RBI intends to keep cash in deficit

The Reserve Bank of India has no current plans to take new steps to ease cash conditions further and it expects an unwinding of the factors contributing to the shortfall in the months ahead, its chief said on Thursday

The Reserve Bank India (RBI) on Tuesday raised its repo rate , at which it lends to banks, to 6.5 percent from 6.25 percent. It also lifted the reverse repo rate , at which it borrows from banks, to 5.5 percent from 5.25 percent.

The RBI also raised its inflation forecast for the current fiscal year to end-March to 7 percent from 5.5 percent and warned of persistently higher food prices unless steps are taken to boost supplies.

RBI GOVERNOR DUVVURI SUBBARAO said "We have maintained in the November policy that we expect to see LAF (liquidity adjustment facility) window in the deficit mode for some more months to come, so that is consistent with our anti-inflationary stance. So, I do not see the possibility of it (LAF) getting into a surplus.

"But, we certainly want it to be in a less deficit than it is now because deficit right now is around 2 percent of net demand and time liabilities and we think that the more appropriate level would be 1 percent and that is where we would like it to be."

RBI DEPUTY GOVERNOR SHYAMALA GOPINATH  said “Treasury bill issuances of the government are primarily based on the intra-year mismatches in receipts and payments... these instruments provide investment opportunities for those who have short-term funds and generally the government has not really had any problems raising any funds by way of tbills.”

Unitedworld Executive.

Coca Cola signs Rs20 crore deal with Sachin Tendulkar

Coca Cola on Sunday confirmed reports that it had signed batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador

The beverage giant said that Tendulkar will act as its 'happiness ambassador', working on the company's various strategic communication initiatives, including its corporate, CSR and brand campaigns.

Coca Cola was said to be in talks with Tendulkar for the ICC World Cup 2011 to compete with Pepsi, who is a global sponsor for the cricketing event

Tendulkar, who was part of arch-rival Pepsi's camp, was dropped from the team two-and-half years back as Pepsi looked towards younger icons to drive its brands. Pepsi had also parted ways with ex-India captains Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, and actor Shah Rukh Khan.

The three-year endorsement deal with Tendulkar is estimated to be around Rs20 crore. Coca Cola also has Indian opening batting batsmen Gautam Gambhir on board as ambassador besides Bollywood actor Imran Khan.

Coca Cola's portfolio in India consists of Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Fanta, Sprite, Maaza, Minute Maid Pulpy Orange and Kinley.

Unitedworld Executive.

Theft of National Money ---- Alarm raised by Indian Court

India's Supreme Court has said that the practice of illegal funneling of wealth overseas by Indians is a "pure and simple theft of national money"

India has lost more than $460bn in such illegal flight of capital since Independence, as per the US-based group Global Financial Integrity.

It said the illicit outflows increased after economic reforms began in 1991. India's underground economy has been estimated to account for 50% of the country's GDP - $640bn at the end of 2008.

A former federal Law Minister Ram Jethmalani and others has files a petition on the alleged inaction of the government in bringing back illegal money parked overseas by rich Indians and companies. In response, India's Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanian submitted a sealed cover containing 16 names of individuals and companies who had accounts with a Liechtenstein-based bank.

It’s a mind boggling crime indeed !

Mr Subramaniam said the government was taking measures to bring back the illegal money, but said there were difficulties in sharing the information because of confidentiality treaties between countries. "All we want is that you give all the information about the money deposited in the foreign banks by Indians. You cannot confine the petition to one bank," Justice SS Nijjar said.

The court has fixed 27 January as the next date of hearing.

Global Financial Integrity said the illegal flight of capital through tax evasion, crime and corruption had widened inequality in India.

High net-worth individuals and private companies were found to be primary drivers of illegal capital flows.

Unitedworld Executive.

Are You living the dream?

Have you ever asked someone how they are doing and their response was…"Oh, just living the dream!"

What do they mean…they are living the dream?

Have you thought about that response?

Well… I have thought about that response and have actually used that response when answering someone..

Why have I used that response? Because the life I’m living right now is what I have created…in my dreams. If I don’t like it I must change my thoughts and my "dream."

What is so great is that you have the ability to do the same in your own life… you have the ability to live whatever "dream" you project in your mind.

How do you wish to live? Do you want to live in poverty or do you want to live in abundance? Do you want to work at a job your entire life dreading each day or do you want to be passionate about your life’s work? Do you want to have loving and meaningful relationships or do you want to be unfulfilled your entire life?

The majority of people would say they want all of the abundance I just described though they continue to struggle with making these desires come to fruition in their own lives.

WHY?

Why are some people living lives of abundance and prosperity and others struggle each day?

Well…everything begins in your mind. Remember…"As A Man Thinketh, So Is He."

You must change your mindset… see and feel yourself living the life you desire. Quit focusing on what you don’t want…focus your thoughts on what you want to manifest in your life.

As you begin to develop your "dream life" your subconscious mind will begin to create this "dream life" around you. Stay focused on what you truly desire in life…without attachment. This is vital to your overall success.

Once your mind switches from positive thinking to positive knowing your "dream life" is on its way.

Now does this mean you should sit back and just wait for things to change…NO!

Begin moving your body and be alert for divine inspiration…once it arrives, take action!

Today I challenge you to reflect on your own life…are you living the dream?

Unitedworld Executive.

Choosing Electives for MBA

This is the second most important question that any MBA (or PGDM, PGDBM, PGPM, etc... etc.) aspirant would need to have an answer to before starting this eventful journey. Believe me, Destination of this journey would completely depend upon this single very important answer.

Never decide your stream based upon your educational background.

So this is for all those aspirants who have decided to do MBA but need some more information to decide upon their stream.

1.Streams have got nothing to do with under-graduation background. Never decide your stream based upon your educational background. One big misconception people have is MBA in Finance suits those with Commerce background. It is not so. Yes, if one has commerce background, it helps in some concepts. But largely, people with Engineering background do equally well if not better.

          In fact, most I-banks or consultancy companies prefer people with MBA (Finance) and Engineering background. The reason is that engineering subjects stress more upon logical and analytical thinking and practical approach to solve problem.

2.Marketing Management is not about boardroom marketing strategy planning. Yes, please get real. The career for a Marketing Management graduate starts with Sales. Hardcore Sales. And if FMCG sales looks too glamorous from outside, lets get some basics right. FMCG sales realistically would mean going to smallest towns in India in scorching heat, or flooding rains, or shivering cold in old, about-to-breakdown buses or overloaded jeeps, and selling products from shop to shop.

Yes, you do get rewarded for the efforts you put in your initial years. And you do get to make strategies, but that comes much later. You have to spend no less than 3-4 years in sales before being considered for marketing role. But if sales is not your cup of tea, think twice before opting for marketing. In marketing, the skills required are: 

•Ability to plan and execute marketing ideas 

•Ability to develop ideas which lead to growth in sales 

•Ability to mobilize resources to achieve the set objectives 

•Communication skills - written & Oral 

•Interpersonal skills 

•High energy levels and enthusiasm to work 

•Analytical skills 

3.Doing Information Management is not a pre-requisite to get into an IT company. Just like IT companies do not only recruit Computer Engineers but also Mechanical and Civil Engineers (I was a mechanical engineer but was offered job by a software company), the same applies to MBAs also. IT companies do give preference to IM graduates but they are open to other streams too. So, even if you choose Marketing Management or Operations Management, you have not missed out on IT companies. A specialization in IT offers scope for a career in many areas in the industry.

The skills required are the following:

•Good Analytical Skills 

•Project Management 

•Team Work 

•Quest for knowledge 

•Good communication

4.Human Resource Management is specialized function dedicated to the entire gamut of activities concerning people. kills required to do well in this area include : 

•Ability to understand and deal with people of all levels 

•Ability to cope with unstructured situations 

•And the person should have the 4 Cs 

•Creativity 

•Calmness 

•Conceptually sound 

•Convincing ability

5.'Operations' in the management world encompasses almost all the areas that reflect the efficiency of the organizations in the area of background work and execution. It includes inventory management, vendor development, purchasing management, and also a few other areas which demand multi-disciplinary skills viz. supply chain management, enterprise resource planning and also all cost optimization initiatives.

Depending on the type of organization, one might be responsible for a few activities / regions in the initial stages and consequently growing up to handling broader areas. A typical career would see one handling a few plants/ vendors initially, followed by the responsibility for an entire factory and eventually undertake a more strategic view like global sourcing / alternate materials / imports etc. but, at each stage there is a lot of responsibility and risk.

The skills required for any of the above jobs are integrity, ability to negotiate, ability to remain calm in the toughest of situations (there is a fire almost everyday, somewhere) and lastly good coordination skills coupled with technical knowledge.

6.Entrepreneurship is chosen by two kinds of people. One, who have family-managed businesses to handle or take over immediately after passing out from the institute, and the other kind who have ideas they want to implement in a new business after passing.

The second kind is now very much in vogue, especially with the mushrooming e-commerce culture where every idea has a possibility of fruition in a flourishing business. These ventures are typically characterized by a large amount of risk, but with equally high returns if they succeed.

To young Managers either in profession or aspiring for one, Entrepreneurship remains a challenging and exciting career option.

7.Agri- Business - Agriculture in India is an untapped market that has huge potential. Specialization in this field trains students to deal with the issues faced by the agriculture, food, rural, and allied sectors. Students can find job opportunities in both domestic and international levels. The demand for this branch will increase as more and more Indian and multinational companies enter/invest in agribusiness.

Major enterprises will be in the following areas:

•Production and marketing of inputs which includes pesticides, fertilizers, farm machinery, seeds, livestock feed, and irrigation equipment

•Finance and credit arrangement, rural banking, and insurance

•Processing and marketing of agriculture related outputs, such as fisheries, livestock, forestry, dairy farming, horticulture, and food crops

•Tertiary services, such as rural energy, water management, logistics, research & development, and export & import

8.An MBA in International Business grooms working managers and executives for careers of increased responsibility with focus on diversity and multicultural concerns, International relations and business strategies sensitive to international issues.

We call those International that are not restricted by geographical or political boundaries. Hence business operations without geographical boundaries, i.e., global commerce and the Internet have made the world smaller, but far more competitive. So one deals with terms like international business, multinational, transnational, globalization, multi domestic and the global marketplace very often. This arena along with the traditional export and import industry provides pathway to a multitude of careers.

In today’s global economy, many businesses are looking to expand into an international market, therefore, careers in international business are expected to grow at a faster than normal rate. From banks to manufacturing firms to government agencies, almost all industries have a need for people with a background in international business. There is such a wide range or opportunities available that someone with strong business skills and an international mindset should be able to easily find a job in a field that interests them.

9.It has been rightly said, "Just as Amitabh Bachchan stands tall in the entertainment industry, an MBA comes out at the top on the career front." But how does MBA fit into Media And Entertainment industry? There is a strong connection between management and entertainment and the management students have to deduce just what will open the doors of opportunity for them.

There are various jobs directly concerned with Media And Entertainment industry and require an MBA in Marketing. A few jobs for MBAs in this industry are:

•Event Management- to organise and promote events such as award functions, live shows, etc. 

•Production Management- to help in the production of films, serials, news and entertainment channels. 

•Ideation- to develop ideas for stories for television serials, informative programmes, or documentary and other films. 

•Celebrity Management - to manage careers of celebrities. 

•Brand Management - to maintain and promote brand names through various methods.

MBAs without work experience can also look forward to the following career options:

•Agents or Money managers - An MBA can work as a financial manager handling the finances of film stars, directors, musicians, etc. 

•Business development and consulting - An MBA can work to develop strategic alliances and partnerships for Media And Entertainment companies and work as a consultant to companies for cost cutting, restructuring, etc.

10.Retail environment requires professionals with new skills, efficiency and capability to be told, to compete and to think beyond the box. A specialization module in retail would provide the students a comprehensive exposure to the retail business world.

Today Retail management is your step to a stable career and a bright future. This MBA program trains students for specialized and proficient employment in the retail industry. A person having done MBA in Retail ought to possess robust decision creating skills particularly in terms of pricing and promotions, staffing and abundant more. MBA in Retail Management course is administrated by several Prime B Schools and universities. These MBA Colleges teach students the ideology of retail and merchandise; it prepares the students with skills to face the challenges of the new age.

After we speak of the scope of MBA in Retail in nowadays's scenario then the answer is often a YES. Specially having big brands like Pantaloons, Spencer's, Big Bazaar, Shopper's Stop, Reliance, Westside, and several more into long term investment in India's market.

By selecting to try to to an MBA in Retail an individual will build a future in varied fields like sales, merchandiser, offer chain distributors, retail manager, marketing executives, retail buyers and merchandiser, logistics and warehouse managers etc. All over India, there are various job opportunities conjointly in books and publishing business, multiplexes, garment trade, searching malls, music stores etc. MBA in Retail management is one amongst the most standard courses among the kids as a result of once getting knowledge in retail, one can achieve more store sales and profit, merchandise shipments and much more. In this course a private can additionally learn to be an experience while communicating with shoppers satisfying them and managing the shop very well. The career growth and scope of this field is not limited only to India. However it has nice future in abroad too.

This is the second most important question that any MBA (or PGDM, PGDBM, PGPM, etc... etc.) aspirant would need to have an answer to before starting this eventful journey. Believe me, Destination of this journey would completely depend upon this single very important answer.

Unitedworld Executive.

Winning is a habit. Everyone wants to be a winner but only a handful win.

There are some habits which distinguish a winner from a loser. Some of these habits are:

1. Losers decide to do something but don’t do it, under external pressure. Winners do the opposite. They decide to do something and do it, or decide not to do something and don’t do it.
2. Losers see problems in every opportunity; Winners see opportunity in every problem.
3. A loser’s move is based on instinct or impulse. Winners act upon much deliberated decisions.
4. Losers are too proud to admit their mistakes. Winners are proud that they learn from their mistakes.
5. Losers reject suggestions because the acceptance makes them feel inferior. Winners welcome suggestions because they are open to learning.
6. Losers call it quits at the first sign of failure. Winners treat failure as a stepping stone to success.
7. Losers don’t have the power of persistence. Winners always go after their dreams.
8. Losers envy winners. Winners congratulate every successful person.
9. Losers focus on pleasurable activities. Winners manage a proper balance between work and leisure.
10. Losers want an easy life without any suffering and hardship. Winners know that what one sows is what one reaps. They know that efforts and actions don’t go unnoticed. They progress through trials and errors without giving up.
11. Losers dream but don’t act. Winners are always willing to do everything which is necessary to achieve their dreams.
12. Losers don’t move forward because they are afraid to come out of their comfort zone. Winners move forward by refusing to tolerate all negative things. Which hold them back. they create space in their lives for positive experiences.
13. Losers think of all that is impossible. Winners think of infinite possibilities.
14. Losers let others change their goals, Winners believe in themselves and their dreams.
15. Losers submit passively to surroundings and events; Winners make choices based on what they
16. want to do, have and become.

Are you a loser or a winner ?

Unitedworld Executive.

MBA IS NOT AND END ITSELF,BUT A MEANS TO AN END.

•  Having a master's degree in business administration is necessary for those who want to gain an advantage in this ultra-tough industry. It is one of several business degrees that provide a huge impact on a professional's salary and career advancement options. 

•  A Masters of Business Administration (MBA) can help you move up the career ladder at a large corporation significant

WHY MBA ?

An MBA is one of the most coveted postgraduate degrees today not just for business professionals, but for college graduates in general. Having a master's degree in business administration is necessary for those who want to gain an advantage in this ultra-tough industry. It is one of several business degrees that provide a huge impact on a professional's salary and career advancement options. Being an official Master of Business Administration is also an attractive endeavor for professionals outside the industry because the program touches different fields and sectors. Overall, MBA training is a valuable asset regardless of the career path chosen by college graduate

It is a degree designed to give you the ability to develop your career to its fullest potential, at an accelerated pace. What will you get out of an MBA? Aside from a powerful life experience, the MBA degree should supply three main value propositions: Skills, Networks, and Brand

•SKILLS 

 These include the "hard skills" of economics, finance, marketing, operations, management, and accounting, as well as the "soft skills " of leadership, teamwork, ethics, and communication that are so critical for effective management. MBA students   acquire these skills inside and outside the classroom. Since MBA programs attract people from very diverse industries and  cultures, a program should be able to leverage these differences and translate them into learning opportunities.

•NETWORKS 

An MBA degree program offers access to a network of MBA students, alumni, faculty, and business and community leaders. This network can be very useful when beginning a job search, developing a career path, building business relationships in your current career, or pursuing expertise outside your current field. For example, entrepreneurs need access to capital, business partners, vendors, and clients. Arts-related businesses need access to funding and strategic management in order to position themselves to be relevant in the marketplace. Global businesses need access to local business cultures as they expand their enterprises to new territories.

•BRAND

The MBA degree is a recognized brand that signifies management and leadership training. The particular school and type of MBA program you attend also have brand associations that can help open doors based on the school's reputation. The strength of a school's brand is based on the program's history, its ability to provide students with technical skills and opportunities for personal growth, and the reach of its alumni and industry network. A powerful brand can give you the flexibility to make changes throughout your career.

EMPLOYABLE SKILLS GAINED BY MBAs

•Academic achievement: demonstrates application and high standards of performance; 

•Communication skills: listening, speaking carefully and clearly, the ability to put across your   arguments fluently in writing; 

•Analysis: distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information, identifying issues and problems; 

•Commitment: seriousness of purpose, demonstrated both by taking time out from your career on a reduced salary (or no salary) in order to improve your qualifications and By combining work and part-time study; 

•Practicality: realism, ability to set attainable goals; 

•Maturity: tenacity, independence, organization; 

•Decisiveness: fact-finding skills, clarity, judgment, courage; 

•Intellectual creativity: the ability to develop new concepts and ideas; 

•Capacity for hard work: embodying self-motivation, self-discipline and time management; 

•Group skills: teamwork, leadership, ability to motivate others; 

•The mastery of IT skills: knowledge of statistical packages, spreadsheets, databases and programming languages; 

•Cross-cultural awareness: working with fellow-students from many different nationalities and backgrounds.

Answer 

•To become a manager. 

•Earn a good salary.

•To develop better critical thinking and interpersonal skills.

•To sharpen strategy and tactical skills. 

•To broaden ones scope. 

•To analyse organizational methods and procedures. 

•To enrich ones life and develop the personality

•To take on more responsibilities 

•To expand ones network 

•To step to a higher level within a career 

•To learn approaches to solve real life problems. 

•To increase motivation and perormance

•To learn to use power appropriately 

•To learn the art of influencing people 

•To become more marketable 

•To learn negotiation dynamics  and risk management skills.

•To learn the methods for building energized teams. 

•To develop a global mindset and to lead change.

•To learn the importance of cultural sensitivity and social responsibility.

Unitedworld Executive.

Is the World Really Becoming a Better Place?

What is Progress?

"Progress" is probably the most talk about and used-and-abused word through out the world. Languages may be different but no corner of the globe is without what is called "progress". Look back hundred or two hundred years and compare the world today. Yes, there is progress that is largely driven by industrialization. 

There is certainly industrial and scientific progress led by Western nations. There is more physical comfort today than at any time in the recorded history of any country. But all this come at a heavy price - ecology has been messed up across the globe, probably with much deeper and unpredictable long term consequences. 

But is the world safer today? Do people around the world feel happier and more secure today?

Why Too Many Wars and Conflicts? 

Last ten decades have seen two world wars, a long drawn cold war, and the ongoing war against terror. It tells a different story that does not need much intelligence to decipher. The cold war might be officially over two decades ago with the collapse of USSR, but communism is still alive. 

The Western leaders still see "an axis of evil" that they badly wish to dismantle but are forced to live with. Two Iraq wars and the continuing hide-and-seek "battle" with terrorists in Afghanistan-Pakistan region, and yet there is no certainty that Bin Laden and his clones will be ultimately decimated for good. 

Is the world safer now from terror organizations that it was a decade ago? 

Capitalism vs Communism

The recent economic melt down, particularly of US economy has exposed the glaring flaws of the American model of brazen capitalistic model of growth. The US concept of progress is simple - borrow as much as you can and spend as much as you can, and treat stock market graph as the god given formula for happiness. Sure, when stock market falls flat you are supposed to be unhappy in the same proportion. Further, no system can survive if the most powerful surrender to greed and subordinate their common sense.

The United States’ brand of capitalism and the communist models are both flawed for the same reason: they both treat humans as "robots" and not as "beings". You are slave to the "rich and their riches" in the former and to the State in the later. 

Need to Give Human Touch to Capitalism

Sociologists and economists need to come up with a more humane model of "progress" of the world that offers more dignity and security to people without plundering this wonderful planet. It is going to be a system that incorporates freedom to earn and speak as in capitalism along with assured social security against joblessness, health and clean environment even to the weakest segment.

With trillions in fiscal deficit, involvement in hopelessly unpopular wars, stuck economy, fear of terror deeply ingrained in the psyche, this is probably the best time for the US economists and sociologists to inject some human touch and sanity to their system - if the so-called American dream and lifestyle have to survive.

Unitedworld Executive.

A Positive Attitude Can Do Wonders in Your Life

If you want to live your life to the fullest then you have to develop a positive attitude that will last forever. It is very difficult to attain and it needs a lot of time to be develop. But all of the hard work in changing your own perspective is really worthy. This will give you an abundant life. It is also worthy to live while doing good deeds rather than being negative.

Negative attitudes will lead you to defeat. There are many negative attitudes to mention. Including of these attitudes are the negative feelings that control your life. Some of these are fear, anger, guilt, jealousy, resentment and so much more. This will be a great hindrance to achieve the optimum level of life. Fear and guilt is always an obstacle of opening yourself to new and best opportunities that life may give you. You focus only on your fear and insecurities of all what ifs, like "what if I can’t do it?"And "what if they don’t like me?" You focus only on your weaknesses and you already concluded without even trying. Anger is a barrier in attaining true happiness and peace in your heart. Living like this is so empty. You tend to separate yourself from others who love you because you’re too busy being angry. Jealousy and resentment always bring you down. All of these contain nothing but a terrible life. But still many people are always living full of these negative feelings.

On the other hand, a positive attitude will always lead you to success. It will help you open with new opportunities because you are so confident in yourself that you can make it. You can smile every time because you know how to love others and others will also love you in return. You can sleep at night being peaceful because you know in your heart that you didn’t hurt somebody. God will also bless you with so many things because you have a pure heart and a clean soul. Not only that, because you can reach your goal. When reaching your goal, people will surely remember and adore you. You will also become an inspiration to others that they may reach their goals in the same way that you did. It is so desirable to live the life that you want while touching the lives of others.

Positive attitudes are not that easy to develop. Perhaps, the experiences that you’ve gone through have shaped you into a person that you are right now. Some have a bad childhood memories that hinders them to open themselves, while others have painful experience that mould them to become angry and insecure. That’s why attaining a positive attitudes need constant change, if you really want the best in this world. Some of this includes forgiveness to your own self, forgiveness to others, moving on and never look back to the past where you have hurt the most. It requires great strength and full determination to leave behind all the negative attitudes and feelings that you obtain. However, you are secured that in doing this, you may be completely happy.

Unitedworld Executive.

An Overview of Six Sigma Methodology

So you’ve heard of Six Sigma training and always wondered what all the fuss was about. Bottom line... it is a business process that allows companies to drastically improve their profitability. How does it manage to achieve this? Well the concept is simple.

Your Company + Better Processes = $$$$

Everyday you go to work and have a process of getting your work done. Everyday, chances are, there are better ways of doing it quicker and more efficiently. Quickness and efficiency equal a better product or service, a happier customer, and higher profits for your company.

Well in theory yes, but in reality it is quite a daunting task. Just imagine all the possible improvements that can be made. From the custodian to the assembly line, millions of processes are waiting to be improved.

Six Sigma is a highly controlled methodology. It demands that you choose only the very best projects that meet your company’s goals. And once they are chosen it demands that the proper resources are dedicated to it. It requires the project be put through an entire process called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, & Control).

If given the dedication it deserves, you bet! There is a reason that Six Sigma is a household term nowadays. It’s all about the quality with Six Sigma. Everything that you do opens up the chances for an error to sneak in. The hope of Six Sigma is to lower those chances. 

Defects per million chances/opportunities

• 2 sigma = 308,537 
• 3 sigma = 67,000 
• 4 sigma = 6,200 
• 5 sigma = 233 
• 6 sigma = 3.4 

What does that translate into?

How does 20% profit margin increase sound? And that’s just for starters. Every time you move up a sigma, it can easily mean a 20% increase for each sigma level.

With the proper dedication a company can move from 3 Sigma to 4 Sigma within 1 year. However, a good rule of thumb is “the higher your Sigma level is… the longer it will take you to reach the next sigma level.” But as the old adage goes, “the best things come to those who wait”.

Unitedworld Executive.

MBA Programs with an Entrepreneurship Focus

Many people think of entrepreneurship as just a brilliant idea, enough time, and a garage full of tools to make it all come together

From an educational perspective, entrepreneurship is very much an applied discipline, You have to do it to understand it. You can’t just sit and study it.

Several MBA programs are now starting to cater more to the needs of students looking to build their own companies. Students take classes in all functional areas, do business projects in each country, and experience working with real-clients first-hand, several business schools are also developing inventive ways to provide resources for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. While entrepreneurship programs and electives are now part and parcel of business school curricula, there is also a new trend called social entrepreneurship. This is the practice of applying business skills to social endeavors, like expanding education, alleviating poverty, and improving water sanitation.

Whether you will use your entrepreneurial savvy to turn a profit or make a positive social impact (or both), searching for the right business school will be as individual as your background, interest, and needs. This means you should look closely at what kind of entrepreneurship concentrations, electives, student clubs, and dedicated research institutes are offered at various business schools.

Finding a good balance between a theoretical approach and its application will be the challenge for prospective students in an entrepreneur program. However, starting a business on one’s own is still a big step, no matter how much education and experience one has.

Between finishing an MBA and starting a business, many entrepreneurial-minded grads get their feet wet by working in a related field like venture capital, working for start-ups, or getting a management job at an established company in the sector they want to start a business in.Those ready to take that step towards starting a business can find inspiration from those who’ve already done it

Don’t worry too much about failure. 

My advice is to simply go for it and do it..!

Unitedworld Executive.

MBA Programs in Hospitality and Tourism

Ever been on vacation and thought, “I'd like to do this for a living?”

While a career in hospitality and tourism isn't exactly a vacation (just ask any hotel or casino manager), it is a field packed with opportunity. Indeed, trends like the rapid growth of tourism and hospitality in Asia and the application of new technology have made the industry an even more alluring destination for business-minded people.

An MBA degree with a hospitality focus, or a specialized master’s in tourism, can differ substantially from a more generalized MBA in a couple of ways.

According to Larry Yu, chair of George Washington University’s department of tourism and hospitality management, “the hospitality industry is really hands-on, and it places a considerable amount of emphasis on real-world experience.”

With this in mind, many specialized MBA programs tend to recruit students who already have experience in related industries. Because the hospitality industry is fundamentally hands-on, in order to excel in and after a specialized MBA, it’s important to have some kind of practical experience within the industry

In general, graduates of a hospitality and tourism degree program have many options open to them. They can go into the travel sector, restaurant and catering operations, e-commerce, senior living facilities, cruise lines, casino and gaming operations; the list goes on and on, and is getting longer Indeed, one of the benefits of having such a degree is that it will allow you to work all over the world, because people need hotels, restaurants, and casinos just about everywhere. And, while it’s true that working in internationally is not exactly the same as taking an extended international vacation, the experience can certainly be rewarding, engaging, and profitable.

Specialized programs brace students for huge growth and technological revolution.

Unitedworld Executive.

WIPRO BUILDING INDIA’S FASTEST SUPERCOMPUTER FOR SPACE AGENCY

India’s third largest information technology firm, Wipro Ltd. Is building what will become the country’s fastest supercomputer for the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro)—giving the agency critical muscle to crunch large volumes of data as it designs more complex launch vehicles and sets out on ambitious space programmes.

The supercomputer, being built at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, will have a processing speed of 200-500 teraflops—one and a half times more powerful than India’s fastest computer now and at least twice faster than ISRO’s current supercomputing capability.

One teraflop is the ability to process one trillion mathematical operations in a second.

The supercomputer is likely to be commissioned in about three months. It is used for performing complex operations and computer modeling in applications involving large data sets, such as in designing space vehicles that launch satellites or in modeling and predicting the weather.

Investments for the new supercomputers runs into a few crores.It will be basically used for advanced computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies associated with building complex launch platforms, stimulate physical & Chemical changes to predict performance .Moreover the system Isro is working on  is a reusable launch vehicle.

Unitedworld Executive.

FACEBOOK Vs GOOGLE

Facebook surpassed Google for the first time as the most visited website in the United States for most of 2010.

Facebook moves to top spot shows just how quickly the site has grown in popularity. Within a  span of six years Facebook has become the worlds’ largest social network with roughly half a billion users worldwide.

Google.com dominated the top spot as the most visited website in the United States in 2009 and 2008.News Corp’s Myspace was the number one visited website in 2007.It is ranked number seven now.

However when all the Google properties are considered –such as You Tube and email, for instance, Google still reigns as the most visited site between January and November 2010. Facebook then follows. Yahoo and all its properties ranked third.

Unitedworld Executive.

PAIN FOR BORROWERS, BUT SAVERS WILL GAIN

It’s going to be a mixed year for people on the money front. For savers it is going to be a good year as interest rates on bank deposits are set to increase further in 2011. On the other hand borrowers will have to shell out more money as interest rates on their loans are on rise with banking regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on rate hiking spree.

Both the pain and the gain are likely to intensify as there is still a room for rise in the interest rates.This means a person who has taken a home loan two years ago will see his EMI rising further, making a big hole in his pocket. Similar is the case with Personal loans, Auto Loans and Corporate loans.

However savers are laughing their way to the banks. The rates of the Fixed Deposits have shot up since the last quarter. You can earn up to 8.5% interest rate on your one year Fixed Deposits. The coming months will also see Fixed Deposits of the companies, on-convertible debentures, and other fixed income instruments gaining momentum.

The liquidity crunch in the system and the banks’ requirement to mop up funds has been pushing deposit rates upwards. Potential upside risk to inflation in an environment of moderating growth will make the Reserve Bank‘s job tougher in 2011. More tightening measures are expected to be taken by RBI through the course of 2011 to get inflation within the comfort zone.

Unitedworld Executive.