“The Kelley School is partnering with IIM Rohtak (IIM-R)and its dean has already visited the site. This would be a strategic partnership for student and faculty exchange, joint curriculum designing and research. It would be a partnership on the same lines as IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has with Harvard University,” said Deepender Hooda, MP from Rohtak, and son of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Incidentally, Deepender himself graduated from Kelley.
IIM Lucknow (IIM-L), which is mentoring IIM-R, has confirmed that the first semester classes will begin from July and end in September.
“Kelley school’s dean visited Rohtak and talks are on. But all of this will happen once a full-time director and faculty are in place. However, on an immediate basis, we have to start with the programme and other short courses,” corroborated IIM-L Director Devi Singh.
In August last year, the government approved setting up four IIMs at Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Raipur (Chhattishargh) and Rohtak (Haryana) in 2009-10, which would become functional from the academic session 2010-11. The Post-Graduate Programme (PGP) in Management would be the flagship programme with an intake of 140 students though in the first year several executive programmes including those in the public policy domain focusing on civic and municipal services would be started. The projected Eleventh Plan outlay for each of the four IIMs to be established during 2009-10 is Rs 166 crore.
In the second phase, the rest of three IIMs are to be set up in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan in 2010-11. The intake of students would be 560 per year after the second phase.
Singh said the Kelley School had shown interest and a dialogue between the directors was on.
The construction of the 170-acre IIM-R campus is on, but for the time being, classes will be held in Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, according to a memorandum of understanding signed between the two institutes.
Source: Business Standard
From :testfunda.com
Showing posts with label logical ability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label logical ability. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
CAT scores are correct: Prometric
AHMEDABAD: The only tool in the hands of some of the candidates of Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009, in the form of the RTI Act, has also become ineffective. The candidates who wanted to know the break up of their raw scores and were asked to knock the Prometric’s door by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) are now disappointed.
The reply they have received from Prometric says, “We have carefully reviewed your responses, rechecked your scores and have found them to be absolutely correct. You will be happy to note that they are exactly the same as reported to you on www.catiim.in. To safeguard certain information which is proprietary to Prometric and IIM and to ensure the integrity and security of CAT, it will not be possible for us to disclose the additional information that you are requesting for.”
A letter from CAT Candidate Care Support, Prometric Testing Private Limited, says, “You will understand that the purpose of the test is to assess a candidate’s aptitude and skill in a domain. Public disclosure of the questions, its contents, answer keys and specific scoring procedures for each candidate compromise validity and subsequent use of the questions.”
“I had asked a set of questions that have been unanswered till now. I have spoken to the concerned authorities at IIM-A and then approached Prometric, like I was asked. After close to eight days of waiting, I still stand at the same point from where I had started,” said one of the candidates who has received this reply. The other CAT 2009 candidates who had written to Prometric have received the same letter in answer.
Source: business Standard
The reply they have received from Prometric says, “We have carefully reviewed your responses, rechecked your scores and have found them to be absolutely correct. You will be happy to note that they are exactly the same as reported to you on www.catiim.in. To safeguard certain information which is proprietary to Prometric and IIM and to ensure the integrity and security of CAT, it will not be possible for us to disclose the additional information that you are requesting for.”
A letter from CAT Candidate Care Support, Prometric Testing Private Limited, says, “You will understand that the purpose of the test is to assess a candidate’s aptitude and skill in a domain. Public disclosure of the questions, its contents, answer keys and specific scoring procedures for each candidate compromise validity and subsequent use of the questions.”
“I had asked a set of questions that have been unanswered till now. I have spoken to the concerned authorities at IIM-A and then approached Prometric, like I was asked. After close to eight days of waiting, I still stand at the same point from where I had started,” said one of the candidates who has received this reply. The other CAT 2009 candidates who had written to Prometric have received the same letter in answer.
Source: business Standard
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Compete and survive
i really liked tis article and i thought mayb i should put it up for reads for all my frends!!!!
The opening up of Indian higher education to foreign competition by allowing foreign universities to start campuses in India has the potential to have the same impact as the post-1991 opening up had on the overall economy. A final assessment of the move has to await the enactment of the legislation and the shape it eventually takes. The best case scenario is global best practices coming in and forcing Indian higher education to reform in the face of competition. The worst case scenario is second-class institutions coming in and that too only in areas with good revenue potential, taking away some of the good teachers from leading national institutions and eventually having little impact on the overall scene in terms of quality or quantity (seats). Some of the leading institutions in the world have indicated that they are in no hurry to come, but this is just the beginning of a long process and the attractiveness of India as a market for higher education and catchment area for good students will only grow over time.The conflicting perception of what the government move portends is best highlighted by the views of two IIM Ahmedabad directors, the current incumbent sounding pessimistic and the former sounding optimistic on the assumption that the government will now do what needs doing and thereby set the ground for positive results. The pessimism stems from the feeling that the best national institutions will be locked in an unequal combat. They have neither the autonomy to do what needs doing nor the resources to retain the best teachers. In short, Indian institutions need a level playing field to effectively compete with foreign institutions. They must get it. There is a lot of hope in HRD Minister Kapil Sibal allowing extensive functional autonomy, but the issue is, ministers will come and go and an institutional mechanism needs to be put in place to ensure that the politician-bureaucrat nexus does not claw back what it has had to give up at one stage.
The issue of resources can be more difficult to resolve. To get good teachers, the best institutions which already have substantial vacancies, will have to pay better. As the government’s ability to keep footing a rising deficit is limited, higher fees should not lead to some of the brightest youngsters being unable to afford the best education. There are two solutions to this. One, raise fees but increase the scope of assistance and cheap educational loans so that the system becomes more or less means-blind. Two, improve the academic atmosphere, particularly for research, as that, as much as good pay, attracts the best teaching talent. This is squarely in the court of the institutions’ leadership. The IIM-A director also feels that having to live with quotas in intakes places Indian institutions at a disadvantage. Yes and no. The foreign institutions will be no different from domestic private unaided ones, which also do not have to abide by quotas. Besides, it can be argued that quotas do not automatically imply a handicap. The IITs and IIMs have to live down the criticism, made more often against the IIMs, that they produce the best because they take in the best, with little value addition by them. The best teachers are those who create the best out of the second best.
Source: testfunda.com
to read original click here
The opening up of Indian higher education to foreign competition by allowing foreign universities to start campuses in India has the potential to have the same impact as the post-1991 opening up had on the overall economy. A final assessment of the move has to await the enactment of the legislation and the shape it eventually takes. The best case scenario is global best practices coming in and forcing Indian higher education to reform in the face of competition. The worst case scenario is second-class institutions coming in and that too only in areas with good revenue potential, taking away some of the good teachers from leading national institutions and eventually having little impact on the overall scene in terms of quality or quantity (seats). Some of the leading institutions in the world have indicated that they are in no hurry to come, but this is just the beginning of a long process and the attractiveness of India as a market for higher education and catchment area for good students will only grow over time.The conflicting perception of what the government move portends is best highlighted by the views of two IIM Ahmedabad directors, the current incumbent sounding pessimistic and the former sounding optimistic on the assumption that the government will now do what needs doing and thereby set the ground for positive results. The pessimism stems from the feeling that the best national institutions will be locked in an unequal combat. They have neither the autonomy to do what needs doing nor the resources to retain the best teachers. In short, Indian institutions need a level playing field to effectively compete with foreign institutions. They must get it. There is a lot of hope in HRD Minister Kapil Sibal allowing extensive functional autonomy, but the issue is, ministers will come and go and an institutional mechanism needs to be put in place to ensure that the politician-bureaucrat nexus does not claw back what it has had to give up at one stage.
The issue of resources can be more difficult to resolve. To get good teachers, the best institutions which already have substantial vacancies, will have to pay better. As the government’s ability to keep footing a rising deficit is limited, higher fees should not lead to some of the brightest youngsters being unable to afford the best education. There are two solutions to this. One, raise fees but increase the scope of assistance and cheap educational loans so that the system becomes more or less means-blind. Two, improve the academic atmosphere, particularly for research, as that, as much as good pay, attracts the best teaching talent. This is squarely in the court of the institutions’ leadership. The IIM-A director also feels that having to live with quotas in intakes places Indian institutions at a disadvantage. Yes and no. The foreign institutions will be no different from domestic private unaided ones, which also do not have to abide by quotas. Besides, it can be argued that quotas do not automatically imply a handicap. The IITs and IIMs have to live down the criticism, made more often against the IIMs, that they produce the best because they take in the best, with little value addition by them. The best teachers are those who create the best out of the second best.
Source: testfunda.com
to read original click here
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
'We will establish our credibility if given another chance'
Prometric, the American firm that conducted the first computer based Common Admission Test (CAT) in December last year, has been in the line of fire for the way it conducted the entire test and the glitches that surrounded it. Soumitra Roy, managing director, Prometric Services, India, explained to Kirtika Suneja the teething problems that his company faced and says if given another chance, he would establish Prometric’s credibility besides restoring students’ confidence in CAT. Edited excerpts:
Students have been filing Right to Information (RTI) applications but don’t seem to be getting any answers…
Students don’t file RTIs on us but the IIMs can ask us to investigate or they can do it themselves. However, we have not been asked to investigate a single RTI till now by the IIMs. Also, all RTIs relate to scores and in the pursuit of transparency, we can’t give out the questions. We can do an investigation if someone asks for it.
You have admitted there were lapses all through the administration of CAT. How will you establish credibility?
If the students’ confidence is shaken, then we will educate them by putting relevant information on the CAT-IIM (Indian Institute of Management) website so that they get a good teat taking experience next time. This year, we had teething problems as it was for the first time, in 31 years that CAT went computer-based and away from the paper pencil format. But undoubtedly, there were lapses though we took preventive actions. Now, we do intend to be more interactive and if we get another chance-which most probably we will take all precautions and establish that confidence among students. We will consistently come out with educative activities and white papers.
But the IIMs plan to review their contract with you...
The seven IIM directors decided to give Prometric the five-year contract and it is a huge contract that doesn’t happen everyday. It is completely upto the directors to review it. Discussions are on with the IIMs but the review will happen once the admission process and convocations are over. The contract review process will look at the structure of CAT for next year and how it is to be conducted.
Does Prometric plan to review its contract with NIIT?
NIIT has been our partner for a decade and they have also learnt from this experience. In fact, it has been a learning for all of us. Site preparation and readiness was NIIT’s responsibility but glitches happen while dealing with 17,000 computers across 32 cities. We will review our contract with NIIT but what will come out of it, is still a premature thing. We will review our terms and arrangement with them. Moreover, there are many competent people in the country and choice of NIIT was unanimous at that point of time because they have on ground experience. We have a lot of confidence in them.
The number of CAT takers in 2009 was lower than that in 2008 because CAT was becoming a computer-based test (CBT) for the first time. Will this fiasco discourage students from taking CAT this year?
The number fell not because CAT was becoming computer-based (CBT) but because the placements did not do well in 2009. Many people though of sticking to their job and not testing because of the slowdown. CBT-CAT couldn't have deterred the candidates. In 2010, I don’t think the numbers will go down as the market is now stabilising.
Source: Business Standard
Students have been filing Right to Information (RTI) applications but don’t seem to be getting any answers…
Students don’t file RTIs on us but the IIMs can ask us to investigate or they can do it themselves. However, we have not been asked to investigate a single RTI till now by the IIMs. Also, all RTIs relate to scores and in the pursuit of transparency, we can’t give out the questions. We can do an investigation if someone asks for it.
You have admitted there were lapses all through the administration of CAT. How will you establish credibility?
If the students’ confidence is shaken, then we will educate them by putting relevant information on the CAT-IIM (Indian Institute of Management) website so that they get a good teat taking experience next time. This year, we had teething problems as it was for the first time, in 31 years that CAT went computer-based and away from the paper pencil format. But undoubtedly, there were lapses though we took preventive actions. Now, we do intend to be more interactive and if we get another chance-which most probably we will take all precautions and establish that confidence among students. We will consistently come out with educative activities and white papers.
But the IIMs plan to review their contract with you...
The seven IIM directors decided to give Prometric the five-year contract and it is a huge contract that doesn’t happen everyday. It is completely upto the directors to review it. Discussions are on with the IIMs but the review will happen once the admission process and convocations are over. The contract review process will look at the structure of CAT for next year and how it is to be conducted.
Does Prometric plan to review its contract with NIIT?
NIIT has been our partner for a decade and they have also learnt from this experience. In fact, it has been a learning for all of us. Site preparation and readiness was NIIT’s responsibility but glitches happen while dealing with 17,000 computers across 32 cities. We will review our contract with NIIT but what will come out of it, is still a premature thing. We will review our terms and arrangement with them. Moreover, there are many competent people in the country and choice of NIIT was unanimous at that point of time because they have on ground experience. We have a lot of confidence in them.
The number of CAT takers in 2009 was lower than that in 2008 because CAT was becoming a computer-based test (CBT) for the first time. Will this fiasco discourage students from taking CAT this year?
The number fell not because CAT was becoming computer-based (CBT) but because the placements did not do well in 2009. Many people though of sticking to their job and not testing because of the slowdown. CBT-CAT couldn't have deterred the candidates. In 2010, I don’t think the numbers will go down as the market is now stabilising.
Source: Business Standard
Living is important, not how many years we live
I read this article on Testfunda.com n its so philosophical... nice read...
I read this line a few days back, which made me lost in thoughts for quite some time.. So thought of penning down(rather typing down) what came to my mind.
I read this line a few days back, which made me lost in thoughts for quite some time.. So thought of penning down(rather typing down) what came to my mind.
Life- the one word which separates this planet from others of our galaxy(maybe)....which brings all of us into existence....when we are born, we don't just get a life, we get a chance to experience this wonderful world!...Life is a journey, but whatever the goal is , its the various ups and downs, joys and sorrows, ecstacy and pain, that makes it fulfilling. Its not the length or the distance of the journey, what matters is the pace at which we walk or run, how many times we pant for air and most importantly, who our companions are.
Its important to live life, take everyday as it comes and immerse oneself in it. If we think about whether we'll be there tomorrow or not, we are just failing the whole process. We should be intent on making the most of now. That's all we have in our hands.
On another note, don't we all hate getting old?...Then what's the point in living a hundred years and make our way into record books....In all probability, by then , we will be house to a bunch of diseases and our senile behaviour might turn out to be a major embarassment and disturbance to our loved ones. So whats the point!
There are other ways of becoming immortal if one wants to- doing something worthwhile in whatever span of life one has got!...Many names come to my mind who have left their footmark on this world in the short lives that they have got- Van Gogh, Anne Frank, Amelia Earhart,Kurt Cobain, Bhagat Singh and many others....all for the different contributions that they have made ..By this, I do not want to say that dying young is good, all i want to say is that whatever life we get , we got to make the most out of it.
As i write and you read this , your and my clock is ticking. So lets rock and roll!
Source: testfunda.com
Friday, March 12, 2010
The IPL is back..
Its that time of the year again.....Yes, the great cricketing circus is back....back to where it belongs. Indian Premier League- you can love it or hate it, but you just can't ignore it!
For all cicket lovers, it's honeymoon period .Talking of honeymoons, Indian men can even cancel the same for the sake of cricket!...Talk of love!..... With all the cricketing stars descending upon India these two months, it is commonplace to catch up with some of them at the nearby shopping plaza or hotel, if you happen to be in one of those blessed eight cities . (The bonus i get being in Kolkata is SRK!! ). After a tiring and boring day at work , IPL provides us with the perfect leisure option. Thanks to IPL, we get a welcome relief from those lachrymose "saas-bahu" serials in the prime time slots which the females of the house would invariably switch on. IPL is not just about cricket...It has something for everybody!
I found a flyer in my letter box the other day day about the pizza store giving special "IPL" discounts. Several other eateries ,restaurants and pubs have pitched in with such cool offers. Sounds delicious! ..Even the cineplex near my home is offering "matchday special-priced tickets" . If the cricket gets boring , watching a film there could be a good option, though the caramel popcorn might pinch hard on the pocket. Just a get-to-gether with friends and family on the pretext of watching a match might be a nice way to do some real socializing and get out of that “Facebook” mode for a change. Or for that matter, how about a date at the stadium??!!...But beware, cheerleaders can be a distraction if you are a guy and the girl might be well lost in the handsome thoughts of Shane Bond and Yuvraj Singh!.. On a more serious note, IPL ,along with the ongoing hockey world cup, will surely re-establish the fact that India is a safe and hospitable place ,and all those “worries” of the international cricketers and sportsmen can be put to rest ….By the way, tough luck for all those avid cricket lovers who are having their exams now, or should I say ‘best of luck’!
(P.S.- With no Mandira Bedi in the anchoring team this time, she will surely be missed!)
Source: testfunda.com
To read the entire article Click here
Monday, March 8, 2010
A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Homework (at the hostel)
A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Homework (at the hostel)
1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
2. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.
3. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some coffee to help you concentrate.
4. Stop off at another floor, on the way back and visit with your friend from class. If your friend hasn't started the paper yet either, you can both walk to the nearby cafe and buy a hamburger to help you concentrate. If your friend shows you his paper, typed, double-spaced, and bound in one of those irritating see-through plastic folders, drop him.
5. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
6. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.
7. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.
8. Go look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.
9. Listen to one side of your favourite tape and that's it-- I mean it! As soon as it's over you are going to start that paper.
10. Listen to the other side.
11. Rearrange all of your CDs into alphabetical order.
12. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if he's started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your teacher, the course, the university, and the world at large.
13. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
14. Read over the assignment again; roll the words across your tongue; savour its special flavour.
15. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing something truly worthwhile on TV. NOTE: When you have a paper due in less than 12 hours, anything on TV from 'Rahul Dulhaniyan Le Jayenge' to every Zee or Sony soap is truly worthwhile.
16. Phone your friend on the third floor to see if he was watching. Discuss the finer points of the plot.
17. Go look at your tongue in the bathroom mirror.
18. Look through your roommate's book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.
19. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.
20. Open your door and check to see if there are any mysterious, trench-coated strangers lurking in the hall.
21. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
22. Read over the assignment one more time, just for the heck of it.
23. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.
24. Lie face down on the floor and scream at the top of your lungs.
25. Leap up and write the paper.
26. Type the paper.
27. Complain to everyone that you didn't get any sleep because you had to write the paper.
Source: Testfunda.com
To read the entire Click Here
1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
2. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.
3. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some coffee to help you concentrate.
4. Stop off at another floor, on the way back and visit with your friend from class. If your friend hasn't started the paper yet either, you can both walk to the nearby cafe and buy a hamburger to help you concentrate. If your friend shows you his paper, typed, double-spaced, and bound in one of those irritating see-through plastic folders, drop him.
5. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
6. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.
7. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.
8. Go look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.
9. Listen to one side of your favourite tape and that's it-- I mean it! As soon as it's over you are going to start that paper.
10. Listen to the other side.
11. Rearrange all of your CDs into alphabetical order.
12. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if he's started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your teacher, the course, the university, and the world at large.
13. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
14. Read over the assignment again; roll the words across your tongue; savour its special flavour.
15. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing something truly worthwhile on TV. NOTE: When you have a paper due in less than 12 hours, anything on TV from 'Rahul Dulhaniyan Le Jayenge' to every Zee or Sony soap is truly worthwhile.
16. Phone your friend on the third floor to see if he was watching. Discuss the finer points of the plot.
17. Go look at your tongue in the bathroom mirror.
18. Look through your roommate's book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.
19. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.
20. Open your door and check to see if there are any mysterious, trench-coated strangers lurking in the hall.
21. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
22. Read over the assignment one more time, just for the heck of it.
23. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.
24. Lie face down on the floor and scream at the top of your lungs.
25. Leap up and write the paper.
26. Type the paper.
27. Complain to everyone that you didn't get any sleep because you had to write the paper.
Source: Testfunda.com
To read the entire Click Here
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Adapting Global Brands To Succeed In India and China
I came across this article and think this a good one as it has facts involved which can help for the GD session...
Adapting Global Brands To Succeed In India and China
What should a company do when none of its customers understand the term office supplies? How does a coffee brewer sell its primary product to a nation where tea is the national drink? These are some of the questions multi-nationals face when trying to tap into the world’s two largest markets, India and China.
Adapting to local tastes is a part of any company’s strategy, but this tends to complicate global logistics. It can be done, but needs close management and can lead to growth and make money. Take Starbucks for example. Since homes in China tend to be small, Starbucks positioned its cafes as an attractive place to spend time between home and work, becoming a critical meeting place and social nexus. In addition, the company focuses very heavily on customer service in China and offers a variety of green tea-based beverages as well as food and other products. But it is not easy to convert consumers. Company employees note that customers come in, buy a cup of coffee, keep the cup and refill it with other brands of coffee through the day. To increase brand visibility and foster more loyalty, Starbucks has engaged in a number of marketing programs in the country, even remaining true to its U.S. image as an advocate of sustainable practices.
Experts say that in China, since the current generation is experiencing brands like Starbucks for the first time, they want to experiment, which makes generating loyalty really tough. It is ultimately what happens inside a retail location that will determine what brand a customer chooses. Also, a customer in these countries is more interested in what a product can do, not by the brand name alone. Also, lineage and heritage is important, so brand ambassadors have a strong role to play.
Tweaking a brand slightly to adapt it to different countries is something that office supply retailer Staples is very familiar with, according to Lukas Ruecker, the company’s vice president for emerging economies. Ruecker presented a case illustration demonstrating how the company branded itself in both China and India. Instead of trying to stick to the exact product offering they have in other markets, Staples has altered its mix to suit each culture. To market their offerings in China, the company uses catalogs, direct marketing, billboards and other outdoor ads. Staples also tapped into the growing desire for credit among Chinese consumers. A large part of the revenues also come from office furniture and furnishings.
In India, restrictions on FDI in the retail sector make it necessary for multinationals to partner with Indian firms for opening stores in the country. Staples tied up with the Future Group and its product mix leans heavily towards electronics and appliances like printers and computers. The concept of office supplies is alien to the Indian mindset and the name conveyed a meaning of a grocery store, which the company worked hard to overcome.
The picture is yet not clear on how much impact the big box retailers will have on a market largely dominated overwhelmingly by the small ‘mom-and-pop’ stores. Maturity may be as far away as ten to fifteen years, according to some experts.
Source: Testfunda.com
To read the article Click Here
Adapting Global Brands To Succeed In India and China
What should a company do when none of its customers understand the term office supplies? How does a coffee brewer sell its primary product to a nation where tea is the national drink? These are some of the questions multi-nationals face when trying to tap into the world’s two largest markets, India and China.
Adapting to local tastes is a part of any company’s strategy, but this tends to complicate global logistics. It can be done, but needs close management and can lead to growth and make money. Take Starbucks for example. Since homes in China tend to be small, Starbucks positioned its cafes as an attractive place to spend time between home and work, becoming a critical meeting place and social nexus. In addition, the company focuses very heavily on customer service in China and offers a variety of green tea-based beverages as well as food and other products. But it is not easy to convert consumers. Company employees note that customers come in, buy a cup of coffee, keep the cup and refill it with other brands of coffee through the day. To increase brand visibility and foster more loyalty, Starbucks has engaged in a number of marketing programs in the country, even remaining true to its U.S. image as an advocate of sustainable practices.
Experts say that in China, since the current generation is experiencing brands like Starbucks for the first time, they want to experiment, which makes generating loyalty really tough. It is ultimately what happens inside a retail location that will determine what brand a customer chooses. Also, a customer in these countries is more interested in what a product can do, not by the brand name alone. Also, lineage and heritage is important, so brand ambassadors have a strong role to play.
Tweaking a brand slightly to adapt it to different countries is something that office supply retailer Staples is very familiar with, according to Lukas Ruecker, the company’s vice president for emerging economies. Ruecker presented a case illustration demonstrating how the company branded itself in both China and India. Instead of trying to stick to the exact product offering they have in other markets, Staples has altered its mix to suit each culture. To market their offerings in China, the company uses catalogs, direct marketing, billboards and other outdoor ads. Staples also tapped into the growing desire for credit among Chinese consumers. A large part of the revenues also come from office furniture and furnishings.
In India, restrictions on FDI in the retail sector make it necessary for multinationals to partner with Indian firms for opening stores in the country. Staples tied up with the Future Group and its product mix leans heavily towards electronics and appliances like printers and computers. The concept of office supplies is alien to the Indian mindset and the name conveyed a meaning of a grocery store, which the company worked hard to overcome.
The picture is yet not clear on how much impact the big box retailers will have on a market largely dominated overwhelmingly by the small ‘mom-and-pop’ stores. Maturity may be as far away as ten to fifteen years, according to some experts.
Source: Testfunda.com
To read the article Click Here
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Still, no end to CAT trouble...
I found this article for students who have lost faith in the CAT exam conducted this year...
MUMBAI & AHMEDABAD: The trouble with the Common Admission Test (CAT) refuses to die down. Ever since CAT results were declared on February 28, and the IIMs shortlisted the aspirants, several candidates and CAT trainers are questioning the methodology by which the results were arrived at.
Click here to read further.
Source: Testfunda.com
MUMBAI & AHMEDABAD: The trouble with the Common Admission Test (CAT) refuses to die down. Ever since CAT results were declared on February 28, and the IIMs shortlisted the aspirants, several candidates and CAT trainers are questioning the methodology by which the results were arrived at.
Click here to read further.
Source: Testfunda.com
Friday, March 5, 2010
IIMs and Prometric declare CAT '09 Development and Scoring
God save thje students from this CAT mess...y are they now giving us a document stating the marking scheme... honestly im tired of the whole thing...
IIMs and Prometric declare CAT '09 Development and Scoring
The CAT test development process was conducted in alignment with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. The exam was designed with three sections: (1) Verbal Ability, (2) Quantitative Ability, and (3) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. These three sections are consistent with the knowledge domains historically assessed by the IIM and are also aligned with the content areas covered in equivalent global admission examinations that measure performance along similar scales.
Content of the examination was developed and confirmed by individuals with high levels of expertise in each of three content domains (Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Interpretation). Post-administration analysis was conducted by credentialed psychometricians to confirm the validity of the examination scores and to ensure that every candidate was provided a fair and equal opportunity to display their knowledge.
Step 1: Raw Score is Calculated
Your raw scores are calculated for each section based on the number of questions you answered correctly, incorrectly, or that you omitted.
This scoring methodology ensures that candidates are only awarded points for what they know. Candidates are not awarded inappropriate points for random guessing. This is a standard process in the testing industry and is a methodology employed in scoring similar admissions tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Step 2: Raw Score is "Equated"
Equating is a statistical process used to adjust scores on two or more alternate forms of an assessment so that the scores may be used interchangeably. Industry standard processes were used for equating, such as those outlined within the ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness.
Step3: Equated Raw Score is "Scaled"
In order to ensure appropriate interpretation of an equated raw score, the scores must be placed on a common scale or metric. A linear transformation was used for this scaling process, which is an industry standard practice (Kolen & Brennan, 2004).
The IIM scaling model is as follows:
About Test Difficulty
The CAT exam was developed to accurately identify top performing candidates and that design makes use of a scaled score range of 0-450. In order to appropriately identify the top performing candidates, the CAT exam was, by design, very difficult. As would be expected with the more difficult CAT exam, no candidate answered 100% of the items correctly and no candidate achieved the top theoretical score. The exam design accomplished the goal of identifying the top performing candidates who were, indeed, ranked at the top of the list. If the exam were designed to be substantially easier, it would be theoretically possible for a candidate to achieve a score of 450. However, an exam constructed to be that easy would not serve the distinct purposes of the IIM.
TO read further, go to the Official Catiim Website.
Source: testfunda.com
IIMs and Prometric declare CAT '09 Development and Scoring
The CAT test development process was conducted in alignment with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. The exam was designed with three sections: (1) Verbal Ability, (2) Quantitative Ability, and (3) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. These three sections are consistent with the knowledge domains historically assessed by the IIM and are also aligned with the content areas covered in equivalent global admission examinations that measure performance along similar scales.
Content of the examination was developed and confirmed by individuals with high levels of expertise in each of three content domains (Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Interpretation). Post-administration analysis was conducted by credentialed psychometricians to confirm the validity of the examination scores and to ensure that every candidate was provided a fair and equal opportunity to display their knowledge.
Scoring
Prometric employed an industry-standard, psychometrically-sound approach to the scoring process for all IIM candidates. The three-step process is outlined here and is supported by the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing and the ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness.Step 1: Raw Score is Calculated
Your raw scores are calculated for each section based on the number of questions you answered correctly, incorrectly, or that you omitted.
| Correct | X Incorrect Answer | 0 Omitted |
|---|---|---|
| + 3 points for questions you answered correctly | -1 Points for questions answered correctly | 0 points subtracted for questions you did not answer |
This scoring methodology ensures that candidates are only awarded points for what they know. Candidates are not awarded inappropriate points for random guessing. This is a standard process in the testing industry and is a methodology employed in scoring similar admissions tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Step 2: Raw Score is "Equated"
Equating is a statistical process used to adjust scores on two or more alternate forms of an assessment so that the scores may be used interchangeably. Industry standard processes were used for equating, such as those outlined within the ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness.
Step3: Equated Raw Score is "Scaled"
In order to ensure appropriate interpretation of an equated raw score, the scores must be placed on a common scale or metric. A linear transformation was used for this scaling process, which is an industry standard practice (Kolen & Brennan, 2004).
The IIM scaling model is as follows:
Section Scores = 0 to 150 Total Exam Score = 0 to 450
Four scaled scores are presented for each candidate: an overall scaled score and three separate scaled scores for each section. As the three sections evaluate three distinct sets of knowledge and skills, scores do not correlate across sections. A high score in one section does not guarantee a high score in another section. Percentile rankings are provided for each individual section as well as for the overall exam score. About Test Difficulty
The CAT exam was developed to accurately identify top performing candidates and that design makes use of a scaled score range of 0-450. In order to appropriately identify the top performing candidates, the CAT exam was, by design, very difficult. As would be expected with the more difficult CAT exam, no candidate answered 100% of the items correctly and no candidate achieved the top theoretical score. The exam design accomplished the goal of identifying the top performing candidates who were, indeed, ranked at the top of the list. If the exam were designed to be substantially easier, it would be theoretically possible for a candidate to achieve a score of 450. However, an exam constructed to be that easy would not serve the distinct purposes of the IIM.
TO read further, go to the Official Catiim Website.
Source: testfunda.com
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Class X score will matter in IIM admission
I read this article thought it would be lots of help....
Class X score will matter in IIM admission
KOLKATA: A good percentile in CAT 2009 and an impressive performance in group discussion and personal interview may not be enough to get you into the IIMs as they have added a new criteria from this year: Your scores in matriculation, higher secondary and graduation.
For instance, IIM-Calcutta is taking into account work experience and grades in these three examinations while screening candidates for GD and interview for selection to the postgraduate diploma in computer management course.
"Out of 100 marks, 75 have been allotted to the CAT score, 10 each for Class X and HS scores, and the remaining five marks for work experience," said an IIM-C official. Candidates scoring 95% in Class X and HS will get the full 10 marks, while those getting over 90% eight marks each. Those getting 85-90% will get six marks, 80-85% four marks.
For instance, IIM-Calcutta is taking into account work experience and grades in these three examinations while screening candidates for GD and interview for selection to the postgraduate diploma in computer management course.
"Out of 100 marks, 75 have been allotted to the CAT score, 10 each for Class X and HS scores, and the remaining five marks for work experience," said an IIM-C official. Candidates scoring 95% in Class X and HS will get the full 10 marks, while those getting over 90% eight marks each. Those getting 85-90% will get six marks, 80-85% four marks.
Source: Testfunda.com
To read article Click Here
Can I dream about an IIM
Ive seen the newest IIM K shortlisting criteria..and honestly this year onwards i think the transparency that the IIMs have come up with in their selection process is a result of the ghotala called CAT...
IIM Kozhikode has released its GDPI shortlist.
Candidates can check the list by entering their date of birth and registration number on the official website - http://iimk.ac.in/admission/cat09/GDPILogin.php
Criteria for short listing - PGP Admissions 2010
The selection to the PGP programme of IIM Kozhikode is a multi stage process which starts with the Common Admission Test (CAT). The following describes the procedure used for short listing and further selection of candidates for the 2010 batch. To begin with, candidates meeting with the minimum cut off in each section as well as in the aggregate are selected to form an initial pool. From this pool, an index score is computed with 50 percent weight for the overall CAT score, 20 percent weight for academic performance in secondary school, 20 percent weight for higher secondary school and 10 percent weight for the work experience of the candidate. Based on this index, candidates are called for Group Discussion and Interview as per the details below:
Stage1
The first stage of short listing of candidates based on their overall CAT scores. We will consider all the candidates meeting the minimum cut off and create a pool from which further short listing will be done.
Stage2
In stage 2, an index score is computed with 50 percent weight for the overall CAT score, 20 percent weight for academic performance in secondary school, 20 percent weight for higher secondary school and 10 percent weight for the work experience of the candidate. The academic performance is taken as the percentage of marks reported by the candidates and will be standardised across the boards using the data available with IIMK for four years including the current year. In each category, the top ranking candidates based on this index score is called for further process. The short listed candidates are requested to register at our website and complete the personal profile form online.
Source: Testfunda.com
to read the article Click Here
IIM Kozhikode has released its GDPI shortlist.
Candidates can check the list by entering their date of birth and registration number on the official website - http://iimk.ac.in/admission/cat09/GDPILogin.php
Criteria for short listing - PGP Admissions 2010
The selection to the PGP programme of IIM Kozhikode is a multi stage process which starts with the Common Admission Test (CAT). The following describes the procedure used for short listing and further selection of candidates for the 2010 batch. To begin with, candidates meeting with the minimum cut off in each section as well as in the aggregate are selected to form an initial pool. From this pool, an index score is computed with 50 percent weight for the overall CAT score, 20 percent weight for academic performance in secondary school, 20 percent weight for higher secondary school and 10 percent weight for the work experience of the candidate. Based on this index, candidates are called for Group Discussion and Interview as per the details below:
Stage1
The first stage of short listing of candidates based on their overall CAT scores. We will consider all the candidates meeting the minimum cut off and create a pool from which further short listing will be done.
Stage2
In stage 2, an index score is computed with 50 percent weight for the overall CAT score, 20 percent weight for academic performance in secondary school, 20 percent weight for higher secondary school and 10 percent weight for the work experience of the candidate. The academic performance is taken as the percentage of marks reported by the candidates and will be standardised across the boards using the data available with IIMK for four years including the current year. In each category, the top ranking candidates based on this index score is called for further process. The short listed candidates are requested to register at our website and complete the personal profile form online.
Source: Testfunda.com
to read the article Click Here
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
If God was a banker
Im soo bored and tired of all these exams... to relieve myself from the boredom i got myself this new book its called if God was a banker... ive it till now...il give u guys ful details later..
till then i found this GD clip on testfunda.com.... its really beneficial and has a group of students taking up a virtual gd session....
there are many sessions ive heard a few its content rich and a good experience,.....
to hear the GDs u can click here.... ill be participating in the next GD... hope to give u first hand tips then...
till then i found this GD clip on testfunda.com.... its really beneficial and has a group of students taking up a virtual gd session....
there are many sessions ive heard a few its content rich and a good experience,.....
to hear the GDs u can click here.... ill be participating in the next GD... hope to give u first hand tips then...
Monday, January 11, 2010
FMS FLIES!!!
My FMS experience was a decent one... i had my friend in the same classroom as me so i was a lil ok ...the test went off smoothly except for the invigilator who thought everyone was trying to copy from their friends on the right...
And about the paper: This year’s FMS consisted of 200 questions, compared to last year’s 175. The marking scheme was +4 for correct answers and -1 for negative answers. Thus, the total marks was 800.
The four sections were:
• Section 1: Reading Comprehension
• Section 2: Logical Reasoning
• Section 3: Verbal Ability
• Section 4: Quantitative Ability
Honestly i had prepared well for these sections. and i must say that the hard work payed( ill keep mum till the results)
im glad i went for that movie it helped me relax and write the paper....
what comes next is the NMAT... but now i need some sleep!!!
And about the paper: This year’s FMS consisted of 200 questions, compared to last year’s 175. The marking scheme was +4 for correct answers and -1 for negative answers. Thus, the total marks was 800.
The four sections were:
• Section 1: Reading Comprehension
• Section 2: Logical Reasoning
• Section 3: Verbal Ability
• Section 4: Quantitative Ability
Honestly i had prepared well for these sections. and i must say that the hard work payed( ill keep mum till the results)
im glad i went for that movie it helped me relax and write the paper....
what comes next is the NMAT... but now i need some sleep!!!
Friday, January 8, 2010
3 IDIOTS
Now that all the exams are sooo close i really need to study....im sitting on my study table and the phone rings...its a friend of mine we chat and talk bout studies and then she says how about a movie today???
n im like huh??!?!? are u nuts NNNOOO...n she is like we have studied all year for these exams 3 hours will not make a difference.... HELLL NOOO are u nuts is my reaction....she tries all sorts of dramatic attyachar and finally i squeak yes....
within 5mins she was under my house and no sooner had we left i found myself comfortabily placed in a chair digging my hand into a tub of popcorn.......the movie started off and for those three hours i had forgotten that in the next 48 hours id be done wid a paper which i am really looking forward to...
i was soo guilty that i had wasted my time but hey the movie wasnt disappointing and that saved it for me!!!
n im like huh??!?!? are u nuts NNNOOO...n she is like we have studied all year for these exams 3 hours will not make a difference.... HELLL NOOO are u nuts is my reaction....she tries all sorts of dramatic attyachar and finally i squeak yes....
within 5mins she was under my house and no sooner had we left i found myself comfortabily placed in a chair digging my hand into a tub of popcorn.......the movie started off and for those three hours i had forgotten that in the next 48 hours id be done wid a paper which i am really looking forward to...
i was soo guilty that i had wasted my time but hey the movie wasnt disappointing and that saved it for me!!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
FMS mock tests
I had already taken mocks for the FMS test but im still not confident about my test preparation...
i need to do something more to give me that edge ahead... studying now is of no use... i have to concentrate on taking only tests and concentrate on areas in which im making mistakes..
my tests i took from a friend are done with ive taken 1 test from testfunda.com too...
i needed more tests so i took another one from testfunda.com...
my performance reports are showing a better scene in this particular test...i am confident but still need more tests to take as my test is 3 days from today and im going to be studying till day after midnight only...
i need to do something more to give me that edge ahead... studying now is of no use... i have to concentrate on taking only tests and concentrate on areas in which im making mistakes..
my tests i took from a friend are done with ive taken 1 test from testfunda.com too...
i needed more tests so i took another one from testfunda.com...
my performance reports are showing a better scene in this particular test...i am confident but still need more tests to take as my test is 3 days from today and im going to be studying till day after midnight only...
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