Electronic Human Resource (e-HR)

e-HR stands for Electronic Human Resource. The term e-HR refers to deal Human Resource Management transactions using an internet. E-HR aims to keep information available to employees and managers at anywhere at any time. E-HR may include organizations HR portals and web applications, Enterprise Resource Planning, HR service centers and interactive voice response. There are three identified levels of e-HR such as publishing of information (delivered by intranet medium), automation of transactions with integration of workflow (intranet or extranet used) and transformation of the HR function (redirect HR function towards a strategic one). E-HR is characterized in field of HRM as having numerous innovations in Technology and it provides wider potential in term of usages including employee self service, information sharing, functions administration and production of reports. e-HR make use of technology to create a real-time, information-based Self-service, interactive work environment. With e-HR, managers can access relevant information and data, Continue reading

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Concept of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Traditionally, the transfer   of data from one company   to another   has been by paper documents. This is known as a paper-based system. These documents have to be manually forwarded and entered to the destination computer. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic exchange of standard business   information, in standard formats, between computers. EDI eliminates   the need   for a paper-based system by providing an electronic link between companies. This   reduces   data entry   tasks and improves   business cycle times. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic transfer of structured   business documents in an organization   internally   among   groups of departments or externally   with its   suppliers, customers and subsidiaries. The   documents likely   to be used in   EDI   are invoices, purchase orders, shipping   requests, acknowledgements and payments. EDI Continue reading

Non Performing Assets (NPA)

What is Non Performing Asset (NPA)? For a bank, an Non Performing Asset (NPA) or bad debt is usually a loan that is not producing income. Earlier it was largely applicable to businesses. But things have changed with banks widely extending consumer loans (home, car, personal and education, among others) and strict asset classification norms. If a borrower misses paying his equated monthly installment (EMI) for 90 days, the loan is considered bad, or an NPA. High NPAs are a sign of bad financial health. This has wide-ranging ramifications for a bank, especially in the stock market and money market. So, as soon as a debt goes bad, the banks want it either made better or taken out of their books. The Genesis (origin) of an NPA There are many reasons as to why a loan goes bad. For a business, it could be because it fails to take off. Continue reading

Case Study of Kishore Biyani: India’s Retail King

Kishore Biyani’s saga starts with his family business in textiles, which he joined after graduating in commerce. In 1987, Biyani launched the first branded ready-made trousers brand known as Pantaloon through his company Pantaloon Fashions. The trousers were marketed through the Pantaloon Shoppe stores. By the time Pantaloon Fashions went public in 1992, it had 60 exclusive shops. Later, he started manufacturing garments under two more brands-John Miller and Bare. Despite pod products and competitive pricing, the business seemed unviable due to high distribution costs and margins. Therefore, in August 1997, Biyani decided to open his own store at Kolkata to market these brands. He was expecting to do business of around Rs 70 million in the first year, but beating all expectations, the store did a business of Rs 100 million. This experience was an eye-opener for Biyani, who came to know that Indian market is ‘under-retailed’. The year Continue reading

Price to Cash Flow Ratio

Instead of Price Earning (P/E) Ratio many investment analysts prefer to look at price cash flow ratio. A Price to Cash Flow Ratio is measured as the company’s current stock price divided by its current annual cash flow per share. Price/Cash Flow Ratio = Price Per Share / (Cash Flow / Shares Outstanding) There are varieties of definitions of cash flow. In this context, the most famous measure is simply calculated as net income plus depreciation. Cash flow is usually reported in firm’s financial statement and labeled as cash flow from operations. The difference between cash and earnings is often confusing largely because the way standard accounting practice defines net income. Essentially net income is measured as incomes minus expenses. Obviously this is logical. However not all are actual cash expenses. The most important exception is depreciation. When a firm acquires a long-lived asset such as new factor facility, standard Continue reading

Determinants of Job Stress

One major source of job stress is the job itself. The way the job is designed, the amount of time pressure an individual faces and the amount of expectations others have of a person at work can all lead to job stress. Interpersonal relationships are a second source of job stress. How much contact an individual has with coworkers and managers, how much time he or she deals with clients or consumers, and how pleasant those interactions are all influences of how much stress an individual experiences at work. Third source is problems in personal lives, which can spill over into the work environment, adding further tension to an already stressful work situation. Determinants of Job Stress Job Characteristics A major source of job stress is a person’s role in the organization. A role is simply the set of expectations that other people in the organization have for an individual, Continue reading