The term, "surrogate advertising" is very popular with tobacco and alcohol manufacturers in India. The product can be manufactured; it can be sold; and it can be consumed legaly. But the product cannot be advertised. The result, we have major alcoholic beverages companies requesting people in their commercials to drink "club soda" and "drinking water", products which they barely manufacture.
Is such advertising an ethical measure? Does it serve the purpose of keeping the youth away from such vices. In this internet generation, the strategy barely serves the purpose. The posters, hoardings and shop displays still exist. It is probably not right to advertise such "dangerous" products. But neither is the fact that the companies are forced to do it.
Watch the Cobra beer ad below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Cz9YArGz0
Will anyone buy drinking water after watching that?
Sunday 22 February 2009
Technology revolution and Political views
When I was a kid, a wireless hand set was a symbol of luxury. Leave alone the internet. The facility to send information across the internet was highly controlled by the government. The huge potential of the web was never being tapped. The same goes with the Global Positioning System. It was illegal to take photographs of bridges due to security reasons. But now there is minimal government control on these high tech areas. The infusion of private capital into developing innovative technology has radically changed the way in which we live. Some political analysts uses this argument to advocate free economy.
Attributing this huge success to one single factor is not right. Free thought has been a huge force behind the success. But there are other factors including policy decisions to channelise investment. Lack of control has helped unhealthy practices to creep into the system. We had high tech frauds and bubble bursts. Other than the pace of change, the change is like any other one which has happened in our history. Painting it as the victory of one type of political thought is not right.
Attributing this huge success to one single factor is not right. Free thought has been a huge force behind the success. But there are other factors including policy decisions to channelise investment. Lack of control has helped unhealthy practices to creep into the system. We had high tech frauds and bubble bursts. Other than the pace of change, the change is like any other one which has happened in our history. Painting it as the victory of one type of political thought is not right.
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Domestic jobs for British workers. Can we ever become a global community?
"Gordon Brown promised yesterday to launch a drive to train thousands of unemployed workers for jobs currently being filled by immigrants flocking to Britain". Telegraph reported two years back when Mr Brown was a chancellor. The "global" economic crisis has brought the issue back to fore. But I smell double standards in the whole issue. On one hand when Britain says that the crisis is a globaly created one and requires a global solution, statements favouring Protectionist regimes sends out wrong signals. Britain is not alone here. Debate has started in the USA and it has long been running in the developing world including India, China and the other developing countries. The question then is "Can we ever become a true global community"
I am extremely proud to be studying at The London Business School. Let us look at the claims made on our site. "Why choose LBS?. London is the world's best connected city, with 300-plus languages spoken everyday. ". Diversity in the students and faculty contributed to our becoming the world's best B-school. One of the major factors which appeal to the students when they choose LBS is the prospect of working in this great city. London has always welcomed the immigrants and in turn the immigrants have contributed to the development of the Metropolis. A temporary downturn in the economy should not cause panic amongst the nationals because small sparks can cause xenophobic reactions from those affected by the gloom similar to what happenned in Marseille and Mumbai. Politicians should be careful not to shatter the dream of becoming a unified world.
I am extremely proud to be studying at The London Business School. Let us look at the claims made on our site. "Why choose LBS?. London is the world's best connected city, with 300-plus languages spoken everyday. ". Diversity in the students and faculty contributed to our becoming the world's best B-school. One of the major factors which appeal to the students when they choose LBS is the prospect of working in this great city. London has always welcomed the immigrants and in turn the immigrants have contributed to the development of the Metropolis. A temporary downturn in the economy should not cause panic amongst the nationals because small sparks can cause xenophobic reactions from those affected by the gloom similar to what happenned in Marseille and Mumbai. Politicians should be careful not to shatter the dream of becoming a unified world.
Managing the global game
750 million people watched the world cup football finals between France and Italy. This is approximately one in every eight people living on the globe. No one knows how many billions transferred hands in the transfer window which ended yesterday. I was not able to calculate that because most of the deals had "undisclosed" value. But one can vey well imagine the extent of the deals. The annual compensation of some of the stars would be equivalent to what all the graduates from London Business School can earn in a year. Football is truly a religion, one in which I believe. But more importantly the sport has huge business implications.
Every subject we learn at B-School has direct application in the game. Whether it be strategy, behavioural science, decision science, corporate finance (NPVs - I did a crack case with Varun on this), applications can be found in the sport. But it is unfortunate that the big B-schools do not promote its students to be successful football managers. I agree that some of the not so famous universities do run a course to promote this career option. But I believe that the size of the business justifies more interest from the business academicia.
Every subject we learn at B-School has direct application in the game. Whether it be strategy, behavioural science, decision science, corporate finance (NPVs - I did a crack case with Varun on this), applications can be found in the sport. But it is unfortunate that the big B-schools do not promote its students to be successful football managers. I agree that some of the not so famous universities do run a course to promote this career option. But I believe that the size of the business justifies more interest from the business academicia.
The Entrepreneur in me - Ha Ha
"All people are entrepreneurs, but many don't have the opportunity to find that out." Muhammad Yunus
I never came across the quote by the nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus when I was forced into entrepreneurship a few years back. It looked like destiny and I was preparing to spend the rest of my life in a lacklusture field surrounded by motored giants and peevishly compaining people. I prepared myself for what seemed then do be a very deep rabbit hole. Till then I thought of the entrepreneur as a fool, taking up the responsibility to ensure better life to people whom you never knew before. I was alone and I assumed that I had no support.
Events which unfolded in the latter years corrected my thoughts. Muhammed Yunus is right. People who work with you are also entrepreneurs. They concieve great ideas if they are allowed to. My organisation ran, through tough and turbulent times, not through the whims and fancies of my half dead brain, but due to the inventive spirit of all the 103 brains associated with the venture. You call the phenomenon Kaizen, TPM or any name the management gurus pull out of thin air. But it works. I spent the most enjoyable time in my life creating and solving problems. Tomorrow we might end up starting ventures, small and big, Thanks to London Business School and the courses like Internet marketing. But remember the opening quote. Literally every stakeholder will contribute to your venture and they need not be the people who put the dollar in.
I never came across the quote by the nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus when I was forced into entrepreneurship a few years back. It looked like destiny and I was preparing to spend the rest of my life in a lacklusture field surrounded by motored giants and peevishly compaining people. I prepared myself for what seemed then do be a very deep rabbit hole. Till then I thought of the entrepreneur as a fool, taking up the responsibility to ensure better life to people whom you never knew before. I was alone and I assumed that I had no support.
Events which unfolded in the latter years corrected my thoughts. Muhammed Yunus is right. People who work with you are also entrepreneurs. They concieve great ideas if they are allowed to. My organisation ran, through tough and turbulent times, not through the whims and fancies of my half dead brain, but due to the inventive spirit of all the 103 brains associated with the venture. You call the phenomenon Kaizen, TPM or any name the management gurus pull out of thin air. But it works. I spent the most enjoyable time in my life creating and solving problems. Tomorrow we might end up starting ventures, small and big, Thanks to London Business School and the courses like Internet marketing. But remember the opening quote. Literally every stakeholder will contribute to your venture and they need not be the people who put the dollar in.
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