Environment or Envy?

With world leaders gung ho about COP15 on climate change; global warming has caught the imagination of Indian media. Corporates too are happy to dabble in this green marketing game and ‘green meetings’ are the buzz words in India Inc.’s corridor of power. Not to be left behind, the hospitality industry is also turning on its green charm. Big star hotels like Ecotel, Orchid, ITC Royal Gardenia and Renaissance are gearing up with various new concepts to lure customers. The idea is to provide corporates with everything which is eco-friendly including the scrumptious delicacies on the menu. So the average menu has begun reading like a dream for the size zero aficionados viz. fresh, organic and local delicacies that in turn translate into lower carbon foot prints. An independent hospitality industry analyst explains the rationale behind these overtures, “The expenditure incurred on such meetings is at least twice that of a conventional meeting which is a key reason for hotels to dabble in this. It also increases employment and creates a ripple effect for the hotel business.” Presently, green meetings contribute just 1-2% to overall hotel revenues, but the same has the potential to reach 8-10% levels by 2012. Is that your saliva turning green?

Neha Saraiya

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM enters into media education
IIPM makes record 10,000 placements in five years
TSI exposes b school ranking scamsters Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Premchand Palety of C fore. - For Complete Sting Operation Video Click Here
Pioneer Exposes the fraud called Mahesh Sharma and Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Barbel Schwertfeger of mba-channel.com
IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

IIPM Related Links
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
Management guru Arindam Chaudhuri’s latest blockbuster book, Discover The Diamond In You
IIPM fights meltdown, places 2300 students By Education Mail Bureau
Arindam Chaudhuri's Portfolio - he is at his candid best by Society Magazine

Help yourself, please!

The persistent turmoil in the aviation sector coupled with the mounting losses quarter after quarter (all thanks to the increasing input costs) have left Indian aviators high and dry. Moreover, all the major players, which include Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India, are also over burdened with huge debts mounting over them. While, Kingfisher Airlines has a debt of about Rs.90 billion, Jet Airways has a massive burden of about Rs.150 billion on its back. Well, the less we talk about Air India’s financial standing, the better it is! All these financial obstacles have forced the domestic players to urge the Civil Aviation Ministry to relax the FDI investment cap from the current 49%. However, a pertinent question that arises is, will this proposed increase in foreign investment in the sector actually solve all the problems of the airlines? “Airlines need to ensure that they match capacity with demand. There are currently too many airlines, with too many seats, chasing too few passengers. This will require more effective management as well as consolidation in the form of mergers and market exits,” suggests Binit Somaia, Regional Director, CAPA. Surely, apart from foreign investment, the airlines should also look at route rationalisation and cost cutting as effective measures to overcome the crunch. Somaia also highlights the role of the government in pulling the players out of the quicksand as he says: “The government’s key role is to provide a regulatory framework that provides certainty to investors, which is currently missing in the aviation sector.” Thus, it is not only the financial support that is required, but also the various aforesaid measures that must be adopted by the bleeding airlines to help themselves.

Ratan Lal Bhagat

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
TSI exposes b school ranking scamsters Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Premchand Palety of C fore. - For Complete Sting Operation Video Click Here

Pioneer Exposes the fraud called Mahesh Sharma and Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Barbel Schwertfeger of mba-channel.com

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy
Prof Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM on MF HUSAIN‎
IIPM Related Links
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme
IIPM 2-year full time Programme (leading to the award of the MBA degree from IMI)
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

The brand was in deep financial trouble till just about three years ago.

Today, a new management, cash infusion and a fresh communication, are striving to bring back brand OCM. The Amritsar-based textile manufacturer, which missed out on its big chance is now back with a vengeance demanding its due. By Angshuman Paul

The 36 acre OCM Estate runs parallel to the Grand Trunk Road in Amritsar and its serene outer facade almost transports you to the time-honoured colonial era. But walk inside the sprawling premises and you would perhaps be almost startled at the sudden flurry of activity that will surround you. It is this perceptual dichotomy that captures the past, present and future essence of this worsted suiting producer more than anything else. For a brand that had almost disappeared from public life over the past few years, the zest and energy at the OCM Estate these days is almost tangible. Spanking new billboards and hoardings have mushroomed across the complex featuring the new goals for OCM’s managers; men and women walk about with a definite purpose and a swing in their steps; someone is talking animatedly into the phone about the recent boost in OCM’s institutional sales figures, while somebody else is showing off a PPT of the recently concluded OCM Dealer’s Conference in Dubai to an audience of premium dealers shortlisted to take forward OCM’s new retail ambition of opening exclusive brand outlets across India and even Europe... WL Ross, the US-based private equity fund management company, which acquired the loss-making OCM from the S. K. Birla Group for $37 million in 2007, is seemingly leaving no stone unturned to not just get brand OCM back on its feet, but to perhaps, even surpass its past glory many times over.

To understand the changes in OCM’s present, it’s important to appreciate the brand’s past. Originally intended to manufacture carpets (OCM actually stands for Oriental Carpet Manufacturing), OCM was started by a group of British merchants from the East India Company and has changed ownership thrice ever since. The first was when India’s oldest business family intervened and the S. K. Birla Group acquired OCM with an intention of manufacturing suiting materials. Under the Birlas, the brand name shrunk to its acronym OCM and emerged as a textile behemoth, with an annual production capacity of 8.4 million metres.

But losses were heavy and three years ago, when WL Ross & Co. bought the ailing company, fresh funds injected were first used to repay OCM’s mounting debts. Analysts say that though OCM was sick financially, it had created a huge brand value as a tweed suitings producer. Likewise, the first big investment that Ross made in OCM was of Rs.75 million for re-engineering OCM’s brand image in the Indian market.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
TSI exposes b school ranking scamsters Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Premchand Palety of C fore. - For Complete Sting Operation Video Click Here

Pioneer Exposes the fraud called Mahesh Sharma and Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Barbel Schwertfeger of mba-channel.com

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy
Prof Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM on MF HUSAIN‎
IIPM Related Links
Detail of all IIPM branches
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

THIS IS NO HERD MENTALITY

Success depends a lot on how you approach your target audience

After data management, product customisation and segmentation & targeting comes the turn of reaching the target audience using the right channels. When private sector bank, ICICI Bank decided to enter rural India with the aim to give loans for buying cattle to small farmers, they faced a lot of resistance, as farmers were more comfortable with local lenders and sahukars than with a bank. Another major deterrent was the extensive paperwork involved in getting a loan. To overcome this stiff resistance, ICICI launched a unique high impact rural marketing campaign called the Kamdhenu Cattle Loan Campaign. Through this joint campaign by ICICI Bank’s Rural and Microbanking and Agri Business Group (RMAG) and ICICI Lombard General Insurance, farmers were approached and were shown a short film on how availing a cattle loan is easy and not a cumbersome process. Avers Pranav Prasad, Head–Rural & Agriculture Business Group, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, “Kamdhenu was aimed at creating awareness among rural consumers about hedging their economic loss in the event of injury to the cattle due to illness or other perils.” Spread over a period of 150 days across five states and 48 districts, the campaign generated the requisite awareness. Post campaign, awareness levels about cattle loan increased by over 20% amongst the TG.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
TSI exposes b school ranking scamsters Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Premchand Palety of C fore. - For Complete Sting Operation Video Click Here

Pioneer Exposes the fraud called Mahesh Sharma and Mahesh Peri of Career 360 and Barbel Schwertfeger of mba-channel.com

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy
Prof Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM on MF HUSAIN‎
IIPM Related Links
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

There’s a critic!

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy

Diptarup Chakraborty,
Principal Analyst, Gartner

This campaign by Yahoo is basically to attract and capture new users that are coming onto the Internet. I don’t think that this is to arrest people that are already using Yahoo! and its services. Talking about the logic behind the campaign, yes, it will help improve the brand value of Yahoo! but the critical fact is that I don’t think Yahoo! will exist over the next two years.

The brand has lost a lot of value and weight in the recent past, and this campaign only appears to be increasing the brand value of Yahoo! to make it more appealing and attractive to potential bidders. Questions are also being raised on why Yahoo! chose to invest in rebranding, instead of investing more on R&D and innovation. The reason is that innovation is a long-term process while branding exercises produce returns within a relatively shorter time period. Also, innovation is much more a risky deal compared to branding exercises. This therefore, justifies Yahoo’s act! Talking about how competition may react to this latest branding strategy by Yahoo!, I don’t think they will react at all. They are definitely stronger than Yahoo! is and two years down the line, I simply see this online war being a two-player game between Google and Microsoft. So this rebranding strategy may not be worth the time and money spent...

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Outlook Magazine's B School Ranking Scam Exposed
Don't trust the Indian Media!
IIPM exposes Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam
IIPM - We will change your outlook : Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam is exposed

Prof Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM on MF HUSAIN‎
IIPM Related Links
IIPM ISBE Programmes
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

LOOKING AHEAD...

Who says an old horse can’t learn new tricks? Godrej, the business house that has been around for over 112 years, is learning them fast... indeed, very fast!

Last year, when we first visited the sprawling 20,000 acre Godrej campus in Mumbai, it looked like a sylvan oasis of tranquility, untouched amidst the bustling madness of Mumbai. However, only few knew that behind this serenity lay a turbulent sea, where this 112-yearold business house was fighting a high tide of calculated metamorphosis.

In fact, it was in 2007 that Adi Godrej and his senior management team realised that the brand pedigree of Godrej was not enough to tackle aggressive rivals and newcomers. The top management of this $2.8 billion conglomerate knew that the time had come to drill into the collective psyche of the 23,000 strong Godrej ‘family’, that it requires change. The ubiquitous result was the corporate logo change in 2008, followed by a slew of other marketing and organisational changes that promised to take brand Godrej to a much wider, urban and younger audience. Nobody is saying whether the slowdown precipitated matters or whether the sweeping brand repositioning is Godrej’s way of preparing itself for the future? Chairman Adi Godrej told this magazine, “Our survey showed that the perception about Godrej products required change. They needed to be connected more with today’s young Indians.” Leading from the front is Tanya Dubash, the 30-year-old daughter of Adi Godrej and Director & President – Marketing at Godrej. Starting from 360-degree advertising to changes in HR strategies, she is using all tactics to bring about a change in the positioning of the brand Godrej. Not only Tanya, even the other three young members of the family (Nisa Godrej, Navroze Godrej & Pirojsha Godrej) are seriously lending a helping hand.

No doubt, with FMCG products contributing most to the group’s profit, Godrej has all reasons to re-structure these cash-cows to maintain a steady flow of revenues in the future. But here’s why market watchers point towards the slowdown as the big catalyst. Though FMCG might be recession proof, Godrej’s other ventures like durables, appliances and furniture, et al (target audience for which are young couples in metros), have perhaps been affected by the slowdown and surely require an image makeover. “We are creating a platform that will enable synergy in distribution and supply chain management for various business,” elaborates Kamal Nandi, VP, Sales & Marketing, Godrej Appliances. After all, the times, they say, are changing... even for the Godrej Group!

Angshuman Paul

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Outlook Magazine's B School Ranking Scam Exposed
Don't trust the Indian Media!
IIPM exposes Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam
IIPM - We will change your outlook : Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam is exposed

IIPM: An intriguing story of growth and envy
Prof Arindam Chaudhuri of IIPM on MF HUSAIN‎
IIPM Related Links
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

A 20-year itch?

The recent bbdo and pizza hut split has left many in the global ad-frat bewildered, given that the parting of ways came after 20 long years. But this has not been the first such occurrence and if anything client-agency relations have become more fractious with time. In fact, the last few years have really been harsh on them. While the account of Magnum Ice creams (handled by McCann Erickson) moved to Lowe Lintas, Cornetto (under Heart brand) was shifted to DDB. Similarly, Unilever’s popular deo brand Axe, which was earlier handled by Lowe, finally fell into BBH’s palette. So what is it that makes clients to shop for a step agency? Notably, it’s not always a wrecked relationship between the two (as perceived by many!), instead there are a number of factors that are responsible for this habitude. “Pizza Hut always has had multiple agencies on its board, which include O&M, JWT, et al. So it’s not exactly an account shift,” avers Ajay Jhala, CEO, BBDO India. Moreover, even a change in management at client’s organisation (or even the agency!) can lead to an account movement. As Jhala further adds, “Sometimes a sudden upheaval in the market can also prove to be major reason for the break up between the two”. It’s time that agencies catch up with the clients’ changing needs or else one could see some more break-ups, for sure!

Neha Saraiya

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Outlook Magazine's B School Ranking Scam Exposed
Don't trust the Indian Media!
IIPM exposes Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam
IIPM - We will change your outlook : Career 360 and Mahesh Peri scam is exposed

IIPM Related Links
IIPM ISBE Programmes
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
Exclusive In chat with Society Magazine - Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri

Biding adieu to the good ol’ Devil!

IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme

It’s been turning many eyes green for more than two decades now. But, the electronics & home appliances maker Onida has finally bid adieu to the Devil. Sriram Krishnamurthy, Vice President, Marketing & Services, Onida, reasons the sad demise...

4Ps B&M: Although Onida wanted to adopt a renewed positioning, but was it really important to drop the Devil considering that it had high recall and was instrumental in the growth of Onida, especially in the television category?
SK: Envy has lost relevance as an emotional driver of durables purchase, which has become a necessity and is no more a luxury. And, consequently the Devil loses its meaning as a representation of Envy. Therefore, we decided to move away from using the Devil as our mascot.

4Ps B&M: From ‘Neighbour’s Envy, Owner’s Pride’ to ‘Tumko Dekha To Yeh Design Aaya,” how has Onida’s communication strategy evolved?
SK: “Neighbour’s Envy” was a breakthrough campaign in the 80s and 90s and it really boosted our share in the television market. Our new campaign, “Tumko Dekha To Yeh Design Aaya” is not just a tagline or a communication strategy, but our intention to make it a reflection of our organisational culture – one of continuous customer-centered innovations.

4Ps B&M: Going forward, what is your advertising and marketing plan?
SK: We intend to re-establish ourselves as a multi-category durables brand with a strong customer-centered promise of thoughtfulness. Towards this, we plan to double our current spending of about Rs.500 million on advertising and promotions outlay to Rs.1 billion in this financial year. The ratio between various media/months is not fixed and will be re-allocated on a dynamic basis.

4Ps B&M: What does your media mix look like?
SK: Our campaign will run extensively over television. Apart from that, we are also devising a comprehensive 360-degree campaign covering all media verticals – radio, cinema, print, outdoor and digital media. We will also launche point-of-sale merchandise.


4Ps B&M: So, Onida is all set on the ‘Promotion’ front. But, what new is happening with the product considering that Onida KY Thunder Series was the last blockbuster product from the stable?
SK: All our four campaign ads – across categories – today reflect strong new innovative product propositions. However, technology is a commodity nowadays and therefore we will need continuous innovativeness to stay ahead in the consumers’ minds.

4Ps B&M: And what’s Onida’s exact positioning?
SK: Our positioning is not based on price but on ‘Thoughtful Innovations’. All Onida products represent exceptional value to customers – great quality at the right price points.

4Ps B&M: Can you elaborate on your retail strategy?
SK: We are currently working through multi-brand retail outlets. We are working on a plan for some exclusive Onida retail outlets so that customers can get to experience the entire Onida product range which is difficult to achieve in multi-brand outlet formats.

Savreen Gadhoke

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

“We will change your outlook” - The Sunday Indian on B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED! A must read...
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Business Standard Exposes the Outlook Magazine Money Editor
Don't trust the Indian Media!

IIPM ISBE Programmes
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
1 lakh copies sold in less than 10 days of Arindam Chaudhuri’s “Discover The Diamond In you”

IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM 2-year full time Programme (leading to the award of the MBA degree from IMI)
B-schools expect higher rate of campus placements this year
IIPM B School : King Khan, Bollywood Badshah and Quiz Wiz — that’s Shah Rukh Khan for you

FROM 2-MINUTES TO 25 YEARS…

IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme

...the journey has been quite delicious for a phenomenon that has entangled young and old alike in its twirling noodles, says Savreen Gadhoke

“Mummy bhook lagi hai… Bas beta 2 minute!” The popular jingle coined in 1984 seems as relevant today as it was 25 years back. In fact, it starts resonating in our head once we hear the word – Maggi. But then, the start of this journey wasn’t all that smooth. When Maggi was launched in 1984 (first convenience food to be launched in India), the foremost concern among Nestlé honchos was with regards to the promotion and positioning of this instant noodle product in the Indian market – a category which hitherto had no strong footing on the desi soil and a market that never believed in packaged food. But, charged with the challenge to create a new food habit across age groups, the ‘2-minute’ jingle was composed and well, the rest is history. In fact, it has quietly slipped into the lives of millions of consumers with unique associations and fond memories – a favourite tiffin, a treat for hostelers or delight for the newly weds. Reckoned as a convenience food with ‘Taste bhi, health bhi,’ Maggi has indeed come a long way since its foray.

And in 2009, when Maggi initiated the celebrations to mark the completion of its 25 years in India by launching the “Me & meri Maggi” campaign, there were many who even went nostalgic. The campaign, created and conceptualised by Publicis India, traverses down the memory lane and captures real memories of consumers attached with Maggi. Even the packaging of Maggi carries pictures of commoners showcasing their bond with Maggi, for instance, “Meri hamesha hamesha ka saath Maggi.” The campaign is certainly based on the strength of this unique emotional bond that consumers have developed and continue to associate with Maggi. Says Emmanuel Upputuru (who worked on the commercial), “Indians have grown up having Maggi. Such is its popularity that even elders enjoy it as much as youngster. Through this commercial, we wanted to capture the moments shared by all with Maggi.”

With the insight that today’s young generation is continuously on-the-go and copes with a busy lifestyle, and need products that offer taste, nutrition and convenience, Maggi introduced ‘Maggi Cuppa Mania’ as a trendy ally of the multitasking generation. It also launched – Maggi Bhuna Masala – a ready-made cooking paste of Tomato and Onion (with and without Garlic). Says Shivani Hegde, GM Foods “…We worked closely with the Nestle R&D Centre in Singapore, who have used their technological know-how and our knowledge of culinary art in India to develop an innovative product that does not have any added preservatives and contains low levels of oil.” The launch of this product has further made inroads for Maggi to become an integral part of everyday cooking in India.

Harping over the ‘value for money’ quotient as its core strength, Maggi maintained the price point of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles at Rs.10 and Chotu Maggi at Rs.5 all year round (despite rise in prices of key input materials). In its endeavour to make Maggi Tomato Ketchup affordable to many more families, Maggi also launched Maggi Pichkoo, an easy to handle, squeezable pack of Maggi Ketchup priced at Rs.12.

Today, Maggi stands generic to its category. With continuous innovation and renovation of its product portfolio based on strong consumer insights, Maggi has become an integral part of millions of Indians. But certainly not in 2 minutes, they say!

Ambika Sharma
National Head, Jagran Solutions
“Maggi is like a pal that gives you a comfortable space. It’s a companion in odd hour. And no doubt, it carries a few characteristics of a contemporary mom too. In fact, the category of processed food would have maintained a far distance from consumers had Maggi not existed. I won’t even hesitate to say that millions of Indians can go on a hunger-strike for Maggi.”

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!
For Exclusive Footage by Sunday Indian Click Here

Business Standard Exposes the Outlook Magazine Money Editor
Don't trust the Indian Media!

IIPM ISBE Programmes
Follow Arindam Chaudhuri on Twitter
IIPM B School on Twitter
Management guru Arindam Chaudhuri’s latest blockbuster book, Discover The Diamond In You

IIPM 2-year full time Programme (leading to the award of the MBA degree from IMI)
B-schools expect higher rate of campus placements this year
Arindam Chaudhuri (IIPM Dean) – ‘Every human being is a diamond’
IIPM Best B School – EVENTS
IIPM conceptualized the grand final of Dare ‘10 — the most prestigious of international B-school student quizzes
IIPM B School : King Khan, Bollywood Badshah and Quiz Wiz — that’s Shah Rukh Khan for you

Most Premium Brands

• BMW-7 Series • Omega • Mercedes Benz- AMG • Tag Heuer • Mont Blanc

There is always an aura of mystery surrounding premium brands. With the global economic climate seeing one of its worse times, luxury consumers have gravitated toward quality, by purchasing fewer but better things that deliver on a promise that endures over a lifetime. Be it BMW-7 Series or a Tag Heuer, consumers are going out to buy products that represent genuine value. There has been a decisive shift from conspicuous to discerning consumption as customer fatigue has set in with mass marketed premium products.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

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

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.

The Sunday Indian:- B-SCHOOL RANKING SCAMSTERS EXPOSED!

IIPM B School on Twitter
1 lakh copies sold in less than 10 days of Arindam Chaudhuri’s “Discover The Diamond In you”
IIPM 3-year full-time Integrated (MBA BBA) Programme
IIPM 2-year full time Programme (leading to the award of the MBA degree from IMI)
B-schools expect higher rate of campus placements this year
Arindam Chaudhuri (IIPM Dean) – ‘Every human being is a diamond’
IIPM Best B School – EVENTS
IIPM conceptualized the grand final of Dare ‘10 — the most prestigious of international B-school student quizzes

The deal clinchers...

When IIPM comes to education, never compromise

By keeping a consistent focus on grabbing more and more offshore deals, TCS is aiming to become an “integrated full service provider”. Thumps Ramadorai, “We have won some major deals; one of the major ones was from Latin America, where one of Ecuador’s largest banks engaged TCS for an integrated asset plus BPO and IP services deal worth more than $140 million.” In fact, the aim of the company is to generate as much as 45% of its revenues from offshore service deals.

Infosys has been very strong in the European market, which contributes 26.8% to its revenues. “We have crossed a full year revenue in 9 months of this year… package implementation and consulting together are showing good traction and are giving us a significant opportunity in the transformation type of projects,” disclosed Kris Gopalakrishnan, COO, President & Joint MD, Infosys. In fact, China seems to be quite high on the agenda as well, he reveals.

Wipro is in the same mode. “On the global delivery front, we continue to pursue our approach of focused expansion of our geographical footprints,” points Azim Premji, Chairman Wipro, “Our Romania center is now operational, we are creating a third centre in China and we will be expanding our Brazil centre that came through our Enabler acquisition.” Of course, the BPO business, despite high attrition rates, is high on the agenda, as news circulates of Wipro scouting to acquire a major partner like Spectramind. The booty available for investment is supposedly upto $50 million.

It is interesting to note that all three have China in mind, and the main growth drivers identified by them have been banking, insurance and related financial sectors plus retail. There, however, seems a clear understanding amongst the technology czars that the next wave of mergers and acquisitions and new business wins will be directed towards health care, life sciences, travel and entertainment businesses, even though the current revenues from them maybe marginal.

Read these article :-
B-schooled in India, Placed Abroad (Print Version)
IIPM in Financial times (Print Version)

And you thought it was just an ‘underdog’?

When IIPM comes to education, never compromise

With premiums worth Rs.912 crores and with a noteworthy count of 4,50,917 policies in its pocket, Reliance Life Insurance Limited aptly finds a place in our list. Born in the stable of Reliance Money, this insurance company is considered to be amongst the top private players in the Indian life insurance platform. But of late, the company seems to have gained greater aggression in deploying its strategies to gain a better grip over the market and to make life tougher for its competitors.

As disclosed recently, the company plans a huge expansion worth Rs.1000-1200 crores over the next couple of years. The company also has plans to open 400 more branch offices pan-India, adding to its existing kitty of 340 branches. The company is also trying to carve a niche for itself by offering innovative products. Express Life, the recent launch of the company focuses on providing instant coverage to its customers by circumventing all the paperwork and hassles that come free with a life insurance coverage. The product promises to offer coverage within three days of submission of the application form, something which sounds new and surely is new on the Indian sub-continent. This express service is considered to be most innovative and will surely change the buying and selling dynamics in the Indian insurance sector. As put forth by P. Nandagopal, CEO, Reliance Life Insurance, “This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in the sector. It would offer life insurance cover almost instantly to customers, without the hassles of a long waiting period, follow-ups and medical check-ups.” To garner greater market share, it is focusing on improving its distribution network and is also working towards an increased presence in rural and semi-urban India. Having set a target of selling a million policies during 2007-08 alone, one thing has become clear – this one’s not an underdog!

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.
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

Of the people, by the people & for the people

IIPM is A World of Career

On what makes Ashok Leyland a deserving winner of the ‘Employer of Choice Award 2007’ for the manufacturing sector instituted by CNBC-TV18.Fighting the ‘war for talent’ and making the right HR decisions is what sets the company apart from the herd. Excerpts from the interview...

What are the main initiatives taken up by the company till date that makes it an employer of choice?

We have built a young technical talent pool by inducting around 350 engineers annually. Ashok Leyland is considered as a Day One recruiter in the top engineering colleges. In contrast to the industry, Ashok Leyland sees an annual turnover of only 1.5% of high potential personnel, thanks to an enabling, performance oriented culture. It has been further enhanced by the creation of the Young Executives (YEs) Forum for addressing aspirations of the 42% of Ashok Leyland’s executives below 35 years of age. The YEs forum is a platform to showcase their talent and innovative ideas. Another index of the changing climate is the very open, energetic and effective ‘bottom-up’ communication that occurs within the Company through a variety of channels- from the annual communication meetings where the top management interacts with employees in groups, to ‘soapbox’, an employee’s direct channel to the Managing Director.

The company has also initiated several employee engagement programmes like Improve – a company-wide employee project contest, BITES (Breaking thresholds by Involving Total Employees), RISE (Reward for Individual’s Search for Excellence) to recognise individual efforts at achieving excellence in any area of working as on date et al.

Investments in brand building advertising campaigns have also revolved around the employee-centric theme of ‘Passion for Engineering’. Then there are personal development plans through 360 degree competency assessment, Future Leader Development Programme and e-learning initiatives across the board, collaborative off-campus programmes (Ashok Leyland has a tie-up with BITS, Pilani for the BS and MS programmes).

Why is it becoming increasing important for companies to become employer of choice?

Primarily this is so because because because of the ever intensifying ‘War for talent’ as right talent is a scarce resource and today, attrition and re-training hidden costs are very high. Surely, hiring and honing key skills in your company is a competitive advantage today.

How does it help the company (not just in terms of hiring people but branding to the public at large) to be crowned as the best employer?

Surely, employee opinion helps build brands and reinforces share-holding value and our employees are our best ambassadors. So winning such an award creates positive word of mouth which translates into superior brand image and brand perception which in turn lends for attracting the right talent. It also helps in building employer branding initiatives at leading business schools adn therefore gives a higher pay-off from brand building advertising expenditures.



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 - Admission Procedure
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

Hello Moto... watch your back!

IIPM - Admission Procedure

Nokia rules indisputably; but every other player is trying to snatch the No.2 slot!

Who had thought that voodoo inspiring numbers (1100 or a 6300) would become brands in their own right. But, Finnish handset manufacturer, Nokia, through its irresistible prices and marketing blitzkrieg ensured that it is numbers that matter more in the ‘dialled numbers’ game! And Nokia continues to rule hearts in the Indian terrain, still controlling nearly two thirds of the market. What’s more, this is despite other players – Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG – eroding away some market share from the leader in recent times. Considering that Nokia (still!) corners a large chunk of the market and remains the unbeatable No.1, all other players in the segment are engaged in a similar (agonising?) struggle, to snatch away market share from Nokia. Since the 2nd slot is occupied by Motorola (with a much smaller market share by comparison - 12%), all players in the segment are vying for a larger share to dominate the number two slot, with a respectable margin that is.

Nevertheless, in the past year, Nokia’s position has somewhat weakened, with some of its market pie being sucked up by Motorola and Sony Ericsson. With its range of stylish phones like RAZR, SLVR, KRZR and lately MotoROKRamong others, Motorola has been able to divert some attention from Nokia toward itself. What has helped Motorola sustain and retain its second position has been the aggressive marketing and great positioning that the American major continues to indulge in. With Bachchan Jr. as brand ambassador, Motorola is indeed finding it easy to attract attention. The American major is also consolidating its position in the burgeoning PDA segment, with the latest addition to the portfolio being the MotoQ.

The actual number three slot among handset makers in India is with Sony Ericsson, which despite witnessing bouts of success (both in the country and globally); remains stuck as an also-ran in the Indian market with a mere 9% market share. But Sony Ericsson has the advantage of having brands in its portfolio that are already legends the world over. Aidedwith great campaigns and attractive features, its Walkman and Cyber-shot series have become a huge hit, helping Sony Ericsson to consolidate its No.3 position in India. While it’s Q2 results show an upswing of 59% year-on-year basis on the Indian turf, they have piled up a descent market share vis-à-vis Motorola. “We expect the market to remain competitive, but with products such as Walkman, we aim to grow faster than the market,” says Miles Flint, President, Sony Ericsson.

Sudhin Mathur, GM, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (India) adds: “We are not bothered about being number 3, but about delivering products that are technologically superior and meet customer demand.” Better watch out Moto, this one’s on track to snatch the No. 2 slot from you, the anguish of Nokia’s lead notwithstanding...

Edit bureau: Karan Mehrishi

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!

An insured innings!

IIPM is A World of Career

Shot at Madh Island in Mumbai, the ad has been conceptualised by Nima Namchu, Senior Creative Director of Publicis India and has been directed by Soojit Sircar of Red Ice Productions. Namchu recollects the experience of working with Sachin and says, “He was very easy to work with and displayed no airs of being such a big star. We had already sent the scripts to him in advance and he was prepared completely and knew what was expected out of him.” Namchu goes on, “During the shoot, the entire team was in awe of the man. He is Sachin, after all! And there were young boys (many of whom idolize him!) and we had our share of autographs by the maestro during the shoot!”

Just like the message in the ad, Namchu points out that the central concept of the advert was to not be restrained and play the shots ‘Khul Ke’. The group of boys who are seen playing alongside Sachin play an important role in the ad and Namchu says, “Before every commercial, we do the auditioning of the actors. In this one, we wanted to have nice looking kids who could play cricket. I think that was more important.” He adds that the kids were fun to shoot with. “Kids are easy to shoot because they are not conscious about the fact that they have to act alongside a celebrity and in this case it was Sachin Tendulkar,” says Namchu.

Though the ad does not have a very strong story-line, it conveys the message (to enjoy every moment by letting Aviva take care of the future) through an association with cricket. And that’s where the use of Sachin stands out. Unlike most ads, this one does not waste the celebrity and employs him to convey its message simply yet powerfully. The clutter-free background of the ad along with the actors clad in a soothing white and yellow really stand out.

More than three centuries in this business and with Sachin to score runs for them now, Aviva seems set for a longer innings and Sachin needn’t really worry about the pitch, as everything is ‘insured’ this time!

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 - Admission Procedure

Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

The maestro bats to provide ‘Kal Par Control’…

Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

His career graphs boasts of a successful series against the Proteas (South Africans) and a forgetful first test against the Poms (England), but this ad of Aviva Life Insurance has marked a new innings for the Master Blaster – Sachin Tendulkar. While younger colleagues like M.S. Dhoni don the glove for GE Money India and skipper Rahul Dravid bats for Max New York Life Insurance India, Sachin has just made his debut in the insurance domain. Bert Paterson, MD of Aviva India seems ecstatic at the prospect of the ‘Little Master’ endorsing Aviva, “Sachin is the most popular icon in India for all age-groups and his popularity transcends the boundaries of religion, caste and region.”

With this cricketing icon as its ambassador, Aviva has come out with a commercial that showcases Sachin Tendulkar enjoying an energetic encounter with a group of boys on a windy day by the shore. Even as he indulges in the enduring game, the batting maestro takes the viewer on an interesting journey that embodies his and Aviva’s beliefs of leading a life that is tension-free and ‘Khul Ke’ by drawing a connection between life and the game of cricket. The commercial’s genesis has been customer insight, which pointed out that ambiguities and concern about the future restrict one from deriving maximum pleasure from the present and living life to the fullest.

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 - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career

Dragon gotta fire right!

When IIPM comes to education, never compromise

China must direct its economic growth

If statistical jugglery is anything to go by, then China, growing at an extraordinary rate of 11.9%, is poised to overtake Germany this year as the world’s third largest economy. But the key concern is whether the growth is sustainable. Rhetoric in Beijing goes on to suggest it is, and that the government is taking steps to change the patterns of economic growth & deepen reforms; yet 1.3 billion people still have a long way to go before their living standards compare to counterparts in developed economies.

The growth in top three matured economies of the US, Japan & Germany, which have occupied the top three slots for the last three decades, has slowed down; and as a result of foreign investments & trade, economic growth of China has been accelerating. Some analysts are of the view that these statistics signal overheating, which would prompt the government towards top-down measures. OECD feels that the Chinese government has been ineffective n countering negative impacts of its rapid economic development.

Inflation is yet another concern; the CPI has jumped to 4.4%, a 33-month high; which is bound to influence low-income earners. Aveek Barua, Chief Economist, HDFC Bank, commented to 4Ps B&M, “The Chinese economy is definitely not cooling, though there have been signs of interest rate hike...” The economic growth is being fuelled by government-led investments rather than spontaneous improvements in the demand and supply relationship. Economists caution against being too optimistic and argue that more attention should be paid to economic structure rather than growth rate.

Edit bureau: Gyanendra Kashyap

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.
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

Can we af‘Ford’ a toast?

IIPM - Admission Procedure

Ford has only made a partial recovery

Rallying from the brink is a rare character trait, which few possess. For a change, ailing American automotive giant Ford Motors seems to have it. Even after analysts had lost all hope on American auto makers, Ford has stunned everyone with its $750 million profits for Q2, 2007.
Amidst the criticism, the profits have acted as a saving grace for thecompany, which was reeling under insurmountable losses of $1.3 billion last year! It is believed that the raison d’etre behind these unexpected profits has been impressive performance of Ford’s overseas markets in Asia Pacific & Latin America. North America continues to bleed though, with losses of $279 million. Effective contributions came from Ford South America ($255 million), Ford Europe ($262 million) & Premiere Auto Group (PAG, $140 million).CEO Alan Mulally said, “Our team is very encouraged by the significant progress we are making.”

Mulally cannot ignore, however, that the biggest boost for Ford has been the Aston Martin sell off, which infused $925 million into Ford’s coffers. Furthermore, the company is apparently looking to sell off all PAG brands. As a further cost-cutting exercise, Ford has reportedly cut close to 6,400 jobs in North America, saving it almost $600 million in second quarter. Of course, with such massive milking of assets, this latest trickle of black stops well short of a rally. And by blindly selling of high value brands, the company only seems to be delaying the inevitable.

Edit bureau: Karan Mehrishi

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!

Despite many geo-political roadblocks and flaws, America stands undisputed...

When IIPM comes to education, never compromise

Leaders from countries like Venezuela and Iran, emboldened by the changing geo-political balance of power, feel no compunction whatsoever, denouncing America. Sarkozy’s opponent, Ségolène Royal, made anti- American sentiment, a cornerstone of her campaign, and 47% of the populace apparently thought, she picked the right villain. Even Russia, which held hands with the US while it was in the process of returning to the global economy, has started treating the US Government with the impudence of a teenager toward his dumb blundering dad.

But if America’s political reputation is faltering, its business reputation decidedly is not.

Today, American companies and entrepreneurs operate around the world with unparalleled vitality and access. Europe is still the largest investor in the United States, and the US is the single largest foreign investor in France.

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.
IIPM, GURGAON
IIPM - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!

What can America do to improve its brand in the world?

IIPM, GURGAON

Q: What can America do to improve its brand in the world?
– Julie Meyer, London

A: It can start winning. Basically, that’s the only choice for any organisation, be it a company or a country, that wants to repair a damaged reputation.

For instance, imagine if US policy and military action finally managed to install a peaceful democracy in Iraq. Such a victory would no doubt change a lot of minds about America’s “brand”. We would go from incompetent, arrogant bullies to brave, persevering heroes in about the time it took to report the news. But before we go too far down this path, let’s get clear about the kind of trouble the American brand is really in.

Yes, a boldly pro-American President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was recently elected in France, and leaders of Britain & Germany are also supporters of the US. And, yes, the number of people trying to get into America has never been higher. But broadly speaking, the US has undoubtedly lost respect on the world’s political stage.

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 - Admission Procedure
IIPM is A World of Career
Why Study Abroad When IIPM Gives You 3 global Advantages!