"By definition, simulation is the imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or process. But how do you take something as abstract and turn it on its head to build and sustain a whole enterprise around it? Here’s how…"

"The differences in how companies react to complexity are directly related to how mature they are at managing information. Companies that invest in IC and leverage the IC Optimization Effect operate their businesses efficiently and effectively. As a result, they are able to deal with complexity and outperform the competition in difficult markets. "

The differences in how companies react to complexity are directly related to how mature they are at managing information. Companies that invest in IC and leverage the IC Optimization Effect operate their businesses efficiently and effectively. As a result, they are able to deal with complexity and outperform the competition in difficult markets.

Common perception is that most companies do more harm than good to their ecosystems. Far from this notion, there are some companies which carry their corporate responsibility in this sphere to an altogether new level. Take the case of Infosys. The company has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012. Which means not just investing in projects that actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but keeping tight controls over its own carbon footprint as well. This is h

Common perception is that most companies do more harm than good to their ecosystems. Far from this notion, there are some companies which carry their corporate responsibility in this sphere to an altogether new level. Take the case of Infosys. The company has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012. Which means not just investing in projects that actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but keeping tight controls over its own carbon footprint as well. This is h

Too many companies adopt a superfluous approach to ethics, disregardful of the fact that ethics is not about ‘looking good’ but critical for the survival of businesses at large.

On Twitter, Jessie Paul describes herself as “CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) – Wipro Tech, Author – No Money Marketing, India’s First CMO on Twitter, Coffee Planter, Branding Expert.” All this in the course of ten plus years in the IT services industry, and now a book that is probably the first guide to the grey area of services marketing in India. What could make for a more fascinating mix? Taking ‘marketing expenditure’ altogether out of a company’s balance sheet perhaps?

It is difficult to bracket Cactus Communications into any industry, as it is rather an industry unto itself. A NASSCOM survey recently crowned it one of the most exciting emerging companies to work for in India, and its employees often call themselves ‘Cactus Alumni’ for life. Among those who know its inner workings, the company is as famous for the eagerly anticipated Cactus Carnival as for its seven training modules on comma usage.

In his latest book The Professional, Subroto Bagchi gives us his knowledge, based on his lifelong experience, of what it takes to be a professional; what qualities you need to become a great professional; and what are the challenges of the future a professional must be prepared for. The Professional is a much needed book in an age where professional standards and ethics are increasingly coming under the scanner of regulatory authorities and the citizenry alike. It is in this context that The Smart Manager decided to publish an extract from Bagchi’s book as ‘Smart Thinking’.

There’s no denying that we live in the age of technology. However, have we stopped to ask ourselves whether we are investing in the right technology or whether how much is too much?

What does it take to survive a tempestuous corporate journey, at times smooth sailing, at times a rough road? The author of the book, “I will Survive” dares to bare it all...

"Big moves, in the form of strategic shifts are pivotal points in the history of companies.However the risks of making a catastrophic mis-step cannot be ignored, because research shows that even the most successful companies have undertaken stupid big moves from which they have had difficulty recovering."

How does a truly global enterprise such as Tata Consultancy Services cope with the current crisis? Read on to know…

“Laptops are the pencils for the digital age," says Negroponte

"Some key lessons on how to avoid the most common management problems in early

Structuring the family and business for successful creation, multiplication and preservation of wealth involves recognition of the capability and aspirations of the next generation and finding the balance between the two. It also requires constant nurturing, active participation in markets, clear planning and communication.

How IBM utilized technology to tap into the ideas and values of employees to shape its future direction.

Sixty consecutive quarters of meeting quarterly top and bottom-line guidance to the market. Five years of 43% compounded annual growth. 95% repeat business from existing clients; 43% revenues from new service innovations. How does Infosys Technologies manage such outstanding revenue growth? Find out…

In this issue Rajesh Jain identifies digital infrastructure as the medium to accelerate the pace of economic growth in the developing countries. It's time to grab this opportunity…

Steve Ballmer was Bill Gates' first recruit into Microsoft. As Gates prepares to transition out of a day-to-day role in Microsoft, Ballmer's responsibilities will increase. What will that mean for Microsoft and India?

Selling computers in emerging markets on a large scale offers an excellent opportunity to IT companies looking at tapping new markets. Rajesh Jain looks at selling laptops to children globally—a business that offers vast opportunities for companies seeking new markets.

Rajesh Jain discusses the three most important challenges faced in the Indian Internet and mobile space and outlines the role of venture capital in addressing the challenges.

“Dream big but remember to manage the risks,” says Sunil Mittal, Chairman & Group Managing Director of Bharti Tele-Ventures. Learn as he shares six lessons from the experiences of his entrepreneurial career.

Managing in virtual organizations is a complex task. The renowned management historian explains how successful management in virtual organizations requires the learning of new skills, while at the same time not neglecting old ones.

The managing director of Netcore Solutions reviews some of the technology trends beginning of a new year and identifies eleven technology trends that are currently transforming our life and business.

Many companies adopt industry best practice to stay competitive. But high performing companies do more: they embrace unique ‘signature processes’ reflecting their values. It is these signature processes that engender energy that facilitates high performance.

“Dream big but remember to manage the risks,” says Sunil Mittal, Chairman & Group Managing Director of Bharti Tele-Ventures. Learn as he shares six lessons from the experiences of his entrepreneurial career.

“Automation and sophistication is not about making people robots. It is about managing the predictable so that you have the bandwidth to manage the unpredictable,” says Nandan M Nilekani, CEO, Infosys Technologies.

Application service providers have tremendous potential in the context of building the IT infrastructure in emerging markets. They are the only way to bridge the gap that separates the small and medium enterprises from the larger enterprises. Learn how…

“Customer guarantees are just not another quality goal. If effectively designed they serve as a tool for kick starting service quality improvements,” says the deputy general manager, organizational excellence group, ICICI Bank.

Implementing projects that are pervasive on a national level requires the right ecosystem, a desire to make a difference, talented teams, and the ability to motivate them. In addition such projects need a model that is different from the strictly risk and reward based corporate ones, argues Sam Pitroda, Chairman, World Tel.

Just as the functionality and use of PCs was completely transformed with the emergence of the Internet, so it will be with mobile phones. We are at the start of a revolution with reaching implications.

Business oriented technical innovation is one of the most powerful, under utilized sources of value creation. Georges Haour explains the advantages of buying innovation

Information technology is just not a cost center. Donald A Marchand explains how it can be used as a lever for business change

Studies show that between 25% to 50% of joint ventures fail within six years. Bettina Büchel, IMD Professor of Strategy and Organization outlines seven steps that managers can take to ensure success.

New technology can help you effectively track your products. Are you ready for radio frequency identification? Sanjay Dawar looks at the pros and cons.

The next generation of computers may well exploit the potential of grid computing, opines Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, Netcore Solutions. Grid computing provides not just the processing power to run the applications, but also the storage capability.

Today’s marketers need to think strategically not tactically. Launch initiatives that are cross functional and bottom line orientated advises Professor Nirmalya Kumar, London Business School.

The discipline of knowing what you can do before you utilize a resource is core to TCS's culture. It's one of the elements which has enabled TCS to become the world's fifth most profitable IT company.

The reality of making computing available to every family in the world will happen only if a transformation takes root in the world’s emerging markets, says Rajesh Jain.

If you think adding new distribution channels will only result in increased sales volume, then think again. The consequence could be a spurt of channel wars, says London Business School’s Professor Nirmalya Kumar.

'Mr Outside', Charles E Phillips, Jr in charge of Oracle Corporation's external operations always devises a plan before playing to win. A strategist by choice, he transforms aggression into an intense desire to excel, succeed and motivate.

‘Search’ is good but not good enough, says Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, Netcore Solutions. The Next Generation Indian Search Engine should provide precise information based on consumer needs and not just replicate existing search engines.

Are you giving and extracting full value to your customers? If you think you will get more as a solution provider, make sure you do it right. Nirmalya Kumar, Professor of Marketing, London Business School shows you how...

Among others, Wipro has recently won the prestigious ‘Risk Management Award’, instituted by the Financial Times-The Banker magazine. What is that which makes this company so successful? “An obsession for excellence”, says Azim Premji, Chairman & Managing Director, Wipro Limited.

There is increasing concern about a widening digital divide and its consequences for economic development. The digital divide runs along a number of fault lines. These include for example, differences in income, education, gender, age, disability, geography and infrastructure.

As India develops, what are the opportunities created in the domestic market? And how can entrepreneurs catalyze and capitalize on these? Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, Netcore Solutions has an innovative suggestion.

When white collar jobs can be exported as easily as blue collar jobs were in the previous century, should society pick up the tab or consumers, asks Gary Hamel, one of the USA's leading management thinkers.

A leader is an agent of change, and progress is about positive change. Leadership is about raising the aspirations of followers and enthusing people with a desire to reach for the stars.

IT has revolutionalized the electoral process to make it accurate, speedier and transparent. Randeep Sudan delves into the nuances of ‘techno-electoral’ processes.

IT is best understood as the latest in a series of broadly adopted technologies that have reshaped industry over the past two centuries: from the railroad to the telegraph to the electric generator

If management wants its employees to do a great job with customers, then it must be prepared to do a great job with employees. Here Peter Yorke describes how this global financial services software provider transformed its 2,200 employees into 2,200 brand evangelists.

Make it easier for your customers to do business with you via the mobile Internet, and see the benefits. Some companies have already jumped onto this new bandwagon. Is the technology right for you?

Wireless technology can dramatically improve business processes and strengthen field forces. Should Indian companies try to leapfrog into future world class practices? Here is a framework by Ranjay Gulati & Alex Panas to guide your decision.

Several countries have tried to replicate the Silicon Valley success story, and governments build IT Parks as a strategy to attract IT investment. Taiwan's Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (HSIP) is an outstanding example. In exclusive with The Smart Manager Randeep Sudan talks on how important are IT Parks.

Software has to become part of the DNA of India's engineering colleges, says Rajesh Jain. Even with limited resources, enlightened faculty can launch a revolution through student power, one which will not only bridge the digital divide but make India a true IT superpower.

Four young software professionals jumped onto the entrepreneurial bandwagon. They made all the wrong moves yet broke into the USA market. What’s happening at Whizlabs?

Governments in today’s fast changing world must have timely reactions to sudden and serious developments. E-government is the answer but it has focused only on operations. The next wave for e-government will be the use of technology, and transformation of processes, for speedier and more pro-active decision-making

How can we bring computer education to 200 million students across India at an affordable cost? Rajesh Jain provides a road map on how to effect an education revolution by enabling creation of computer labs in every school, using computers that cost Rs5000 as the starting point.

Is India adequately protected against cyber terrorists? No, warns Randeep Sudan. We need new laws to protect critical infrastructural installations.

A cyber café typically earns Rs3,600 per day. A Barista makes Rs24,000. Rajesh Jain explains not just how a Rs7,500 computer can be made to work like a Rs50,000 pc but also how it can be used to generate Rs100,000 per day for a franchisee.

Leadership means balancing gentleness with justice. It does not mean being nice says NR Narayana Murthy.

China is threatening India in the IT sector. What should India do? Sunil Mehta advises IT entrepreneurs to be smart and engage profitability with China rather than view her as a competitor.

Foreign direct investment in ‘old’ economy sectors such as tourism, oil and gas, roads and power has come down to under 25% while investments in IT enabled services are soaring. India is well placed to attract these funds. What should India do to cash in on this boom?

Rajesh Jain on the what have been and will be the 10X forces in the world of computing and communications technology.

Adapting to the environment and constantly questioning the obvious helps sustain a start-up business after the initial honeymoon period, says Neeraj Roy, CEO of hungama.com. What are the smart business decisions, that helped this media company survive the fallout?

National id cards can provide citizen with better civic services but are they a good idea? By Randeep Sudan

Nothing dies faster than a new idea in the closed mind. Weblogging offers an interactive platform to share your creative views and opinions as they come to you. Rajesh Jain makes you logon to the world of the blogs. Sign up now!

Take a few old computers, add some out-dated software and a new India can be born in 2000 days says Rajesh Jain. Is he a dreamer or is his strategy a workable model? Read on.

Why do organization find it so hard to manage what they already know? IT solutions have let managers down at the cost of millions of dollars says three knowledge evangelists : Jahangir Kazimi, R R Dasgupta, Ganesh Natarajan

The Internet is changing the way we work. Can one spin a fortune out of the most important innovation of the last century? Rajesh Jain

For every task that needs to be done, there are two ways of doing it. The conventional way and a better way finding the latter is the challenge. Chandrababu Naidu

Because of tiny volumes, many companies have sidelined the Internet as a sales channel. But don’t bury your website yet. New research shows that Internet-based sales can churn out a neat profit. by Arvind Sahay

Chinese youngsters are eagerly flocking to contest2win (an Indian dotcom) as hard-nosed Chinese brand managers. Alok Kejriwal divulges some do’s and don’ts of setting up shop in China in a First Person account.