PLANMANCONSULTING AND ICMR RANKING

Remember the good ol’ days when familial bonds formed the crux of your emotional anchorage. Mom’s kisses, sister’s squeezes, father’s pats and spouse’s hugs served as iconic shields that protected in failure & loneliness and stood solidly by to partake your success & happiness. Not any more. In today’s fiercely lonely world (moulded by the combined might of capitalism and globalisation) the role of that loving confidant has been taken over by brands. Big or small, necessity or luxury; the clutch of brands that define daily lives have become a lifeline for millions across the globe. Feeling low? Tune into your Apple iPod; got a raise? Time to go in for that new Sedan from the Toyota stable. Throwing a bash? Better have some grub ordered in from Pizza Hut. Don’t forget the Bacardi; an at-home movie screening deserves a Sony home theatre; celebration time? Cadbury; worried about your future, there’s Prudential! In an increasingly isolated world, where investing in relationships is fast becoming a headache, investing in brands has become the simplest solution for those on the driving seat of their lives and careers.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Completely paradoxical

For instance, when we talk about Laloo Prasad Yadav as a brand, in our minds we can see a very clear picture of him and his physical identity. There is a certain Laloo Prasad Yadavness in the way he dresses, in the way he appears, in the way he speaks, in what he says, in what he believes in, et al. There is a certain factor of expectation that defines a brand and Laloo Yadav is of course a brand because in his case there is a clear factor of expectation that he depicts. And that is why people were surprised when his Railway Ministry did as well as it did and became an IIM case study. For many it seemed to be completely paradoxical because it seemed to be antithetical to the brand Laloo Prasad Yadav. Now we could also read this in the larger sense that it was part of the brand, but the fact of the matter is Laloo Prasad Yadav’s Railways turnaround became an IIM study because people expected certain things of him and that is why his brand value shot up after he was juxtaposed with IIM.


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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Spider-Man merchandise (dolls, et al)

Then there is Baskin Robbins and HDFC, whose association came in as a surprise. The ice-cream chain has introduced three flavours – Web-slinger, Green Gobbler and Sandstormin which “the finest flavours lie within,” as Pankaj Chaturvedi of Baskin Robbins puts it. Related or unrelated, everyone wants to hitch a ride on the latest fad. But, the relation is two-way, if the brands get attention throughthe association; the films also get major publicity through the campaigns. But how does one fathom the success of it all? “Unfortunately, the metrics in the business isn’t developed enough to give a considered opinion on how much the association helped the brand. But I am hoping that all the brandsthat have done a tie-up, are tracking the campaign...,” offers PranayAnthwal, GM-India Starcom. However, for Funskool it’s notthat tough. All it has to do is, keep doing the maths, as its Spider-Man merchandise (dolls, et al) vanish from the shelves. The moviesurpassed all records, so at least there is one guy who’s smiling allthe way to the bank, along with the producers, of course!

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

The affordability mantra

If lifestyle computing is a fad then the value segment is keeping the playerson their toes as the unorganised sector is still very strong. “We discovered that most people don’t want to spend more than one month’s salary on buyinga computer,” says Suchi Sarkar, Marketing Head, HP Personal Systems Group. Little wonder PC brandsare storming this segment with reasonable, low end versions. The latest being Dell which is launching desktops for only Rs.10,000. “Seven years back when I entered this industry, the cheapest computer came for Rs.50,000. Today, it is available forRs.15,000,” adds Sarkar. Whether it is the style mantra of biggies like Dell, Sony, Toshiba or Lenovo or affordability factor propelled by Acer, Zenith or local PC brands, the big challenge is to maintain a balance between the diverse segments. Don’t we know, whoever caters to maximum segments in the diversified Indian market, rules the roost...

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

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Monday, May 05, 2008

“Sensibilities”

The key word here is “sensibilities” – those values, behaviours and personality traits that make you feel, well, like you’re among kindred spirits. If you share sensibilities with your co-workers, you tend to work at the same pace, confront each other and tough issues with the same level of intensity (or lack thereof)and laugh the same amount at meetings (often at the same jokes). We are not saying that people with shared sensibilities are all alike, but they pretty much all like each other at the end of it. The second question is about the opportunity to learn: “Will the new job stretch my mind, build my skill sand otherwise take me out of my comfort zone or am I entering at the top of my game?”

Sure, it’s appealing to join a company where you’re the smartest person in the room... for a while. In time, though, most people start to feel the downside of being the resident expert – namely boredom and career stall. There is risk, of course, in taking a job where you can blow it. But beware of any job that promises to be a lay-up. It will, ultimately, make you want to lie down. Certainly, that’s never going to be a good career move! The third question prompts you to consider the future by asking, “Should I ever leave, will this new job open or close doors for me?” Some companies are so respected for their training programmes or hiring standards that they bestow a kind of golden halo upon their employees. The consulting firm McKinsey & Co., Johnson & Johnson are good examples of such companies.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008

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

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