The Hindu Business Line : Can cricket obsession affect one's productivity?

Story so far: During an elevator ride, I get to hear a fervent pitch for funding by a B-school grad named Nidhi. `Vroom Groom,' her project, would provide free haircuts in villages and also in pockets of poverty, while being a premium facility in the upmarket places, explains Nidhi to my venture capitalist-friend. The idea, though, doesn't find his favour. Later, Nidhi tells me how basic grooming to the underprivileged youths can help add to the supply side of the labour market. We need more entrepreneurs like Nidhi, who can merge business interests with social causes, and see fortune at the bottom of the pyramid as C. K. Prahalad speaks of, I think.

Episode 164

Let me check my inbox to see if Nidhi has support. "Vroom Groom is an interesting idea," writes T. R. Anandan from Coimbatore. Yet, he does not subscribe to the view that the poor youths should be provided free haircut in villages and slums to improve their personality and chances of getting a job. "Hair cut is not the only way to improve the appearance of a person. There are plenty of youths who grow hair and even beard, but are presentable. Providing good clothes, which are costly these days but are a necessity to enhance smartness and personality, is perhaps a better idea.

Such projects should include counselling by persons like Nidhi so as to make the unemployed aware of the opportunities available to them that are commensurate with their educational qualifications, and also what could be done to improve their chances of getting employment. Generally speaking, I am of the opinion that any help in any manner extended to the unfortunate would be a welcome gesture." Thanks Anandan, for zooming in with your views!

"Yes, there is obviously a serious business proposition and novel idea in that," says Krithivasan. "Today, if quality and timely services are rendered, there are people willing to open up their purses. Premium pricing can always be bet upon. The underlying social service motto can catch up, as a fancy to start with, and will in all probability stabilise/improve later by word of mouth and other forms of publicity. I am sure the business plan will certainly succeed. What is required is clear demarcation of these two platforms, with superior profits as the aim in the first one so as to subside the other venture. In fact, this particular thought in your blog itself may spur similar such ventures."

It seems other initiatives are on already, Krithivasan. I read recently that social biz models have been showcased at an ISB competition. The `99 Second Elevator Pitch' at the Indian School of Business, as a part of the Asia Semi-Final of the Global Social Venture Competition, held a few weeks ago, attracted participants from Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, China and Dubai. Projects spoken about there included a web of community kitchens, global health market harnessing the power of herbal medicine, training the visually-challenged to become medical transcriptionists, using gamma radiations to transform sewerage sludge and so on.

Saravanan KR from Chennai, says that he was thinking about the topic last month. What a coincidence! His idea is that every company earning above a threshold limit should have a separate department that works to alleviate poverty, improve education and so on. Tax incentives may be given for the purpose, suggests Saravanan.

"In the current age of computerisation, where the average salary has increased, individuals contribute money to programmes for spastic children, old age people and so on. Why not they contribute money for poverty eradication, education and food, and rural development? If an every individual starts helping those people, our nation can become wealthy." As with other proposals, one may have to study the feasibility of your idea, Saravanan.

"It is true that for India to grow consistently over the next decade, it is necessary to have diverse business activities thriving in the economy so that the pace and growth of economy do not gets skewed," says Sriram Kannan. "The need to involve the people at the bottom of the pyramid for growth, either directly or indirectly, is becoming the focus of attention throughout the business communities, be it automotive, telecom or banking, to name a few.

"Economic catalysts such as the Green Revolution and the White Revolution underscored the need to spread the benefits among the rural population to expand the growth opportunity in our country. For the coming decades, to enable India become competitive, I feel it is necessary that business plans that meet the social needs should be given as much priority as commercial plans"

********

Cricket can get heady

We couldn't do much in the office the last few weeks. Reason: Erratic attendance, and sleepy staff. The more proximate reason, as you might have guessed, was the late-night viewing of cricket matches on the TV.

Even the few hours that people spent in the office were gobbled up by water-cooler discussions and canteen debates on the game, past and future.

When I went to the boss to complain about the slackness in the department, I was surprised to find him glued to the small screen. "You too, sir!" I exclaimed. He chuckled and clicked the telly off. "That was only to know the score," he said. "I'm aware that the game season robs us of many man-hours. If only our people spent the time in physical workout, the company would be far more healthy," said the boss. I suggested that we organise a mini sports event, and the idea gained an immediate okay.

That evening, a frantic call from Indira, an old friend of mine, saw me going to her residence. "Kirti is not studying," she had lamented over the phone. Kirti, her son, has enrolled for CA, I remembered. "What's the problem?" I asked her. "Cricket!" she said, sounding frustrated. The cause for her anguish was very much evident when I entered Indira's flat.

A live coverage of a cricket march was screaming out of the television, and Kirti was keenly watching it. "He is so crazy about cricket that his studies have taken a back-seat," fretted Indira.

I whispered to her, "It is only a matter of time. I am sure some sobering up will happen all round, after our dejected team returns from the West Indies... "

Cricket obsession can affect one's productivity, I explained to her. "Can it?" she wondered... Send in your thoughts by Friday.

SWATI_CA@HOTMAIL.COM

Blog at: http://Swati-CA.blogspot.com

More Stories on : Economy | Sports | Swati CA

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
How good are your auditing skills

Can cricket obsession affect one's productivity?

When is forex earned taxable?

Stay focused on your core competence

When banks shut down

Is inflation bad?

Higher interest rates can hurt investment prospects

Just Do IT

Number Crunch

Joint account interest in income-tax return

Advertisers hit for a huge six

Never be afraid to do something new

Accountability defined

Inside internal audit