Thursday, October 22, 2009

Missionary Schools - Centres of good conduct

Missionary schools and colleges strewn across India have been instrumental in educating generations of students who in turn have gone on to make a mark in various fields of life. These instutions, run by Jesuit priests, Catholic nuns and other orders of the Church, have passed down sturdy personal skills and social values to youngsters from all sections of Indian society.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Indian democracy - Mandate for Peace

It is perhaps only in a democracy such as India that such a sight is possible: gun-toting militants making ‘peace’ with the government and joining the mainstream, their sins washed away in an instant. It is rampant in India’s northeast and other parts of the country.

The debate is unending. “Democracy here exists only in name. Ambedkar’s vision of a federal India was ruined by the Congress,” says Prabal Neog, leader of the 28th battalion of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). “Our democracy may not be perfect,” counters HN Das, general secretary of the Assam Congress, “but let’s not forget Assam went back by 20 years because of ULFA.”

But no matter what, there is again that familiar sight on television, of more speeches and promises, followed by that serpentine queue at a polling booth. Nameless faces, still grieving over failed revolutions, will vote… It’s India’s undying mandate for peace.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Celebrating death - Death is deliverance

Is death pain or a deliverance? Visit ‘Khashi Labh Mukti Bhavan’ in Varanasi. People from across the country come here to die. In the end they celebrate death. No doubt during those last moments, there will be anguish. But, more than that people believe that death is liberation. Liberation from this world. In the last five decades, more than 20,000 people have attained ‘moksha’ in Mukti Bhavan. Shuklaji, the manager of this place, says “Here we celebrate death like birth.”
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2009
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Thursday, October 01, 2009

MADURA GARMENTS

In India, amidst most successful apparel brands, Madura Garments stands tall
First things first! Madura Garments is the market leader in Branded Apparel in India. Some of the famous brands that come under the umbrella of this company include Louis Philippe, Allen Solly, Van Heusen, SF Jeans and Peter England – all of which have achieved considerable success in their segments. In recent times, the company was instrumental in launching the international brand “Esprit” in India. They are also planning to bring Giorgio Armani to Indian shores. Over the last year, the company undertook an initiative to move from being a ‘wardrobe brand’ to a ‘lifestyle brand’. In line with this strategy, they have forayed into footwear and men’s innerwear for brands like Van Heusen, Peter England, Louis Philippe and Allen Solly (which also offers women’s wear). They have extended two of their brands – Peter England and Allen Solly into jeans wear, besides launching a range of‘ Luxury Linen’ semi-formal wear under Louis Philippe.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Europe's fret is US' greed

Is fining US firms deliberately reflecting it’s insecurity?

Rules are meant to be broken. Well, this might be a famous aphorism in Asia but aptly inapplicable in Europe. Europe is a classic example which, on one hand, can attract big MNCs but on the other hand, can be too harsh on them when they indulge in fraudulent activities or bribery. Apparently, it is unique in itself in treating the MNCs.

The case of Microsoft is a famous one. The IT giant was heavily fined when it failed to meet the regulatory norms set up by the European Commission (EC). In 2008, the antitrust regulators fined a whopping $1.3 billion for not being able to comply with the antitrust laws since 2004 and thus bringing the total amount of fines on Microsoft to a gigantic $2.5 billion. In 2009, EC imposed a fine of $1.45 billion (£1.06 billion) on American giant, Intel Corporation on the ground that illegal anticompetitive practices of Intel would harm the continuation of a healthy competitive market. The EC, in fact, has gone unique in this century with its antitrust activities. It fined Archer Daniels Midland, along with 13 other leading pharmaceutical companies, which the EC suspected were seeking to control the European vitamin market. The most horrifying one was when EC blocked the $43 billion merger deal between General Electric and Honeywell on the ground that American firms are targeting and buying European firms to retain their growth. Surprisingly, the deal was allowed by the US regulators.

Recently, BAE Systems, an European giant engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence, security and aerospace systems, has been given a deadline this month to negotiate with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for being allegedly involved in bribery in relation to the sale of aircrafts and air defence equipments to Czech, South Africa and Tanzania. This would mean that if BAE systems fails to negotiate with the SFO, as the director Richard Alderman avowed, it will end up paying a fine of millions from the £2.5 billion-plus contracts with these countries.

The region has always been a bright prospect for MNCs since decades. It is flooded with Foreign Direct Investment inflows. With new opportunities, South-eastern Europe as well as Commonwealth of Independent States are becoming more attractive. According to UNCTAD, these states attracted around $69 billion dollar foreign investments in 2007. The region is further attributed with one billion consumers.

Though fining MNCs is not a new phenomenon, it's unique way of treating MNCs is giving scope for debate. Undoubtedly strictness proves that the region is having stringent regulatory framework but sometimes its over-reactive regulatory approach seems to be biased against foreign firms, especially Americans. Many a time, American firms are ending up to be victims of Europe's strict regulation. It has also been witnessed that Europe often ends up debating the US vs Europe on issues like the GM crop. The US too fined £500 million to German's Siemens for bribery. However, fining the BAE system indicates that laws are common for all in Europe but the examples of Microsoft, Intel, GE and others epitomize that Europe is apprehensive of American firms and their aggressive approach. Does it mean that Europe is insecure? Hard to conclude but still debatable.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source :
IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative