CAT 2009 fiasco and IIMs

It should be definitely regarded as a positive move to shift from paper based format to Online format of CAT(common admission test). However, the glitches in conducting the exam at such a large scale (2 lakhs) in a country like India are bound to be there.The reason behind same are not only that the penetration of Internet is less here and hence adaptability is an Issue but also that the authorities were unaware of probable failures like virus attack etc at such a large level. The exam process in itself, which was scheduled for 10 days, tried to minimize probable risk. Officials had themselves got a chance to improve and respond to situation on the following days.

Even with such safeguard, finally the problem was huge as more than 60000 appicants out of 2 lakh were affected. Now who is to blame. If we look back, XLRI tried to do same thing few years back in changing the format to online method, they were also unsuccessful and had retreated to the older paper-based format. But in case of CAT, IIMs have shown persistence in continuing with newer format for following years with greater risk mitigation methods. Such a development would help increase computer's reach and penetration in India and would help integrating e-learning in our schooling pattern. Its always difficult to implement such a grand effort in a country like India. we need not underestimate the management capabilities of IIMs, But should appreciate for the underlying initiative of making India e-ready.

(Published in Business standard 14.12.2009, Student's corner. Awarded Best Response)

Indian Tennis

Indian tennis has reached suddenly to a new height.
after 11 years again they are in world group of davis cup, this time mostly with the help of Somdevvarman and our doubles players led by Bhupati . But still who is next to play in rest of matches, Yuki bhambri, the 17 yr old Junior Australian Open champ.
Only We can say proudly about future of Indian tennis now.
last time it was 1998, When India could enter world group of Davis cup. In Grandslams, Indian duo paes-bhupati had managed to win two grandslam and missed two finals, heralded history with only duo after a long time to reach the finals of all grandslam. I had witnessed in a few years before that, when they managed to slowly move from round 1, 2 quarters and it was almost sure that they will one day break the supremacy of woodies. and they did. It was sad whatever happened after that between paes and Bhupati.
Just last week it was US Open and we saw both of them fighting against each other for the final cup. Whatever way i would say myself as a global person but i feel had they played from one side, they would have represented our country and India would have won rather than paes or Bhupati. But probaby fate didnt like that.
we love Paes still and We will love him, today again because It was he who made me see beyond cricket during my childhood and is still around battling for country. Sad to miss him in this davis cup.

Indian Hero’s ascent(!!!) from Emotional image to Macho-man

Earlier till 70s the Heros used to be emotional, family centric, soft with a very faithful and lovely wife waiting at home. If there is some fight on the way for the hero, It will be finally solved in some way and Hero would meet his wife waiting eagerly for him at home.
But now in 21st century, the scene has changed. The hero takes her girl-friend whenever and wherever he goes for a fight. She sits behind him in his bike. She supports him morally and sometimes physically too. And finally she shares the dais after win with a Hollywood kiss.
Rajesh khanna was most probably the last most famous emotional Hero. The cult of emotional hero had started with K L sehgal and shyam kumar in 30s and 40s. Heroes like Dilip Kumar, Devanand, Raj kapoor, Rajendra kumar all had taken it further and immortalized the image of a very caring, emotional and chocolaty hero. Their heroines used to cry, long for them and dream of being with them. The Hero went sometimes for war, engineering project or abroad but finally returned back to meet his wife and family at large. There was naughtiness in movies too like those of Raj kapoor, but it never crossed the line of faithfulnees from at least wife’s end.
Not to forget many warrior heroes of the past. The best among them till 70s was prithviraj kapoor (acted till ‘50s) with movies like Alexander, Rustam-sohrab. But these movies were mostly historical ones and showed the power rather than muscles.
Then came late 70’s and it was time for a married Hero. With actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Amol palekar there were comedy family drama like golmaal, Angoor. With Naseeruddin shah and shabana several meaningful movies like Masoom, Ghar, Arth kept the audiences surprised.
In between came Amitabh and things changed for a decade and half. As we all know the angry young man was here to stay. His movies showed the general apathy of indian public from government and whole system. Issues like Unemployment, Poverty had been so well entrenched in indian society that masses were happy to see a superhero in the form of Amitabh bringing all the rich down and Poor up in his movies. Movies like Mard, coolie, Deewar showed common man’s and labour class people’s dreams being satisfied at least on the silver screen.
Late 80’s saw the rise of chocolaty heros again. There was a simultaneous rise of powerful heroines with the likes of rekha (as Hunterwali), Sridevi. The ladies had grown stronger. A strong man like Amitabh, Shatrughan sinha needed a comparable strong girl friend and there were jeenat aman, parveen bobby and all.
90’s saw the rise and rise from sensualism to eroticism in Indian movies. The chocolaty hero was turning into a sexy man trying to woo the sexy girl in his college. It’s quite possible that it signalled reaching the maturity level for Indian viewers. By end of 90s audiences got bored with all this double meaning movies and songs and found them to be part of movie and finally the hoopla around them seemed to be settling down.
Now came the much awaited 21st century, and I must say the Indian cinema had transformed. Sometimes it definitely missed to reach the heights of mid 80s with movies like Arth from actors like Naseer and Shabana etc. But as a whole it was starting of an era of movies that were less of a social drama but more for the youth(mind). It was for youthful mind, by youthful mind and of youthful mind. The changes were and are fast. What will survive in the long run, no one can say as of now.

IPL 2009

As it turned out finally the last toppers came down and 

last years bottom two teams were put in the final of IPL this year.

But what is more remarkable in this years game or ICL\IPL as a whole are following things:

1. Emergenece of Brand India

2. Emergence of a business within cricket, thus generating more scope for business

3. At game level, Better opportunity for Indian players to showcase themselves, which was earlier limited to only 11 players.

4. Cricket as a commodity rather than a Brand, this has led to lesser emotional value attached to cricket, hence now onwards cricket matches wont take as much time from normal public as it used to take.

5. Emergence of Cricket as a competetor to football/hockey.The earlier versions were too dull to attract newer countries.   

Launch of Forbes Magazine in India

          Is the post election time most suitable for launch of Forbes India, As it is told by Mr. Forbes? It is quite possible they might have got the permission for launching it deferred due to elections but whatever the reason i think its delayed by three months. But as it is said It is never late to mend. With share prices on the upward movement, what else would be a better time for launch of a brand like forbes business magazine than now?

         Again discussing about the pros and cons, Had they launched the magazine three months back they would have been able to position their brand as politico-business magazine instantly. With many analysts pouring their pens at the word go for a topic like election, they would have made a brand around India today, Outlook etc. But now they will have to settle around a brand like businessworld or business India etc. Which has definitely a limited public readership. And An english magazine like forbes with a niche brand image already set in the english readers mind, they will find it real hard to move beyond and find new readers later on.

        Coming to the launch of magazine itself, it is a welcome move from forbes side for we readers who used to refer to the global issue of economist or Asian issue of Time. This also strenghenes the view that India not only hold a unique cultural and tourist image in the mind of a foreigner but as a place of business happenings too. Forbes is definitely targeting a huge number of global executives presently in India or to have a good network in the south Asia region.

         

Analysis of election and Governance Awareness Survey Results

Aim of Study: "Election and Governance Awareness Survey among Youth" 

Participants: 24-30 yr old Youth

Survey Conducted by Sujit Kumar

Date of survey: 15th may 2009, A day before vote counting og MP election 2009.

No of respondents: 34

Voter Status among participants: 16% Voted

Major Findings:

1. Leadership suitable for Indian PM post have responses varying among the popular names like Narendra modi and Manmohan singh. This means a clear inclination towards either a tainted but solid performer or a Knowledgeable person who is not at all tainted but makes decisions with conviction. Manmohan singh despite being criticised many times had been very strong about implementing the Nuclear deal. Despite present slowdown, The youth didn’t underestimated the charisma of manmohan singh and have support to sail through better or worse time.
   
2. Development at personal level meant safer, society and better infrastructure for youth, which is imaginable given the dampening effects in the growth we have seen in the circumstances of Mumbai killings, various serial bomb blasts last year in 2008. Next the youth needed a better future for their children when they voted for Environmentally clean society.
   
3. Development of India can come through reducing poverty and illiteracy. Also open culture was one of the responses, which suggests us to leave the social stigmas and casteism like age old deplorable heritage being carried by us in the 21^st century too. The RamSene events in mangalore, which finally ended in suicide of one of the teenage girls are few examples of how backward we are by not promoting open culture.   
4.  In response to methods used to support government, the youth is determined to assist in various ways like promoting people to support government. They found methods beyond 5 suggested points. They spoke vocally about methods of improving governance and went to extremes like killing some politicians too.
   

Here one point is notable that the best option was to support the government rather than being fussy about it (less sneezing).

While we have seen earlier student movements targeted towards damaging public property, we had one response clearly telling that supporting government means not damaging public property.

                Clearly, India has a very good future with these determined souls to have a part in governance through serving the people, supporting the government. Some young brigade are thinking of even starting a social movement also.

                In the end, I would thank all the 33 respondents to take part in this survey and speak up about your responses and suggestions.

                             Jai Hind!!!

 © Copyright Sujit Kumar

Election and Governance Awareness level among Youth: A survey

It was 15^th may 2009. An evening before the result for assembly were scheduled to come out.

A survey regarding awareness about Election and Governance among the Indian Youth aged 24-30 was carried out on various aspects starting from their choice of PM to the basic questions of How would they participate in better governance. This online survey was conducted by me. 

Methodology: The number of questions was kept small (5) keeping in mind the nature and quality of responses, people give online.The answer choices included one space called others too whether the participants can enter their own choice of answers in text format if they differ or want to add upon the existing choices of Answers.

Sample: Around 33 youth (Age group 24-30) randomly selected from all parts of India were chosen to vote. A large number of participants were the MBA students of IIM Kozhikode, who are presently going through the summer Internship phase of their Studies. Around 20% of respondents were youth working throughout various cities of India. 

Response to Survey: The results were overwhelming. Many witty and realistic answers as it just reflected the whole India’s thinking.

Participation level in Election: As answered through a question itself, Around 16% of the participants were actual voters too, which is a very enthusiastic response in terms of being a responsive Citizen, as most of the participants are not in their hometown presently.

Questions and Responses:

Q. What matters to you most in terms of Development?

A) more salary 
B) Cleaner and less congested Roads
C) Safer society
D) Better and cheaper Education facilities
E) Less Inflation
F) Others

Responses: Here Safer society came first among the various options followed by others. In others, the respondents came up with following options:

- Education to all and Improvement in law and order
- loads of work so that we never get bored
- No poverty and No Illiteracy
- More pubs.
- One thing is dependent on another
- Upliftment of lower sections and Internal security
- Strong and Stable government with strong foreign Policy
- Food and shelter to everyone
- All of above options

Q3. What matters most for the country in terms of development?

The answer choices are:

A) Less Inflation
B) Less poverty
C) More education
D) More companies
E) More opprtunity for growth
F) Other

Responses: For our country, Youth understood the poverty as the biggest block towards development(33%) followed by education(option c) and more opportunity for growth (option e)( equally 27%). The answers among others were:

- Open culture
-All of above

Q5.How would you help the government do their work properly?

The answer Choices are:

A) by promoting people to support government
B) by promoting government packages among needy people
C) by joining an online group to promote govt packages
D) by joining an NGO
E) by keeping environment cleaner like not using plastic bags
F) Other

Responses: The answer option A by promoting people to support government came as first, Which underlines the faith of youth that change starts from them itself rather than from government. The close second was option E where Cleaner Environment was stressed upon. 

The second ranked option were also following four answers

- by serving people - By taking part in the government - By starting a Civil Movement - by sneezing less. - by following rules and not damaging public property. Also i would like to mention that it is almost impossible for working professionals to vote as they cannot go to their hometowns to vote wen they do not have leaves also. Probably the government would do better by inplementing a distance voting system/online system. - By killing few sick politicians and screwed up people - By killing bastards

Q1. preferred PM Candidate:

Responses: 

This was an open ended question, asked at the starting of the questionnaire itself to make them identify with the topic, This question had another reason to be asked as to check the clarity regarding Indian political situation and ability to select a candidate among a maze of politicians.Only if they can slect the PM candidate properly they can slect the local MP candidate properly, even though they can be of different parties but they identify with their choices and beliefs. 

There were two clear winners

1. Narendra Modi (30.33%)
2. Dr Manmohan Singh (21.21%)

L K Adwani came at third  with 12.12% vote followed by 
other choices of Rahul gandhi, Narayan Murthy(Infy), P Chidambaram, prakash karat, Abdul Kalam and Atal Behari vajpayee.

 © Copyright Sujit Kumar

A question about Downturn

It was 15^th April, one week since I joined as a summer trainee from IIM kozhikode in a startup named Ozonetel based in Hyderabad with a hope that the learning here would be much more than any of the established organisation. That was the day I started talking to prospective customers with a view that the product comes in their need they will buy, everything seemed to be ok. The targeted 1% conversion rate in the marketing cycle was what kept me going on for more and more lead generation across different sectors. It was a very happy journey. The product is actually a Unified Data manger, which would take continuos or scheduled automatic backup of several Networked Computers. The targeted sectors would be Media, Educational Institutions and Pharma etc. A Portion of the questionnaire prepared by me kept on incrementing itself with data as I reached more and more customers. I went on to understand the market, its buying behaviour and the need of customer as well as some learning on pricing till the day I met the distributors. The distributors are the people who make 20% conversion in the IT business and are most relied upon channel. I asked you buy one piece at a price of one nano and we will be always refilling it at your end and the benefits you will get would be somewhere around 30%. And that was the end of my whole hopeful and Enthusiastic part of my summer Internship. You may tell okay one would say that two would say that. But The story became more grim as I talked to more distributors. A distributor who has channels across India started telling me even slow money flow would have been okay but sir, here money is blocked daily many companies are going bust. I cannot promise you at this time. The other fellow who showed lot of interest and promise in our product finally disowned when we discussed about him keeping a unit in his store. The picture became more clear when I saw the distributors market’s seval offices shuuter closed and phones not working at all.

                        I never thought the market would have been so bad. And there was a reason to believe it. One of my friends S. Seetha, MD of Ceragem Branch at far flung location of kanchipuram is happily selling 10 units a month at a price of around 50000/- Rs per unit. Also she has a customer base of 300 per day interested in getting service, who down the line would become her customers. I myself reached a different place called retail shop and purchased a small pack of Colgate toothpaste at a whopping price of Rs32. As I was buying items I saw consumers purchasing items without any difficulty. What went wrong then?

                        Am I mistaking myself in merging B2B and B2C market place. I never feel there is a difference in these two markets . I strongly believe there is a cyclical interconnection in them. Understanding the B2C market in a locality would make you understand the dependent B2B market. Can we still question and try to understand what went wrong? 

Fight The Slowdown

The present downturn has sent much shockwaves among the CEOs than earlier downturns in 1997 or 2002. They have realised now how big companies like GM can even not survive. While It was crime to speak too much beyond you can do like in Enron till now but it is self defeating in present situation. Even General Motors which had been talking of resurgence in market share have not been able to even sustain the downturn rate. As an Indian saying goes that “Whatever you eat is what makes you think. Whatever you think is what makes you speak and whatever you speak is what makes you act, So keep your food right to keep your action right”. The hoopla created by big companies will no longer be a survival strategy. The reality and being true to your organisation and stakeholders will define the success or failure of an Organisation in coming future.

The time has come when the companies will look not on their Income but again cash in hand. The cashflow would define the prospects. The method followed through leverage having shown the tricks to businessmen, they will be cautious now onwards to take it day by day basis rather than quarter basis. The look for quarterly growth and yearly growth would soon shorten to daily growth. “Look and Judge now” should become the mantra of Organisation heads rather than “act now, reap now and let them face the results”.

The miniaturization of Organisation would help one evaluate the work of each one more judiciously as well as it would make the company more result oriented rather than function oriented. Companies like GM would have to live in new age world as a co-branded company. The Customer would directly know who all involved in this product and hence make a decision on their own. The Automobile industry would also look for a concept like dell where you customize a car of your own choice pay for it and get deliverd in a week at your doorstep. Going more deeper into this aspect would reveal similar future for other consumer segments too.

The Research and development Expenditure will have to be spent judiciously and selectively. The output oriented approach as addressed by several marketer would not work as many researches are a result of serendipity itself. But studying market flow and understanding the wave of market would definitely help the CEOs to get direction. As dicussed above the R&D organisation would also thrive on their core competence. A concept of central funding can be brought into action where a group of companies or consortium would invest in few r&d companies to develop product for them. This would make it easy for companies to focus on their output and goal.

But at the end of all such discussion, we should not forget the thriving rural business. So what should be done to tap this market? The fundamental difference lies in the rural-urban divide in term of growth and development. Definitely the rural areas are lacking behind the urban areas by at least 20 years. The buying behaviour much depends on the social aspirations which drived the urban business few years back. But then comes another fact that volume for costlier products is less in this rural market. So, Organisation should come up with innovations in all the segments suited for this market in the income range they can pay. Here you just need to build the market simultaneously also through making cash flow easier. The rural customer would be a lot happy if he feels himself secure and well connected in a developing and growing environment. So a holistic approach from all products would make the market afloat. Huge investment in one sector would just create a short term demand. The solution is orient your business towards rural sector with all other products of various needs also available at their doorstep, Then the money will have a continuous flow and make everyone happy.  

copyright  sujit kumar, IIM Kozhikode

Bharat matrimony

Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai.. ye ladkiyan dikhti to achi hain.. par koi inse shadi kyun nahin karta!!!

koi khot to nahin!!!

ho sakta hai camre me achi dikhti hongi bas.. ya fir kisi ka mask laga liya hoga!!! may be ,anything is possible!

Awesome and Ulti

The two words: one pronunciated in whole other in half... might be due to the later one's sheer size and the redundacy of letters after initial four letter which is not the case with the former one.

for those who still cant guess whats ulti its ultimate.

ulti was (or perhaps is) the word used in IITR to select or deselect something as really great and cant be replicated without true effort.

Awesome similarly is used in the same sense but in IIMK.

Is it just the zonal and cultural differences that make the differences ithe words used for the same meaning. cant say!

some similar lingo at IIMK are: ghissu( incidently same as that used in IITR), do it for k. 

IITR was more creative in this sense may be due to its long past and culture.few of lingo used there were - Chapo, fuchha, room Baap(dont know whether it still continues), FOKI...

Grassroots at IIM Kozhikode

The social service group launched its annual event grassroots, where The Indian flying queen Ms. P T Usha came as a chief guest. 

The saturday afternoon usually meant for taking snap inside room turned to the hillside lake and enjoyed to the fullest with the budding  stars in the form of children, enthusiastic as ever.

K-scope launched at IIMK

today i launched K-scope at IIMK..

felt good after a baffling Economics quiz.

first was movie ghazini to be telecasted at 10pm. then dark knight at 1210AM morning..

ghazini starts my two most favourite stars Amir and Asin...

Asin whose song aiyyo aiyyo i can never forget!!!

Hope to run K-Scope for long time!!!

Radio susat launched at IIMK

Night dozing!!!! never its always on at SUSAT Radio....

First night max of 10 listeners..not bad!!!

Next day The Australian Open live >>>Whats next..

A cultural Night or a poet's evening or a dance/drama telecast!!!

lets see... 

Federer wins 6-0,6-0

As the finale is reaching nearer and nearer, the battle for crown is getting tougher. Federer yes believe me defeated no. 8 guy 6-0 ,6-0 in the last two sets. God can only think what lies aead.

Me at IIm K not presently able to rejoice the Lawn-tennis, am really frowning at my hard luck of not able to see some of the best days of a turning to be vintage federer..

It was not long back when sampras reached such a peak where winning was a habit and the next yr ...silenced...

The luck of federer was definitely down.. We all praised then federer should loose!!! of course who wants someone to win forever... it gets boring too!!!

Recording History in the name of a single person for a decade is like passing it in a single word.. Some people even started telling there are no good competetor to play him against.. Be whatever but He is Back and too the Charm of Good stylish rather than power tennis!!!

Backwater 2009,IIMk and Gaurav dagaonkar "Rock on"

The effect of rain being created by a management graduate being transformed in the shape of a Hindi Rock singer. What a splendid!!!

  If you have to prove whether IIMA or K is better, then join me in the noise creation bandwagon.. and the mass was game to it.

starting from his own creation of a new form of Om namah sivay aaye aaye aaye.... He soothed our rocking mind thorugh his mellifluos voice flowing through different genres of rock from brian adams to bob dylan to Shankar-Ehsan-loy through rock-on and dil chahta hai like songs.

IIMk Backwaters 2009 - Rahul Sharma

The evening with Rahul Sharma, a great exponent of Santoor.

The music could not bind me inside layers of quilt in the hostel and i ran towards the audi.. Yes, It was the redoubtable Rahul Sharma on Santoor, with a modern combination of tabla and drums.

What an effect it was creating at 7 o'clock in the evning when a thrilled audience from institutes of repute around the country.