Introduction to Second Life

Vision India@75

“India has a potential to lead the world in 2022 with its predicted largest pool of manpower consisting of 200 million college graduates and 500 million trained and skilled workforce. It could be home for at least 30 of the Fortune 100 companies of the world and generate over 10% of the world trade, by nurturing a vibrant renaissance of world-class contemporary art, science, research and education could have at least 10 Nobel Prize Winners. This is possible in next fifteen years provided leaders focus on this goal as a priority.”

These are the words from the leading management Guru Prof. C. K. Prahlad, who visited SVKM's NMIMS University on 19th July 2008 to lay out his vision for India @ 75.

The recent visit of Prof. C.K. Prahalad to India has given us opportunities to hear him on TV and/or in person and admire his thinking and vision for India. I can't agree more to his views on India lacking a shared aspiration - "He said that “As a country, India must have high and shared aspirations like it had in 1929 when the leaders of the then Congress party declared their ambition as Poorna Swaraj. Since then, India has never had a national aspiration which every Indian could share.” "

I am big fan of C. K. Prahalad's writing:

• The End of Corporate Imperialism: An HBR article that won "McKinsey Award for the Best HBR Articles" in 1998!
• The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: A Guide on Eradicating Poverty through Profits

Reading the book "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid" really helped me understand practical use Business Sustainability concepts. You can get a glimpse of the book by reading the strategy+business article written by Prof. Prahalad.

My Dream Job!!!

On this very special day, let me wish you a very happy Diwali!

I love to think (or should I say 'dream'?). Few days back, I was asking myself 'what would be my dream job?'... Well, I am not planning to leave TCS! It's just something that came to my mind. And what was the answer? Well, in a matter of few seconds, two options came to my mind:

• Professor, Harvard Business School (Like what Michael E. Porter does!
• CEO, Berkshire Hathaway (taking over from legendary Warren Buffett!!)

It didn't take much time for me to narrow down on final choice - CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

I know these are nightmarish days for all investors - well not for all. Mr. Buffett is an exception. He believes that "You want to be greedy when others are fearful. You want to be fearful when others are greedy. It's that simple.".



Check out Mr. Warren Buffett's recent interview after the US Financial crisis broke out.



Hope this gives a sense of optimism as an investor on this day of Diwali - Festival of Lights! Wish you and your family a very happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year!

TCS makes it to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

A great news for India Inc, TCS and Tata Group.

TCS has made it to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index released in September 2008. TCS is one of the only two companies from India to form a part of the list. The other company from India to become a part of the Index is also a Tata Group Company – Tata Steel.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) was established to track the performance of companies that lead the field in terms of corporate sustainability. The index was started in 1999, and is maintained by Dow Jones in conjunction with SAM Group, a Zurich-based research firm that conducts detailed sustainability analyses of thousands of global market-cap leaders each year. Each company represented in the index has its corporate sustainability assessed through an intricate weighting system that looks at economic, environmental and social metrics, as well as industry-specific criteria.

Just at right time when we are preparing for SAM presentation, we have got a great news. Isn't it a good news to share while presenting the SAM in our class?

Sweet Memories: Nayan's 2nd Birthday

Sprite Team: All White, Clear Hai?!

It was Sunday morning and our group was sporting "White" to convey message of "All Clear" soft-drink. Don't know who all noticed that, but there was one thing that everybody noticed that day. And that was quality of our group's presentation. The presentation on positioning strategy of Sprite soft-drink in India was a big hit in class:-). The attitude of Sprite also reflected in our presentation - "Seedhi Baat, No Bakwaas, Clear Hai?!"

Well done, everyone! It felt very good to hear the encouraging feedback from Dr. Amit Rangnekar!

What followed was a lunch at Amar Juice and a "photo shoot" just outside NMIMS. Have a look at those picture right here right now...

Quiz: Are you a good negotiator?

Here is a quiz that I found on CNN website. Take this quiz not just to test your negotiation skills, but also to brush up some finer aspects of negotiations...

Click here when you are ready for the quiz...

All the best! Don't forget to write your comments / feedback / opinions on this blog...