THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Sleep

"Better to get up late and be wide awake than to get up early and be asleep all day."

- Anonymous

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Rajendra Prasad

Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Hindi: डा॰ राजेन्द्र प्रसाद) (December 3, 1884 – February 28, 1963) was the first President of India.

Rajendra Prasad was an independence activist and, as a leader of the Congress Party, played a prominent role in the Indian Independence Movement. He served as President of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the constitution of the Republic from 1948 to 1950. He had also served as a Cabinet Minister briefly in the first Government of Independent India.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Monkey Business

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Rudeness

"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

- Eric Hoffer

TOPIC OF THE DAY

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck III (February 27, 1902—December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939 and the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. In all, he wrote twenty-five books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and several collections of short stories. In 1962 Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Enchantress of Florence

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Cheer

"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up."

- Mark Twain

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar (Marathi: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर) (born May 28, 1883 in Bhagur – February 26, 1966 in Mumbai) was an Indian politician and an Indian Independence Movement activist, who is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva. Commonly addressed as Veer Savarkar (वीर सावरकर, Brave Savarkar), he is considered to be the central icon of modern Hindu nationalist political parties. His last years were clouded with accusations of involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Enchantress of Florence

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Understand

"Mystery is underrated, and understanding is overrated."

- Larry McMurtry

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Budgeting

Budgeting in a business sense is the planned allocation of available funds to each department within a company. Budgeting allows executives to control overspending in less productive areas and put more company assets into areas which generate significant income or good public relations. Budgeting is usually handled during meetings with accountants, financial experts and representatives from each department affected by the budgeting.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Enchantress of Florence

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Question

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

- Dr. Seuss

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Jacques de Vaucanson

Jacques de Vaucanson (February 24, 1709 – November 21, 1782) was a French inventor, and artist with a mechanical background who is credited with creating the world's first true robots, as well as for creating the first completely automated loom.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Sea of Poppies

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Marketing

"Marketing takes day to learn. Unfortunately it takes a lifetime to master."

- Dr. Philip Kotler

TOPIC OF THE DAY

History of Marketing

It is hard for many to believe, but when compared to economics, production and operations, accounting and other business areas, marketing is a relatively young discipline having emerged in the early 1900s. Prior to this time most issues that are now commonly associated with marketing were either assumed to fall within basic concepts of economics (e.g., price setting was viewed as a simple supply/demand issue), advertising (well developed by 1900), or in most cases, simply not yet explored (e.g., customer purchase behavior, importance of distribution partners).

Led by marketing scholars from several major universities, the development of marketing was in large part motivated by the need to dissect in greater detail relationships and behaviors that...

Read on...

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Health

"Health is not valued till sickness comes."

- Dr. Thomas Fuller

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Gertrude B. Elion

Gertrude Belle Elion (January 23, 1918 – February 21, 1999) was an American biochemist and pharmacologist, and a 1988 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Born in New York City to immigrant parents, she graduated from Hunter College in 1937 and New York University (M.Sc.) in 1941. Unable to obtain a graduate research position due to her gender, she worked as a lab assistant and a high school teacher. Later, she left to work as an assistant to George H. Hitchings at the Burroughs-Wellcome pharmaceutical company (now GlaxoSmithKline). She never obtained a formal Ph.D., but was later awarded an honorary Ph.D from Polytechnic University of New York in 1989.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Sea of Poppies

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Aim

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

- Les Brown

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Anselmo "the Commendatore" Ferrari (February 20, 1898 – August 14, 1988) Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian car driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari car manufacturer.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Sea of Poppies

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Defeat

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

- Napoleon

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus (February 19, 1473 – May 24, 1543) was the first astronomer to formulate a scientifically-based heliocentric cosmology that displaced the Earth from the center of the universe. His epochal book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), is often regarded as the starting point of modern astronomy and the defining epiphany that began the Scientific Revolution.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The WTO Deadlocked: Understanding the Dynamics of International Trade

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Poor

"Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is."

- Benjamin Franklin

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) (Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ) (1486 - 1534), was a monk and social reformer of the 16th century Bengal,(present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Orissa in India. Sri Krishna Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning loving devotion to Krishna/God) based on the philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita. Specifically he worshipped the forms of Radha and Krishna and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. His line of followers, known as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as an avatar of Krishna in the mood of Radharani who was prophesised to appear in the later verses of the Bhagavata Purana.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The WTO Deadlocked: Understanding the Dynamics of International Trade

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Quality

"If you want a quality, act as if you already had it."

- William James

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Vasudev Balwant Phadke

Vasudeo Balwant Phadke (Marathi: वासुदेव बळवंत फडके) (1845-11-04–1883-02-17) was an Indian revolutionary and is widely regarded as the "father of the armed struggle" for India's independence. Phadke was moved by the plight of the farmer community during British Raj. Phadke believed that ‘Swaraj’ was the only remedy for their ills. With the help of Ramoshis, Kolis, Bhils and Dhangars communities in Maharastra, Vasudev formed a revolutionary group called as Ramoshi.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The WTO Deadlocked: Understanding the Dynamics of International Trade

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Common sense

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Saint Valentine

Pierre Bouguer (February 16, 1698 – August 15, 1758) was a French mathematician and astronomer. He is also known as "the father of naval architecture".His father, Jean Bouguer, one of the best hydrographers of his time, was regius professor of hydrography at Croisic in lower Brittany, and author of a treatise on navigation. In 1713 Pierre was appointed to succeed his father as professor of hydrography.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Diversity Scorecard

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Problem

"A problem well stated is a problem half solved."

- Charles F. Kettering

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Saint Valentine

Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome. Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name. For this reason this liturgical commemoration was not kept in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints for universal liturgical veneration as revised in 1969.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Diversity Scorecard

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Country

"A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs."

- German Proverb

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu or Sarojini Chattopadhyaya (February 13, 1879, Hyderabad - March 2, 1949, Lucknow), also known by the sobriquet Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India), was a child prodigy, freedom fighter, and poet. Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Diversity Scorecard

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Quarrel

"A quarrel is like buttermilk, the more you stir it, the more sour it grows."

- Bolivian Proverb

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Chitravina N. Ravikiran

Chitravina N. Ravikiran (born February 12, 1967 in Mysore, Karnataka, India) is a composer of Indian Carnatic music. He has been called the "Indian Mozart". He is probably most famous for his concept of "melharmony", which is harmony which stays within the melodic rules of an Indian raga (musical mode). Considered a virtuoso chitravina player, he has been described as "probably the greatest slide instrumentalist in the world today" by Radio Australia. Ravikiran has also played the slide Hawaiian guitar, and is an accomplished vocalist. He invented a variant of the chitravina called the navachitravina, which is smaller and has a clearer tone in the higher frequencies. He currently resides in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Diversity Scorecard

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Right

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."

- Mark Twain

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park" by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large teamwork to the process of invention, and therefore is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Wowability

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Silence

"Silence is more musical than any song."

- Christina Rossetti

TOPIC OF THE DAY

New Delhi

New Delhi (Hindi: नई दिल्ली, Punjabi: ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ, Urdu: نئی دلی) is the capital city of India. With a total area of 42.7 km2, New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and serves as the seat of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT).

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

Wowability

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Smile

"Don't open a shop unless you like to smile."

- Chinese Proverb

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Farkas Bolyai

Farkas Bolyai (February 9, 1775 - November 20, 1856, also known as Wolfgang Bolyai in Germany) was a Hungarian mathematician, mainly known for his work in geometry.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Dynamics of Technologya

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Knowledge Sharing

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it." - MARGARET FULLER

TOPIC OF THE DAY

VIKALPA - THE JOURNAL FOR DECISION MAKERS

Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers is a quarterly publication of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India. Its objective is to disseminate concepts of professional management and contribute to a better understanding of the context, resources, structures, systems, processes, and performance of organizations. Its focus is on applied research and reflections relevant to practising managers without sacrificing the academic rigour. It attaches a special emphasis on management issues that are relevant for the emerging economies.

"Vikalpa", a Sanskrit word, carries a rich repository of meanings: Diversity, Alternatives, Logic, and Freedom of Choice. The journal seeks to reflect this range of meanings vis-a-vis managerial problem solving and decision-making.

Every issue of the journal carries a mix of perspectives research articles, management case, book reviews, and abstracts. Perspectives is aimed at capturing emerging issues and paradigms which call for action by managers and administrators in industry, government, educational institutions, and other organizations. Research Articles based on analytical and/or empirical research studies focus on the analysis and resolution of managerial issues. Management Case describes a situation faced, a decision or action taken by an individual manager or by an organization at the strategic, functional or operational level. Book Reviews cover reviews of current books on management and Abstracts include summaries of significant articles of management interest published in Indian and international journals.

"Vikalpa" is the first journal in management area to be hosted on a Open platform. This is model for other Institutions for sharing, using and archiving the Intellectual output of the Institutes.

Click to visit VIKALPA...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Dynamics of Technologya

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Strong

"The stronger must dominate and not blend with the weaker, thus sacrificing his own greatness."

- Adolf Hitler

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Sinclair Lewis

Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930, he became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, "for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of characters." His works are known for their insightful and critical views of American society and capitalist values, as well as their strong characterizations of modern working women.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Dynamics of Technologya

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Leaders

"Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers - not their minds."

- Author Unknown

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Kevin Trudeau

Kevin Mark Trudeau (born February 6, 1963) is an American author, pocket billiards promoter (founder of the International Pool Tour), salesman, and self-proclaimed alternative medicine advocate. He is known for a number of television infomercials promoting his products, and for several books, including Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Dynamics of Technologya

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Success

A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.

- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan (Hindi: अभिषेक बच्चन, born February 5, 1976 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is an award-winning Indian actor. He is the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. He is married to former Miss World turned actress Aishwarya Rai.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Brand Bubble

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Death

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives."

- A. Sachs

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (Kannada: ಪಂಡಿತ ಭೀಮಸೇನ ಗುರುರಾಜ ಜೋಷಿ, born February 4, 1922) is one of India's renowned vocalists in the Hindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana (school), he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, on November 4, 2008.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Brand Bubble

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Words

"Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all."

- Sir Winston Churchill

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Walter Bagehot

Walter Bagehot (3 February 1826 – 24 March 1877) was a British businessman, essayist, and journalist who wrote extensively about literature, government, and economic affairs.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Momentum Effect

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Love

"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals."

- Benjamin Franklin

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Futures

Futures are a financial derivative known as a forward contract. A futures contract obligates the seller to provide a commodity or other asset to the buyer at an agreed-upon date. Futures are widely traded for commodities such as sugar, coffee, oil and wheat, as well as for financial instruments such as stock market indexes, government bonds and foreign currencies.

Read on...

LATEST ARRIVALS

The Momentum Effect

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Innovation

"The winner is the chef who takes the same ingrediants as everyone else and produces the best results." - Edward de Bono

TOPIC OF THE DAY

INNOVATION

The term innovation means a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations. A distinction is typically made between Invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully. (Mckeown 2008) In many fields, something new must be substantially different to be innovative, not an insignificant change, e.g., in the arts, economics, business and government policy. In economics the change must increase value, customer value, or producer value. The goal of innovation is ...

Read on...



Managing Product and Process Innovation