Why BP got into trouble in its venture in Russia is not far to find- it has something to
do with pipeline built by it in Georgia bypassing Russia.
Read this article:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/steffy/5947272.html
Sunday, August 24, 2008
oil prices
All along I felt that oil price spike is more to do with speculation rather than demand supply gap- mentioned in my blog earlier as well.
Read this article from TIME which appears to bear this out.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1834888,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics
Read this article from TIME which appears to bear this out.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1834888,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics
Monday, June 2, 2008
welcome
Small progress in personal front. Situation however essentially remains the same.
waiting period has to come to end sooner than later.
More than welcome to contact me.or leave a message.
waiting period has to come to end sooner than later.
More than welcome to contact me.or leave a message.
food prices
It is the first time in many years people in developed countries are facing price pressure in food items. I think there is a fundamental shift taking place where producers are holding cards and developed countries (military powers) are unable to exert pressure. Same goes for on cartels like OPEC -mainly due to Russia being a large petrol/ gas exporter.
cartels
See my post few days ago and possible cartels in producers of stuff like Rice.
Heartening to read that this is indeed being thought of as per news reports, though
idea is being ridiculed by some quarters.
Price fixing is quite common in producers cooperatives e.g. Milk in India
Heartening to read that this is indeed being thought of as per news reports, though
idea is being ridiculed by some quarters.
Price fixing is quite common in producers cooperatives e.g. Milk in India
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Progress
Hey Guys!
I must say lack of progress- despite trying numerous combinations!
It is pretty urgent!
As I said before, these combinations are my state of my understanding at that point of time and I trying to accommodate too many variables (i.e. interests). These are pulling from too many directions.
Talked to some though it has been inconclusive.
Call and leave a anonymous message to conclude! Or better still, meet in neutral surroundings.
It could be direct or consultancy roles or combination thereof.
My attitude is win win.
I am quite flexible.
I must say lack of progress- despite trying numerous combinations!
It is pretty urgent!
As I said before, these combinations are my state of my understanding at that point of time and I trying to accommodate too many variables (i.e. interests). These are pulling from too many directions.
Talked to some though it has been inconclusive.
Call and leave a anonymous message to conclude! Or better still, meet in neutral surroundings.
It could be direct or consultancy roles or combination thereof.
My attitude is win win.
I am quite flexible.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Cartels
I was wondering why countries which export grains do not form cartels.
For example countries like India, Thailand until recently were large exporters of rice.
Similarly,coffee producers like Columbia,India , Kenya etc
It makes great economic sense.
For example countries like India, Thailand until recently were large exporters of rice.
Similarly,coffee producers like Columbia,India , Kenya etc
It makes great economic sense.
Friday, May 2, 2008
progress lack of cont.
Another issue is :
if i exclude an item then it might appear that i am not interested which may not be the case.
Thus I end up using too many items.
Including too many items makes it less likely to happen due to simple law of probability.
Please leave your comments/ Call.
if i exclude an item then it might appear that i am not interested which may not be the case.
Thus I end up using too many items.
Including too many items makes it less likely to happen due to simple law of probability.
Please leave your comments/ Call.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
progress -lack of
As I said before not able to
really understand relationship between variables, interactions,constraints & these keep
changing.
I have listed what I can do based on what i have done for the past 24 + years and my background.
And I am quite flexible within wide canvas listed- prefer to be involved with the familiar ones...if not..
Feedback loop is terrible, don't have much time,don't see this changing
Would like to keep the config a simple as possible.
talking is the best option..some of the numbers am not able to get through
really understand relationship between variables, interactions,constraints & these keep
changing.
I have listed what I can do based on what i have done for the past 24 + years and my background.
And I am quite flexible within wide canvas listed- prefer to be involved with the familiar ones...if not..
Feedback loop is terrible, don't have much time,don't see this changing
Would like to keep the config a simple as possible.
talking is the best option..some of the numbers am not able to get through
Monday, April 28, 2008
does it help?
Changing configuration does it help?
I don't know..
Call! Call! Call!
Few minutes of discussion can sort out to benefit of everyone......
I don't know..
Call! Call! Call!
Few minutes of discussion can sort out to benefit of everyone......
Saturday, April 26, 2008
dear blog- URGENT
Writing after a long time.
Have been contacting people........
I would appreciate if people contact me instead..
to make headway.
Otherwise, will go round and round.
Wanna complete quickly, I am quite flexible.
..................
....
Have been contacting people........
I would appreciate if people contact me instead..
to make headway.
Otherwise, will go round and round.
Wanna complete quickly, I am quite flexible.
..................
....
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Do it anyway!
This is a good one.. Read on.. Try practicing!
People are illogical and self centered.
People are often unreasonable,
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind people may accuse you
Of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you.
Be frank and honest anyway.
What you spend years building,
Some one could destroy over night
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today
The people often forget tomorrow!
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you have got anyway.
You see in the final analysis,
It is between you and God,
It was never between you and them anyway.
--------------…---------------Hilarious.. read on
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1439471720080314
People are illogical and self centered.
People are often unreasonable,
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind people may accuse you
Of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you.
Be frank and honest anyway.
What you spend years building,
Some one could destroy over night
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today
The people often forget tomorrow!
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you have got anyway.
You see in the final analysis,
It is between you and God,
It was never between you and them anyway.
--------------…---------------Hilarious.. read on
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1439471720080314
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Juran, 103, Pioneer in Quality Control, Dies
Back in Dubai after a trip to India.
While in india read about sad demise of Quality Guru Dr. Joshep Juran. His quality theories formed the basis for what is now known as Lean and Six Sigma. He has been active for > 70 years in Quality field and lead to Japan's ascendecy in Quality after world war 2, followed by U.S.
I leant huge amount about quality from Juran Institute. In my view no other Quality guru has contributed so much ..
Read the link below and others .
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/03juran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
While in india read about sad demise of Quality Guru Dr. Joshep Juran. His quality theories formed the basis for what is now known as Lean and Six Sigma. He has been active for > 70 years in Quality field and lead to Japan's ascendecy in Quality after world war 2, followed by U.S.
I leant huge amount about quality from Juran Institute. In my view no other Quality guru has contributed so much ..
Read the link below and others .
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/03juran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Monday, February 18, 2008
"Never ask a barber if you need a haircut."
Good read in my view
Mistrust is Good
By Dhirendra Kumar | Feb 18, 2008
There's a saying (or perhaps it's a line from a poem) that good fences make good neighbours. This means that when the fence between your neighbours' land and yours will be high and strong then you will get along better with your neighbours. There won't be any grounds for suspecting one's neighbour when things go wrong. What this proverb is saying that if one builds in the assumption of a certain amount of mistrust, then things actually run better and there's effectively more trust in an interaction. The important thing here is that the mistrust is institutionalised. No one has to take a decision as to whether a particular neighbour is untrustworthy or not. No one has to bear the humiliation of being the only one to be fenced out. In this sense, a universal, all-encompassing mistrust is a good basis on which to build honest and confident interactions. I'm sure you know where this leading to. I think there isn't enough mistrust in the financial industry in India. In the interactions between individuals and companies we need a lot more mistrust built into the system. And when the system doesn't provide enough mistrust, then we should individually build it into our behaviour.
This institutionalised mistrust should work by recognising a basic truth-that individuals and businesses will always work in their own interest, and not of anyone else's. When their own self-interest happens to be aligned to their customers', then they'll work in customers' interest too. However, there's no chance that anyone is going to work in the interest of any third party. This is the natural order of things, this is the way things have always been and if you act as if this is not true then as a customer you are going to get burnt. Look at the whole issue of IPO pricing which is top of mind with investors today. Why on earth should anyone expect promoters or their advisors to not extract every last paisa from investors that they think the market will bear? Why should they leave anything on the table? As investors, that's the assumption one should start with and make decisions accordingly. Apply the same principle to other financial interactions. Dealing with a bank? A stock broker? A mutual fund salesman? An insurance agent? A credit card issuer? If you are making any decision based on information provided by the other party, then it's safe to assume that the information will be tailored to maximise their interest and not yours. I know the theory is that their interests are aligned with their customers but that's just the theory, it doesn't happen in practice. As the legendary investor Warren Buffet said, "Never ask a barber if you need a haircut."
But those are the fences you can build as an individual. At a broader level, we probably don't have enough mistrust built into our system. There are a lot of unstated assumptions that market mechanisms will take care of those who abuse customers/investors. I don't think this is working as well as it should. Such a mechanism works in the long-term. In a growing economy, there's plenty of room for successively taking new waves of customers and investors to the cleaners and not have to worry about the long-term.
Mistrust is Good
By Dhirendra Kumar | Feb 18, 2008
There's a saying (or perhaps it's a line from a poem) that good fences make good neighbours. This means that when the fence between your neighbours' land and yours will be high and strong then you will get along better with your neighbours. There won't be any grounds for suspecting one's neighbour when things go wrong. What this proverb is saying that if one builds in the assumption of a certain amount of mistrust, then things actually run better and there's effectively more trust in an interaction. The important thing here is that the mistrust is institutionalised. No one has to take a decision as to whether a particular neighbour is untrustworthy or not. No one has to bear the humiliation of being the only one to be fenced out. In this sense, a universal, all-encompassing mistrust is a good basis on which to build honest and confident interactions. I'm sure you know where this leading to. I think there isn't enough mistrust in the financial industry in India. In the interactions between individuals and companies we need a lot more mistrust built into the system. And when the system doesn't provide enough mistrust, then we should individually build it into our behaviour.
This institutionalised mistrust should work by recognising a basic truth-that individuals and businesses will always work in their own interest, and not of anyone else's. When their own self-interest happens to be aligned to their customers', then they'll work in customers' interest too. However, there's no chance that anyone is going to work in the interest of any third party. This is the natural order of things, this is the way things have always been and if you act as if this is not true then as a customer you are going to get burnt. Look at the whole issue of IPO pricing which is top of mind with investors today. Why on earth should anyone expect promoters or their advisors to not extract every last paisa from investors that they think the market will bear? Why should they leave anything on the table? As investors, that's the assumption one should start with and make decisions accordingly. Apply the same principle to other financial interactions. Dealing with a bank? A stock broker? A mutual fund salesman? An insurance agent? A credit card issuer? If you are making any decision based on information provided by the other party, then it's safe to assume that the information will be tailored to maximise their interest and not yours. I know the theory is that their interests are aligned with their customers but that's just the theory, it doesn't happen in practice. As the legendary investor Warren Buffet said, "Never ask a barber if you need a haircut."
But those are the fences you can build as an individual. At a broader level, we probably don't have enough mistrust built into our system. There are a lot of unstated assumptions that market mechanisms will take care of those who abuse customers/investors. I don't think this is working as well as it should. Such a mechanism works in the long-term. In a growing economy, there's plenty of room for successively taking new waves of customers and investors to the cleaners and not have to worry about the long-term.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
How Toyota trains poor teens in India......CSR
Blog entry after a long time....Have been preoccupied lately.
This strategy takes care of Toyota's future needs as well as tackles corporate Social responsiblity (CSR ).
More importantly it hopes to retain Toyota way as well as culture of company.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2008/gb20080123_960639.htm
Difficult to say extent of success it will meet long term.
This strategy takes care of Toyota's future needs as well as tackles corporate Social responsiblity (CSR ).
More importantly it hopes to retain Toyota way as well as culture of company.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2008/gb20080123_960639.htm
Difficult to say extent of success it will meet long term.
Monday, January 14, 2008
CSR and Tata
CSR (corporate social responsibility) is becoming increasingly relevant / urgent to companies especially the ones operating internationally, & the ones operating in fields such as metal, petroleum (i.e. polluting / global warming offenders).
Increasingly, it is not optional for such companies.
But, Tatas have been having such a program for decades when it was not fashionable.
e.g. Tata Steel had such a program since 1930s. They were managing entire Jemshedpur township & providing medical and educational services in the neighbourhood.
More importantly, in the holding company of Tata group (called Tata sons) majority of the shares are held by charities. Consequently, all the income goes towards CSR like activities.
So, CSR is institutionalised at the holding company level as well as individual group company level. This has been the case since 1930s.
Increasingly, it is not optional for such companies.
But, Tatas have been having such a program for decades when it was not fashionable.
e.g. Tata Steel had such a program since 1930s. They were managing entire Jemshedpur township & providing medical and educational services in the neighbourhood.
More importantly, in the holding company of Tata group (called Tata sons) majority of the shares are held by charities. Consequently, all the income goes towards CSR like activities.
So, CSR is institutionalised at the holding company level as well as individual group company level. This has been the case since 1930s.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Jet air flights to ME
It is welcome news that India's largest airline has started flights to ME starting this week.
Pricing is going to be economical and it will be substantially cheaper than Indian state run airlines and airlines like Emirates.
My prediction is that short to medium term these airlines will get hit badly.
It appears that days of highest paying passengers being treated shabbily (even contempt) are going to be finally over after almost 30 years.
One can imagine the profits made by the well run airlines all these years consideting that air arabia has already started making profits after 2-3 years.
If Kingfisher also starts up it will be tough going indeed...
Pricing is going to be economical and it will be substantially cheaper than Indian state run airlines and airlines like Emirates.
My prediction is that short to medium term these airlines will get hit badly.
It appears that days of highest paying passengers being treated shabbily (even contempt) are going to be finally over after almost 30 years.
One can imagine the profits made by the well run airlines all these years consideting that air arabia has already started making profits after 2-3 years.
If Kingfisher also starts up it will be tough going indeed...
Friday, January 4, 2008
oil at $100
Amusing tale about Oil hitting USD 100, apparently one guy looking for fame.
Read this...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080104/ts_alt_afp/commoditiesoilpriceoffbeat
Read this...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080104/ts_alt_afp/commoditiesoilpriceoffbeat
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