The Hindu Business Line : Cluster of competencies

SCRIBE or `socially responsible business excellence' is what our leaders should aim at, says The Indian CEO by Signe M. Spencer et al from Response (www.sagepublications.com). The authors describe SCRIBE as a cluster of three competencies — adaptive thinking, entrepreneurial drive, and excellence in execution. Adaptive thinking is about being open enough to go beyond the current state of business; "the leader does not believe that the company has the best ideas and is willing to find, adapt and utilise the best-of-the-breed practices, innovations and technologies from across the globe."

Entrepreneurial drive pushes leaders `to find newer vistas of growth and take the firm to uncharted areas, experiment with newer business models'. And the third competency, excellence in execution, bridges the gap between blueprints and results, budgets and outcomes, by providing "the sense of urgency and focus which ensures that goals are accomplished within a reasonable (or even a very challenging) time-frame."

Illuminating findings from a detailed study.

Delivery of justice

A strong weapon in the judiciary's armoury is `contempt of court'. The mere knowledge that the court possesses this weapon makes it effective, says Justice S. S. Sodhi in The Other Side of Justice, from Hay House India (www.hayhouse.co.in). Courts however are loath to resort to this weapon, especially with regard to lawyers, he adds. "Lawyers are officers of the court and have a significant role to play in the justice delivery system. Unfortunately, over the years, several unsavoury incidents occurred both in the Allahabad High Court as also in the subordinate courts. The outcome of such incidents was that lawyers, by their conduct and attitude, tended more to thwart the delivery of justice rather than advance it... "

A memoir of value from the former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court.

TDS and TCS

Should advertising agencies deduct tax from payments made to the media? Is a contract for putting up a hoarding in the nature of advertising? Does TDS (tax deduction at source) arise when payment is made for serving food in a restaurant? Are warehousing charges treated as `rent'? What are the due dates for filing TDS returns? How much does it cost to get a tatkal TAN (tax deduction account number)? Can I quote my PAN (permanent account number) instead of TAN? How do I file TCS (tax collected at source) return online? Is the transmission of data secure in e-tax payment? Look for answers to these and more questions in the latest edition of Practical Guide on TDS and TCS by G. Sekar, from Company Law Institute of India P Ltd (www.cliofindia.com). Ready reference.

Tailpiece

"They found the face on the passport to be different?"

"Effect of plastic surgery?"

"No, Photoshop treatment!"

http://BookPeek.blogspot.com

D. Murali