Guest Lecture on Arthakranti on 12 september at 5pm in NSH

ArthaKranti proposal is a designed technical correction that can completely transform the current Indian socio-economic scenario. We firmly believe that implementation of this proposal would enable 'Principled, Prosperous and Peaceful living' for all citizens of our country. In addition to strengthening the Nation internally, this proposal will enable India to realize her potential and command the respect that she deserves internationally. And from such position of strength, we can lead the rest of the world towards the only sustainable possibility - the thought that has been treasured and propounded by India for centuries - ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam' or 'mankind as one big global family'!.

MBA admission for the academic year 2012-2014

National Institute OF Technology (NIT), Warangal School of Management (SOM) has announced the admission criteria for the MBA program of 2012-2014 batch. The institute offers MBA program exclusively for engineering graduates. The admission for the batch 2012-14 has started now.


Eligibility
The applicant should hold a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in any branch of Engineering or Technology. Candidates awaiting the results of the final semester/year may also apply. But they should submit the final marks list before the date given by the Institute in case they are selected.First class Bachelor’s Degree in any branch of Engineering/Technology with a valid CAT /MAT
score.

NOTE: SC/ST and PC Candidates with 55% marks or with 6.0 CGPA are also eligible toapply for the programme.


Selection Process
The MBA Entrance exams which are considered for MBA from NIT Warangal are CAT and JMET. On the basis of the scores of CAT and JMET, the shortlisted candidates will have to appear for Group Discussion and Personal Interview rounds.

Application Fee:

1. Application fee is Rs. 700/- (Rs. 350/- for SC/ST candidates) for each application.

2. Applications are to be submitted along with photocopies of necessary certificates and with Demand Draft for Rs. 700/- (Rs. 350/- for SC/ST candidates) towards the application fee. D.D. must be drawn in favour of Director, NIT Warangal, payable at S.B.H, NIT Warangal Branch (Code No. 20149) or any other Nationalized Bank payable at Warangal.

3. Name and address of the candidate should be written on the reverse of the Demand Draft.

Admission Methodology:

1. Admissions are made on ALL INDIA BASIS.
2. Selection is made based on the basis of Group Discussion and Personal Interview
conducted by the Institute for the shortlisted candidates from valid CAT/MAT score.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR ADMISSIONS:

Availability of Application form: 14th November 2011
Last date for receipt of filled in Application form along
With requisite DD by post / hand: 30th December 2011
List of Short listed Candidates (On the Institute Website): 21st January, 2012
Date & Time of GD and Interview : 25th and 26th February 2012
Publication of Final Results and Counselling dates will be intimated later.


CONTACT DETAILS:

For further information please see our institute website or contact:

Regarding Admission:

The DEAN (Academic)
NIT Warangal
Phone: 0870-2462850/51(Off.)
Mobile: 9490165361

Regarding MBA Programme:

Head of the Department
School of Management
NIT Warangal
Email:som_hod@nitw.ac.in
Phone: 0870-2462850/51(Off.)
Mobile: 94901 65349

Happy Diwali Friends

Have a safe & Green Diwali!

Did you know that diyas lit on the moonless Diwali night signifies the end of darkness of ignorance and the beginning of light that enlightens all? Well, this Diwali enlighten yourself towards the hazards that boisterous celebrations of Diwali poses to our environment.

This articles endeavours to sensitise the readers towards celebrating an environmentally safe Diwali by pointing out the major impacts that Diwali has on our environment. It is hoped that this articles will encourage you to celebrate a green Diwali, where there will be an explosion of joy without crackers!

How to celebrate an Eco Sensitive Diwali?
Now, that you are interested in celebrating an Eco - Sensitive Diwali, the first thing that you need to do is to make yourself aware about the effects the traditional Diwali celebrations has on the Mother Nature. Given below are three major environmental impacts that Diwali Festival have on our environment.
Air Pollution through Firecrackers
Excessive Consumerism
High Energy Consumption
1. Air Pollution through Firecrackers - "Say 'No' to Fire crackers and 'Yes' to life!"
For most people lighting of firecrackers is the highlight of Diwali. Brighter the sparkles, louder the noise the greater the thrill!! In fact to many of us, these aesthetic forms of light seem so appropriate and most essential when celebrating the 'Festival of Lights'.

But little do people realize that in our increasingly populated and polluted cities, the temporary joy of watching the firecrackers is soon replaced by the intense air pollution caused by these. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all living beings. The high level of noise generated by the crackers cause immense suffering to birds and animals. Besides, Diwali crackers are dreaded by the sick and the ailing.

Sadly, few of us realise that the firecrackers used on Diwali are mostly made by very young children. Since the substances being handled are extremely toxic many of these child labourers get sick and die in their early teenage years.

Harmful effects of Chemicals used in crackers
Let's do a little analysis of crackers and list out in actual terms the harmful effects posed by each of its chemicals.

Chemical and its imapact
Copper: Irritation of respiratory tract
Cadmium: Anemia and damage to kidney
Lead: Affects the nervous system
Magnesium: Its dust and fumes cause metal fume fever
Sodium: Reacts violently with moisture and can attack the skin.
Zinc: Leads to vomiting
Nitrate: Could lead to mental impairment
Nitrite: Could lead to coma

Noise Pollution caused by Fire CrackersCrackers that make a noise of more than 125 decibels at four metres distance from the point of bursting are banned by the law. Given here are the hazards posed by excessive noise pollution caused by crackers:
Hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart attack and sleeping disturbances.
Sudden exposure to loud noise could cause temporary deafness or permanent relative deafness.
2. Excessive Consumerism An indirect but equally significant impact of Diwali on nature is due to the increased consumption. Since Diwali is also a celebration of abundance and wealth - many people believe that it is a good time to buy. Often, people go out and buy new items even when they don't need them. Advertisements and hoardings scream out to people offerings sales extravaganzas, bargains, discounts encouraging us to buy more and more!

How does this increased consumption affect Nature? A point to realize is that all man made items are made out of materials that come from Nature. Be it plastic, metal, paper or cloth - all of these raw materials come directly from nature. Those sources that are non renewable (cannot be grown back) such as fossil fuels and metal ores get depleted and will one day run out. Depletion of non renewable natural resources is one of the most significant impact of consumerism.

For instance, the gold earrings that you will buy on Diwali is coming from a gold mine that is not only depleting the gold resources of the earth, but in the process of mining is probably ruining several ecosystems.

A question to ponder at this stage is, where do all the things we throw away go finally? Solid waste created by human beings which is non biodegradable (does not easily decompose) has to be filled into holes dug up in the ground. These 'landfills' as they are called may exist for centuries without completely getting integrated into the soil. The plastic toys that you are throwing away today, may exist in a landfill several generations after yours!

Five Principles of Nature conservationTo be able to conserve our natural environment it is important to keep in the following principles -
Reduce : the amount of things we use
Reuse : the things we have in different forms until we have absolutely no use for them
Recycle : items that are no longer functional.
Rethink: the choices we make when deciding to buy something and
Refuse : things that we do not need at all.
So this Diwali, before you buy something new apply the above five principles and only then pay at the counter!

3. High Energy Consumption: The festival of lights puts a considerably heavy load on electrical energy sources that are already overloaded. The use of electric lights to adorn homes, business establishments, monuments and roads requires a huge amount of electricity. The older tradition of burning oil lamps is a possible alternative to electric lights - even though it does use oil, the duration of the lamps is shorter.

Eco sensitive Initiatives around Diwali
With the growing recognition of the impacts of Diwali on the environment, several groups have started to reinterpret the rituals and traditions to become more sensitive to nature. For instance, the children of NCL school, Pune celebrate a different Diwali by sharing clothes with the lesser privileged.

5 Whys

Quickly Getting to the Root of a Problem

The 5 Whys is a simple problem-solving technique that helps you to get to the root of a problem quickly. Made popular in the 1970s by the Toyota Production System, the 5 Whys strategy involves looking at any problem and asking: "Why?" and "What caused this problem?"
Very often, the answer to the first "why" will prompt another "why" and the answer to the second "why" will prompt another and so on; hence the name the 5 Whys strategy.
Benefits of the 5 Whys include:
It helps you to quickly determine the root cause of a problem.

Reference: Mindtools.com
It's simple, and easy to learn and apply.
How to Use the Tool:
When you're looking to solve a problem, start at the end result and work backward (toward the root cause), continually asking: "Why?" You’ll need to repeat this over and over until the root cause of the problem becomes apparent.

Note:
The 5 Whys technique is a simple technique that can help you quickly get to the root of a problem. But that is all it is, and the more complex things get, the more likely it is to lead you down a false trail. If it doesn't quickly give you an answer that's obviously right, then you may need to use a more sophisticated problem solving technique such as Root Cause Analysis or Cause and Effect Analysis.

Example:
In this example, the problem is that your client, Hinson Corp., is unhappy. Using the 5 Whys, you go through the following steps to get to the cause of the problem:
Why is our client, Hinson Corp., unhappy? Because we didn't deliver our services when we said we would.
Why were we unable to meet the agreed-upon timeline or schedule for delivery? The job took much longer than we thought it would.
Why did it take so much longer? Because we underestimated the complexity of the job.
Why did we underestimate the complexity of the job? Because we made a quick estimate of the time needed to complete it, and didn't list the individual stages needed to complete the project.
Why didn't we do this? Because we were running behind on other projects. We clearly need to review our time estimation and specification procedures.

Key Points:
The 5 Whys strategy is an easy and often-effective tool for uncovering the root of a problem. Because it's simple, you can adapt it quickly and apply it to almost any problem.
Bear in mind, however, that if it doesn't prompt an intuitive answer, you may need to apply other problem-solving techniques.

Working with Lazy People

Motivating Idle Colleagues

Do you work with people who don't "pull their weight"?
Perhaps he wastes a large part of the day playing games, or talking to friends on the phone. Or, maybe he takes extra-long breaks, and he's happy just to do the very minimum to get by.
If you work with a colleague like this, then you know how frustrating it can be. Working with someone who's lazy is always a personal challenge, but it can also lower the productivity and morale of everyone else in the office.
However, if you're not that person's boss, is there anything that you can do? Do you simply have to tolerate this "rogue," or should you confront the situation head on?

Your Options
If you have a lazy co-worker in your midst, you'll probably have several options.
Your first option is to ignore the situation and go about your business. If the lazy colleague isn't causing you problems in any way, this might be the best option.
Sure, it's annoying and unfair that she's getting away with only doing a fraction of the work. But eventually, her poor performance is going to catch up with her. In the meantime, let it go - focus on doing your own great work, and making sure that you get the recognition that you deserve.
However, if your colleague's idleness is having a negative impact on your work, or that of your team mates, then you need to take action.
So another option is to pick up the work your colleague isn't doing. This will take care of neglected tasks, but it's only going to add to your stress and frustration, since you're now doing her job as well.
Letting your co-worker continue with her bad work habits could also cause a negative impact on your, or your team's, reputation.
Your last, and likely best, option is to get assertive and take direct action to stop her being so lazy. We'll look at several approaches to doing this.

Open a Dialogue
Begin by meeting your co-worker privately.
First, explain how her actions are affecting you and your other team members. Cite specific dates or situations that will trigger her memory - be as detailed as you can here.
For instance, if she was supposed to prepare a presentation for last week's meeting and missed the deadline, then let her know that you had to stay late to complete her work. Making her see that her actions (or lack thereof) are having a personal affect on you can drive the message home.
This can be a difficult conversation to have, but be respectful and polite throughout, and try to avoid getting emotional or angry.
If you're nervous or unsure what you're going to say, then try role playing to prepare for this meeting. You might also want to brush up on your communication skills to make sure you can get your point across confidently and assertively.
If your co-worker regularly dumps her own responsibilities onto you, then it's time this behavior stopped. Let her know firmly that you're not going to cover for her, or take on her tasks, any longer. Stress that if her behavior doesn't change, you'll have no choice but to go to your boss.
Your co-worker might not respond positively to this conversation. So, to prepare for this, you might want to learn more about how to deal with difficult people. If things get heated, end the conversation and walk away - nothing productive will come from arguing.

Tip:
Keep a private note of everything that you do and why you're doing it. If your co-worker makes a fuss about what you're doing, you need to be able to defend yourself!

Listen Actively
You may think your co-worker is simply lazy, or that she just doesn't care.
But there might be another reason why she's not performing. Perhaps she's not in the right role and feels overwhelmed by her tasks. She might not know a certain task is her responsibility, or she might not have the skills needed to do her job effectively.
Or, she could be dealing with stressful issues such as a personal or family illness, divorce, or troubles with her children.
Ask her to explain her side of the story, and listen actively to what she has to say. You might be surprised to find out that there's more than meets the eye. Sometimes, just being willing to listen can make a big difference.
The Invisible Manager
Another strategy you can use is to help a lazy colleague in a subtle way. That is, you can delicately shape his behavior and motivation without him realizing what you're doing.
For example, if you think that your co-worker is unmotivated because he isn't in the right role, ask him what he'd enjoy doing. Then, try to pass along projects and tasks that would fall under his ideal role. You could also loan him books or articles that would help him develop professionally. This can get him excited about what he's doing, and improve his morale.
You can also help him to discover how to work with purpose and find new meaning in what he's currently doing. Or, you could use a well-respected tool like Schein's Career Anchors to help your colleague to find inspiration and direction in the work that he's currently doing.
When your co-worker does step up and do a good job, then recognize his efforts. Often, compliments and thanks from team members can be more gratifying than those from the boss.


Consulting Your Boss
If, in spite of your best efforts, your colleague won't improve or change, and if her laziness is still causing problems for you or your team, then you might have to speak with your boss.
Before you do this, remind your colleague again that you'll have no choice but to go to your boss if her behavior doesn't change.
In the meantime, make a note of exactly what your co-worker is (or isn't) doing. If she spends two hours at lunch and doesn't make up the time, write this down. If she's making personal calls, or surfing the Internet, write down the times and any other relevant information.
You may want to do this over a period of a few weeks to gather enough evidence, and give your colleague a further chance to improve her behavior.
If there's still no improvement, arrange to meet with your boss. Explain the situation clearly and honestly, and detail the steps that you've taken to get your co-worker to change. Again, try to keep emotion and drama out of the conversation.
You'll also want to bring any records you have that prove that your co-worker has been shirking her duties.
Then, hand the situation over to your boss completely. After all, you've now done all you can.

Key Points
Working with a lazy colleague can be a challenging and frustrating experience. Lazy co-workers who don't work to the best of their ability can damage the morale of the entire team, and even cause negative repercussions in your own career.
Usually, your first step will be to meet with your colleague in private. Let him know how his poor performance is impacting your own work. You can also try to help him by subtly changing his motivation and behavior.
If, however, this approach doesn't work after you've given him several chances to improve, you'll need to hand the problem over to your boss. It's their responsibility to handle staff issues, once you've done all that you can.
Reference: MindTools

Steve Jobs: Life and Leadership Lessons

By Tony Bradley, PCWorld

Steve Jobs has passed away. The man was a unique genius who transformed the world because he believed he could.

I never met him. I never saw him in person. I never spoke to him on the phone. I have never owned a Mac. In fact, I never owned any Apple product until I got the iPhone 3GS a couple years ago. Yet, I respected the man and his genius, and I am deeply saddened by the loss.


Steve Jobs changed the world, because he was crazy enough to believe he could.
Compared with other writers like Walt Mossberg or Brian Lam, I feel a bit unworthy to even write about Steve Jobs. Imagine being the relative new kid on the block among entertainment writers when Michael Jackson died.

The reality is that even if you have never owned an Apple product, Steve Jobs has affected your life. In tribute, here are some lessons I think we can all learn from Steve Jobs' brief but brilliant life.

Think Different

"Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently--they’re not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things--they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

"A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets."

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

"Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it."

Lead from the Front

"You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new."

"It's not about pop culture, and it's not about fooling people, and it's not about convincing people that they want something they don't. We figure out what we want. And I think we're pretty good at having the right discipline to think through whether a lot of other people are going to want it, too. That's what we get paid to do."

Strive for Perfection

"When you're a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you're not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You'll know it's there, so you're going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through."

Love What You Do

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

Take these lessons and apply them to your life--personally and professionally. Play to win. Playing not to lose is a poor strategy that generally backfires. Once you stop setting new goals to strive for, and instead just try to protect your lead, your strategy becomes too timid and leads to stagnation and decline.

You still have today. What will your legacy be?

Most Trusted Brands 2011: Coca-Cola versus Pepsi, the tussle for cola marketing

While on a market visit in rural UP, towards the end of 2009, the Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, president, Atul Singh observed that there were pockets with intermittent or no electricity connectivity, which meant that selling the beverage chilled, was a task.

While the eutectic coolers were already there, freezers specially designed and developed for the places where power shutdown is for longer duration up to 10 hrs, the bigger issue was selling chilled cola in areas with no supply of electricity.

The brief was given to the technical team and solar coolers were created, that have been piloted in rural Agra for now. While the coolers' solar power could help the rickety shop remain open much longer even after dark; in addition it had a mobile charging unit, which led to many walk-ins. Result: sales went up nearly 5 times in the areas where this concept was tested.

This bottom-up innovation, once rolled out on a large scale, is likely to be exported to other markets also. Innovation has been something that the cola brands have been trying to incorporate in a very big way, be it in distribution or packaging or formulation or in the branding.

The year has been particularly a good one for Coca-Cola. In Brand Equity's Most Trusted Brands survey 2011 Coca-Cola has moved up from 23rd position(overall rank in MTB 2010) to 11th position this year. In the beverage (cold) category, it has emerged as the winner followed by Thums Up (overall -16, last year - 20), Mirinda (overall -19, last year - 56), Pepsi (overall - 21, last year - 15) and 7 Up (overall - 25, last year - 52) as the Top 5 players.

Noteably the top two brands in the category are from the Coke stable, with rival Pepsico taking the next three places. Excitedly Anupama Ahluwalia, VP - marketing, Coca-Cola India & SWA elaborates on the brand Coca-Cola's performance for the year, "The focus has been on building brand-love through our brand campaigns, undertaking relevant social causes and campaigns to help build an enduring social component into the brand and create unique brand properties like Coke Studio."

Some of their marketing initiatives like the 'Shadow' campaign, the 'Invisible bottle' campaign, the 'Brrr' campaign were integrated with on-ground activations to create buzz. For instance the 'Shadow' campaign was first released to consumers on mobile phones and 400,000 people downloaded and got an exclusive preview of the campaign before it hit mass media.

The carbonated drinks market touted to be worth nearly Rs 10,500 crores of which nearly Rs 4,000 crores is the cola segment has been among the most active battlefields for marketers. Be it the global behemoths like Coca-Cola and Pepsi or the Indian-born big daddy Thums Up, all are vying constantly for the consumers' wallet-share through a slew of marketing initiatives across mediums.

HBS Cases: Lady Gaga

Celebrated for both her outré style and musical prowess, the recording artist known as Lady Gaga is not only one of the world's biggest pop stars, but also one of the most recognized brands. She's garnered five Grammys, holds two spots in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records including "Most Searched-For Female," as recorded by Google, and made international headlines for donning a dress made of red meat, which Time Magazine called the top fashion statement of 2010.

"Gaga is a marketing phenomenon"
So it's almost shocking to recall that in the autumn of 2008, Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in New York City, was merely a supporting act in a reunion tour of the erstwhile-boy band, New Kids on the Block.

"When you tell that to people now they look at you like you must have your dates mixed up," says Harvard Business School Associate Professor Anita Elberse. "That was just three years ago, and now she is, by many measures, the biggest celebrity on the planet. Gaga is a marketing phenomenon."

This fall, Elberse will teach a case on Lady Gaga's meteoric career in her popular second-year MBA course, Strategic Marketing in Creative Industries, which focuses entirely on the media and entertainment sector, and which includes sessions on basketball star LeBron James, online video aggregator Hulu, the NFL, and the Metropolitan Opera, among other cases. The first part of the new case, dubbed Lady Gaga(A), places students in the shoes of the pop star's manager, Troy Carter, who faced the daunting and sudden task of launching the performer's first major solo concert tour in 2009.

Elberse developed the case based on extensive interviews with Carter and several other executives who are part of team Gaga, including Interscope Geffen A&M Vice Chairman Steve Berman, Live Nation's global touring CEO Arthur Fogel, William Morris Endeavor agent Marc Geiger, and producer Vincent Herbert.

Go big or go home?
In the autumn of 2009, Lady Gaga was set to go on the road with rapper Kanye West for a multimonth coheadlining arena concert tour, "Fame Kills." The event was supposed to launch in November but, on September 13, West famously stormed the stage at the MTV Music Awards, just as the young country star Taylor Swift was accepting the award for Best Female Video. West grabbed the microphone from Swift to announce, "Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but [fellow nominee] Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time." Millions of viewers were turned off by his impulsive bullying, and Carter and Lady Gaga, both in the audience, knew instantly that West's actions could threaten their plans for "Fame Kills."

Sure enough, a media attack ensued. West pulled out of the painstakingly planned tour. And Carter had to mull a decision that would have major implications for Lady Gaga, for concert promoter Live Nation, and for her publicity arm, the William Morris Endeavor agency. Should the performer continue with the arena tour solo? Should she develop a small tour for smaller venues? Or should she cancel the concert series entirely?

The case, which Elberse coauthored with Michael Christensen (HBS MBA '11) and which also benefited from research assistance by Kimball Thomas (HBS MBA '11), prompts an evaluation of the pros and cons of each possibility.

"Above all else, I hope the case will help students understand the economics and intricacies of the concert business," Elberse says. "When it comes to touring, the risks increase as the venues get larger, but the potential rewards increase, too."

"The risks increase as the size of the venue increases, but the potential revenue goes up as well"
With arena performances, the Gaga team was looking at some $12 million in start-up production costs alone. And for someone who had never played such large halls, jumping headfirst into a solo tour would be a huge challenge. On the other hand, with ticket prices averaging $100 to $125 each, the prospect of a sold-out 20,000-seat arena was tempting.

By developing a smaller schedule for smaller venues, the financial risks would decrease, but so would the financial incentives; ticket prices would likely vary between $60 and $100, with seating capacity maxing out at 8,000 per theater. The team also would face the challenge of redesigning a scaled-back tour in a matter of weeks. And her one previous headlining experience, a one-month circuit called "Fame Ball," involved small venues and was not profitable.

If they flat-out canceled the tour, team Gaga could certainly prevent losses beyond the $4 million already spent on "Fame Kills." But in delaying concerts indefinitely, they risked the prospect that Lady Gaga's star might fade without a tour to guide it.

"This became a crucial bet on the development of the artist Lady Gaga," Elberse says. The decision was vital because concerts are not only a great publicity tool for recorded music, but also an increasingly important source of income in their own right. As revenues from recorded music steadily declined from 2004 to 2008, concert revenues steadily rose, according to data presented in the case.

"Advances in digital technology have had a strong negative impact on recorded-music revenues," Elberse says. "That makes it all the more important for managers in the music industry to understand how to effectively manage touring."

As is the way of HBS cases, Lady Gaga(A) ends with a cliff-hanger, laying out the manager's choices without revealing which path he chose, so students can relive the decision process. However, it is no secret that Lady Gaga's star has continued to shine and thrive. A follow-up case, Lady Gaga (B), focuses on the release strategy for her latest album, Born This Way, and the brand partnerships that were born in the wake of her successes—including a sponsorship by Virgin Mobile, an opportunity to develop "Gaga-esque" products for Polaroid, and a spot in MAC Cosmetics' "Viva Glam" advertising campaign.

Connecting on social media
Lady Gaga's success was built on more than just her considerable abilities as a master entertainer, the case notes. Carter and his client saw early on the power of using popular social media avenues such as Facebook and Twitter to build a strong support base, fan by fan.

Starting in March 2008, to publicize her first single "Just Dance," Lady Gaga took to the social media airwaves with a decidedly handcrafted approach: she wrote (and continues to write) her own Tweets, and maintained close control over her other social media accounts.

Team Gaga's social media strategy also included syndicating her content—from videos to social messaging—for other media to point to, setting up personal interviews with influential music bloggers (the interviews generated 10 million impressions in a short time), and recording "webisodes" with low-budget flip-cams that followed her behind the scenes.

It all worked, but only because the passion between herself and her fans is genuine, a bond that social media helped forge. "They feel a sense of ownership," Carter says about Lady Gaga's fans. "They rally around her."

For entertainment executives reflecting on how the digital age is changing the ways they market their clients, Lady Gaga might represent a winning strategy from which to learn, Elberse believes. As Interscope's Vice Chairman Steve Berman observes in the case:

"[Lady Gaga] could be a chief marketing officer for a big corporation, because she understands the brand, and how important it is to stand by that brand."

About the author
Carmen Nobel is senior editor of HBS Working Knowledge.

8 Simple Steps Towards Time Management

The key to effective time management is literally being your own boss. Instead of being accountable to teachers and parents, now you need to be accountable to you! One of the biggest stumbling blocks to time management is procrastination. However, the easiest way to avoid procrastination is to start by memorizing ten little two-letter words;

“If it is to be, it is up to me.”

Keep your long-term goals in sight
Map a plan to achieve your goals. You are here. What routes must you take to get to your destination??


Schedule everything you know about
Use a calendar to write down class times, work times, social events, and breaks. When up-coming events span beyond the current month, write them into empty calendar blocks.


Start tomorrow at the end of today
Plan each day starting with when you intend to get up. Use a to do list for daily activities. Put scheduled events into their appropriate time slots and prioritize the rest of your list.


Work your plan
Often it’s easy to stop a task and immediately deal with what we think is a small interruption. However, sometimes small interruptions snowball into big time consumers. Work your day according to your plan. If something new needs attention, wedge it into your schedule or if it is an immediate emergency, make sure you reschedule your current task. Also, be sure to mark your place. Write a note to yourself if need be.

Do the tough stuff first
Once, the worst part of a project is over, the rest will be a breeze! However, if the “tough stuff” is keeping you from getting started, then start with something easy to convince yourself that you can get the job done!


Break things down to the ridiculous
Dividing large assignments into smaller parts makes it easier to fit them into your schedule. In addition, you’ll benefit from a sense of accomplishment as you finish each phase. It’s a lot more satisfying to visualize what you have done than it is to agonize over what remains to do.


Rules were made to be bent
Build some flexibility into your schedule. Give yourself extra time to cope with interruptions in your schedule. As well as time to work, build in some time to play. Scheduling recreational activities and regarding them as important parts of your day gives you something to work towards.


There’s always tomorrow
Like any other skill, it takes time to learn how to manage your time. Even time management experts have days when their whole schedule falls apart. If yours does, don’t quit on time management. Instead, pick up the pieces and start again the next day. Review your schedules at the end of each week to see what did and what didn’t work for you. Build on your successes as you develop plans and time management strategies for following weeks.


Source : http://www.timemanagementhelp.com/college.htm

Team Abhiyan, Session 2011 -12

The student office bearers for Abhiyan Club's session of 2011 - 12 has been declared. We hope that Abhiyan Club would keep continuing the tradition of imparting skill-oriented, all-round development of the young, brooding future managers of School Of Management,with an added enthusiasm & zeal towards this goal from Team Abhiyan for the current session. The list of the student office bearers is as follows:
Secretary                        Mr. Victor Basu Roy
Joint-Secretary                Mr. G. Jagan Mohan
Executive Member           Ms. Swati Sharma
Executive Member           Mr. Prashanth Pataley
Executive Member           Ms. N. Jyoti
Executive Member           Mr. Phanni Tejaswi . Ch

Some good and useful information for the budding enterpreneurs!!!!!

Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around

– Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam


An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching
– Mohandas Karamchand Gandhiji

Sucess stories of great business leaders. (links given below)

• http://www.powerhomebiz.com/SBP/intro1.htm
• http://www.jamesnava.com/2010/03/21/hispanic-entrepreneurs/

Hope it will be quite motivating and useful.

10 Golden Rules from Steve Jobs!!!!!!!!!

“I think we’re having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we’re always trying to do better.”

- Steve Jobs

His accomplishments and character helped define a generation and change the world. He is co-founder of the fairytale company we now know as Apple Computers. And he is the visionary of the personal computers world that led the entire computer hardware and software industry to restructure itself.

This man with boundless energy and charisma is also a master of hype, hyperbole and the catchy phrase. And even when he’s trying to talk normally, brilliant verbiage comes tumbling out.

Here’s a selection of some of the most insanely great things he said, golden lessons to help you succeed in life, Jobs-style:

“1. Steve Jobs said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Innovation has no limits. The only limit is your imagination. It’s time for you to begin thinking out of the box. If you are involved in a growing industry, think of ways to become more efficient; more customer friendly; and easier to do business with. If you are involved in a shrinking industry – get out of it quick and change before you become obsolete; out of work; or out of business. And remember that procrastination is not an option here. Start innovating now!

2. Steve Jobs said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

There is no shortcut to excellence. You will have to make the commitment to make excellence your priority. Use your talents, abilities, and skills in the best way possible and get ahead of others by giving that little extra. Live by a higher standard and pay attention to the details that really do make the difference. Excellence is not difficult – simply decide right now to give it your best shot – and you will be amazed with what life gives you back.

3. Steve Jobs said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

I’ve got it down to four words: “Do what you love.” Seek out an occupation that gives you a sense of meaning, direction and satisfaction in life. Having a sense of purpose and striving towards goals gives life meaning, direction and satisfaction. It not only contributes to health and longevity, but also makes you feel better in difficult times. Do you jump out of bed on Monday mornings and look forward to the work week? If the answer is ‘no’ keep looking, you’ll know when you find it.

4. Steve Jobs said: “You know, we don’t grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved… I mean, we’re constantly taking things. It’s a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge.”

Live in a way that is ethically responsible. Try to make a difference in this world and contribute to the higher good. You’ll find it gives more meaning to your life and it’s a great antidote to boredom. There is always so much to be done. And talk to others about what you are doing. Don’t preach or be self-righteous, or fanatical about it, that just puts people off, but at the same time, don’t be shy about setting an example, and use opportunities that arise to let others know what you are doing.

5. Steve Jobs said: “There’s a phrase in Buddhism, ‘Beginner’s mind.’ It’s wonderful to have a beginner’s mind.”

It is the kind of mind that can see things as they are, which step by step and in a flash can realize the original nature of everything. Beginner’s mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. Think of beginner’s mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement.

6. Steve Jobs said: “We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”

Reams of academic studies over the decades have amply confirmed television’s pernicious mental and moral influences. And most TV watchers know that their habit is mind-numbing and wasteful, but still spend most of their time in front of that box. So turn your TV off and save some brain cells. But be cautious, you can turn your brain off by using a computer also. Try and have an intelligent conversation with someone who plays first person shooters for 8 hours a day. Or auto race games, or role-playing games.

7. Steve Jobs said: “I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It’s very character-building.”

Don’t equate making mistakes with being a mistake. There is no such thing as a successful person who has not failed or made mistakes, there are successful people who made mistakes and changed their lives or performance in response to them, and so got it right the next time. They viewed mistakes as warnings rather than signs of hopeless inadequacy. Never making a mistake means never living life to the full.

8. Steve Jobs said: “I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Over the last decade, numerous books featuring lessons from historical figures have appeared on the shelves of bookstores around the world. And Socrates stands with Leonardo da Vinci, Nicholas Copernicus, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein as a beacon of inspiration for independent thinkers. But he came first. Cicero said of Socrates that, “He called philosophy down from the skies and into the lives of men.” So use Socrates’ principles in your life, your work, your learning, and your relationships. It’s not about Socrates, it’s really about you, and how you can bring more truth, beauty and goodness into your life everyday.

9. Steve Jobs said: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”

Did you know that you have big things to accomplish in life? And did you know that those big things are getting rather dusty while you pour yourself another cup of coffee, and decide to mull things over rather than do them? We were all born with a gift to give in life, one which informs all of our desires, interests, passions and curiosities. This gift is, in fact, our purpose. And you don’t need permission to decide your own purpose. No boss, teacher, parent, priest or other authority can decide this for you. Just find that unique purpose.

10. Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Are you tired of living someone else’s dream? No doubt, its your life and you have every right to spend it in your own individual way without any hurdles or barriers from others. Give yourself a chance to nurture your creative qualities in a fear-free and pressure-free climate. Live a life that YOU choose and be your own boss.

Each lesson might be difficult to integrate into your life at first, but if you ease your way into each lesson, one at a time, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in your overall performance. So go ahead, give them a try

Recession

Every few years, countries experience an economic downturns, also known as a recession. Companies lay off workers, consumers stop spending, and the average American experiences a financial pinch.

But what exactly is a recession? How does it differ from a depression? And when does a recession end? Here are the basics.

What is a recession?

The textbook definition of a recession is a downturn in economic activity, characterized by at least two consecutive quarters of decline in a country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Translation? A big drop in consumer spending ending in a loss of jobs, personal income and business profits. This is usually the result of an economic shock, such as a 'bubble' bursting.

An economic bubble happens when products, such as stocks or homes, become worth more than their actual value. When the bubble bursts, the prices of these products fall.

This is usually coupled with less business investing, because business profits drastically decline. The slowdown in business investing in turn results in more bankruptcies, both personal and business, and higher unemployment rates because too many people are chasing too few jobs.

What causes recessions?

They usually result from an economic shock. There are many ways a shock can come about.

The 2007-2009 recession was mostly blamed on a housing bubble. After a run-up in housing prices in the early part of the decade, home prices plummeted, then thousands of borrowers couldn't afford to pay their loans. Meanwhile, Wall Street sold financial instruments tied to the loans that were eventually discovered to be of little value.

Looking at other recessions, we can see their 'shocks.' The recession of 2001 was caused by the 'Internet Bubble,' in which internet stocks and businesses eventually fell to much lower prices. That brought about a huge decline in business investing and a spike in unemployment.

The recession of 1973-1975 in the U.S. came about because of rocketing gas prices caused by OPEC's raising oil prices as well as embargoing oil exports to the U.S. Other major factors included heavy government spending on the Vietnam War, and a Wall Street stock crash in 1973-74.

At the time, this recession was the worst in the U.S. since the Great Depression. Today, most economists believe the Great Recession of 2007-2009 superseded the 1973-1975 recession in intensity.

There was even a recession during the Great Depression, say economists — and at the time it was the worst recession in the nation's history.

The 'recession' in 1937 and 1938 had several causes. When the U.S. was trying to get out of the Great Depression, it spent a lot of money. That was the New Deal — President Franklin Roosevelt's plan to get the economy moving — which started in 1933.

But as the economy appeared to be recovering in 1937 and because Congress wanted to balance the budget, the government pulled back on spending and then raised taxes. That was enough of a 'shock' to put the economy into recession. Unemployment rose again and business profits declined, as did business investing.

As a result, the Great Depression continued, economists say, until the U.S. entered World War II in 1941.

What's the difference between a recession and a depression?

Harry Truman, the 33rd president, is credited with saying, "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours."

A depression is a far more serious downturn in a country's economic growth for a longer period of time, resulting in much higher unemployment and much less spending by consumers, than a recession.

That's why the Great Depression of the late 1920's and 1930's was called just that. The economic suffering was long and painful. In fact, the term recession became more commonplace after World War II to describe an economic downturn less severe than a depression. Before that, almost all economic downturns in the U.S. were called depressions or panics.

The Great Depression was primarily started by the Wall Street crash of 1929, as well as bank failures in the early 1930's. Depositors' money was not insured by the Federal Government as it is now. That insurance is a legacy of the New Deal.

Also helping to bring on the Great Depression were protectionist trade policies to help boost American businesses but put higher prices on products—plus a severe drought in the Midwest known as the Dust Bowl that put thousands of farmers out of work.

The U.S. hasn’t experienced anything close to a depression since World War II.

Can a recession get worse?

Yes. It can become a depression — meaning the economic slowdown can deepen and go on for a longer time.

There hasn't been an official case of that transition yet, but as noted above, the 1937-38 recession helped prolong the Great Depression.

A recession can also 'double dip.' This is often referred to as a W-shaped recession. That means a recession can end for a time but come roaring back because of another economic shock.

Economists point to a double dip recession in the 1980's. The first part of the double dip started in January 1980 and lasted through July of that year. After the economy started growing for a while—and considered out of recession—the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to stop inflation.

That turned out to be an economic shock and sent the country into another recession from July 1981 to November 1982. That made it a double dip.

When Does a Recession End?

Technically, a recession ends when economists say it does, but those on the streets may feel differently.

The National Bureau of Economic Research—an independent group of economists—is charged with the official proclamation of a U.S. recession's end.

In general, however, a recession ends when the economy starts to grow for a period of time, usually two or more business quarters. That means companies are hiring again, consumers are spending, and businesses are investing.

That doesn't mean everyone has gotten their jobs back or businesses are investing more than before the recession. It just means a country's overall economy is expanding or growing on a somewhat more consistent basis.

Introductory Session with Mr.Rahul Thangeda

We all know that Mr.Rahul Thangeda is an alumnus and a Ph.D scholar here at School of Management,NIT Warangal.One of the former Abhiyan Secretaries and a dedicated member of SOM Abhiyan,he has had a good experience of the activities and the way Abhiyan should be conducted.He welcomed all the students and addressed them talking about the strong foundation of Abhiyan and how one can take help from the activities in sharpening their skills and developing a good personality.Every learning that he imparted was through the mode of small stories and the learnings that come with the experiences in daily life. Stories and Quotes are few excellent methods of conveying message,morals and imparting knowledge as is traditional from the olden days in Gurukuls according to the Indian tradition.Team Abhiyan is thankful to Mr.Rahul for giving us some of his precious time that will help the first year students to build up the pace of learning and cultivate a positive attitude towards every event and activity of SOM.

July 28th, Team Building Activity

Must say,it was not an easy task to perform.All the students were divided into three groups and all of them stood in a line.The foot of the person infront was tied to the other person behind him.,and thus they formed a long chain.A destination was fixed and the object to be claimed was kept there.The team that took minimum time was rewarded.They had to move together,through the winding chair and table arrangement in classroom with a lot of hurdles in between.Some constraints with a set of rules were given.It brought out the most significant traits of a teamwork.

Learnings-"Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working together is success." courtesy Henry Ford

July 27th,Opening Session of Abhiyan Club in the fresh Academic Year 2011-2012

Well, hello everyone.Yes the opening session was quite a very goodone.There was and opening speech made by the Joint Secretary of Abhiyan and they later she was accompanied by the other Executive members.They gave everyone an insight into what is ABHIYAN and why it is a part of every memeber of SOM,where every aspect of it is dealt by the students themselves.After that there was a fulltime introduction session of introduction session of the new students ( 1st years) all of them were invited on the stage and presented little tasks as per their interests.Good times with the interaction between all the students of SOM.Hope you all will take this sportingly,enjoy,and a little seriously,because it is this Abhiyan that will give you the REAL PLATFORM to sharpen all your soft skills.

New Day! New Thought! by Men of WISDOM!!!!!

• The way to get started is to quit talking and to begin doing.-Walt Disney, Founder of Walt Disney Co.
• How you gather, manage and use information will determine whether you win or lose.-Bill Gates, Founder and Chairman of Microsoft
• Carefully watch how people live, get an intuitive sense as to what they might want and then go with it. Don’t do market research.-Akio Morita, Founder of Sony
• Every day we're saying, 'How can we keep this customer happy ?' How can we get ahead in innovation by doing this because if we don't, somebody else will.-Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft
• Feelings have a critical role in the way customers are influenced.-David Freemantle, Author of 'The Buzz'
• Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.-Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft
• Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring , all of which have the potential to turn a life around.-Leo F. Buscaglia, Author of books such as 'Living, Loving and Learning' and 'Born for Love'
• He profits most who serves best.-Arthur F. Sheldon, Rotary International
• In business you get what you want by giving other people what they want.-Alice MacDougall, a Successful Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa Merchant
• A rose on time is more valuable than a $1000 gift that's too late.-Jim Rohn, Author of 'Lessons on Life: How to Live a Successful Life'
• Although your customers won’t love you if you give bad service your competitors will.-Kate Zabriskie, Founder of Business Training Works
• Always do more than is required of you.-George S. Patton, American General in World War I and II
• Ask your customers to be part of the solution, and don't view them as part of the problem.-Alan Weiss, Ph.D., Author of 'Million Dollar Consulting'
• Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game.-Tony Alessandra, Author of 'Collaborative Selling'
• Business is not just doing deals; business is having great products, doing great engineering, and providing tremendous service to customers.-Ross Perot, Chairman of Perot Systems
• Care more than others think wise. Risk more than others think safe. Dream more than others think practical. Expect more than others think possible.-Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Coffee
• Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.
• -Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motors
• Communication is everyone's panacea for everything.-Tom Peters, Management Consultant and Author of 'In Search of Excellence'
• Consumers are statistics. Customers are people.-Stanley Marcus, Chairman of Neiman Marcus
• Customers perceive service in their own unique, idiosyncratic, emotional, irrational, end-of-the-day, and totally human terms. Perception is all there is!-Tom Peters, Management Consultant and Author of 'In Search of Excellence'
• Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.-Walt Disney, Founder of Walt Disney Productions
• Each Wal-Mart store should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community.-Sam Walton, Founder of Walmart Stores
• Every great business is built on friendship.-J.C. Penney, Founder of J.C. Penney Stores
• For us, our most important stakeholder is not our stockholders, it is our customers. We're in business to serve the needs and desires of our core customer base.-John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market
• I think it's very important that whatever you're trying to make or sell, or teach has to be basically good. A bad product and you know what? You won't be here in ten years.-Martha Stewart, Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
• If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful.-Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com
• If you make customers unhappy in the real world, they might each tell six friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.-Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com
• In our way of working, we attach a great deal of importance to humility and honesty; With respect for human values, we promise to serve our customers with integrity.-Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro
• It helps a ton when you learn people's names and don't butcher them when trying to pronounce them.-Jerry Yang, Co-founder and CEO of Yahoo
• It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.-Charles Darwin, Known Naturalist and Author of 'The Origin of Species'
• Make your product easier to buy than your competition, or you will find your customers buying from them,
• not you.-Mark Cuban, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks
• Our business is about technology, yes. But it's also about operations and customer relationships.-Michael Dell, Founder and CEO of Dell Inc.
• Our customers should take joy in our products and services.-W. Edwards Deming, Renowned Author and Consultant
• Our mission statement about treating people with respect and dignity is not just words but a creed we live by every day. You can't expect your employees to exceed the expectations of your customers if you don't exceed the employees' expectations of management.-Howard Schultz, CEO Starbucks Coffee
• People don’t want to communicate with an organization or a computer. They want to talk to a real live responsive responsible person who will listen and help them get satisfaction.
• -Theo Michelson, State Farm Insurance Co.
• Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them.-W. Edwards Deming, Renowned Author and Consultant
• Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it.-Peter Drucker, Renowned Author and Management Consultant
• Repeat business or behavior can be bribed. Loyalty has to be earned.-Janet Robinson, President and CEO of The New York Times
• Spend a lot of time talking to customers face to face. You'd be amazed how many companies don't listen to their customers.-Ross Perot, Chairman of Perot Systems
• The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.-Peter Drucker, Renowned Author and Management Consultant
• The customer experience is the next competitive battleground.-Jerry Gregoire, SVP and CIO of Dell Computers
• The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary.-Sam Walton, Founder of Walmart Stores
• Everything starts with the customer.-Louis XIV, King of France (1643-1715)
• The magic formula that successful businesses have discovered is to treat customers like guests and employees like people.-Tom Peters, Management Consultant and Author of 'In Search of Excellence'
• The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.-Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motors
• The more you engage with customers the clearer things become and the easier it is to determine what you should be doing-John Russell, President of Harley Davidson
• The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer.-Peter Drucker, Renowned Author and Management Consultant
• There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else.-Sam Walton, Founder of Walmart Stores
• There's a place in this world for any business that takes care of its customers after the sale.-Harvey Mackay, Author of 'Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive'
• This may seem simple, but you need to give customers what they want, not what you think they want. And, if you do this, people will keep coming back.-John Ilhan, Founder of Crazy John's Mobile Phone Retail Chain
• Treat your customer, as you want to be treated as a customer.-Catherien Pulsifer, Author and Glass Artist
• We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not a single act, but a habit.-Aristotle, Greek Philosopher
• We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.-Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com
• When you start viewing your customers as interruptions, you're going to have problems.-Kate Zabriskie, Founder of Business Training Works
• Your earning ability today is largely dependent upon your knowledge, skill and your ability to combine that knowledge and skill in such a way that you contribute value for which customers are going to pay.-Brian Tracy, Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International
• 70 to 90 percent of decisions not to repeat a purchase of anything are not about product or price. They are about some dimension of service.-Barry Gibbons, Former CEO of Burger King
• 80% of all sales are made on the 5th - 12th contact. 15 years ago it took on average 2 - 4 contacts before concluding a sale.-The National Association of Sales Executives
• The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.-Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft
• A business absolutely devoted to Customer Service Excellence will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.-Sir Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motors
• The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer.-Peter Drucker, Renowned Author and Management Consultant
• We've spent the last 30 years focusing on the T in IT, and we'll spend the next 30 years focusing on the I.-Peter Drucker, Renowned Author and Management Consultant
• Almost all quality improvement comes via simplification of design, manufacturing... layout, processes, and procedures.-Tom Peters, Management Consultant and Author of 'In Search of Excellence