Case Study on Entrepreneurship: Larry Page

Business Analysis

The Boundaryless Career: Modern Contemperory Perspective on Career

Human Resource Management

Concepts of Throughput Accounting and Theory of Constraints

Financial Management

Gantt Charts – Tool for Project Planning and Scheduling

Project Management

Kaizen – Understanding the Japanese Business Philosophy of Continuous Improvement

Operations Management

Unorganized Retail in India

Retailing in India is predominantly unorganized. According to a survey by AT Kearney, an overwhelming proportion of the Rs. 400,000 crore retail market is UNORGANISED. In fact, only a Rs. 20,000 crore segment of the market is organized. We are known as a nation of shopkeepers with over 12 million, the highest outlet density in the world in the world with an estimated turnover of $ 200 billion. However a disturbing point here is that as much as 96 per cent of them are smaller than 500 square feet in area. This means that India per capita retailing space is about 2 square feet (compared to 16 square feet in the United States). India’s per capita retailing space is thus the lowest in the world. Another point to note is that only 8 % of our population is engaged in Retail whereas the global average is around 10-12%. Traditional retailing Continue reading

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Working Across Boundaries

During the last decade, the concept of working across boundaries has become a popular concept. The basic premise is that individuals and organizations need to traverse boundaries if they are to achieve their goals. Essentially earlier concepts of fixed organizational demarcation lines no longer apply in modern-day business concepts. Within the organizational framework, the concept of boundaries can become a reasonably complex issue. There still remains an active debate as to whether the definitions of boundaries are realistic, objective, or imagined. The concept has become more complex with the use of outsourcing and Public/Private partnerships in terms of lines of demarcation and authority.  The concept of boundaries within organizations takes on different shapes and forms. Much of this has to do with social and knowledge boundaries. The explosion in technological and communication advances has simplified the concept of working across boundaries. Despite the fact that organizations still are challenged to Continue reading

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Financial Sector Reforms in India

In India, a decade old on-going financial reforms have transformed the operating environment of the finance sector from an administrative regime to a competitive market base system.  Since mid-1991, a number of reforms have been introduced in the financial sector in India.  Rangarajan once noted that domestic financial liberalization has brought about the deregulation of interest rates, dismantling of directed credit, reforming the banking system, improving the functioning of the capital market, including the government securities market.  The main emphasis on the financial sector reform has been on the banking system so as to improve the performance of public sector banks. The Narasimhan Committee constituted in 1991 laid the foundation for the revamping of the financial sector in India. The Committee had submitted two reports– in 1992 and 1998 which gave immense importance on enhancing the efficiency and viability of this sector. Taking a cue from the developments in the Continue reading

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Introduction to Performance Appraisal

In almost every organization, every employee is subjected to periodic  appraisal of his/her performance. This is highly important if the organization’s  human resource development objectives are to be realized, if the organization  wants to make best use of its human resource available and if the organization  wants to have a scientific and retinal compensation system. An effective  performance appraisal system brings rationality in management. If an  organization wants to maximize its effectiveness then the organization must  have tool by which it can discriminate between an effective employee and not so  effective employee. Today, appraisal is not something of a choice left to the  wishes of the corporate bosses, nor it is a privilege to be enjoyed by few  businesses conglomerates. Therefore, it is a must for every organization for its survival and growth.  The appraisal practices are in somewhere structured and formally sanctioned and  in other instances they are an Continue reading

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Appraising Employee Performance

Need for  Appraising Employee Performance in Organizations There are several reasons to appraise subordinates performance. First, appraisals play, or should play, an integral role in the employer’s performance management process; it does little good to translate the employer’s strategic goals into specific employees’ goals, and then train the employees. Second, the appraisal lets the boss and subordinate develop a plan for correcting any deficiencies the appraisal might have unearthed, and to reinforce the things the subordinate does correctly. Third, appraisals should serve a useful career planning purpose by providing the opportunity to review the employee’s career plans in light of his or her exhibited strengths and weakness. And, last but not least, the appraisal almost always affect the employer’s salary raise and promotional decisions. In reviewing the appraisal tools we discuss below don’t miss the forest for the trees. It doesn’t matter which tool you use if you’re less than Continue reading

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The concept of Forfeiting in Export Finance

Forfeiting is a mechanism of financing exports. By discounting export receivables Evidenced by bills of exchange or promissory notes Without recourse to the seller (viz. exporter) Carrying medium to long term maturities On a fixed rate basis (discount) Upto 100 percent of the contract value. The word `forfeit’ is derived from the French word `a forfeit’ which means the surrender of rights. Simply put, Forfeiting is the non-recourse discounting of export receivables. In a forfeiting transaction, the exporter surrenders, without recourse to him, his rights to claim for payment on goods delivered to an importer, in return for immediate cash payment from a forfeiter. As a result, an exporter in India can convert a credit sale into a cash sale, with no recourse to the exporter or his banker. Concept of forfeiting: 1. What exports are eligible for forfeiting? All exports of capital goods and other goods made on medium Continue reading

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