The Billion Dollar Man

In the year 1983 Bhaskar Bhat joined the then called Tata watch project which was just establishing its foot hold in India, and nearly 2 decades later has turned it into a Billion dollar company. In an article I read in a famous news journal it was astonishing to come across his intuitiveness which makes you astonished and think “how come I dint think of this”?  Today Bhaskar Bhat has created a demand for watches which at one point no one thought existed. Diversification in business was a risk factor a decade ago but through investigation of a decade has meant that diversification happened in the Tata Owned enterprise and the Billion dollar man ventured into jewellery. But what makes him stand out is the fact that despite so many hurdles which is facing the watch manufacturers these days his initiatives to attract the masses to choose his brand is still startling. In a recent interview when quizzed about the potential threat to his watch making enterprise, he said and I quote “today even a mobile phone is a competitor to my business and I have to live with it and fight it out, but come to think of it we Indians fancy watches as the best to gift to give someone in special occasions and that is where I fancy my company”.

After taking over the mantle of MD in the year 2002, rapid strides have been taken by this industry. Today it comes as a surprise to many that this TATA owned entity is none other than TITAN. You might just be sporting one when reading this. This article is about a leader whose qualities need to be addressed and I hope I have in this short summary.

Corporate Etiquette



Etiquette means manners practiced in a particular environment. Corporate or Business etiquette is one which is adopted in every business keeping in mind the ethics and integrity. It varies from country to country, industry to industry and culture to culture. But the basic business etiquettes remain at core level. Corporate etiquette is sometimes called business etiquette and it is a set of ordinarily agreed upon rules for behaving in the business environment. Essentially, it focuses on manners for the corporation and its individual players. Etiquette is nothing but manners to be followed in a given cultural environment. Every culture has its own etiquette. But overall the etiquette is universal with certain characteristics and qualifications that run across all people like a common thread. Business etiquette is also an etiquette that has to be adopted in every business keeping ethics and integrity in view. It varies from culture to culture and from country to country and from industry to industry. All the differences are only superficial in nature with the commonalities of basic business etiquette being at the coral level. Etiquettes are of different types. It has to do with the way an individual interacts with customers and other businesses. When etiquettes is observed, the corporation has the opportunity to present a seamless, mannered front to the rest of the world, which can increase the respect the world gives it, resulting in a potentially more profitable corporation. Some of the subjects that corporate etiquette might address include the polite way to interact with others. Specific behaviors and manners attached to the way people speak in person or on the phone may change how others perceive a corporation. Written communications are equally important any anything from an email to a formal letter may be governed by certain rules, according to etiquette specialists.

Interaction is not limited to verbal or written communication. Many groups that specialize in teaching corporate etiquette also teach proper manners for dining with clients or other businesses. People may not know these rules automatically and they benefit from instructions in table manners and appropriate dining conversation. 

Other topics are often taught in corporate etiquette classes or in books. These could include how to show sensitivity to cultural differences and how to place people of other cultures at their ease, since many businesses operate on a multinational level. Some etiquette rules might suggest ways to begin and end conversations, how to introduce guests, or how to dress for the corporate world and for any more formal occasions.

Some of the basic etiquettes are:

·        Maintenance of personal hygiene

·        Dress code

·        Handshake

·        Telephone etiquette

·        Email etiquette

·        Dining etiquette

·        Giving Business card

Apart from these basis etiquettes, one thing that books or classes don’t always cover in corporate etiquette is individual rules or protocols that apply to a specific company. These rules may fall under the idea of applied ethics, where behavior is based on a certain moral code the company has expressed. When we talk about business ethics, usually we’re speaking about standards of behavior in the workplace as well as with customers and partners.

Etiquette and business etiquette is essential to survive and succeed both at the personal and professional level. It has paramount significance and importance at the corporate world either to make or break the business deals. Therefore, it is mandatory to stick to the basics of all etiquettes to become a successful professional. In the growing corporate world it is getting increasingly important to maintain etiquettes defining the business impression.

'Say no to Bangalore and yes to Buffalo,'-What does this US Slogan mean to India?

Recently, protectionist measures taken by the US government towards outsourcing has led to uncertainties for the Indian IT firms. The Obama administration has got the border security bill, passed in Congress which seeks to raise nearly USD 550 million by increasing the fee in the categories of H-1B and L1 visas for the next five years. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations. The decision to hike visa fee will be a blow to Indian IT firms which have a large exposure to the American market and which temporarily station a section of their engineers to offer near-shore services to their clients. According to the reports, Indian IT firms will be paying USD 200-250 million more per year, which will affect their margins. US President Barack Obama clearly stated that he will do whatever it takes to secure jobs for the US citizen. He asserted that he will give tax benefits to the companies who appoint the locals for speciality occupation and pull off tax benefit from companies who outsource from India and China.
     According to media reports the Indian IT-BPO industry that currently employs three million people is estimated to be a $60 billion business, about $50 billion is earned through outsourcing and the rest constitutes the domestic revenues. Certainly, the protectionist strategy is not in the best interest of businesses, be it Indian or American. Since outsourcing is one of the engines of economic globalization, it is unethical that one country, that too the largest economy in the world which till two years back was the strongest advocate of free market reforms, turns its back on outsourcing and moves towards protectionism.
     India has voiced its concern about the visa hike and Ohio ban during the talks held by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to discuss President Barack Obama's visit to India in November . Rao has discussed these and many other issues that influences the relationship between the two countries this seems to be going through a transformational phase. Many people from the IT industry believe that this is the outcome of the rate of over 9%. Another reason could be the upcoming US elections in November and they hope these issues will subside once the US unemployment is solved.