Doors of knowledge

The only source of knowledge is experience. Little did I know that these words said by Albert Einstein will inspire Eureka Forbes to be the largest knowledge enterprise today.

A salesman knocking at your door today is no longer a person selling a product alone, he is a catalyst for building relationships and extending brand experience to customers. Today, when I look back from the time I began my career in direct selling, I see a paradigm shift in the behaviour of customers. Earlier, the customers looked at the relevance of the product and value for money but today they are more aware about the available choices. It is no longer about selling a product but also extending a brand experience that binds the consumer with the company.

The biggest challenge in direct selling industry is that a salesman has only one chance to create a successful brand experience. It has been seen that a salesman near to closing a sale is, at times, unable to convince a customer because of lack of complete information, inadequate soft skills, not able to gauge the situation, losing confidence, etc. Eurochamps (salesman of Eureka Forbes), while visiting households, not only give a demonstration of the product but also deliver an experience.

How did we make a difference? We identified the roadblocks in the way of direct salesforce and realised the need to change our behavioural and selling patterns. Even in this digitalised world it was impossible to stay connected with our eurochamps since most of them are on field and don’t have access to internet. So, we decided to make use of mobile phones to the advantage of the customers and the field salesmen.

Inspired by a popular TV programme, we came up with the ‘Euro phone-a-friend’ concept. We realised that eurochamps are no less than a person on a ‘hot seat’ in the popular programme. When the eurochamp is provided with a ‘helpline’ or guidance from a specialist, it helps him to continue in the game and reach his destination. In this case, destination is closing a sale. The ‘helpline’ number allows a caller to directly interact with a product specialist and seek advice on his queries. It guides eurochamps in time of need to ensure their effectiveness and also successfully addresses all the customer queries. On close observation, we found that this helpline not just helped the salesmen on the field to convert their demo into sales but also improved their overall knowledge and confidence quotient. Over time, they became more knowledgeable and more matured in their outlook. There are other industries as well that need extensive educative explanations to the customers. For instance, financial products are complex in nature and difficult to understand by

Brain-Drain-A cause of concern!

Brain drain in India is one of the biggest threat we face right now, -might be next to population explosion and poverty. It is also taken that way that if there would not have had any brain drain – who knows the poverty might have been eradicated. Had our talent stayed back in our own country, our nation would have achieved to unimaginable heights.

Thus brain drain is a direct loss, of trained experts in many fields, to the under-developed and poor countries. On the other hand, it is a net gain to the advanced countries. The business schools in under-developed countries are spending millions of rupees on the training of these experts. But the advanced countries are utilizing their services without spending a single penny on their training.

Every year, thousands of highly talented doctors, engineers, scientists and other intellectuals leave India and migrate to foreign countries. American countries are the biggest gainer from the loss of India due to brain drain.

Most of the students who go abroad for higher studies do not return to India. Even the top b schools india are not able to retain their talent. Seeing, the affluent life of foreign countries they lose all interest in their own country. Many Indians are teaching at various US Universities and other Institutions of higher learning. Some of them are placed on quite lucrative and high posts.

There is no doubt that India is bound to become one of the most industrialized and scientifically advanced countries in the world. Let every Indian scientist, engineer and technician share the privilege of participating in the noble task of building nation. Thus they can earn the gratitude of their people. So, order to achieve this, we just need to put more lights and focus on the issue of brain drain. we need to take serious steps and actions towards it and make sure that we curb this major problem of our economy. .

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Introduction to self-based learning

Self based learning is an innovative technique. Online learners are keen to learn and make improvisations in their methods of education without any source of external assessment, which is crucial to determine the success of this approach, which is based on self regulated methods of learning. There are several online learning programs that advocate the process of self based methods as it motivates the participants to emphasize and focus on particular tasks to ensure proper self-monitoring methods for making regular improvements on a day-to-day basis.

E-learners have to develop the skills to understand the self based learning approach as it is quite different from the regular methods of learning. This approach also helps in developing strong base in business management courses. It can certainly be useful if learners are able to go through the methods to adapt to the process of learning easily. In order to achieve excellent professional of academic goals, the learners should be interested in the self regulated techniques, which is the first criteria. Only once they are interested, the process of learning will be fruitful.

Online learning programs with self based learning facilities are usually compiled with cognitive components. These components comprise of different learning techniques and strategies that are usually required for completing a task. For instance, any learner will be able to solve any given problem using one specific technique.

There is also another feature of this interesting learning methodology that refers to awareness of the participants about the different aspects of self monitoring. Participants or learners must be aware of their needs of self regulation. They should learn how to regulate their cognitive capabilities and also understand their management requirements.

It is very important to be aware of the willingness and intentions of learners from the aspects of motivational
components. Self based learning depends on motivational components. Learners have to be willing and motivated in their activities so that they are able to achieve their desired goal of learning.

As there is no scope of face-to-face interaction in the process of online learning programs, it is very important to formulate some effective and self regulated strategies that will help in increasing the rate of success of online learning prospects

Quality education is no more a dream..its here!!

Some (maybe all) of this might sound crazy, nevertheless I would like to share my thoughts, with those of you who might be interested, on possible measures to significantly improve the availability of quality education to all children. Increase the motivation for parents and children. Have effective ongoing interaction with parents and children.  Provide more incentives (fees waivers, scholarships…) to children who perform well.
Improve the quality of teachers (the future of the nation depends on them!): Recruit better teachers. Pay better salaries to teachers (when substantial increases were felt necessary and were done for key positions in the IITs, IIMs, government, armed forces, public sector, and so on to attract and retain good people, why not for teachers?). Provide 100% income tax exemption for salary income of teachers, irrespective of amount. Improve the government schools education system: Use the existing infrastructure more productively by say having more teachers and multiple shifts (this can help to reduce immediate capital expenses for infrastructure expansion).
Create additional infrastructure, beginning with places that are not served well enough now. Start with just a few classrooms (even if it is only for say class 1 to begin with), a small office room and the necessary staff, and keep adding whatever is necessary in each succeeding year as the school grows.
Invest more in technologies and alternative methods of education, such as eLearning, distance education, open schooling, and home schooling. Encourage more private investment in education and make policies favorable, not restrictive: Provide 100 % depreciation for such investments. Provide 100% income tax exemption for say private unaided schools that provide 25% free seats to children from EWS families. Simplify the education system. Do away with the need for private schools to be registered with/recognized by government authorities (regulate just enough to ensure that fly-by-night operators do not cheat people, and let market forces take care of the rest). Do not insist that schools have playgrounds. It is better to have some good schools without playgrounds rather than no schools with playgrounds! Do away with the mandatory requirement of B Ed or M Ed degrees for teachers. I don’t believe that this requirement is really improving the quality of teachers. I know enough people having such degrees who don’t have a clue about educational psychology, learning theories, instructional design, educational testing and assessment, and whatever else they were supposed to have learnt while acquiring these degrees! Reduce corruption in the education system.

The responsibilities that never end…..

There are a number of organizational roles and responsibilities, which can be identified (depending on the position and responsibilities of individual managers) that are obligatory to carry out the proper functioning of a corporate. Usually, these roles come in three forms, which include of interpersonal roles, information roles, and decision maker roles. We shall discuss about these roles in details. While performing their interpersonal roles, professionals generally act as leaders for their units or organizations, which entail performing ceremonial duties or entertaining associates. Leaders also act as a liaison officer, working with their peers in other departments or contacts outside the organization. The role of the liaison officer, leaders need to interact with peers, customers, managers and others.

Secondly, when we talk of their information role, managers observe the business environment and make them self busy in collecting data and information that may leave an impact on their concerned departments and on organization as a whole. Besides, performing this task, managers also convey all that information with their employees. Managers play the role of information, acting as spokesman, providing information about the company to the public. In addition, senior executives often have to interact with government groups of consumers, industry associations and other organizations.

Finally, coming down to decision making role, these managers regularly supervise and monitor their concerned departments and staff and solve their troubles and turbulences. This role of managers also helps them in mounting a large portrait of the department and own position in the organization.

Similarly, business management professionals must secure resources, which might be helpful for their team or group and to bring out assistance from other groups as well. While acting as a decision maker, manager also reserves the resources, to determine how to allocate the limited resources within the units to make the most of effectiveness. This also concerns the function of entrepreneurial skills, for the reason that managers require to generate ideas for improving the performance of their departments.

privatization of education in India

It is widely accepted that India’s education system has and continues to fail the vast majority of its population. Ironically, the country’s success in establishing a globally competitive service sector has, if anything, underscored that failure. Poor quality, however, is not the only problem. The other is access – vast numbers of children simply do not enter the primary education system or leave it too early. Literacy and enrollment are particularly low among women and other marginalized groups. When the situation is so worse at basic level education, what can be expected in regard to business management programmes and other higher education. This failure is most glaring when comparing India with China where illiteracy, at least, has been substantially eradicated.

These problems persist despite several initiatives by the Central government to improve outcomes. Increasingly, therefore, liberal economists, international development agencies, and philanthropies have called for a shift towards greater privatization of primary and higher education. In particular, calls emerge to disconnect the funding of education from its operation, through the provision of education vouchers.

Privatization has worked well in several situations in India. Yet as the belief that it works everywhere gains greater currency, there is a need to evaluate if education is also amenable to privatization.

This how higher education started in India

The history of management education is not so great in India. Before India achieved independence nothing of this sought was found. This type of education started some 50 years back as part time education for working professionals and practicing executives. It was only after independence that our late Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru wished to establish educational institutions in India, which would be similar to Harvard and Oxford business schools and would come into sight as a place for nurturing knowledge excelling in technology and management of bright and talented minds.  Technology and management is always considered as two key components drive development of any nation.

This foresight of Nehru ji finally led the founding stone of most reputed management colleges called Indian institutes of management Calcutta & Ahmadabad in 1962. These institutes offered two year full time post graduation in management and are considered to be the best business schools in India till date. The establishment of these colleges gave a new direction to management education in India. This gave students a sense of competition so that they can get into these colleges and can secure brighter professional career. Ever since after this, the number of business schools have increased considerably. This growth has shown dynamic pattern, which again assures the continuous growth of nation on a broader prospective.

Talking about the present times, management education in India is presently going through a shining and glorious phase with a large number of universities, colleges, courses as study options. Indian business schools have gone a level up and have set their standards in par with international education.  Gone are the days, when Indian students need to go to overseas destinations to pursue higher education. Ever since the job market for professionals in management has been strengthened by the arrival of multinational incorporations, students have started taking their education in India only. Management schools in India have also made important contributions in the popularizing of education among students pursuing these through its world class infrastructure, education standards, the course structure, and a record investment.

The widening scope of management courses in India

Professionals who were trained in India are highly sought after students worldwide and management even more. Management Colleges in India are comparable with the best in the world and very popular among students. The criteria for access to leading institutions allocate management education in India is very strict, and only a few come to study sought – after college. A student who has exercised management courses in India in the post-graduation have a chance to make a bright and successful career.

All management institutes in India offer specialized areas of interest of the students were the most popular marketing, finance and personnel management. Here is a brief overview of what these courses in India require the individual:

Marketing: The student must have good interpersonal skills, persuasion and the ability to sell almost anything. It should also continue to liaise with the latest developments of competing companies, and the latest trends in marketing employed by them.

Finance: An individual who is the study of the industry in managing the university in India must be very good with supercomputers. Must be well versed in market trends and developments in the financial sector and all its aspects, including investment banking, money lending, insurance, risk management etc.

Human Resources: Commonly known as HR management course in India is ideal for those who are good with people and knows how to behave in difficult times. HR managers need to formulate policies that benefit workers, while the best interests of society in mind.

Opting for right management college can change the way of your life

The last ten years, increasing the popularity of leadership training is phenomenal. We’re talking about any sector of the economy, all industries, not even at all levels of the organization, skill required, the effective management decisions should not be. Undoubtedly, a specialized management courses in different streams to help students acquire the skills and experience in their subject areas, and open to endless possibilities for a brilliant career and success in advance.

There are a number of business management schools and courses are available, making it difficult the choice for students. Therefore, it becomes even more important for students to make a wise and prudent, as it leads to determine their career

With hundreds of business schools offering a wide range of management programs are being flooded and education snowed down. In a way, it provides a wide choice to choose the best available, but at the same time, it is difficult for the student to judge the best do. The problem lies not only on the choice of an appropriate management, but also to find a good B-School, which can harness the power of the student and help him deal with the cutting edge of competition the market effectively.

One is particularly careful when deciding the issue, because it can make or break a career in the care of students. We must go step by step to reach the top of the first decisions is final and decisive. This student has to go to industry analysis and find growing areas of the economy. This will certainly give them a fair idea of ​​the most sought after leadership training in India and around the world. In addition, students can also check the rankings of the senior colleges, which is also a practical and reliable way to find alternatives to the right decision.

Today, it is still imperative that the ongoing investment in professional management to provide an adequate return for investors. As colleges are charging the fees for courses offered heavy, it becomes an obligation on their part to provide quality education to students and support them in every way possible to create a path for greater success.

Lets know Social Marketing

Social Marketing, as a discipline emerged in the early I970’s, which refers to application of marketing techniques and theories along with taking care of the social benefit of the consumers and society at large. In its application, social marketing promotes production and consumption of social goods and discourage demerit goods for the advantage of entire society.  This was first practiced by some health care companies to support “anti tobacco campaign” in late 1980’s and achieved notable success. After that, the concept started gaining importance among leading multi national companies and slowly it was adopted as a part of integrated marketing plans.

Different from commercial marketing, social marketing focuses around social practices and policies and aims at increasing the welfare of the society. Further, at the same point of time, it also makes use commercial marketing policies to achieve certain secondary goals. Another important factor that differentiates it from mainstream marketing it that aims at affecting the social behaviors for the benefit of customers rather than producers and distributors. In a way, indirectly it promotes the standard of living and per capita income in any economy.

Considering the growing importance of social marketing in the recent past, marketing scholars and business management education gurus are engaged in making developments in laying down substantial difference between strategic social and mainstream marketing. Working in the same direction, efforts are being taken to ensure that there is an up gradation in strategy formulation and planning in this area of marketing. More and more research is approached in order to understand insight and thus reaching onto planning development part. Other than that, important element of marketing mix are also been taken into consideration while preparing for the marketing plans. The inclusion of commercial marketing has definitely helped in improving the scope and importance of this discipline and realizing its importance in today’s highly competitive business environment.

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