RFID - Bond with the Best

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) initially made an appearance as an espionage tool in many a Bond movie, but this cool tool or rather a tag, is making inroads in enhancing supply chain efficiency. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a method of automatic identification which relies on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices known as RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a tiny object that is either attached to or incorporated into a product or a person. These tags have antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio waves.

The initiative to adopt the technology has primarily originated from the retailers. They have recognized the benefits of RFID in the form of reduced inventories and faster inventory turnover. Some of the retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, CVS and several others have already experimented with RFID and are determined to take the technology to the next level of their operations. It is not just the retailers who will benefit from RFID. There are other potential areas of application such as manufacturing, transportation, defense, internal security and other areas where information is vital to gain a strategic advantage. RFID, like any other emerging technology, is slowly catching up and broad adoption is likely by 2010, according to AMR’s research.

Companies have a lot of work to accomplish before RFID gets accepted as a common-place technology. Many agree that supply chain optimization is possible only with the effective collaboration of trading partners. To this extent the initiatives are focused on online collaboration and communication of the standards with the supply partners. But this is not enough. The problem is in the sharing of data between the retailers and suppliers. Achieving and maintaining collaboration between retailers and their suppliers helps reduce cycle times and moves retail companies a step ahead to deliver the right product to the right place and at the right time.

Excerpts from my article 'RFID - the Buzzword in Supply Chain' published in The Marketing Mastermind, Dec 2005.

Learning how to write cases from Arthur Conan Doyle

As a student and even as a teacher, I have always taken the case study for granted. I was not aware of the hard work, the thought process and the research undertaken to write these case studies till I joined ICFAI Business School, Bangalore (IBS-B). It has its reseach centre where qualified people qualifications and flair for teaching are recruited. This group is split into teams- one writes derivative books(compilation of articles on a particular topic) and the other, case studies. In addition, IBS-B encourages faculty and students to involve in the case writing process.

The research team does not involve in primary date collection. The work involves the use of secondary data only. Once a case study is written,reviewed and finalised, it is uploaded in www.ecch.com. ecch stands for the European Case Clearing House and belongs to the Cranfield University, U.K.

The case writing exercise involves in-depth study of a subject. My experience as a teacher helps me to visualise whether a trigger (the basic idea that develops into a case) can become a potential case and stir a meaningful discussion in the class. As a big time fan of Sherlock Holmes, I think a case study is like a thriller unfolding with an issue say, a murder, gradually introducing the characters, leaving hints in the case about the suspects and finally igniting a discussion to find out who the murderer is.

Want to write case studies - grab a copy of 'The Complete Short Stories of Sherlock Holmes' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

B-Schools - Only Preach, No Practice

Business schools have ceratinly grown in number and also in terms of what they offer to students. They have emerged as good brand builders. Their brand building is unfortunately, focused outwards and rarely inwards. The way these schools are being run is in complete contrast to what is taught in the class.

I have tried to analyze answers to some of the problems plaguing the teaching fraternity out of my own experiences as a teacher.

1. I have come across many surveys by top magazines in India trying to find the sought after jobs by the youth. Teaching is never an option. Is somthing wrong with the youth? Are they only motivated by salaries? Yes (for a few,teaching is a part of their retirement plans).The pay packet is in no way comparable to that in the industry.

It might be argued that teaching is tension-free job. Not any more. B-schools want their teachers to teach, publish, involve in research, offer consultancy, conduct training progs and perform other mundane jobs involved in teaching.

2. Attrition rates- Most of the B-schools are in cities or in the suburbs. So the costs of living in a city does not compensate their income. Hence job hopping is very high. The best part is schools are not doing anything to contain such high attrition rates. Either they do not want to address the issue or they are too dumb to see the problem.

3. Motivation - Schools think that only salaries motivate employees. But this is not what they teach. They preach New Economy and practice Old Economy.

4. Appraisal - Schools only look at Student appraisals while, it is taught that 360 degree appraisal and self appraisal methods are the best.

5. Only one thing that is followed to the last word is the 80/20 rule: 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people.

On the whole, the human element is missing.

Fair and Handsome?

Fairness creams targeted for men is accepatble and quite a marketing opportunity in India since men are a sizeable market for fairness creams. But ever heard of a fairness cream for men that would turn them handsome? Its believed that 'handsome' is something related to to the physique or build of the person. but then here we have cream that not just turns men fair, but also handsome.

With companies like Himani and their ad agencies designing products and ads like this, we are made to look like fools. What's next- a face mask for men that gives them the perfect jaw line?