Shipping and Handling FREE

Interesting article about the "Free Shipping and Handling" appeal to customers and how it changes the buying behavior.

It came is "Knowledge @ Wharton".

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/index.cfm?fa=viewArticle&id=1449

Kingfisher Airlines

Mr Vijay Malya is one of the aggressive businessmen in India, his entry in to airline industry, for sure, started some fare war! This man has tremendous business approach, but some times he is misunderstood.

Some times back I happened to visit U.B Engineering at Pune, its really a world class Engineering Consulting company and with his true leadership qualities he has changed the U.B group completely.

He became stronger in breverage market (UBs Core) while expanding in to new areas as airlines, consulting, IT and even politics. I am quite sure, this man thinks ahead of time. Recent deal of $1 bn deal triggered me about this man.

http://www.businessstandard.com/common/storypage.php?chklogin=N&autono=223680&lselect=1&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1

Webaroo- A new 'concept' by Rakesh Mathur

This Webaroo has very innovative concept of building the entire internet in a laptop! And with a clear and well defined revenue model from ads.

I happened to attend his one of the address when I was in IIT. If I remember correct, he still operates from IIT Bombay campus, from business incubator. His earlier companies, (Junglee, was a big success, sold to Amazon, Purpal Yogi) did draw significant attention.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1497229.cms

Innovation

I was reading an article about 'Most Innovative Companies' in businessWeek. This is really amazing to note how companies are innovating in their processes or products. Southwest airline's 'Ding', which let customer know about a low fair or Apple's iPod nano or P&G's 'open innovation' are the true examples of this.

Now corporate world is understanding the need for innovation, this is why there are some terms like 'Chief Innovation Officer' have started floating around.

Infosys found a place in this list. Each year, seven top performers of the company from lower ranks will have to make presentations to board members and other senior management about the new processes or idea. This is true example of working beyond barriers.

Think Big !!

Is this a true example of thinking big?? Truly amazing..

http://www.businessstandard.com/common/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu4&leftindx=4&lselect=2&chklogin=N&autono=222470

Importance of HR in an Organization

The recent move of Infosys, where Mr Pai will be moving out from CFO role to head HR, triggered me to think about how important this function is. Unfortunately, some (Most?) of the companies think, HR meaning arranging spoprts and cultural events.

The true role of HR is talent management; in a copetative environment like IT, where getting a right person becoming more difficult, retaining is the key. Companies should retain and grow talent. Some times professionals in the company are so much underloaded with responsibility, that eventually they decide to leave. HR should block such holes by matching skills and responsibilities, just should not wait for 'x' years of experience to promote to next level.

HR need to learn how to build a atmosphere which yields more productivity. Because, if culture is not good, if an employee is not challenged enough, then no matter what you arrange for them, they will leave the company. I strongly advocate the presence of 'fast track' , where those professionals who show more than expected, should be rewarded.

Motivation does not come from having cultural events !!

Anthem Rewards!

Anthem is the major helthcare insurance provider. They have a program, where if you keep active yourself for 30 mins in a day, you will get 10 bonus points and also if you eat healthy, you get 10 points. You can redeem points. Very good program for users like me, who tend to workout almost daily.

But, honestly, I didn't understand the business plan behind this. What is the ROI for them? If I do keep active, does it mean my helthcare expenses will be reduced?

http://www.anthemrewards.com

Importance of Employee Moral

In any kind of business, keeping the employees motivated for the challange is very important and is a primary job of HR. A slight dent in the moral, it may be due to business opportunities or the atomosphere within the company, will cost significantly in terms of talent loos.
Companies can get replacements, but in my opinion, it costs the company. The legacy and energy of old employee is difficult to match. It doesn't mean that there should be no attrition, you can't prevent it happening, but attrition because of moral reasons is very bad. It cleraly indicates where your company is heading to.

In this business week article, author describes how moral is getting hurt in current conditions at Detriot auto majors. A very good article!

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_16/b3980095.htm?chan=autos_autos+index+page_news

Rajkumar is dead !

Kannada's gretest actor, Dr Rajkumar is dead. I grew up watching his movies and he certainly influenced me when I was little.

He has a legacy in acting and I don't think any body can take his position.

My Blog Reference-About EDS Deal

My analysis on EDS-Mphasis deal has taken a space in business standard. Its kind of good to get such analysis in my name. I am thrilled !!

http://www.businessstandard.com/search/storypage_new.php?leftnm=lmnu6&leftindx=6&lselect=2&autono=86786

In rediff business as well;

http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/10deal.htm

Air India !

I read an interesting news piece about A-I to raise $ 1.1 bn loan for purchasing new fleet. I don't understand this business move. Its true, most of the A-I's flights are leased and are not in extremely good condition, its required to have new fleet. But, in my opinion, A-I should focus on fixing the service, both in-flight and at airport. This is also important step for A-I along with purchasing new fleet.

India's skyline has changed a lot recently, and service has becoming an important thing. Wide range of services are avialable from Deccan, Kingfisher, Jet-Sahara; locally, and internationally its a different equational all-together. Indian customers are not attracted by low-price any more.

So, its important to focus on service as well in A-I, where a flight-attendent's smile is most costly thing !!

http://www.businessstandard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=BO&autono=86799&chkFlg=

Cultural Shift In Home Depot

Today I read an interesting article in Harvard Business Review about how new CEO of Home Depot, Bob Nardelli has initiated a 'Cultural Change' and all the obstacles he faced. Its very interesting article as it stresses the need for shift in mindset in all the companies to post the profits.

Bob Nardelli says, 'The culture was good enough in Home Depot to make it a $50 Billion company, but this shift was required to make it another 50$ Billion company'. A veteran of GE, this new CEO has brought a new shift in how Home Depot works currently.

EDS-Mphasis Deal

I posted about this deal some time early this week. I predicted this deal might help Mphasis and EDS both, interestingly BusinessWeek came up with the same analysis.

It also says, there are so many mid-market players in India which are for grab. I guess, everyone is understanding the importance of building backoffices.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_16/b3980068.htm?chan=globalbiz_asia_today%27s+top+story

Golf

Golf has been one of my dreams, I have been trying to learn that game since a while now. I really wish, I would have learnt it by now. I want to explore the game, how it is played and why people call it as addition!

Some call it as a business game, where most of the people discuss about business and I have read a lot of stories about meeting clients/business partners during a golf game.

Ongoing masters cup golf tournament made me to think about this game, again!

India As Manufacturing Hub

I have been thinking about the potential from rural India which is untouched so far. We are predominantly an agriculture nation, and if we divert our business focus to agriculture sector it will be a huge potential.
Also, we have a good potential as a manufacturing country, cheap labor and vast engineering talent will really help to rewrite the success story of IT-outsourcing.
In this following link, Mr Narayanmurthy has expressed some great vision about India, beyond IT.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/06murthy.htm

Staying Fit!!

This article lists out the obvious points. I do work out almost 5 times a week; but I will have to change my routine now! It has been tredmill and cardio burnout for me so far. Now, I need to mix up.

But, I don't do Socializing instead of sweating :-) I pretty much kick stary my routine as soon as I enter gym.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7279844/did/12127275/

Mutual Funds

I recently watched a session on Mutual Funds by Suze Orman. She was mentiong it does not matter who sells you the fund. Its important to concentrate on a guy designated as 'Fund Manager' and we need to listen what he has to say about fund. The guy who is selling is just a sales guy and he has nothing to do about performance of the fund. Where as fund manager is the one who really can tell you about past performance and trend and that is the guy we need to really listen carefull.

This was very useful information.

EDS Makes an Offer to Buy MphasiS

In my view, this is a strategical move. EDS needs a solid presence in offshore to compete with IBM and MphasiS gives a ready-made offshoring capabilities. And EDS is emerging to a model where all the consulting work will be done onsite and development work will be transferred to offshore, exactly what IBM Global Delivery Center and HP Consulting are doing. This is the way going forward.

On the other hand, MphasiS has a solid presence in Financial Services and Logistics industry. I happened to meet some guys from MphasiS working in Logistics industry, with FedEx.

Also, acquisition of Kshema technologies gave MphasiS an entry in to embedded technologies.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1475607,curpg-1.cms

Burger King IPO

This story gives an insight to how investors make money and what does IPO means to investors. When I read this, I was amazed to notice how this whole thing works out.
How ever, this seems to be a perfect time for BK's IPO. With Chipotle's recent IPO success, it is the best time for this food chain to go public.
As this article points out, BK's sales are still less than Mac's. I tend to come to opinion that BK should spend some more on bringing out more products and fixing up the sales.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_15/b3979057.htm