460th publication on sea change in communication

Read and comment on the 460th publication published in the leading English Daily of Central India,The Hitavada,dated 23rd February 2010.Technology has taken the world by the storm.Communication is therefore no exception.Communication all over the world be it at the personal and professional arena has undergone a sea change.The day of having stale records of communication is a passe.Fresh and real life communication cutting across borders have given a new dimension to the world of communication.Networking so as to establish relationships both for official and personal reasons are now being built at the global level without knowing the other person on a one to one basis by meeting him/her in person.The article has projected some of the moves made by yours truly,which I am sure can be refined by getting your valuable comments and suggestions.

International Conference @ SCAS,Sur, Sultanate of Oman

The international conference(Snaps in http://picasaweb.google.com/maniisonline/InternationalConferenceSCASSurSultanateOfOman#) on 21st and 22nd of February 2010,titled,Managing in the new world order:Strategies for sustainable business development,held in Sur College of Applied Sciences, Sur,Sultanate of Oman was an apt one considering the turmoil in the global economy.The welcome address by Dr. Hamad Bin Ali Al Alawi,Dean, Sur College of Applied Sciences rightly initiated the proceedings by throwing light on the diverse challenges the global economy was facing in light of the downturn being witnessed all around, with variable impact.The industries starting from services based ones to those in the manufacturing, and even the knowledge sectors are learning the lessons from the fast changes brought in the business cycle.Prof. Subash Chandra Sharma, Symposium Director was spot on while referring to the threats faced by the modern day economies and the comparable shift in the organizations functions and strategies globally in light of the burning issues like recession, climate change, novel expectations by the stakeholders and the like.These issues which were insignificant or even non-existent even a decade ago has come back to haunt organizations of all stature and sector, culminating in the revision of the approaches adopted towards various elements related to the success of an organization. Dr. Bruce Cronin,Head, Department of International Business, University of Greenwich Business School, London was focusing on the alterations brought in the strategies crafted by organizations during and after the slowdown/recession/meltdown,and the latent opportunities emanating from the emerging world and how this moment of crisis can be metamorphosed into an opportunity.There are economies globally which had a varying impact on their bottom-lines especially because the drivers in different economies were sometimes as different as chalk and cheese.That does not veer away the fact that in a connected world, where everything is accessible at the click of the mouse, it was imperative on the part of the decision makers to forecast and analyze the consequences of such incidents happening in a different part of the globe.The key note speaker,Prof. L.S. Rathore,former Vice Chancellor,Jodhpur University,India rightly pointed out how the solid fundamentals of the economy of the Sultanate and high domestic consumption driven economies in China and India have had a minimal impact on their economies, apart from being the rescuer-in-chief for the world economy at large.Prof. Rathore also emphasised on the visionary approach of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said in ideating and implementing an alternate economic model as the non-renewable energy based model is fast eroding was commensurate with the expectations of the august audience comprising of academics, industry executives,research associates,academic administrators from different parts of the globe.It was therefore expected for the individual paper presenters to touch upon a wide array of topics in business and management which was soothing to the minds and ears especially when the world was groping in the dark pertaining to the handling of the after-effects of the recession, biggest since the great depression.The conference deliberations stimulated the closed group interactions amongst the visiting faculties and head of the department,head of the section,Business Studies Department of Ibra College of Technology. They tried to decipher and brainstorm the source and cause of the present recession,the future of the global economy in particular and Omani economy in general, the importance of the blending of concepts like Islamic banking with the shaken and disintegrated investment banking and financial management approaches,the shift from socialistic to capitalistic to a neo-capitalistic cum socialistic model of economy where resources would be shared equally amongst the haves and haves-nots,comparison of Dubai economy which is loosing its sheen globally vis-a-vis that of the careful, solid and futuristic approach adopted by economies like that of the Sultanate continued on and on so as to find remedies to the problems emanating globally, in light of the topsy-turvy global business environment.
The recent news published in The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Serious-resentment-brewing-among-Chinese-as-rich-become-richer-Survey/articleshow/5600007.cms)has now offered a new food for thought for the conference audience as it says all is not well even with the major guiding force during this hour of crisis-CHINA!
One should indeed compliment the Ministry of Higher Education, Sur College of Applied Sciences and sponsors OMIFCO, Qalhat LNG, Oman LNG and Al-Ghubrah Power & Desalination Company to plan and execute such a fantastic and timely symposium!!!
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458th publication on networking and its importance

Published in The Hitavada,dated 9th February 2010,leading English Daily of Central India.

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457th publication on "Entrepreneurship in Oman

Sultanate of Oman is one of those economies which were least affected by the recession which the world is recovering from.The strong fundamentals coupled with a vibrant economy,makes it the ideal ground for entrepreneurship to flourish.The article published in leading knowledge portal of Oman,www.knowledgeoman.com throws light on few of the aspects pertaining to entrepreneurship in Oman.
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Some Management Learning's from the Arab World

Management training in qualitative subjects like Marketing Management, Organizational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship, Management of Diversity to name a few, in the Arab World has given many new insights about the subjects in particular and imparting of training in general.Training in marketing management enables one to understand the importance of ethics while indulging in marketing, as the stakeholders are always willing to know whether the offering being presented were part of an ethical process or not starting from its manufacturing till the time it is delivered at their door step.The slightest doubt in the mind of the customer and even other stakeholders may lead to the reduction of their confidence level, culminating in direct and indirect losses for the concerned company.A glimpse across organizations like Oman Air, PDO, Sohar Aluminium, Bank Muscat to name a few from the Sultanate of Oman would show that ethics is strongly incorporated into the cultural fabric of the organization. This definitely has to do with the strong and rich Omani Culture which also emphasizes on ethics as a prime factor, even if that means taking a backseat in the profit related aspect momentarily. As far as Entrepreneurship is concerned, yours truly was completely moved by the backup and support provided by the administrators in bodies like Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry,when he was privy to a seminar where experts from Knowledge Oasis Muscat and Shell sponsored Intilaaqah Oman, which nurtures entrepreneurship all across the globe as part of the Shell funded Live WIRE program dwelt on aspects of starting an enterprise and managing it ethically with a profit motive.Even while training the budding professionals the details of business management,from engineering, business studies and information technology, coupled with the opportunities created by the leadership of the countries, one can strongly feel that there are plethora of opportunities to be grabbed.Organizational Behaviour gave important perspectives pertaining to the cosmopolitan yet strongly embedded local Arabian culture led organizations, where integrity and honesty is given the prime importance.The cosmopolitan aspect of these companies would make one understand how employees from different background which entails ethnicity,language,dress sense, food habits, joins hands in shaping up the organizational culture commensurate with the vision and mission of the company.This aspect also provides valuable lessons for the management of diversity, which is a very big challenge for organizations globally as they are into cross border deals, establishing relationships with stakeholders from all over the world.The other factors which are crucial are the importance of maintaining the cultural sensitivity of people working in the organizations which is observed in abundance across the organizations present in the Arab World.

The learning from other countries like the UAE would follow subsequently in another post.

Publication number-454 on Networking and its importance

The article published in the leading English Daily of Central India, dated 26th January 2010, speaks about the importance of networking in the modern day world.Networking these days can be done in two ways, real and virtual. Although the former is still a old and tested way of sewing relationships, the latter has taken over from the former when it comes to establishing relationships across geographies.In virtual networking the skills needed to build rapport and make contacts are slightly different from the real world.Even the need for technology is more in virtual networking, not to forget the knowledge of various relationships portal, targeting different set of audiences, some for personal, some for professional usage.

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When yours truly was quoted in The Times of India

It was an evening when yours truly was working online to look for some management literatures when one of his old student, now an upcoming scribe came online.She wanted to take the opinion on a burning issue of whether it was adequate for all taxi drivers in Mumbai to learn Marathi within a 40 days deadline as suggested by the government of Maharashtra.Being an ardent and responsible Indian citizen, yours truly didn't see any meaning and substance in it as knowing Marathi or not is not of much significance as the majority communicates in the national language, Hindi.

Job Search Technique

This is the 454th publication of yours truly published in the leading English Daily of Central India, The Hitavada,dated 26th January 2010. The article leverages the practical and theoretical experience of the author while observing and researching the complete cycle of the Job Search Techniques, both in the Indian and the market of the Middle East. The conversion of these concepts into a subject, titled "Job Search Technique" has in fact helped in metamorphosing the practical insights happening in the job market, into concepts which can be understood, customized and internalized by the professional students and working executives of different functions and domains.Although the article does not provide a detailed insight on the process of Job Search Technique, it offers the major highlights which can help the stakeholders concerned to finalize their strategies for securing the right job at the right time and cost, for the right person!Did someone say getting the dream job is now more easier, if you are smart enough?

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Article on the Sales Promotions in the Sultanate of Oman

Publication numbering 456 of yours truly, published in the January 2010 edition of the prestigious advertising magazine, Advertising Express of IUP, focusses on the sales promotional techniques adopted by companies in the Sultanate of Oman. Every market is unqiue with the market related dynamics varying from one another.The article deciphers sales promotional techniques adopted by companies from diverse sectors. This would provide a snapshot to the structured, highly organized and having rich potential market of the Sultanate of Oman.The objective is to this provide an idea to the existing and prospective marketers, to understand the needs and wants of the customers here, not to forget the valuable insights the piece can provide to the researchers, students and teaching community in Oman and elsewhere.

Source-http://www.iupindia.org/Advertising_Express.asp

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451st publication on 'Reinvent Yourself'

Read and Comment on my 451st publication published in the leading English Daily of Central India, The Hitavada, dated 19th January 2010.The article provides a snapshot on reinventing self as often one tend to get stuck either with his profession or his personal life and house hold chores.In order to succeed,in both the domains, professional and personal, it is important to look for new strengths, which may have developed over a period of time,subconsciously.This helps in rejuvenating the life of the concerned individual and also enables a feel good factor all around, thereby spreading all round happiness.A happy person and happy surrounding can do wonders in ones life!

Feedback on the article, Salary Negotiations:The basics, by Lama Ataya

Yours truly was indeed impressed after reading an article on the topic Salary Negotiations:The basics, by Lama Ataya of www.bayt.com published in the business section of the leading English Daily of the Sultanate of Oman, Times of Oman, dated December 31st 2009.Knowing Lama Ataya(albeit through a tele-talk, long time back)and his leading job portal company in the Middle East, the article was on the expected lines touching upon the skills of negotiation while one goes for a job.The article starts with an emphasis on negotiation after one is selected for the position applied for. The author added that this is what is even being expected by the employer.However, the perspectives of yours truly would have added the stage the job seeker is in.This is significant especially when he/she is a fresh candidate, as it may not be apt for him/her to go for hard negotiation on two grounds. The first one is that he/she being a fresher, the first few years in the job when he is completely raw and devoid of any practical experience, is essential for learning, rather than earning as the investment in these formative years, in terms of learning the nuances of the game goes a long way in making hard bargains more effective subsequently in ones career.The second aspect would apply not only for a fresh candidate, but relate to the experienced campaigners having years of experience behind them. Yours truly is referring to the slowdown being witnessed by the employment market, including the one in Middle East, although it should be admitted that the Sultanate is better placed than many of its rivals at the AGCC and global level owing to the solid business fundamentals laid down by the visionary, His Majesty!The time may not be ripe for the job seeker to go for an all out negotiation especially when companies are trying to downsize employee strength and every one across levels and functions would simply be happy to retain their jobs.In this time of hardship yours truly finds the article a mismatch especially when he is involved in training and nurturing the future Omani managers and entrepreneurs, as a faculty of business studies in one of the prestigious colleges of technology in the Sultanate.Salary negotiation during a downturn would have been the right topic in the current scenario.The article may not impact an experienced professional as he/she is not going to get swayed away by the same, however, it may definitely impact the fresh candidates as they would go for an all out hard negotiation, failing to realize the fact that the job market is on a gradual upward movement and coming to the terms from the jolt received from the recession, biggest since the greatest depression of the 30s and 40s..The just receded recession is yet to fade away completely and especially when the Dubai crisis was the last alarmaing bell to make the stakeholders aware that it is not yet over, followed by mass removal of manpower in the companies of the Emirate(notably from the realty sector with an indirect bearing on other sectors),the article would not give the right direction to the job seekers.On a positive note, the article discusses threadbare, the skill of salary negotiation and how the same should not be limited to salary only and rather encompass the overall package, only after knowing one's own skills, knowledge and abilities, and commensurate skill-sets required for the position, the opportune time for starting and closing the negotiation related to salary are important takeaways for any job seeker.One should congratulate Times of Oman, and Lama Ataya to initiate such excellent pieces which are going to help all the job seekers across the Sultanate to know their real worth in the job market. From the employer's viewpoint it would lead to the attraction and retention of the right talent as the hard times being witnessed presently by all the organizations would soon see the dawn of a new business cycle, with full of opportunities, especially when Oman is on the cusp of a growth.