Improving Quality of Work Life

Quality of work life improvement refers to any activity for greater organizational effectiveness through the enhancement of human dignity and growth process through which the work force of the organization learn how to work together for betterment to determine for themselves what actions, changes and improvements are desirable and workable. What work force feels about the work place? The ‘Economic Times’ in December 1999 collected the views from top level HR executives from Indian companies on the emerging workplace. The views expressed were as follows: There would be more celebrations. Music, poetry, and art at work to provide creative moments in between the lightening speed of work. People with high EQ levels would be valued far more than yesterday as coaches and facilitators orchestrate the output of knowledge workers. People tomorrow would want and deserve a workplace free from anxiety and stress, where each can contribute fully from their jobs Continue reading

Actions Taken by RBI to Tackle the Accumulation of Non Performing Assets (NPA’s) in Banks

1. Internal Checks and Control Since high level of NPAs dampens the performance of the banks identification of potential problem accounts and their close monitoring assumes importance.   Though most banks have Early Warning Systems (EWS) for identification of potential NPAs, the actual processes followed, however, differ from bank to bank. The EWS enable a bank to identify the borrower accounts which show signs of credit deterioration and initiate remedial action. Many banks have evolved and adopted an elaborate EWS, which allows them to identify potential distress signals and plan their options beforehand, accordingly. The early warning signals, indicative of potential problems in the accounts, viz. persistent irregularity in accounts, delays in servicing of interest, frequent devolvement of L/Cs, units’ financial problems, market related problems, etc. are captured by the system. In addition, some of these banks are reviewing their exposure to borrower accounts every quarter based on published data Continue reading

Fundamental Principles of Insurance Contract

The Contract of Insurance is a contract whereby a person undertakes to indemnify another  against a loss arising on the happening of an event or to pay a sum of money on the happening of an  event. The person who insures is called “Insurer”. The person who effects the insurance is called the  “Insured” or “Assured”. The price for the risk undertaken by the insurer and paid by the insured to the  insurer is called “Premium” and the document which contains the contract of insurance is called “Policy”. Following are the general principles of contract of insurance: Uberrimae Fidei: A contract of insurance is a contract uberrimae fidei, i.e. a contract requiring  utmost good faith of the parties. So, all material facts which are likely to influence the insurer in  deciding the amount of premium payable by the insured must be disclosed by the insured. Failure to  disclose material facts Continue reading

An Overview of Performance Management

Performance Management is a method for creating a collective understanding regarding what is to be accomplished and how it is to be accomplished. It is an approach to supervising people that raise the likelihood of reaching success. The performance management process helps the managers and supervisors to provide feedback to the employees regarding their current performance at job and expected level of performance. It provides clear direction to the employees about management expectations regarding their performance. The compensation and rewarding system is also established based on the performance of the employees over the period of time. It also assists the organizational leadership to identify the training needs of the organization and resolve the performance related issues. It provides opportunity to the managers to set the performance expectations and keep proper tracking of the employee’s performance. The supervisors and managers can measure the performance outcomes by comparing it with the performance Continue reading

Case Study on Vodafone’s Re-Branding Strategies in India: Hutch to Vodafone

Launch of Vodafone Essar Vodafone is the world’s leading international mobile communications company. It presently has operations in 25 countries across 5 continents and 40 partner networks with over 200 million customers worldwide. Vodafone has partnered with the Essar Group as its principal joint venture partner for the Indian market. The Essar Group is a diversified business corporation with interests spanning the manufacturing and service sectors like Steel, Energy, Power, Communications, Shipping & Logistics and Construction. The Group has an asset base of over Rs.400 billion and employs over 20,000 people. Vodafone Essar was launched in India on 21st September 2007. Vodafone was welcomed in India with the “Hutch is now Vodafone” campaign. The popular and endearing brand Hutch was transitioned to Vodafone across India. This marked a significant chapter in the evolution of Vodafone as a dynamic and ever-growing brand. This brand unveiled nationally through a high profile campaign Continue reading

Contemporary Forms of Organizational Design

Organizational design is the overall configuration of structural components that defines jobs, groupings of jobs, the hierarchy, patterns of authority, approaches to co-ordination and line-staff differentiation into a single and unified organizational system. Consider, for example, the differences in organizational design that might exist between a computer manufacturer and university. Since the computer manufacturer has to respond to frequent technological breakthroughs and changes in its competitive environment, it is likely to have a relatively flat and decentralized design whereas the university has a more stable environment and is less affected by technology. Therefore, it has a more centralized structure with numerous rules and regulations. Every organization has its own unique design depending on its technology, limits and potentials of its environment and the life cycle stage it follows. Following are the various  contemporary forms of organizational design: 1. The U-Form Organization In the U-form organization. U stands for Unity, It Continue reading