April 2014

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 23 apr 2014

Promotion as a sales and marketing tool is generally applied to introduce a new product in the market or boost sales of existing products. Sunil Alagh, a marketing expert, suggests - Clearly identify the objective of the promotion; Properly select the type of promotion based on the end objective; Use innovative methods to attract consumer attention and differentiate from existing and competing brands; Use appropriate association of brand with promotional activity; Correct timing and duration of promotion for maximum relevance and effectiveness. Read on...

Outlook: Innovate To Ensure That The Promotion Gets Attention
Author: Sunil Alagh

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 apr 2014

There are different levels of adopting technology in learning and education. In case of primary and secondary education the purpose of technology is to assist students not only to get acquainted with latest technologies but also to provide them with interactive and innovative medium for enhanced and effective learning. According to Elementary Education in India report 2011-12, 48% of 1.4 million schools in India now have computers. Moreover the market for information and communication technologies in education is growing with industry reports expecting it to grow to Rs. 57,000 crore in 2014 from Rs. 285,000 crore in 2012. In India various methods of introducing technology in school curriculum are being experimented - elearning and smart classroom; computer labs in schools; laptops & tablets to individual students. But experts differ in their opinion regarding the overall utility of devices like tablets to students. According to some, considering India's socio-economic disparities and the vast primary & secondary school setup, it would be difficult to effectively enforce mandatory buying of tablets by every student. The issue of choice is also a problem when a school promotes a particular brand while enforcing this policy. Some elite schools although are experimenting with owning a device policy for students but other private and public schools are providing computer and technology infrastructure within the school premises to all students and not enforcing individual buying of devices. Government itself has been in headlines regarding its efforts to provide subsidized low-cost Aakash tablets to school students but the program seems to have got delayed. Most experts do agree with the value of technology in education and learning considering its continuously increasing involvement in everyday human life, the overall pace of technological advancements and the need to timely equip students with 21st century knowledge and skills for their better future. Read on...

SmartPlanet: Indian schools adopt tablets. Will they improve education?
Author: Betwa Sharma

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 20 apr 2014

India's rich demographic dividend (50% of its population under 25 years and 65% under 35) has potential to transform it into a prosperous and developed nation if they move in the right direction with better knowledge and skills. While speaking at the ISB (Indian School of Business) Leadership Summit on the theme 'Attracting Talent to the Social Sector', Anand Kumar (Founder of Super 30) encouraged management graduates to participate in social sector and nation building. According to him they are better equipped with skills and training to make the required turnaround in the social sector. Read on...

The Times of India: Youth must work in social sector: Super 30 founder Anand Kumar
Author: NA

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 apr 2014

A team of economists, Esther Duflo & Abhijeet Banerjee (both from MIT) and Arun Chandrashekhar & Matthew Jackson (both from Stanford), in their research paper 'The Diffusion of Microfinance', explain the effects of providing information first to the well connected people on the popularity of socially beneficial programs. They termed this new measure of social influence as 'diffusion centrality'. Researchers examined the spread of microfinance in India through word of mouth and found that when socially well connected individuals were the first to know and gain access to these programs it increased the participation by 11%. The surveys for the study were mainly conducted in the select villages of the state of Karnataka in India. The study also found that participants in the microfinance programs are more effective in dissipating information to others - 7 times more than those who know about the programs but not participating. The research can be utilized by microfinance institutions and nonprofit poverty alleviation groups to evaluate the most effective methods to introduce and implement such programs in local settings. Read on...

Asian Scientist: How Anti-Poverty Programs Go Viral
Author: Peter Dizikes

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 apr 2014

Majority of India's population lives in rural areas and according to estimates its rural markets are growing faster than the urban markets. Although companies are trying to enhance their customer base by reaching the rural consumers but there are challenges particularly in application of customer retention strategies that require consistent and better after-sales services. This is mainly due to small number of consumers that are spread over a vast area and inability to afford to build dedicated after-sales service network. But according to Accenture research this is not discouraging companies to make focused and sustained efforts to effectively and efficiently reach this market through - Devising low-cost methods for after-sales support; Anchoring customer relationships on trust; Investing in community development. Read on...

Business Standard: Retaining rural customers
Author: Sanjay Dawar

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