Corporate Politics – The Elephant in the Room

Corporate politics are everywhere. They inflict every company. In fact, you’d be hard put to find a senior manager out there who has completely avoided the fray.

Depending how far you make it up the corporate ladder, you’ll feel the heat the higher up you go. Executives and professionals talk about it all the time, especially over cocktails, but rarely in formal discussions or meetings. If it does come up in a formal setting, it is likely brought up as “We need to reinvigorate culture.”

And if you are running a new business in a large company that is developing or trying to develop a product or solution that is disruptive to the mainstream business, then you are likely drowning in corporate politics.

That certainly was my personal experience in running a business group that was creating new computers and devices for people living at the bottom of the pyramid. Any product we created would match Clayton Christensen’s definition of a disruptive innovation: i.e. compared to the PC, it would be more affordable (cheaper), easier to use (addressing computer/tech literacy issues), and have a unique value nonexistent in PC’s today.

How did it turn out for me? Not great. I walked in with open eyes, having seen politics in action before and having navigated through it successfully to get things done. I knew it would be a tough slog given what we were doing, but I was still blindsided by the intensity of driving a disruptive business.

In fact, I had come up with a way of describing corporate politics that I talked about frequently with my team, peers, and respective bosses:

There are “good” politics, and there are “bad” politics. Good politics are when someone needs to work the system (e.g. culture, personalities, organizational silos) to achieve business objectives that are GOOD for the company (e.g. bringing in new revenue, growth, profit, and satisfied customers). Bad politics are when someone works the same system to make themselves look good.

The moral of the story is obviously to practice good politics and avoid the bad. Looking back, the problem with this approach, and why I got blindsided, is that you can do the best job, exercise your best networking skills, and create fantastic things for your company, but by ignoring what I call the negative politicians, you will likely end up on the short end of the stick and you and the business you are running will suffer from it.

So my main advice is … know your enemy more than they know themselves. I really hate to use the word enemy, as my “people” philosophy tends to be more on the trusting side. But these folks see YOU as the enemy; as competition for whatever that future lucrative position or promotion may be. (And a hint: they are right in a way. As you move higher up in the company, there are fewer positions to go around. Everything becomes more competitive.)

So let me present five characteristics of the negative politicians I’ve observed over the years. They effectively:

Self promote. They go out of their way internally to promote themselves under the auspices of promoting their business or product. If they blog or publish internal articles about something related to their business group, you’ll see subliminal hints of-self promotion.

Manage up. They typically withhold negative information about their business to their bosses and selectively spin things for the positive.

Use information as power. They may use confidential (or what they position as confidential) business information about a part of the business they are involved in to enhance credibility. For example, in a meeting with other senior managers they’ll divulge some decisions or strategies that they know will captivate their audience.

Become “buddies” with the powers-that-be. They tend to actively network with the key movers and shakers within the company. If the executive suite tends to be political as well, you can bet that they have found ways to endear themselves to the company’s top dogs.

Spread disinformation about potential “competitors.” They quietly spread rumors and/or misinformation about someone that may threaten them career-wise, or against the business that person runs.

If reading these five characteristics makes your stomach clench, either in principle or because you’ve seen them in action, the next question you are likely asking is how do I stay away from these folks?

Short answer: You can’t. Long answer: Learn to work within “the company of wolves,” regardless of whether the intensity of politics is low or high. And I think you can do this without sinking to their their level.

I am in no way the expert on the best way to navigate these waters, but I have learned from past mistakes and have thought hard and long about the subject.

I have five recommendations I’d give to those that are currently in or expecting to eventually be in this situation:

Keep your ear to the ground — always. Keep an eye out and keep a mental list of those who consistently act the way I described above. By increasing your trusted network, you uncover misinformation and can make corrections.

Don’t bad mouth them to anybody. Bad mouthing people is what negative politicians do, and you will likely hear about it eventually. Information gets around remarkably easily in a company. The adage “If you don’t have something good to say, don’t say it” applies here.

Don’t alienate them, even if they screw you. The other adage I have found ALWAYS to be true is “never burn bridges,” no matter what. I have never burned a bridge. Those who have, got bitten back hard.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Don’t avoid negative politicians. Network with them. Kind words and praise go a long way. I find that those that are insecure and have self-esteem issues tend to be the most political, so find ways to help them and/or increase their sense of self-worth. But don’t make it up. Be sincere about anything you say or do.

Use some of their tactics in a principled manner. Do some self promotion in a way that ALSO promotes others. Network with the powers that be in a way that shows your value to the company. Don’t avoid them at social functions … seek them out. Read “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi for great tactics on how to do this.

Another reference for you: Dan King, Principal at Meaningful Careers, wrote a great article called “Winning at Organizational Politics without Losing Your Soul” that gives additional insights and reasons for not keeping your head in the sand. As he states in his article, politics is a game. “Play or not play, the game still goes on!”

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Social responsibility is the theory that every entity has a duty towards the common good of society at large, in order to maintain a balance between economy and ecology. This responsibility can be at an individual or organizational level, but the idea is to give as much good back to the world that we live in, as we take from it.

Economic development has always been seen as a trade-off between sustaining the world we live in and improving the economic climate, more so in urban societies where commerce seems to override the health of the environment. However, this need not be the case. With social responsibility, we can find ways of sustaining a balance between the two by either not engaging in acts that are harmful to the environment (passive) or working towards the advancement of social goals (active).

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR refers to the efforts of a profit-making organization or business establishment, in the area of social betterment. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development defined CSR in one of it’s publications, as “… the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large”. It is often argued that CSR comes directly in the way of an establishment’s fundamental role of economic growth and profit making. However, it is clear that economic growth can only take us so far in a world where human, animal and environmental welfare takes a backseat. CSR is now a vital organ in the machinery of most established organizations the world over.

Similarly, Student Social Responsibility (SSR) and Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) are also viewed to hold both positive and negative repercussions to a society. Should an individual focus on self-interest alone or the larger interests of the community? Should a student concentrate on succeeding purely in academic pursuits, or does he or she benefit from being involved in the welfare of the society? The answer is simple: there is no individual gain when the community suffers; the fruits of one’s academic excellence hold no value when a society isn’t functioning optimally.

To this end, it is up to the individual or the organization to choose an area of social responsibility that they believe they are most suited to contribute towards. A good example of best practices in social responsibility and sustainability comes from Levi Strauss. The company came under fire from Greenpeace for its clean water practices at some of its manufacturing plants in Mexico. Levi’s made an open pledge on its site to work towards this weakness. By re-thinking water consumption at every stage of production, the company now has a new line of jeans, which uses up to 96% less water during the production cycle.

Corporate Gifting – Sensible Gift Tips and Ideas

With the wide expansion of private business since 1950’s, a new phenomenon of corporate gifting has emerged. It has metamorphosed the trend as well as the style of business. Many companies have emerged in the corporate sector. Due to the same, more and more people are taking up jobs in this sector. This is the reason why corporate gifts have become so relevant in the present scenario.

A wide range of business corporate gift baskets are available in the market and on-line as well. These baskets include a wide range of products. These promotional gifts certainly entice the receiver. They also help in promoting a product and a company name. Some common corporate gifts include stationery items, desktop accessories, leather products, decorative centerpieces, etc.

Personal corporate gifts can be customized as per the needs. Gift items like wallets, key chains, etc. make excellent corporate gifts. To make these gifts promotional, one can get his or her company logo or a corporate message engraved or printed on these corporate gifts! On the other hand, the gifts that are presented to executives, clients, boss, colleagues and counterparts should be elegant, special, formal and impressive.

Following are some ideas and suggestions for business executive gifts:

o Unique Paperweights

Paperweights that have certain great and inspiring thoughts engraved on them can be a good gift for your executives. These paperweights are available in market as well as online and come in different sizes, shapes and colors. You can choose a paperweight with a thought that suits the receiver’s temperament.

o Personalize a Computer Mouse

You can get the receiver’s first and last initials engraved on the mouse. The computer mouse can be precision-crafted for comfort.

o Cardholder

A cardholder is yet another useful gift item. A variety of them are available in market.

All that counts in the business world is your style and impression. And these gifts reflect your style. Therefore, you should be very careful while choosing such gifts!

Corporate Gifting Ideas in Dubai

Dubai, the world’s treasure for trade, is one of the wealthiest emirates among the UAE. Since ancient times, because of its significant geographical position, Dubai stations itself as the seat of trade connecting Asia with Europe and vice versa. Due to the discovery of oil in the late 60s which led to the creation of ports and free zones pumped up the status of Dubai as a world’s leader in the trade activities. Tourism has become a popular industry in Dubai in the 70s and 80s, and hence the emirate invested heavily in building tourism infrastructures. Soon Dubai has become the Hong Kong of the Middle East.

Many large corporate have established their presence in the emirate which automatically resulted in promoting business related to those corporate such as hotels, restaurants, etc., Realising the huge market capital in the gift supplying for corporates companies like Arcati, Steigens established gift product providing ventures in Dubai.

Well, there are a plethora of gift suppliers around the globe, then why would anyone buy gifts in Dubai?

As said before, Dubai is a hub for trade and business. The city holds numerous Fortune 500 companies within it. The gifting companies in Dubai have access to the manufacturers from many countries such as Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, India had enabled them to craft tailor-made gift products at affordable products.

Generally, there are many reasons to give custom corporate gifts in the corporate culture which includes:

  • To deepen connections between business associated
  • To motivate employees
  • To tell a story or promote our brand

Corporate gift suppliers from Dubai understood the significance of gifts in the corporate culture hence they procure and provide only high-quality products as the gifting items. Some of the gift items in their inventories are as follows:

  • Custom made Power banks: Power banks are an important extension for smartphones in these days. Custom made power banks with the company’s logo on it can be presented to hard-working employees.
  • Premium Watches: Watches are an excellent way to show that your company values your client. A branded watch as a gift will prompt the clients to work with your company more
  • Eco-Friendly Bags: Eco-friendly has now become a slogan among people. Bags that are made up of eco-friendly products will be the best choice to present as a gift to your business associates.
  • Leather Products: Premium leather products including mobile phone holders, laptop bags can also be chosen as gift items for the clients or business associates.
  • Printed Mugs & Bottles: Coffee mugs or water bottles imprinted with the company’s logo or any motivational quotes can be presented to either clients or employees for promotional purposes.
  • Arcati has a wide range of custom-made products for giftings and those who wish to present premium quality gifts to their business associates they can visit Arcati’s inventory through their official website.

Making the Leap From Corporate to Entrepreneurship

At the end of June 2003, I chose to leave a very secure job in banking to start over as an executive coach. Although I’d been in business for myself prior to joining the bank, it had been almost five years. During my time there, I had the privilege of working with a great team that cared deeply for their clients and believed in the direction we were heading.

But it wasn’t enough for me, and I knew it was time to become a full-time executive coach. I leapt from the security of a regular paycheck – days dictated by a strict culture with high stress and expectations, back to the unknown and a new business.

As I told my team, it’s not that I wanted to go; it’s that I couldn’t stay. I had to try my hand at entrepreneurship, and the opportunity to work with individuals who wanted more success, ease, greatness and control in their own lives. Now, I’m ecstatic helping my clients find exactly that–whether they’re in the corporate world or working solo.

Here are some tips and action items that’ll help you get & stay focused in your new role of an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship: Is it for you?

Are you the kind of person who relishes the role of entrepreneur? Do you love the thrill of victory? Can you handle the agony of defeat? And in either case: Will you try again?

There are tons of businesses in existence, but yours must reflect you to truly be successful. Can you connect with your ideal client and tell the story of your business in a way that’s powerful for both you and the listener?

Who’s on your team of experts to help you in your role as an entrepreneur? Who’s your coach? It’s all about people-and “people” is also about you, those you help, and those who make you successful.

ACTION ITEM: What will I do today to become more successful – what people will I connect with to advance my goals? Do I need a coach to play my best business game?

Profitability: Defining the business of your business.

As an entrepreneur, you’re full of great ideas and you know how to implement them. However, it’s easy to lose sight of the daily need to stay profitable. Leaving a paycheck is never easy-yet, the thought of owning your own business can be very tempting. It’s important to know what your business model looks like and how long it’ll take you to be profitable. Do you have financial reserves as you build your business? Can you afford to be a professional businessperson (i.e. website, business cards, marketing and advertising, office space, etc.)? You’ll attract business as you become a business!

And please don’t underestimate the importance of the desire and need to be profitable. This isn’t magic-it’s a well-planned strategy to turn your passion into a career. Don’t give away your product or services, because good intentions don’t pay the bills! (A book on this subject that I strongly recommend is Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.)

So, what does pay the bills? Good work that’s honored through revenue. So, begin with the desire to make a life through your passion and the work you do–and be paid to do it. If you’re truly tapping into your passion, that’s the foundation of a great business-and great businesses fail less. However, if the stress of making money is so great that you can’t survive slower times and a tough economy, proceed with caution. Remember: Profitability is about running a business that sustains itself and brings a profit to you.

ACTION ITEM: What will I do today to become more profitable, both personally and professionally? What do I believe about being profitable and what model am I working from or creating? What people will I connect with to advance my goals? Do I need a coach to play my best business game?

Strategy: What’s in your business playbook?

The overall strategy for building your business is something you should think about every day. The key components to a good strategy aren’t magic nor secret-it’s simply hard work, focus, effort, discipline–and a burning desire to create something you can see clearly.

With strategy comes the question of your transition from corporate to entrepreneurship. When is the right time? The answer: When you’re willing to live with the consequences of your decision. If you’re considering transitioning while working at your current job, remember–part-time is tough! How much can you work on your business if you’re also working for someone else? And if you’re working after hours, finding a convenient time for both you and your clients can be a real issue. If you have a product, will you be available to speak with your customers and ship items in a timely manner?

Being an effective and successful entrepreneur requires you to be completely present and listening & responding on multiple levels. If you stretch yourself too thin, you may not succeed. Strategy is about having a plan that you’re prepared to implement and then live with the outcome.

ACTION ITEM: What will I do today to develop my strategy for succeeding in my existing business or building a new one? What people will I connect with to advance my goals? Do I need a coach to play my best business game?

Leap when you’re ready to leap-but when you do, do it with joy and abandon. Business is a risk – but success comes from risk that is calculated and well-planned. Be prepared for success by knowing what it will take for you to be successful.

Women’s Business Fashion Tips – Enter The Corporate World With Confidence

The world is changing and women are moving ahead with confidence. We all know that the corporate world nowadays is filled with a lot of women candidates. In this article we are going to lend you some key tips regarding the business casual fashion tips for women. If you are a working woman then this article is tailor made for you. All you need to do is to go through this article and understand the below mentioned points carefully.

It is pretty essential to note that girls have better options available to them when it comes to dressing in a nice way. However, there are certain factors that determine your office look. You need to consider them carefully. I must tell you that fashion choices available for women are simply outstanding. If you are a girl then you can certainly adjust your clothing to all types of environments, Ranging from short dresses, skirts and slacks to official suits, girls can wear just about anything.

One of the key things to remember is that you should feel comfortable in whatever you are wearing. A day in the office wearing uncomfortable clothing can become unbearable. There are also certain fashion errors that most of the women experience during their working days. You need to avoid these fashion mistakes at all costs. To prevent these mistakes, you must check out the current prevailing trends in woman’s fashion magazines. Accessories can really add the attractiveness of your attire. You must team up your official suit with apt amount of accessories.

The clothes that you wear should complement the workplace environment in the best possible way. Now, let us discuss a few key points that you must consider in this regard.

• You need to choose the fabrics with absolute care. Wool, silk and cotton are some of the most popular ones. They are really popular in most of the companies worldwide.
• The next thing that you need to do is to choose the right color for yourself. Black and navy blue are the two colors that are really best suited for working women.
• Your clothes should be absolutely clean and wrinkle free. Otherwise it could leave a bad impression on your bosses.
• Purchase a good quality blouse that goes well with your attire.
• Choosing the right footwear is also very important. It allows you to stay comfortable all the time. Your shoes should be properly polished and in good condition.
• Leather shoes are best suited for workplaces. You need to consider buying them from the market.
• Scarves and bracelets can really make your life easy when it comes to wearing fashion accessories.

These are some of the key points that you need to consider in business fashion. Make sure you read all of these tips carefully. If you are really planning to work on your looks and appearance then you need to make sure that you purchase the right wardrobe. Otherwise you might really end up on the losing side. I hope this article offers you some help with your business wardrobe. Enjoy a lot!

Corporate Social Responsibility of Private Companies in Natural Disasters

1. INTRODUCTION:

1.1. THE ABC of CSR:

History is the sole witness to the phenomenon of shift in priorities in Business. There was a sudden lateral shift, wherein the focus drastically shifted from profit maximization to welfare of the society. This in terms of various management Gurus was the era of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.’ CSR can be defined as ‘bringing corporate behaviour up to a level where it is congruent with the prevailing social norms, values, and expectations of performance.’

By Indian Companies Act, 1956, Section(3) (1) a company means a company registered under companies act, like any juristic person company is a legal entity. By this act it acquires a legal status muta mutandis to that of a person, one who is capable of having his own Rights and duties. CSR is nothing but a way to accomplish the fundamental duties prescribed in the constitution of India which a normal legal person is suppose to follow.

According to Berle ‘Company’ is not merely a legal institution rather a device for attainment of socio economic end. In layman’s term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an obligation rather a mandate that a corporation needs to abide to in order to maintain a perfect equilibrium between the 3Ps i.e. Profit maximization, people’s right, and the planet. Nothing in this world comes for free, CSR is the opportunity cost that the company has to pay in order to exist in this society.

Archie B. Carrol (1979) defines social responsibility as a four step scale. He feels the company apart from economic and legal responsibilities also has ethical responsibilities. Several scholars tried to develop an integrated model to define the perfect structure of CSR, however no one has successfully propounded one.

Modern business organisation is nothing but a hub of socially conscious people who constantly make an effort to align their profitable opportunities and ventures with their social industries and values intact. CSR provides a skeleton of boundary for free market to operate in a responsible manner. It is an undisputed fact that the legal framework of India has empowered the companies to the heights of zenith, but one must never forget with great power comes great responsibility.

To conclude this section, It may be noted that CSR is not a modern discovery and certainly not a discovery that can be accredited to the economically developed nations around the globe. Altogether CSR has travelled a long way, from the lines of philanthropy to a legal mandate; it has incorporated several changes in itself. Hopefully the noble concept of CSR doesn’t disappear midst the urban blight.

1.2. CSR and Natural Disasters: A brief idea

There has been a rapid growth in the facet of CSR for disaster management and combating techniques. India has been customarily susceptible disasters on account of its unique geographical dimension. In view of India’s high vulnerability profile, the recurrent phenomena of a range of geophysical as well as hydro-meteorological hazards impact millions across the country leaving behind a trail of heavy loss of lives, property and livelihoods. Many Areas tend to lose their development gains due to these draconian events. The economic and social losses caused by natural disasters continue to scale year after year as disasters occur with unswerving regularity encircling every possible segment of the nation including the industrial and corporate sector.

Comprehensive risk management activities is an inalienable part of Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate Sector in order to comply with this obligation has started exploring its precious mine of knowledge in order to obtain paradigms to avoid disasters. The Research and Development team of several companies have actively tried to adopt measures which would mitigate the risk of the disasters. In addition to this, the corporate sector can be a precious source of technical knowledge, as for example in the case of identification and research on technological solutions to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. On the whole, corporate sector has the prospective for fortification of its own safety and protection against natural cataclysm as well as in assisting the community in reducing its vulnerability to the disasters.

2. DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF THE BUSINESS HOUSES:

2.1. Brief Idea:

Despite of all the debates in the society it is an undisputed fact that Business houses can prove to be of immense significance in disaster management. After all the root of proper business development lies in the well-being of the society. A disaster doesn’t spare any strata of the society. When a disaster strikes, the first thoughts those race to all our mind is the – what is government doing? Where are the NGO? Where are the social support organisations? Business houses take a backseat and come to mind only as a source for fund raising. Unlike what we think and believe There is a lot more to Disaster Management (DM) than just providing monetary support. Many of the business needs like “Proactive support” is applicable in the areas of disaster management also. While government has responsibilities on one side the business also has equal responsibilities if not more to the society in such situations of dire needs. After all the business happens only due to existence of such societies and business needs shoulder its share of responsibilities.

Can business houses contribute more to disaster management that just provide money? Can there be a better proactive role that business houses in India can play in such disaster management situations? A vaccine is nothing but a proactive measure taken to avoid possible damage due to onset of a disease (when disease itself cannot be stopped). This is precisely what each business is trained for and focuses to do – to avoid future pitfalls and protect itself against future uncertainties.

2.2. The Indian Perspective And Role of Companies:

The companies in India have closely weaved philanthropy in their business schedule and most importantly, they never tried shying away from the moral and ethical obligation they have as responsible part of the country. ‘N’ number of example can be quoted from our day to day life where such mega mammoths have come up for help, times when they were needed the most. Gandhi described large business as ‘trusts’ of the ‘wealth of the people’ and thus emphasized on the larger social purpose that industrial wealth should serve in India. Following the same ideology a number of companies have taken the front seat and tried mitigating risk at large. The Companies that have taken a lead are:

• The Birla Group: Birlas have opened the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development with focus areas of sustainable livelihoods and environmental sustainability. Specific projects include developing and building capacity through Self-help groups, SGSY – dairy, readymade garments, jute project, basket making, aggarbatti (incense sticks) making, bee keeping, durries making, check dam, irrigation, land development, Soil and water conservation, Pasture development, Social forestry/ plantation activities/ nursery, Horticulture, Farmer training etc. The foundation also stresses on infrastructure development by focusing on creation and maintenance of Roads, Dams, Community centers, water channels and culverts.

• The Bajaj Group: JBGVS, a Registered Society and a Trust, is an apolitical and secular organisation which aims to act as a catalyst for rural and urban development. It assists the resident community of the selected villages and areas, in integrated development, making their villages and areas into models of excellence for others to emulate. JBGVS works with the participating rural community in the selected villages to improve their quality of life. Stress is laid on alleviation of poverty, health care, education, empowerment of women & gender justice. JBGVS relies on a participatory approach in implementing all its projects and also that of the local elected bodies like the Gram Panchayat (village council), Co-operative Societies, Self Help Groups, Women and Youth Clubs in decision making. JBGVS works at the grassroots level in 33 villages and hamlets of Khed and Maval Talukas of Pune District and 11 villages of Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. The integrated development activities under implementation include women empowerment, income generation, health programmes, agricultural extension, animal husbandry, watershed development, drinking water schemes, sanitation and education. 5600 families comprising a rural population of about 30,000 people are co-partners in these development activities. An HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention and Care Programme called ‘Project JEEVAN’ was launched in September 2004, with the aim of generating awareness about HIV/AIDS, thereby, arrest further spread of disease and help those affected to lead a comfortable life. It covers 33 villages in Pune District and slums of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area.

JBGVS has been implementing Drought Prone Area Development Project of Zilla Parishad in 7 villages of Pune District since 2003. The overall project cost is Rs.2.10 crores and it includes watershed development work over 3,500 ha. 22 farm ponds, 3 diversion bunds, 4 soil nala bunds and 3 cement check dams have been constructed till April 2008. The activities carried out under this programme helps increase water table in non irrigated area, wells and thereby increase crop yield.

• The Reliance Group: The Reliance Rural Development Trust (RRDT) works to improve the rural infrastructure under the Government of Gujarat’s rural development plans. RRDT created 760 facilities in the rural areas at a cost of Rs. 24.07 crore. The facilities included 247 concrete roads, 465 anganwadis, 38 drinking water facilities, 1 panchayat office, 2 community halls, 5 check-dams and 2 other amenities in the rural areas of the State of Gujarat. RRDT has turned out to be an exemplary corporate NGO implementing government’s developmental plans for rural areas of Gujarat. It is a unique synergy between a corporate giant like Reliance Industries Limited and the Government of Gujarat, formed to carry out rural development projects in private public partnership.

• The TATA Group: The Tata Group instituted the Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI) to work out a comprehensive plan for its social and community initiatives. TCCI acts as a facilitator for the entire group’s social initiatives. It is the umbrella agency that guides and supports Tata Group companies with their community development initiatives. Reinforcing the implicit beliefs the Group brings to its mission of sustainable development with an explicit set of structures, TCCI has a charter that embraces social development, environmental management, biodiversity restoration and employee volunteering. The Tata culture in this critical segment of the overall corporate sustainability matrix – inclusive of working for the benefit of the communities in which they operate, of building India’s capabilities in science and technology, of supporting art and sport – springs from an ingrained sense of giving back to society. In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (India), TCCI has crafted the Tata Index for Sustainable Human Development, a pioneering effort aimed at directing, measuring and enhancing the community work that Group enterprises undertake. The Index provides guidelines for Tata companies looking to fulfil their social responsibilities, and is built around the Tata Business Excellence Model (TBEM), an open-ended framework that drives business excellence in Tata companies.

• Infosys: Infosys Foundation has made significant contributions in disaster relief and rehabilitation. It has worked in the tsunami-affected areas of Tamil Nadu and the Andaman Islands, earthquake-affected areas of Kutch, cyclone-devastated areas of Orissa, tribal areas of Kalahandi in Orissa and drought-hit areas of Andhra Pradesh. After the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Foundation helped victims in Tamil Nadu and the Andamans at various stages.

• The Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC): The corporation organizes health and community welfare programs in the neighbourhood. Major emphasis has been given for promotion of education, health and community development and in times of natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, etc. Priority is given to areas around the projects with the following themes:

Education, Promotion of literacy and higher education, Grant of scholarship & assistance to deserving young pupils of weaker sections of society, Facilities for constructing schools, renovation of school buildings, other infrastructure, Healthcare & Family Welfare, Medical camps, Mobile dispensaries, Supplementing the efforts of already existing health centers in the rural areas, Health care for women, children and disabled.

• ICICI Bank Ltd: Its work is focused on four distinct areas:

Sustainable development: To provide the poorest of India’s households access to technology and services that improve livelihoods while conserving natural resources and protecting ecosystems.

Climate change:To promote investments, policies and research that reduce the impact of harmful climate change, improve India’s ability to adapt to climate change and explore linkages between poverty and climate impacting behaviours

Responsible Investment:To encourage policy makers, financial institutions, corporations and individuals to incorporate long term thinking on environmental impacts into investment decisions and to measure quality in green investments.

Accountability:To engage in research and policy advocacy to improve environmental governance and encourage accountability for environmental degradation.

Apart from these there are several others who have effectively tried evolving ways to mitigate disasters and their effects. Others that follow closely behind are Mahindra and Mahindra, Eicher, DCM Shriram etc. A glimpse of such an unending list gives us a feeling that we do reside in a nation where not only people but also the corporations keep their schedule in line with philanthropy and ethics.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS:

Companies should concentrate on disaster mitigation, i.e., minimizing the potential risks by developing disaster early warning strategies, preparing and implementing developmental plans to provide resilience to such disasters, mobilizing resources including communication and tele-medicinal services, helping rehabilitation and post-disaster reduction.

There are three main ways in which corporate sector contributes to the process of disaster risk reduction:

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in supporting relief, rehabilitation and risk reduction activities;

• Redefining the business continuity plan to factor in hazards, risks and vulnerabilities;

• New business opportunities created in disaster reduction due to the increase in emphasis on risk reduction.

In many countries, big business houses have their own non-profit organizations which run range of social projects on education, health, community development and entrepreneurship development etc which reduce disasters in the long run. Smaller business houses mainly contribute to projects run by NGOs. Government can create an enabling environment for greater corporate sector investment in disaster risk reduction activities through innovative partnership.

Factors Affecting Your Corporate Identity

The strong Corporate Identity is vital need for any organization irrespective of its size. Even a smaller company with strong corporate identity can beat its strong contenders. In other words, the brand image of any company, business or organization is vital to its success. An organization can generate fresh set of customers through strong corporate identity or industry presence.

There are various factors which can affect the brand image of any organization. Some most important factors are as follows:

  1. Website – A perfect portal is must for every small, medium or big organization, company or business. The world has become so small in this e-connected world, people are eager to know anything and everything about the details of products being offered by a particular company. They are also interested in knowing what your past customers are saying.
  2. Logo– A logo represents the goals, vision, and attitude of any organization or company towards his business and customers. They need to be specific in terms of a Logo. Companies give stress on a logo which design can match the services and targeted customer’s prospects.
  3. Stationary – Stationary is also one of the most important factor in deciding corporate identity and brand image of a company, business or organization. That includes, Company Letter Heads, Correspondence Business Envelopes, Services Brochures, Post Cards, Business Cards, and Employees Identity Cards (Magnetic Cards). A letter head makes an emphatic impact on readers or viewers mind. If your Letter Head looks professional as well as classy at the same with illustrating vital information regarding your organization, most of your business proposals will be readily accepted or at least you will get first hand queries enquiring more about your services. Business cards also make a great impact on your company’s identity and brand image. Those are not a thing to be included in wallets of your Top Business Executives and marketing personnel’s in fact they carry the most feasible means of contact for your organization. With every distributed business cards you executives are leaving information as well as future business prospects for your company, so it should be realistic and matching to your company’s identity and Brand.
  4. Print Advertisements – Print advertisements still carry the same level of importance in front of people as earlier. Every ad flyer or ad brochure is representing a sample of your organization. So it should reflect the pride and uniqueness of your organization.

There are several other branding options and ways of enhancing your corporate presence. But stationary is one of the most important among all of them. No doubt the business scenario has changed a lot during last few years from manual to automatic transfer of operations. But still your printed materials are very important and you should not avoid it at any case.

Understanding the Supply Chain Management in This Corporate World

Profitable business is every entrepreneur’s ticket to real success. The entrepreneur’s career ladder always begins with an idea and then followed by selling that idea to the market. There is no shortcut to entrepreneurship. It is a continuous process. Every aspiring entrepreneur must learn, execute and study more the market that he wants to deal with. Selling products and services is business yet an entrepreneur has to exert more efforts in order to win and achieve the stability, profitability and dominance among competitors. The world of business is very challenging much more when business these days are beginning to welcome the modern marketing methods and systems of improving sales. Almost every company has its corporate office other than their main factory. Usually located on high rise buildings in major cities of every country, these offices aim to observe best practices on the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and as well as establish excellent Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

What’s Happening Inside the Corporate World?

We all know the rules of business. From the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) going down to the lowest rank employee in terms of job role, the primary goal of every company or corporation is to deliver products and services that will give satisfaction to the customers to the highest level. Work, jobs, projects, issues, problems, delays and brain storming sessions are in between these two business operation end points. Oftentimes, we observe from the top news on TV, the internet, the newspapers and the media press conferences that business critics, economists and market analysts are discussing the latest moves of the company CEO and top executives. One company acquires this company. Two companies merge together. Sometimes, it’s the bad news; a company files for bankruptcy. This is becoming a routine in the world of business or technically, the corporate world. Not all companies succeed. The competition is always there and it is always a challenge for every company to deliver their best moves in order to win the customers.

The Truth About Supply Chain Management

When it comes to the supply chain in business, there are three key performance indicators that dictate the game of winning and losing. They are the cost of products and services, the cycle time in delivering these products and services to the customers, and the quality that if delivered with excellence will make every customer happy. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is defined by Wikipedia as “the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of product and service packages required by the end customer in a supply chain”. The meaning is clear; it has something to do with managing the customer’s needs. That is actually the purpose of entrepreneurship. The entire corporate world is battling for clients. And if we establish that link of one business operation to the other inside a company, there is no reason to say that they are not interconnected. Therefore, the failure of one process could mean the breakage of the chain and absolutely the failure to supply to the customers what they need at the right cost, at the fastest lead time and the highest quality.

SCM is About Winning the Market

We can relate SCM to the Law of Supply and Demand. The price of any commodity is dependent on the quantity produced and the quantity demanded. When a certain price becomes fixed on a given time, the competition among suppliers becomes stiffer because customers have the option to choose on where to buy the products or services that they want. The SCM is very much dependent on this law; reason why corporate executives always want their SCM team to be more sensitive to the movement in the market. Whenever there is a need for adjustment, it will be dealt with accordingly and timely until a final winning decision is made. This is why many companies and corporations invest a lot on acquiring best talents on SCM. Business analyst, financial consultant, and SCM specialist; their role is to help the company survive the competition and in whatever business way, win the market.

Excellent Supplier Relationship will Improve Profitability

One effective way of winning the market is to strengthen the company’s supplier relationship. In fact, this is always the starting point of every company’s SCM operation. From acquisition of raw materials, consumable items, new machines, or even services that will help deliver products and services to the customers, supplier will do it all for the company being their customer. If your suppliers are showing poor scores on these three key performance indicators, then it will surely affect your entire operation. Therefore, it should be your SCM’s goal of ensuring that suppliers are in line with your main business objective – profitability for success.

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