Importance of Derivatives Instruments

Derivatives are becoming increasingly important in world markets as a tool for risk management. Derivatives instruments can be used to minimize risk. Derivatives are used to separate the risks and transfer them to parties willing to bear these risks. The kind of hedging that can be obtained by using derivatives in cheaper and more convenient than what could be obtained by using cash instruments. It is so because, when we use derivatives for hedging, actual delivery of the underlying asset is not at all essential for settlement purposes. The profit or loss on derivatives deal alone is adjusted in the derivative market. Moreover, derivatives do not create any new risk. They simply manipulate risks and transfer them to those who are willing to bear these risks. To cite a common example, let us assume that Mr. X owns a car. If he does not take an insurance, he runs a Continue reading

Case Study: L’Oreal Marketing Strategies in India

Before the facial cosmetics, L’Oreal was known as a hair-color formula developed by French chemist Eugene Schueller in 1907. It was then known as”Aureole”. Schueller formulated and manufactured his own productswhich were sold to Parisian hairdressers. It was only in 1909 that Schueller registered his company as “Societe Francaise de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveus,”the future L’Oreal. Scheuller began exporting his products, which was then limited to hair-coloring products. There were 3 chemists employed in 1920. In 1950, the research teams increased to 100 and reached 1,000 by 1984. Today, research teams are numbered to 2,000 and are still expected to increase in the near future. Through agents and consignments, Scheuller further distributed his products in the United States of America, South America, Russia and the Far East. The L’Oreal Group is present worldwide through its subsidiaries and agents. L’Oreal started to expand its products from hair-color to other cleansing and Continue reading

Concepts of Social Innovation and Community Engagement 

Developing societies are facing challenges with basic needs of food and water, housing and energy. Increase in population is intensifying the challenges. The problems of sustainable development, distribution of energy and energy security are interlinked with each other and therefore a new idea or innovation is required to address the societal challenges. The social environment is rapidly changing with the want of sustainable economic development and stable democracies. Scientists and engineers play vital role in social innovation and helps in addressing the social needs and challenges of the people. Social innovation is the adoption, integration development and creation of new practices and concepts that creates a better world. The innovation gives most importance to people and planet. Social innovation involves steps that focus on people health, community development, education and working conditions. People residing in a society are the main components of society that leads to social development. Social innovation Continue reading

Case Study: Kraft’s Takeover of Cadbury

Cadbury’s origins date back to almost two centuries when it was founded by John Cadbury who started the business by selling cocoa and tea in Birmingham, UK. Later he expanded by starting a line of beverages after a merger with Indian Schweppes changing the company name to Cadbury Schweppes. Successful product developments and launches have enabled Cadbury to boast of an extensive confectionery line consisting of Cocoa Essence, Easter Eggs, Milk Chocolate, Cadbury Fingers, Dairy Milk, Bourneville Chocolate, Milk Tray, Flake Creme Egg, Crunchie, Picnic, Curly windy, Wispa boost, Twirl and Time Out. Kraft, on the other hand, is a US company about a century old, which started off as a door to door cheese business but expanded into other confectionery items through many takeovers previously such as Ritz Crackers, Nabisco (Oreos) and Phenix Cheese Corporation (Philadelphia Cheese) to achieve success. It is second in terms of sales and popularity Continue reading

All About Call Money Market in India

The call money market refers to the market for extremely short period loans; say one day to fourteen days. These loans are repayable on demand at the option of either the lender or the borrower. The money that is lent for one day in this market is known as “Call Money”, and if it exceeds one day (but less than 15 days) it is referred to as “Notice Money”. Term Money refers to Money lent for 15 days or more in the Inter Bank Market.  These loans are given to brokers and dealers in stock exchange. Similarly, banks with ‘surplus’ lend to other banks with ‘deficit funds’ in the call money market. Thus, it provides an equilibrating mechanism for evening out short term surpluses and deficits. Moreover, commercial banks can quickly borrow from the call market to meet their statutory liquidity requirements. They can also maximize their profits easily by Continue reading

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation

Introduction Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the process of integrating all the business functions and processes in an organization to achieve numerous benefits. First, a single point of data entry helps to reduce data redundancy while saving employee’s time in entering data, thereby reducing labor and overhead costs. Second, the centralization of information, decision-making, and control leads to increases in efficiencies of operations and productivity, as well as coordination between departments, divisions, regions, and even countries. This is especially true for multinational corporations (MNC), in which global integration could result in better communications and coordination around the world. The global sourcing and distribution of parts and services could also provide appropriate benchmarks for operations around the world. Third, the sharing of a centralized database provides business managers with accurate and up-to-date information to make well informed business decisions. Further, it reduces data redundancy while improving data integrity at the same time. Fourth, functional integration Continue reading