Monday, January 28, 2008

Neo-liberal agenda

Without drawing a macro-picture of the causes & effects of the neo-liberal agenda, one can say that riots were a systematic act of crime against a particular community. The policemen who collaborated with the lumpen element were a part of the plan executed with precision by political elements. The policemen who participated in the genocide did not get infected after the riots had broken out; they were in fact, already suffering from the communal cancer which had infiltrated their nerve centre much before the riots. That the infiltrated policemen were only used by the political class at that juncture to execute their well laid out plan is the moot point. Therefore, to deny this fact tantamounts to burying ones head like an ostrich to the reality that what happened in Mumbai in 1992- 93 was nothing short of a mutiny. The communal elements in the police force disregarded their constitutional & professional duty; switched over their loyalties to openly ally themselves with the political agenda of a particular hue. And if this does not constitute a revolt within, then we certainly need to redefine the word ‘mutiny’.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Friday, January 25, 2008

What is ‘wrong’ with your ‘right’ called ‘copyright’?!

Intellectual Property Rights are not a thing of the past. The rules are changing, and fast!
In February 2007 Apple CEO Steve Jobs suggested that the big four music distribution companies – Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI – would no longer require DRM protection on songs sold by Apple’s iTunes. At first glance, Jobs’ suggestion seemed bizarre. However, his reasons were straightforward: DRM doesn’t work and most music distributed by the big four weren’t DRM protected anyway! DRM is an acronym for Digital Rights Management, a legislatively mandated hardware/soft ware system for restrictions on the copying of DRM-protected content from one player to another. It doesn’t work because it is not possible to simultaneously distribute and protect the cryptographic keys necessary for DRM to function as proposed. But big issues do lurk behind Jobs’ simple suggestion: of copyrights & change!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Is that an Ace(r)?

Post-deal, big tasks lie ahead...
Nothing of this magnitude ever occurred on Taiwan’s playgrounds… and to imagine a Taiwanese gulping down an American giant! Even when it comes to Acer, nothing as big occurred in its three-decade-long history, nothing! And for the first time ever can Acer, with its $710 million offer on September 1, 2007, for the 4th largest PC vendor in US, Gateway Inc. proclaim loud its ‘big’ opportunity – both in terms of deal-size & future prospects with a healthy $15.2 billion in combined sales. Yes, this deal is bound to provide a boost to Acer which has been displaying feeble ‘organic’ growth over the years. With this deal, Acer has also moved up to the No.3 spot in US PC market with a 10.8% market share – trailing behind HP (23.6%) & Dell (28.4%) – just as J. T. Wang, Chairman, Acer justifies, “With this deal, we would make the biggest acquisition in Acer’s 30-year-old history. The acquisition of Gateway and its strong brand immediately completes Acer’s global footprint, by strengthening our US presence.” A vital assault delivered through this move was that Acer (through its right of first refusal in Packard Bell’s parent) has now thwarted Lenovo’s plans to acquire Packard Bell, which it had long been eyeing to get a grip over Europe. Indeed a strategic move by Acer, but challenges too stare it in the face.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

One world…

...a healthy & wealthy economy
While many have always felt that mankind should also outgrow the beastly habit of slaughtering animals and feasting on their meat…whether that is a right perception or not, is debatable. But the foregone conclusion is that if vegetarianism is a catching trend of the world, then that would be most befitting for all the developing economies across the world, which thrive on agricultural enterprises. With the growing demand for greens, these countries will easily tread a positive path. Though, vegetarian society was first founded in England in 1847, veggies are everywhere now. The UK, despite its vegetarian population being 6.1% (approx.), the country has come up concept of vegetarian shoes and vegetarian jackets, which is creating a market for itself. No where else, but India, the second most populated country, has over 70% of world’s vegetarians. Even in the US, which has some eight million vegetarians and a few million more ‘occasional vegetarians’, additive food industry is booming, of which Boca Foods brand is speculated to be the biggest gainer. For now, be it a developing country or a developed country, all are grabbing opportunities to cash on the growing vegetarian
industry.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Where a failed state is a norm than exception…

Zimbabwe would just add to the long list of failed African nations, if not acted upon soon!
With the onset of this millennium, when the world pledged to fast forward development and make it more sustainable, Zimbabwe initiated a backward journey into an era of turmoil, anarchy and something which can be compared to reverse apartheid. An apocalyptic 7,634.8% rate of inflation…that is Zimbabwe’s brief resume for the world. The controversial Land Reform Programme, the prolonged clash with the judiciary and the emergence of irrelevant price & exchange rate control mechanism, has relegated the country to irrelevance. Today the economy is characterized by both high inflation and high unemployment – the perfect recipe to bring down an economy; as a result of which 80% Zimbabweans live below the poverty line and making sure that what was once the strongest economy of Africa, has now been reduced to rubbles.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Jet says ‘My Fair’ India!

Guess what’s latest from India’s leading domestic airline, Jet Airways? It is hosting a travel fair for two days from September 11 to 13 in a joint effort with Indian Tourism. The fair is called, ‘The Incredible India Travel Fair’ and the venue is international, the Bangsar Shopping Centre, in Kuala Lumpur. The chief motive behind the fair is to promote India and at the same time to launch its long distance flights to London, New York and Brussels. The major attraction of this fair seems to be the discount offered on packages and tickets to India. Well, the jackpot comprises of six tickets to India and that too absolutely free. So, after the much talked-about discounted air-fares, now it’s time for some real deal clinchers from the Indian aviation.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Opportune banking. Is that a new system?

Not new of course – since February 2007, Bank of America Corporation has tried to portray an image of ‘taking opportunities’ to its customers and budding customers. The company took the right step when credit lender Countrywide Financial Corporation was short of cash. The CEO of Bank of America, Kenneth Lewis put his hands in the situation. He injected $2 billion into the largest US mortgage lender, taking shares that tossed off a 7.25% dividend and are convertible into common stock at a 17.5% discount. The investment created an instant paper gain and amounts to a risky but potentially rewarding gamble. A bet which rests on the fact that Countrywide Financial Corporation can survive the housing slouch and flourish after it ends.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Murphy’s Law at work...

Glenn Murphy must be a happy man. After taking on the baton of Gap, as the Chairman & CEO, he did managed to secure a fairly good score card as the apparel chain has reported 19% jump in its quarterly earnings. Though sales proved to be very slow, it was cost cutting that helped garner the rise in income. The company has also started working on inventory reduction at its stores and is now focusing on its 20 year age group consumers. The net income for the second quarter rose from $128 million to $152 million this year. Gap is also mulling $1.5 billion share buy back programme, of which $250 million in shares would be from the founder Fisher family members.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Monday, January 07, 2008

Sun never sets on Dubai World!

With that ever enthusiastic tagline, Dubai World intimated that it will invest up to $5.2 billion in MGM Mirage, making the state owned investment firm, a chief player in the biggest betting destination in the United States. MGM shares jumped as much as 10.5%. The company’s bonds surged on the pending $3.9 billion cash infusion shooting out from the deal as well as the premium Dubai offered for the shares. Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates, has become a dominant player in global business and tourism. Attracted by the growth potential, even US oil services firm Halliburton Co., recently opened its headquarters there too.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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

Friday, January 04, 2008

British legacy for sale...

Indian business tycoon, Ratan Tata, has set eyes on a festive gift for himself. After a lot of speculation over Tata Group’s alleged intention in buying the Ford stable’s British brands; Land Rover & Jaguar, Ratan Tata confirmed that it was indeed true. In an interview to a private television channel, the Tata Group Chairman revealed that he ‘certainly has an interest in that’. The country’s third largest automaker had earlier declined the news. According to sources, Tata is not alone as he faces tough competition by India’s largest tractor company Mahindra & Mahindra along with several private equity firms including TPG, Cerberus Capital Management, Ripplewood Holdings & One Equity Partners. In 1989, Ford had bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion while eventually adding Land Rover to its portfolio for $2.7 billion.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

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