IMR JAN 2013 - Indira Institutes

RIndira Management ReviewEditorialP. G. VijairaghavanWith this issue, Indira Management Reviewenters the seventh year of publication. It hasbeen a particularly satisfying time to see thejournal grow in popularity – both in terms ofreadership and contributions from authorswhose credibility we value. Many thanks toevery reader and author for theirencouragement that has made it possible. Weare sure we will continue to have yoursupport and understanding to see us achievegreater milestones in the coming years.Green is a colour that is gaining prominencein the corporate world with environmentprotection coming to the foreground ofnational discourse in recent times. Howimportant is it for companies to projectthemselves as being eco-friendly and proenvironment?There is a greater degree ofawareness among the consumers today ofthe need for companies to adoptenvironmentally-friendly practices in theiroperations – be it production or marketing oftheir produce. With this realization hascome the need for corporates to project animage that promotes this belief at best, or atworst, ensures that a negative message doesnot go out to the consumer regarding theircommitment to conservation of nature. Howdo the corporates propose to do so, whilekeeping costs to the minimum is examined bythe lead authors of this issue, Akash Agarwaland Manoj Das.Also included is an empirical study by ZohraZabeen on the effect that working capital canhave on the bottom line of companies. Whilethe study restricts itself to the steel industry, itis obviously relevant to most manufacturingindustries and one hopes to draw appropriateconclusions from the study to streamline theflow of funds to the corporate to maximizeprofits. Does the investor base his investmentdecision on IPO grading for new issues in theshare market? Jigna Trivedi tries to find out.Other articles include a report on changingattitudes among urban women to products ofthe new age. Also an interesting paper on therole of universities in promotingentrepreneurism among their students andanother on the way robotics is shapingindustry and services across the world. Thecase study section features the dilemmas ofthe workforce as the organization tries toresist the corporate buffering during a rathertempestuous voyage. Authored by ArvindSudarsan and his teammates, the study,among other things, highlights the need foreffective communication with the employees,especially when the organization is up againsttough times.Indira Management Review - Jan2013 03