Identify the Industry: Activity Corner; V2 Issue 1

Can you identify these industries?

Some of them are booming, some are struggling and others are yet to take off. See if you can identify these industries in India based on the clues provided below.

1. 1. In terms of numbers this industry in India is the biggest in the world. Until the late 1990s, it was not even recognised as an industry. Even though it has since been recognised as an industry, banks and other financial institutions continue to avoid the industry due to the enormous risks involved in the business.

   2. Leading companies in this industry spend approximately 10% of its revenue on research and development. India’s share in the global market is less than 2% in value terms as the product prices in India are one of the lowest in the world.

   3. In Indian company took over an Anglo Dutch company to become the 5th largest group company in this industry. Incidentally this is the largest Indian takeover of a foreign company.

   4. Being in its nascent stage, this highly labour intensive industry in India has not been very stable. While the primary work coming to India is through outsourcing work related to films, ads and gaming, the industry is now slowly moving up to the next level of maturity.

   5. India has the fastest growing market in this industry. A global player viz., a British company bought stake in India's fourth largest firm in this industry. Regulatory changes and reforms in the last 10 years have tremendously helped this industry. The rapid strides made by India in harnessing the off shoring opportunity would not have been possible without developments in this industry.

   6. This industry has grown at breakneck speed due to entry of low cost players. But almost all players are making losses. Due to intense competition and declining margins, a process of consolidation has commenced through mergers and acquisitions. This will bring about synergies in operations and optimal utilization of resources in this capital intensive sector.

SOLUTIONS:

1. 1. Film - Though India’s overall entertainment industry is becoming professional with the rise of TV production companies, India's movie industry per se remains highly informal, personality oriented and family dominated.

   2. Pharma - Overall drugs manufacturing in India is up to 50% cheaper than in western industrial countries.

   3. Steel - Corus was taken over by Tata Steel. Before the takeover Tata Steel was only the world's 56th biggest steel producer and its takeover of Corus represented its first expansion outside Asia.

   4. Animation - India has the potential to be recognized as an animation hub, if education facilities, availability of funds and infrastructure improve. Developing original content that appeal to audiences in America, UK, and Europe will also contribute to its growth.

   5. Telecom - British mobile telecom major Vodafone bought stake in India's fourth largest mobile firm Hutch-Essar.

   6. Airline - Mergers include that of Kingfisher and Air Deccan, Jet Airways and Air Sahara, Air India and Indian Airlines. India has the fastest growing number of passengers in the world. Industry optimists feel that this growth will take care of its current problems.

Intrapreneurial Mind Set v/s Establishment Mind Set : Activity Corner; July'08

Every effective employee has Intrapreneurial/Entrepreneurial traits that may or may not culminate in an Entrepreneurial life.

To determine whether you have an Intrapreneurial mind set read the following statements and indicate whether you agree more with choice A or choice B. Choose responses that come closest to how you usually feel or act. There are no right or wrong responses.

 

Scoring Key

Tick the option you have selected in each of set of statements.

Give 1 point each for each tick. If you have more points in Intrapreneurial mind set you lean towards having an Intrapreneurial mind set. Similarly if you have more points in Establishment mindset you lean towards having an Establishment mindset.

Intrapreneurs and Entrepreneurs are people who focus on innovation and creativity and who transform a dream or an idea into a profitable venture; either by operating within an organization or by starting up their own venture independently. In contrast some individuals prefer stability, security and the status of being in their chosen field in the organization they work for and strive to succeed by operating within the organizational environment.

Note: The above questions are compiled based on an interview excerpt of Mr.Gifford Pinchot who invented the term ‘Intrapreneurship’ (http://www.sandyross.ca/portfolio-me-inc.pdf) and an article by Vimarsh Bajpai, Senior Assistant Editor, DARE magazine, CyberMedia (http://www.dare.co.in/strategy/business-essentials/where-the-mind-is-without-fear.htm).

What are your Career Anchors? : Quiz; March'08

Career anchors are distinct patterns of self perceived talents, abilities, motives, needs, attitudes and values that guide and stabilise a person’s career after years of real world experiences and feedback.

To determine your career anchors give a response (SA= Strongly agree, A=Agree, D=Disagree, SD= Strongly disagree) that best describes your feelings about each statement below.

1. 1. I would leave my company rather than be promoted out of my area of expertise.

   2. Becoming highly specialized and highly competent in some specific functional or technical area is important to me.

   3. A career that is free from organization restriction is important to me.

   4. I have always sought a career in which I could be of service to others.

   5. A career that provides a maximum variety of types of assignments and work projects is important to me.

   6. To rise to a position in general management is important to me.

   7. I like to be identified with a particular organization and the prestige that accompanies that organization

   8. Remaining in my present geographical location rather than moving because of a promotion is important to me.

   9. The use of my skills in building a new business enterprise is important to me.

   10. I would like to reach a level of responsibility in an organization where my decisions really make a difference.

   11. I see myself more as a generalist as opposed to being committed to one specific area of expertise.

   12. An endless variety of challenges in my career is important to me.

   13. Being identified with a powerful or prestigious employer is important to me.

   14. The excitement of participating in many areas of work has been the underlying motivation behind my career.

   15. The process of supervising, influencing, leading and controlling people at all levels is important to me.

   16. I am willing to sacrifice some of my autonomy to stabilize my total life situation.

   17. An organization that will provide security through guaranteed work benefits, a good retirement, and so forth is important to me.

   18. During my career I will be mainly concerned with my own sense of freedom and autonomy.

   19. I will be motivated throughout my career by the number of products that I have been directly involved in creating.

   20. I want others to identify me by my organization and my job.

   21. Being able to use my skills and talents in the service of an important cause is important to me.

   22. To be recognized by my title and status is important to me.

   23. A career that permits a maximum of freedom and autonomy to choose my own work, hours and so forth is important to me.

   24. A career that gives me a great deal of flexibility is important to me.

   25. To be in a position in general management is important to me.

   26. It is important for me to be identified by my occupation.

   27. I will accept a management position only if it is in my area of expertise.

   28. It is important for me to remain in my present geographical location rather than move because of a promotion or new job assignment.

   29. I would like to accumulate personal fortune to prove myself and others that I am competent.

   30. I want to achieve a position that gives me the opportunity to combine analytical competence with supervision of people.

   31. I have been motivated throughout my career by using my talents in variety of different areas of work.

   32. An endless variety of challenges is what I really want from my career.

   33. An organization that will give me long run stability is important to me.

   34. To be able to create or build something that is entirely my own product or idea is important to me.

   35. Remaining in my specialized area as opposed to being promoted out of my area of expertise is important to me.

   36. I do not want to be constrained by either organization or the business world.

   37. Seeing others change because of my efforts is important to me.

   38. My main concern in life is to be competent in my area of expertise.

   39. The chance to pursue my own lifestyle and not be constrained by the rules of an organization is important to me.

   40. I find most organizations to be restrictive and intrusive.

   41. Remaining in my area of expertise, rather than being promoted into general management is important to me.

   42. I want a career that allows me to meet my basic needs through helping others.

   43. The use of my interpersonal and helping skills in the service of others is important to me.

   44. I like to see others change because of my efforts.

Scoring Key

Score your responses by writing the number that corresponds to your responses. (SA=4, A=3, D=2, SD=1) to each question in the space next to the item number. Then obtain subscale scores by adding your sore on the items indicated and then divide by the number of items in the scale.

The types of career anchors are:-

1. Technical competence: You organize career around the challenge of the actual work you are doing.
2. Autonomy: You value freedom and independence.
3. Service: You are concerned with helping others or working on an important cause.
4. Identity: You are concerned with status, prestige and titles in your work.
5. Variety: You seek an endless variety of new and different challenges.
6. Managerial competence: You like to solve problems and want to lead and control others.
7. Security: You want stability and career security.
8. Creativity: You have a strong need to create something of your own.

Ask yourself ..On which anchor did I receive the highest score? What jobs fit best with this anchor? Use your analysis to select the right job and career for you. You will function best when your job fits with your career anchor. 

Source: Robbins, SP, 1994, ‘Organizational Behavior’, 6th edition, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi

What's Your Learning Style? : Quiz; Jan'08

1.When I operate new equipment I generally:

1. read the instructions first
2. listen to an explanation from someone who has used it before
3. go ahead and have a go, I can figure it out as I use it

2. When I need directions for travelling I usually:

1. look at a map
2. ask for spoken directions
3. follow my nose and maybe use a compass

3. When I cook a new dish, I like to:

1. follow a written recipe
2. call a friend for an explanation
3. follow my instincts, testing as I cook

4. If I am teaching someone something new, I tend to:

1. write instructions down for them
2. give them a verbal explanation
3. demonstrate first and then let them have a go

5. I tend to say:

1. watch how I do it
2. listen to me explain
3. you have a go

6. During my free time I most enjoy:

1. going to museums and galleries
2. listening to music and talking to my friends
3. playing sport or doing DIY

7. When I go shopping for clothes, I tend to:

1. imagine what they would look like on
2. discuss them with the shop staff
3. try them on and test them out

8. When I am choosing a holiday I usually:

1. read lots of brochures
2. listen to recommendations from friends
3. imagine what it would be like to be there

9. If I was buying a new car, I would:

1. read reviews in newspapers and magazines
2. discuss what I need with my friends
3. test-drive lots of different types

10. When I am learning a new skill, I am most comfortable:

1. watching what the teacher is doing
2. talking through with the teacher exactly what I’m supposed to do
3. giving it a try myself and work it out as I go

11. If I am choosing food off a menu, I tend to:

1. imagine what the food will look like
2. talk through the options in my head or with my partner
3. imagine what the food will taste like

12. When I listen to a band, I can’t help:

1. watching the band members and other people in the audience
2. listening to the lyrics and the beats
3. moving in time with the music

13. When I concentrate, I most often:

1. focus on the words or the pictures in front of me
2. discuss the problem and the possible solutions in my head
3. move around a lot, fiddle with pens and pencils and touch things

14. I choose household furnishings because I like:

1. their colours and how they look
2. the descriptions the sales-people give me
3. their textures and what it feels like to touch them

15. My first memory is of:

1. looking at something
2. being spoken to
3. doing something

16. When I am anxious, I:

1. visualise the worst-case scenarios
2. talk over in my head what worries me most
3. can’t sit still, fiddle and move around constantly

17. I feel especially connected to other people because of:

1. how they look
2. what they say to me
3. how they make me feel

18. When I have to revise for an exam, I generally:

1. write lots of revision notes and diagrams
2. talk over my notes, alone or with other people
3. imagine making the movement or creating the formula

19. If I am explaining to someone I tend to:

1. show them what I mean
2. explain to them in different ways until they understand
3. encourage them to try and talk them through my idea as they do it

20. I really love:

1. watching films, photography, looking at art or people watching
2. listening to music, the radio or talking to friends
3. taking part in sporting activities, eating fine foods and wines or dancing

21. Most of my free time is spent:

1. watching television
2. talking to friends
3. doing physical activity or making things

22. When I first contact a new person, I usually:

1. arrange a face to face meeting
2. talk to them on the telephone
3. try to get together whilst doing something else, such as an activity or a meal

23. I first notice how people:

1. look and dress
2. sound and speak
3. stand and move

24. If I am angry, I tend to:

1. keep replaying in my mind what it is that has upset me
2. raise my voice and tell people how I feel
3. stamp about, slam doors and physically demonstrate my anger

25. I find it easiest to remember:

1. faces
2. names
3. things I have done

26. I think that you can tell if someone is lying if:

1. they avoid looking at you
2. their voices changes
3. they give me funny vibes

27. When I meet an old friend:

1. I say “it’s great to see you!”
2. I say “it’s great to hear from you!”
3. I give them a hug or a handshake

28. I remember things best by:

1. writing notes or keeping printed details
2. saying them aloud or repeating words and key points in my head
3. doing and practising the activity or imagining it being done

29. If I have to complain about faulty goods, I am most comfortable:

1. writing a letter
2. complaining over the phone
3. taking the item back to the store or posting it to head office

30. I tend to say:

1. I see what you mean
2. I hear what you are saying
3. I know how you feel

Scoring Key

Add up how many 1 ’s, 2 ’s and 3 ’s you selected.    1’s =_____  2’s =_____  3’s =_____

If you chose mostly 1 ’s you have a VISUAL learning style. If you chose mostly 2 ’s you have an AUDITORY learning style. If you chose mostly 3 ’s you have a KINAESTHETIC learning style.

Interpretation
The VAK learning styles model suggests that most people have one of three preferred styles of learning. Some people have a very strong preference; other people have a more even mixture of two or less commonly, three styles. When you know your preferred learning style(s) you understand the type of learning that best suits you. This enables you to choose the types of learning that work best for you. The three styles are as follows, (and there is no right or wrong learning style):

• Visual learning style person has a preference for seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc. These people will use phrases such as ‘show me’, ‘let’s have a look at that’ and will be best able to perform a new task after reading the instructions or watching someone else do it first. These are the people who will work from lists and written directions and instructions.
• Auditory learning style person has a preference for the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises. These people will use phrases such as ‘tell me’, ‘let’s talk it over’ and will be best able to perform a new task after listening to instructions from an expert. These are the people who are happy being given spoken instructions over the telephone, and can remember all the words to songs that they hear!
• Kinaesthetic learning style person has a preference for physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as ‘let me try’, ‘how do you feel?’ and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first.

Find Out How Optimistic You Are! : Quiz, Aug'07

Optimism contributes to emotional intelligence and job success in the workplace.

• If you are an optimist you see the world as positive, safe and enjoyable. You dedicate your thinking to solving problems and finding new approaches.
• If you are a pessimist you may view the world as dangerous and likely to get worse. You probably dedicate much of your thinking to worrying and expecting the worst.

To determine how optimistic you are complete the following optimism quiz. If a statement describes the way you act or think more than half the time, write T otherwise write F.

Scoring Direction: