I would like to dedicate this article to flood affected people that took place in Nepalese various districts few months before. May all departed soul rest in peace in heaven.
A series of huge wave as a result of unwieldy disturbances triggered a massive collapse. The dead toll stood at numerous figures. More than hundred thousand people were consigned to dust, many more displaced and even more left directly affected by the disaster. The unusual pictures of houses that have hummed into debris were making headlines- left behind was trauma-physical and mental besides the rack and ruin all over. Come nature and get tosses the magnitude of strength it holds. Nature is completely plagued by uncertainties. At this moment comfort is too little to address the woes. Certainly one nil of time turned around the whole. A flash of second came out with a disaster which exposed a kind of trauma for years to come.
Nevertheless, we human beings should not easily get deserted. It becomes our responsibility to work together in every possible manner .Though the moment has left something tragic and unforgettable not to mention Nepal that witnessed one of the triggest tragedies in the history our mankind, we collectively should address everyone’s woes.
I take this opportunity to urge all the folks to take into proper stock of the situation and contribute something which by and large may add someone’s charm.
LET US MOURN AND PRAY TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ECCENTRICALLY.
By:
Bhim P. Dhungana
Kathmandu University School of Management
MBA Student
Thursday, August 14, 2008
IT Outsourcing in Nepal
In today's global scenario outsourcing is now a growing trend among a wide range of business. Some business outsource to reduce costs, others outsource to focus their main efforts on core operations. Globalization has set the world economy on a momentum wherein protectionist national policies cannot prevail and one must opt to outsource in order to enjoy the lion's share of global market.
For Nepal potential is immense in case of making itself as an alternative to outsourcing destination. With the revolution in internet technology and the spread of internet many company based on BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) like Serving Minds pvt ltd and Link Tree has already started working in Nepal and they are performing well. Education levels in countries in Eastern Europe and Asia have grown quickly, as a result traditional knowledge advantages of western countries have diminished these days. Driven by fierce competition and price pressure in the west many international companies are looking towards country like Nepal for outsourcing there job.
Every country hooks for a niche, like Netherlands (Holland) is focusing on designing circuits. For Nepal it can look for IT related services. We have more then 4800 IT graduates per year produced by IT colleges. These IT grads with immense creativity and knowledge needs to be promoted by companies and should build IT outsourced job to provide platform for them. Although India and China are the preferred outsourcing destinations at the present the rising costs in India and legal problems in China has forced western multinational companies to find new destinations for outsourcing. Poland is coming up in Eastern European region, and then there is Russia and former Yugoslavia. In the Asian region, I believe Nepal, Sri Lanka would be a great destinations because of the lower costs, sizeable English speaking population and availability of trained manpower. Outsourcing main driving force is a cheap labor. Apart from cheap labor for companies like Serving Minds pvt Ltd English also play an important role. Countries like India, Philippines and Singapore are with high English literally rates and are till now have been a major outsourcing destination. Increasing labor cost in these countries can provide good opportunity for Nepal as an alternative to these countries. As companies can go to any length to get the cheap labor the question is, whether you want to hire a Customer service executive, IT professional or Clerk in USA for $7500, or in India for IRS 7500 or in Nepal for Rs 7500, no doubt the obvious answer is Nepal.
As India has garnered profit from outsourcing in recent years, this phenomenon has undoubtedly assisted it for its 9% per year growing economy; prospects for Nepal can likely be very good as well because the main advantages that Nepal posses are its comparatively higher rate of English literacy with cheap labor force and good pool of IT graduates. We can state a thousand odd reasons as to why you should outsource to Nepal. But the most important reason will always be "Cost Benefits". The value proposition that Nepal has is that you get high quality expertise at low costs, so undoubtely one will consider outsourcing to Nepal as an good alternative if it gets 45% savings without having to make a compromise on quality.
Ashutosh Mani Dixit
MBA 5th Term
KUSOM
For Nepal potential is immense in case of making itself as an alternative to outsourcing destination. With the revolution in internet technology and the spread of internet many company based on BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) like Serving Minds pvt ltd and Link Tree has already started working in Nepal and they are performing well. Education levels in countries in Eastern Europe and Asia have grown quickly, as a result traditional knowledge advantages of western countries have diminished these days. Driven by fierce competition and price pressure in the west many international companies are looking towards country like Nepal for outsourcing there job.
Every country hooks for a niche, like Netherlands (Holland) is focusing on designing circuits. For Nepal it can look for IT related services. We have more then 4800 IT graduates per year produced by IT colleges. These IT grads with immense creativity and knowledge needs to be promoted by companies and should build IT outsourced job to provide platform for them. Although India and China are the preferred outsourcing destinations at the present the rising costs in India and legal problems in China has forced western multinational companies to find new destinations for outsourcing. Poland is coming up in Eastern European region, and then there is Russia and former Yugoslavia. In the Asian region, I believe Nepal, Sri Lanka would be a great destinations because of the lower costs, sizeable English speaking population and availability of trained manpower. Outsourcing main driving force is a cheap labor. Apart from cheap labor for companies like Serving Minds pvt Ltd English also play an important role. Countries like India, Philippines and Singapore are with high English literally rates and are till now have been a major outsourcing destination. Increasing labor cost in these countries can provide good opportunity for Nepal as an alternative to these countries. As companies can go to any length to get the cheap labor the question is, whether you want to hire a Customer service executive, IT professional or Clerk in USA for $7500, or in India for IRS 7500 or in Nepal for Rs 7500, no doubt the obvious answer is Nepal.
As India has garnered profit from outsourcing in recent years, this phenomenon has undoubtedly assisted it for its 9% per year growing economy; prospects for Nepal can likely be very good as well because the main advantages that Nepal posses are its comparatively higher rate of English literacy with cheap labor force and good pool of IT graduates. We can state a thousand odd reasons as to why you should outsource to Nepal. But the most important reason will always be "Cost Benefits". The value proposition that Nepal has is that you get high quality expertise at low costs, so undoubtely one will consider outsourcing to Nepal as an good alternative if it gets 45% savings without having to make a compromise on quality.
Ashutosh Mani Dixit
MBA 5th Term
KUSOM
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Leadership Lessons from Lagaan
Leadership Lessons from Lagaan
Watching movies has always been my passion rather then reading books. As it is said “Picture speaks thousand words.” Then moving picture will certainly speak million words. So there is lot more fun in watching movies, reading has its own charm of letting you imagine and think about situations. Most of the times I don’t want to think so prefer watching movies. Besides entertainment movies also provide some lessons, of the recent movies I have watched I basically remember:
- Chak De
- An Inconvenient Truth... for stating the negative repercussions of global warming
- Taare Zameen Par… for having faith in one’s strengths rather than weaknesses. And strengthening your strengths rather than crying over weaknesses.
- Ek Ruka Hua Faisla… for teaching art of group decision making and stating that decisions that comes to your mind at first can be faulty and misleading.
- The Namesake... for showing cross-cultural differences and generation gap.
- Gandhi… for showing sheer belief of M.K. Gandhi on Truth.
- Guru... For entrepreneurship lessons.
- Sparsh (which is about blind people)… for showing self sufficiency, self humiliation power of inner love.
This article is based on one of my favorite movies Lagaan and leadership lessons that can be drawn from it. This can be different experience than what you may have read about leadership in your management courses (especially in the subject Organization Change and Leadership)
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Leader is one who takes up missions, which are challenging. Is one who is passionately involved in his pursuit to accomplish his mission? A determination to make the passion reflect in practice. A torchbearer who not only knows the direction but also courageously copes up with uncertainty of finding the right path. Conviction to conquer is palpably visible in him. He knows it is he who has to take the initiate and institutionalise the team essentially to accomplish a mission. A faith to succeed only resides in the heart and mind of a leader, which others cannot sense it or see it. The dexterity of a leader lies in mobilizing the fragmented skills and latent talents of his team members.
What was demonstrated in the movie Lagaan was Aamir Khan as a leader with passion and determination could subtly show the imperative traits of a successful leadership. Following are some examples which shows belief of the leader in followers:
A team member (Kachra, the sweeper) was crippled, Aamir’s observation made him identify the latent talent in a disabled untouchable. The entire village was hostile with his decision of the inclusion of untouchable cripple in the game of cricket. As a leader he was able to spot the talent and place it appropriately in his game plan (spin-bowling). - Another team member (Bhura, the murgiwalaa) had spent sizeable portion of his life in hounding behind the hens and catching them with perfection. He saw his quick reflection when this person caught the ball, which nobody even thought of it.
A dumb member (Bagha, the mute temple drummer) who was strong and stout, the leader could think of how to channelise his physical power into constructive contribution to the team. A leader has to keep his ego and pride in isolation when on a march to achieve the mission. - Another member (Goli, the farmer with a larger piece of land) was stubborn against the participation to take up the challenge. Aamir Khan knew this man’s attachment to his land. He could identify the right opportunity and conveyed in a manner the facts that his non-participation may result in relinquishment of the prized possession of his land.
- The team had a traitor (Lakha, the woodcutter); anybody could have subjected him to abject punishment. But as leader he restrained his temperament and took time to understand the culprit. A leader should forgive mistakes when sincerely acknowledged by the doer. Forgiveness and fair chance brought wonders to contribution of the team performance. Members may have antagonism against the opposition or your competitor.
- A leader has to tone these negative energies into positive use in the accomplishment of the mission. That was reflected in the conversion of another member’s (Deva, the Sikh from a neighbouring village) vengeance against the Britishers.
This ability to skillfully convince the team members should be an integral part of any leader. With all prevailing resistance he took up the initiative by chiseling out a bat from a wood piece, when everybody was against challenging Britishers on Cricket.
As a leader one should make oneself confident and comfortable in the task and demonstrate in front of others to make them realise that the insurmountable hurdles they see is just an artificial perception. The perception can change only through experience and observations. Unshackling their pre-conceived notions about the challenges of the mission is a pre-requisite skill of a successful leader. Leading by demonstration not just by giving sermons.
Aamir Khan as a leader had brought so much passion into his mission that everybody was intrinsically motivated to offer his or her best effort.
- The member (Ishwar Kaka, the vaid) was completely exhausted but he kept his personal agony in abeyance and just went ahead with his leader’s call.
- The member (Ismail, the potter) who was badly hurt in the dwell garnered all his courage to take the bull by his horn and was with the leader to strengthen his determination.
- Not to undermine the words of the member (Guran, the fortune teller) who constantly created that feeling of triumph. Definitely has magical effect in moulding the thinking and orientation of members to visualize a winning situation.
- Another member (Arjan, the blacksmith) whose vengeance against the opposition was transformed into constructive energy and was timely unleashed in the game.
As a leader one should have a passion for the mission and a faith full of grit. To make his belief a part of his team member he should be able to know the strengths and weaknesses of each of his member. This comes with keen observation and interaction with involvement. It’s only through infusion of human touch that an impossible mission becomes possible. Human touch of forgiving a confessor, spotting talent in everybody even in a crippled, channelising negative energy into positive use, highlighting the significance of the need of each one’s contributions, convince with persuasion not with imposition, demonstration of how easy not how difficult a task is and finally the word of assurance and comfort that as a team we are going to succeed. Are few of the vital traits that differentiate a successful leader from an unsuccessful one? In fact those aspirants to be a leader should see the movie Lagaan to learn the lessons of leadership.
Leaders like him have the uncanny ability to understand the power of the business they are in. They realise their limitations and their boundaries. They know how to spot an opportunity, and how to convert that into business. They know their people, their weaknesses and their strengths. They know how to tap their energies and produces winners. These are leaders who dare to dream, that become a vision. Then it becomes an obsession that wouldn’t let them rest until their dream becomes a reality. In a world of me-toos, they have the ability to stand out from the pack. By creating distinguishable traits that separate the best from the rest. They do not follow the herd. They create their own paths to prosperity.
Collected by: Sworup Shrestha
Monday, August 11, 2008
BBC’s Most Read Books Series
BBC’s Most Read Books Series
The Big Read series was broadcast on BBC Two from 18 October to 13 December 2003.
Web, SMS, phone and interactive voting ended on 11 December and only the phone vote was opened briefly for the duration of the final programme on 13 December.
Here is the final ranking of the Top 200 books based on all votes that were submitted throughout the series.
1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12.
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30.
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36.
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome
102. Small Gods, Terry Pratchett
103. The Beach, Alex Garland
104. Dracula, Bram Stoker
105. Point Blanc, Anthony Horowitz
106. The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens
107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz
108. The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks
109. The Day Of The Jackal, Frederick Forsyth
110. The Illustrated Mum, Jacqueline Wilson
111. Jude The Obscure, Thomas Hardy
112. The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, Sue Townsend
113. The Cruel Sea, Nicholas Monsarrat
114. Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
115. The Mayor Of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy
116. The Dare Game, Jacqueline Wilson
117. Bad Girls, Jacqueline Wilson
118. The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
119. Shogun, James Clavell
120. The Day Of The Triffids, John Wyndham
121. Lola Rose, Jacqueline Wilson
122. Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray
123. The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy
124. House Of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski
125. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
126. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett
127. Angus, Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging, Louise Rennison
128. The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle
129. Possession, A. S. Byatt
130. The Master And Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
131. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
132. Danny The Champion Of The World, Roald Dahl
133. East Of Eden, John Steinbeck
134. George's Marvellous Medicine, Roald Dahl
135. Wyrd Sisters, Terry Pratchett
136. The Color Purple, Alice Walker
137. Hogfather, Terry Pratchett
138. The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
139. Girls In Tears, Jacqueline Wilson
140. Sleepovers, Jacqueline Wilson
141. All Quiet On The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
142. Behind The Scenes At The Museum, Kate Atkinson
143. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby
144. It, Stephen King
145. James And The Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
146. The Green Mile, Stephen King
147. Papillon, Henri Charriere
148. Men At Arms, Terry Pratchett
149. Master And Commander, Patrick O'Brian
150. Skeleton Key, Anthony Horowitz
151. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett
152. Thief Of Time, Terry Pratchett
153. The Fifth Elephant, Terry Pratchett
154. Atonement, Ian McEwan
155. Secrets, Jacqueline Wilson
156. The Silver Sword, Ian Serraillier
157. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey
158. Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
159. Kim, Rudyard Kipling
160. Cross Stitch, Diana Gabaldon
161. Moby Dick, Herman Melville
162. River God, Wilbur Smith
163. Sunset Song, Lewis Grassic Gibbon
164. The Shipping News, Annie Proulx
165. The World According To Garp, John Irving
166. Lorna Doone, R. D. Blackmore
167. Girls Out Late, Jacqueline Wilson
168. The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye
169. The Witches, Roald Dahl
170.
171. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
172. They Used To Play On Grass, Terry Venables and Gordon Williams
173. The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway
174. The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco
175. Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder
176. Dustbin Baby, Jacqueline Wilson
177. Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl
178. Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov
179. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, Richard Bach
180. The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint-Exupery
181. The Suitcase Kid, Jacqueline Wilson
182. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
183. The Power Of One, Bryce Courtenay
184. Silas Marner, George Eliot
185. American Psycho, Bret
186. The Diary Of A Nobody, George and Weedon Grossmith
187. Trainspotting,
188. Goosebumps, R. L. Stine
189. Heidi, Johanna Spyri
190. Sons And Lovers, D. H. LawrenceLife of
191. The Unbearable Lightness of Being,
192. Man And Boy, Tony Parsons
193. The Truth, Terry Pratchett
194. The War Of The Worlds, H. G. Wells
195. The Horse Whisperer, Nicholas Evans
196. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
197. Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett
198. The Once And Future King, T. H. White
199. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
200. Flowers In The Attic, Virginia Andrews
Developing Human Resources and Institutions
“Development of a country is not only of its physical capital, but the body of knowledge amassed from tested findings and discoveries of empirical science and the capacity and training of its population to practice their leanings”
Human resources are people dimension in a country and every county has human resources working for its development and affluence. Therefore sustained development of a country is based on development of human resources and its institutions. Different workshops, summits and studies on ways of development of human resources and institutions for attaining the sustaining development is on rise but the record on moving towards sustainability so far appears to have been quite poor in developing country. Here one thing that needs to be considered is whether myriad of factors like socio, political, economic and governance responsible for it or they are lacking proper care in development of human resources and its institutions. Attainment of sustainable development through development of human resources is of logical debate that whether the emphasis should be on the “sustainable” or on the “development”, so to make it akin in focus we can say that development and sustainability must be focused on human resources and institutions who are the practitioners of development.
Addressing the issue towards our country Nepal I would like to reflect why there is complexity in formulating and implementing realistic development policies, strategies and programs and what should be done to develop human resource and institution for there effective implementation. The reason for complexity was very much apparent during the study of concerned matter. Research found that most development practitioners are often not clear of the future directions of their organizations policies to respond towards the need of their markets. Lacking clear policies means that programmes are designed and implemented without clear policy direction and, as a result, projects are unlikely to achieve the defined goals. It is also clear that the most development institutions are not able to formulate and implement policies and programmes most effectively because these institutions are not strong enough to fulfill their mandates competently. There’s need of effort from governments and development institutions where they as a matter of urgency should re-examine its policies on development processes. It should consider on prioritizing for strengthening its development institutions so that these institutions are capable of delivering services. These issues cannot be dealt successfully unless the capacities of its bureaucrats and practitioners are developed and good incentives are provided to apply their knowledge and skills most successfully.
With reference to study carried out by national and international development and donor agencies to assess the state of Development Sector Institutions in Nepal, it has revealed the inability of these institutions to play their role effectively in improving the economies of their countries. It is often stated that these institutions do not have the resources capable of managing programme and project effectively. Although there have been efforts at strengthening institutions at all levels of the socio-economic spectrum, success has been minimal. This is due to the lack of governments’ own policy directions on institutional strengthening and the ad-hoc and almost confused nature of institutional strengthening programme run and financed mostly by international development and donor agencies. The national institutions that are supposed to develop the capacities of people and strengthen institutions in order that they will be able to assist in the development process have not themselves been adequately strengthened. The poor economic performances of these institutions have been attributed to the governments’ educations policies that have failed to provide citizen(s) with appropriate knowledge and skills which will enable them to contribute successfully to their countries development processes. Those who acquired knowledge and skills through the institutions are often unable to apply them because of poor quality of skills and knowledge which were acquired. Most also face resistance when they attempt to apply new skills and knowledge because people in institutions have often not been prepared to accept changes that might affect the way they function. The result is that most of institutions providing the vital services to the citizens of Nepal are often weak and lack human resources to manage programme effectively.
It is urgent, therefore, for the government and their development partners to make comprehensive and coordinated effort to strengthen developmental institutions and develop the capabilities of people to ensure that these institutions are capable of working for the success of programme. Strengthened institutions will have to be equipped to formulate, implement and monitor sustainable poverty alleviation programme. They need to be supported by institutions with the capabilities and the resources to support them.
In development of human resource, management education is another concept which is almost wholly geared towards the improvement of economic affluence. It is found that most development practitioners who have been assigned to manage development projects and programmes are often inadequately equipped to perform their crucial management tasks effectively. This is due to lack of specialization on the field they tend to work or are recruited on. Although governments and developments institutions often allocate funds for the education and training of their practitioners, management education often receives low priority. Development practitioners are often not able to upgrade their management and organizational skills or acquire new ones in order to ensure that they meet the changing demands of their clientele, partners and stakeholders.
As for the new and appropriate ways of developing people, it is necessary to introduce long-term professional education for people who are committed to improve the lives of the poor through effective management of development process. There should be an institution, which is capable of assisting the practitioners to strengthen their institutions, manage projects and programmes with competencies that they will help minimize problems in their organization and improve their performances. The practitioners, who are given responsibility of managing institutions, people and projects that work to improve the lives of poor communities in country, should be able to assist development organizations through education, research and organizational development processes to significantly improve their performances. The practitioners should improve performance by participating in a comprehensive and relevant development education programes. Accessing the knowledge and capabilities they must sign up people in the right place at the right time assigning the responsibility and accountability in the area where he/she has been trained for.
There are still many points which can be addressed for effective development of human resource and institution in my country Nepal. But conclusively, we can say that development of human resource and institutions is necessary for development of an economy as whole. It is not only that for Nepal but majority of countries in Asia and the pacific requires sustainable development through development of human resource and institutions at best to make the world a better place to live in.
By:
Ashutosh Mani Dixit
Kathmandu University School of Management
MBA 5th Term
Human resources are people dimension in a country and every county has human resources working for its development and affluence. Therefore sustained development of a country is based on development of human resources and its institutions. Different workshops, summits and studies on ways of development of human resources and institutions for attaining the sustaining development is on rise but the record on moving towards sustainability so far appears to have been quite poor in developing country. Here one thing that needs to be considered is whether myriad of factors like socio, political, economic and governance responsible for it or they are lacking proper care in development of human resources and its institutions. Attainment of sustainable development through development of human resources is of logical debate that whether the emphasis should be on the “sustainable” or on the “development”, so to make it akin in focus we can say that development and sustainability must be focused on human resources and institutions who are the practitioners of development.
Addressing the issue towards our country Nepal I would like to reflect why there is complexity in formulating and implementing realistic development policies, strategies and programs and what should be done to develop human resource and institution for there effective implementation. The reason for complexity was very much apparent during the study of concerned matter. Research found that most development practitioners are often not clear of the future directions of their organizations policies to respond towards the need of their markets. Lacking clear policies means that programmes are designed and implemented without clear policy direction and, as a result, projects are unlikely to achieve the defined goals. It is also clear that the most development institutions are not able to formulate and implement policies and programmes most effectively because these institutions are not strong enough to fulfill their mandates competently. There’s need of effort from governments and development institutions where they as a matter of urgency should re-examine its policies on development processes. It should consider on prioritizing for strengthening its development institutions so that these institutions are capable of delivering services. These issues cannot be dealt successfully unless the capacities of its bureaucrats and practitioners are developed and good incentives are provided to apply their knowledge and skills most successfully.
With reference to study carried out by national and international development and donor agencies to assess the state of Development Sector Institutions in Nepal, it has revealed the inability of these institutions to play their role effectively in improving the economies of their countries. It is often stated that these institutions do not have the resources capable of managing programme and project effectively. Although there have been efforts at strengthening institutions at all levels of the socio-economic spectrum, success has been minimal. This is due to the lack of governments’ own policy directions on institutional strengthening and the ad-hoc and almost confused nature of institutional strengthening programme run and financed mostly by international development and donor agencies. The national institutions that are supposed to develop the capacities of people and strengthen institutions in order that they will be able to assist in the development process have not themselves been adequately strengthened. The poor economic performances of these institutions have been attributed to the governments’ educations policies that have failed to provide citizen(s) with appropriate knowledge and skills which will enable them to contribute successfully to their countries development processes. Those who acquired knowledge and skills through the institutions are often unable to apply them because of poor quality of skills and knowledge which were acquired. Most also face resistance when they attempt to apply new skills and knowledge because people in institutions have often not been prepared to accept changes that might affect the way they function. The result is that most of institutions providing the vital services to the citizens of Nepal are often weak and lack human resources to manage programme effectively.
It is urgent, therefore, for the government and their development partners to make comprehensive and coordinated effort to strengthen developmental institutions and develop the capabilities of people to ensure that these institutions are capable of working for the success of programme. Strengthened institutions will have to be equipped to formulate, implement and monitor sustainable poverty alleviation programme. They need to be supported by institutions with the capabilities and the resources to support them.
In development of human resource, management education is another concept which is almost wholly geared towards the improvement of economic affluence. It is found that most development practitioners who have been assigned to manage development projects and programmes are often inadequately equipped to perform their crucial management tasks effectively. This is due to lack of specialization on the field they tend to work or are recruited on. Although governments and developments institutions often allocate funds for the education and training of their practitioners, management education often receives low priority. Development practitioners are often not able to upgrade their management and organizational skills or acquire new ones in order to ensure that they meet the changing demands of their clientele, partners and stakeholders.
As for the new and appropriate ways of developing people, it is necessary to introduce long-term professional education for people who are committed to improve the lives of the poor through effective management of development process. There should be an institution, which is capable of assisting the practitioners to strengthen their institutions, manage projects and programmes with competencies that they will help minimize problems in their organization and improve their performances. The practitioners, who are given responsibility of managing institutions, people and projects that work to improve the lives of poor communities in country, should be able to assist development organizations through education, research and organizational development processes to significantly improve their performances. The practitioners should improve performance by participating in a comprehensive and relevant development education programes. Accessing the knowledge and capabilities they must sign up people in the right place at the right time assigning the responsibility and accountability in the area where he/she has been trained for.
There are still many points which can be addressed for effective development of human resource and institution in my country Nepal. But conclusively, we can say that development of human resource and institutions is necessary for development of an economy as whole. It is not only that for Nepal but majority of countries in Asia and the pacific requires sustainable development through development of human resource and institutions at best to make the world a better place to live in.
By:
Ashutosh Mani Dixit
Kathmandu University School of Management
MBA 5th Term
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Time to gauge the Nepalese Monetary Policy- 2008
Nepalese inflation has registered highest in six years at 8% in 2005-06 and the main concern is that whether the current exchange rate regime of Nepal is answerable to this or not? The problem statement is whether the double digit inflation that India is experiencing is justifiable in Nepalese economy or not?
Effective monetary policy is sin-quo-non of maintaining domestic price stability. But Nepalese case, like other policies, monetary policy has not been effective to achieve its goals or objectives because price level is not explained by money supply alone. Nepal is totally dependent on India in most of the financial and monetary transaction. Easy assess to Indian market due to the long open border between India and Nepal with free convertibility of Nepalese currency vis-à-vis, the Indian currency, free mobility of people across the Indo Nepal border, the liberal trade and transit policy, and so on have been the major factors to determine inflation along with India. Whenever price rise in India, it is transmitted to Nepal through high import price (more than 70% of Nepal’s import is with India).
But the crux is that Nepalese economy has been accompanied by very low growth rate which cannot recoup the inflation rate that is prevailing in India. In order to analyze it, consider the structure of Nepalese economy. Nepalese economy is neither fully close nor fully open. Due to the long open boarder between India and Nepal, whenever aggregate demand increases (due to the increase in money supply), it increases import, as the country does not have sufficient production capacity. Thus, when our country in such a situation, will Nepalese sustain the same inflation rate as in India with negligible growth rate. If we look at the past, India had maintained low inflation rate, the fixed exchange rate regime with India has helped Nepal keep low expectations of inflation. This means that our country had become able to attain a lower level of inflation for any given level of output. But now can Nepal fiddle with the huge inflation rate that India is facing?
Now it’s a time to think, though it is very hard to change the whole exchange rate regime of our country. As we all are well aware that the objective of monetary policy is to maintain the domestic price stability in the country but what happens to the country which is not independent to formulate its monetary policy at its own level? What happens when the country’s currency is pegged with the currency of other currency? The obvious answer is that the country will have to suffer the similar problems as other country is facing. And this alone does not justify when the two countries differ in size, the volume of trade, the growth rate and of course the rate of inflation persisting. I really agree that Nepal has pegged its currency with Indian rupee for its own sake and benefit but now the question rises can this be permissible when the Indian economy is booming at substantial rate? No because the negative repercussion of the economy only has to be followed by Nepal and positives are never allowed to float back in Nepal. Since exchange rate determination is important monetary instrument for maintaining growth and containing competitiveness, from macroeconomic perspective, the existing exchange rate needs reassessment. The monetary policy may not adequately safeguard the economy from recession under the fixed exchange system in the event of falling demand for the goods the country produces. The monetary instrument is found to focus only on correcting the balance of payments with a difficulty to achieving both the internal and external balance. Therefore, the time has now come to respond to the big question: For how long can Nepal resist overvalued exchange rate with IC?
Although this system is operating because of our own interest, we need to reassess the strength of Nepali currency to maintain real exchange rate regime for sustaining Nepal's competitiveness, especially after opening up the service sector. As Nepal's fiscal position is weak, inflation is on the rise, there is a higher degree of export vulnerability with fragile export base and weaker market linkages, the executing policy of current account convertibility (CAC) should be extremely challenging.
Secondly, India is about to go for CAC very soon. As soon as they do, India may ask for maintaining real exchange rate. The need is not to repeat the past mistake of deciding current account convertibility overnight without proper homework by Nepal as soon as India made its policy announcement
When I turn down the pages of economics then I readily visualize that the current monetary policy of Nepal will fail on the account of Inflation in India which is approaching double digit recently. When can Nepal can make steady growth rate to justify the inflation rate of India? However, under the state of continuing conflict, which I suspect the Nepali economy is currently experiencing, the likely effect will be wide-ranging negative impact on the overall performance of the economy.
So, once we take into consideration the open border between our two countries and the system of fixed exchange rates as well as the unlimited convertibility of Indian Rupee in Nepal, apparently, there is no reason why the inflation rate should be significantly different between India and Nepal. But can Nepal adapt to this inflation rate? This should be the question of the day.
From the foregoing discussion it is crystal clear that NPR now stands under-valued and needs an immediate correction. Wait and watch approach might result in economic catastrophe. Authorities will have to take timely decision. Time and tide wait for no one. If we lag on taking proper decision now, time itself will decide the future course of action, which definitely will come as a shock to all of us and we will pay the price for this unwarranted risk.
Now it needs to be answered whether the peg system will benefit us or not? Is the relation with India “dependency” or in crude term “mercy”? Shall peg be removed or revalued? You people have to decide.
By:
Bhim Prasad Dhungana
Kathmandu University School of Management
MBA Student
Effective monetary policy is sin-quo-non of maintaining domestic price stability. But Nepalese case, like other policies, monetary policy has not been effective to achieve its goals or objectives because price level is not explained by money supply alone. Nepal is totally dependent on India in most of the financial and monetary transaction. Easy assess to Indian market due to the long open border between India and Nepal with free convertibility of Nepalese currency vis-à-vis, the Indian currency, free mobility of people across the Indo Nepal border, the liberal trade and transit policy, and so on have been the major factors to determine inflation along with India. Whenever price rise in India, it is transmitted to Nepal through high import price (more than 70% of Nepal’s import is with India).
But the crux is that Nepalese economy has been accompanied by very low growth rate which cannot recoup the inflation rate that is prevailing in India. In order to analyze it, consider the structure of Nepalese economy. Nepalese economy is neither fully close nor fully open. Due to the long open boarder between India and Nepal, whenever aggregate demand increases (due to the increase in money supply), it increases import, as the country does not have sufficient production capacity. Thus, when our country in such a situation, will Nepalese sustain the same inflation rate as in India with negligible growth rate. If we look at the past, India had maintained low inflation rate, the fixed exchange rate regime with India has helped Nepal keep low expectations of inflation. This means that our country had become able to attain a lower level of inflation for any given level of output. But now can Nepal fiddle with the huge inflation rate that India is facing?
Now it’s a time to think, though it is very hard to change the whole exchange rate regime of our country. As we all are well aware that the objective of monetary policy is to maintain the domestic price stability in the country but what happens to the country which is not independent to formulate its monetary policy at its own level? What happens when the country’s currency is pegged with the currency of other currency? The obvious answer is that the country will have to suffer the similar problems as other country is facing. And this alone does not justify when the two countries differ in size, the volume of trade, the growth rate and of course the rate of inflation persisting. I really agree that Nepal has pegged its currency with Indian rupee for its own sake and benefit but now the question rises can this be permissible when the Indian economy is booming at substantial rate? No because the negative repercussion of the economy only has to be followed by Nepal and positives are never allowed to float back in Nepal. Since exchange rate determination is important monetary instrument for maintaining growth and containing competitiveness, from macroeconomic perspective, the existing exchange rate needs reassessment. The monetary policy may not adequately safeguard the economy from recession under the fixed exchange system in the event of falling demand for the goods the country produces. The monetary instrument is found to focus only on correcting the balance of payments with a difficulty to achieving both the internal and external balance. Therefore, the time has now come to respond to the big question: For how long can Nepal resist overvalued exchange rate with IC?
Although this system is operating because of our own interest, we need to reassess the strength of Nepali currency to maintain real exchange rate regime for sustaining Nepal's competitiveness, especially after opening up the service sector. As Nepal's fiscal position is weak, inflation is on the rise, there is a higher degree of export vulnerability with fragile export base and weaker market linkages, the executing policy of current account convertibility (CAC) should be extremely challenging.
Secondly, India is about to go for CAC very soon. As soon as they do, India may ask for maintaining real exchange rate. The need is not to repeat the past mistake of deciding current account convertibility overnight without proper homework by Nepal as soon as India made its policy announcement
When I turn down the pages of economics then I readily visualize that the current monetary policy of Nepal will fail on the account of Inflation in India which is approaching double digit recently. When can Nepal can make steady growth rate to justify the inflation rate of India? However, under the state of continuing conflict, which I suspect the Nepali economy is currently experiencing, the likely effect will be wide-ranging negative impact on the overall performance of the economy.
So, once we take into consideration the open border between our two countries and the system of fixed exchange rates as well as the unlimited convertibility of Indian Rupee in Nepal, apparently, there is no reason why the inflation rate should be significantly different between India and Nepal. But can Nepal adapt to this inflation rate? This should be the question of the day.
From the foregoing discussion it is crystal clear that NPR now stands under-valued and needs an immediate correction. Wait and watch approach might result in economic catastrophe. Authorities will have to take timely decision. Time and tide wait for no one. If we lag on taking proper decision now, time itself will decide the future course of action, which definitely will come as a shock to all of us and we will pay the price for this unwarranted risk.
Now it needs to be answered whether the peg system will benefit us or not? Is the relation with India “dependency” or in crude term “mercy”? Shall peg be removed or revalued? You people have to decide.
By:
Bhim Prasad Dhungana
Kathmandu University School of Management
MBA Student
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
HATS OFF to BEEBAKE
1) Mr. Friendly- ASHISH TIWARI (7 votes), Sworup, Beebake (5 votes), Chesang & Rujal (3 votes), Sanket (2 votes), Arjun, Ashutosh, Bishal, Sailesh (1 vote)
2) Miss Friendly-SNIGDHA DHUNGEL (10 votes), Dibya K (7 votes), Tara (5 votes), Bhawana, Divya S (3 votes), Sizen (2 votes), Karta (1 vote)
3) Mr. Stylish-ASHUTOSH MANI DIXIT (20 votes), Sanket (2 votes), Arjun, Beebake, Bhim, Bishal, Chesang, Shailesh (1 vote)
4) Miss Stylish-ANJANA SHRESTHA (18 votes), Tara (8 votes), Trishula (3 votes), Sizen (1 vote)
5) Mr. Handsome-BISHAL K CHALISE (10 votes), Chesang (6 votes), Ashutosh (4 votes), Beebake (3 votes), Sanket (2 votes), Arjun, Rujal (1 vote)
6) Miss Beautiful- TRISHULA SHAHI (13 votes), Dibya K (12 votes), Anjana, Shivani (2 votes), Divya S (1 vote)
7) Great Smile-BHAWANA SHAKYA (11 votes), Trishula (7 votes), Anjana, Dibya K, Pratibha (2 votes), Deepashree, Chesang, Karta, Preeti, Shivani, Sworup, Uday (1 vote)
8) Most Helpful-SHAILESH MANANDHAR (12 votes), Rujal (5 votes), Bhim, Merina (2 votes), Beebake, Chesang, Karta, Ram, Sanket, Sworup, Tara, Trishula, Uday (1 vote)
9) Most Sensible-BHIM P DHUNGANA (6 votes), Sworup Shrestha (5 votes), Bishal (3 votes), Divya S, Sanket (2 votes), Ashish, Binju, Chesang, Deepa Shree, Dibya K, Karta, Pratibha, Ram, Rujal, Tara, Uday (1 vote)
10) Mr. Cute-CHESANG LAMA (11 votes), Beebake (5 votes), Bishal (4 votes), Bhim (3 votes), Sworup (2 votes), Rujal, (1 vote)
11) Miss Cute-TRISHULA SHAHI (13 votes), Bhawana (4 votes), Dibya K (3 votes), Manjila, Shivani (2 votes), Karta, Preeti, Snigdha (1 vote)
12) Mr. Cool-BEEBAKE SHRESTHA (25 votes), Bhim, Ashish (2 votes), Rujal, Sanket (1 vote)
13) Miss Cool-SIZEN PUDASAINI & SNIGDHA DHUNGEL (6 votes), Manjila, Tara (5 votes), Dibya K (3 votes), Anjana, Shivani (1 vote)
14) Most Hardworking- SHAILESH MANANDHAR (13 votes), Manjila (5 votes), Bishal, Divya S (3 votes), Binju, Sworup, Uday (2 votes), Rujal (1 vote)
15) Most Talented-BISHAL K CHALISE (8 votes), Bhim, Sworup, Tara (3 votes), Ashutosh, Pratibha, Shailesh, (2 votes), Ashish, Dibya K, Rujal, Sanket, Uday (1 vote)
16) Most Knowledgeable- BISHAL K CHALISE (10 votes), Ram, Sworup (5 votes), Ashish, (4 votes), Beebake (2 votes), Divya S, Shailesh (1 vote)
17) Most Creative- BISHAL K CHALISE & DIBYA KARKI (8 votes), Snigdha (3 votes), Chesang (2 votes) Arjun, Ashish, Beebake, Divya S, Karta, Ram, Rujal, Sanket (1 vote)
18) The Real MBA- BISHAL K CHALISE (7 votes), Ashutosh (5 votes), Shailesh, Rujal, Sworup (2 votes), Ashish, Manjila, Pratibha, Sanket, (1 vote)
19) Most likely to be GM/CEO/MD- BISHAL K CHALISE (8 votes), Ashutosh (5 votes), Ashish, Rujal (3 votes), Shivani (2 votes), Ram, Sanket, Sworup, Tara, Uday (1 vote)
20) Best represents our class-SWORUP SHRESTHA (18votes), Bishal (2 votes), Anjana, Arjun, Ashutosh, Rujal, Sanket, Sizen, Snigdha (1 vote)
Based on the number of votes received on all categories,
Mr. Popular- BISHAL K CHALISE (65 votes)
Ms. Popular- DIBYA KARKI & TRISHULA SHAHI(37 votes)
Most nominations- BISHAL K CHALISE (12 categories)
Most nominations in a single category- BEEBEKE SHRESTHA (25)
Most votes for self- SANKET SHRESTHA (10 votes)
No votes for self- BEEBAKE, BHAWANA, BINJU, CHESANG, DEEPASHREE, DIBYA K, DIVYA S, HITENDRA, KARTA, MANJILA, MERINA, PREETI, SNIGDHA, TRISHULA, UDAY, SWORUP
MORAL OF THE STORY:
2) Miss Friendly-SNIGDHA DHUNGEL (10 votes), Dibya K (7 votes), Tara (5 votes), Bhawana, Divya S (3 votes), Sizen (2 votes), Karta (1 vote)
3) Mr. Stylish-ASHUTOSH MANI DIXIT (20 votes), Sanket (2 votes), Arjun, Beebake, Bhim, Bishal, Chesang, Shailesh (1 vote)
4) Miss Stylish-ANJANA SHRESTHA (18 votes), Tara (8 votes), Trishula (3 votes), Sizen (1 vote)
5) Mr. Handsome-BISHAL K CHALISE (10 votes), Chesang (6 votes), Ashutosh (4 votes), Beebake (3 votes), Sanket (2 votes), Arjun, Rujal (1 vote)
6) Miss Beautiful- TRISHULA SHAHI (13 votes), Dibya K (12 votes), Anjana, Shivani (2 votes), Divya S (1 vote)
7) Great Smile-BHAWANA SHAKYA (11 votes), Trishula (7 votes), Anjana, Dibya K, Pratibha (2 votes), Deepashree, Chesang, Karta, Preeti, Shivani, Sworup, Uday (1 vote)
8) Most Helpful-SHAILESH MANANDHAR (12 votes), Rujal (5 votes), Bhim, Merina (2 votes), Beebake, Chesang, Karta, Ram, Sanket, Sworup, Tara, Trishula, Uday (1 vote)
9) Most Sensible-BHIM P DHUNGANA (6 votes), Sworup Shrestha (5 votes), Bishal (3 votes), Divya S, Sanket (2 votes), Ashish, Binju, Chesang, Deepa Shree, Dibya K, Karta, Pratibha, Ram, Rujal, Tara, Uday (1 vote)
10) Mr. Cute-CHESANG LAMA (11 votes), Beebake (5 votes), Bishal (4 votes), Bhim (3 votes), Sworup (2 votes), Rujal, (1 vote)
11) Miss Cute-TRISHULA SHAHI (13 votes), Bhawana (4 votes), Dibya K (3 votes), Manjila, Shivani (2 votes), Karta, Preeti, Snigdha (1 vote)
12) Mr. Cool-BEEBAKE SHRESTHA (25 votes), Bhim, Ashish (2 votes), Rujal, Sanket (1 vote)
13) Miss Cool-SIZEN PUDASAINI & SNIGDHA DHUNGEL (6 votes), Manjila, Tara (5 votes), Dibya K (3 votes), Anjana, Shivani (1 vote)
14) Most Hardworking- SHAILESH MANANDHAR (13 votes), Manjila (5 votes), Bishal, Divya S (3 votes), Binju, Sworup, Uday (2 votes), Rujal (1 vote)
15) Most Talented-BISHAL K CHALISE (8 votes), Bhim, Sworup, Tara (3 votes), Ashutosh, Pratibha, Shailesh, (2 votes), Ashish, Dibya K, Rujal, Sanket, Uday (1 vote)
16) Most Knowledgeable- BISHAL K CHALISE (10 votes), Ram, Sworup (5 votes), Ashish, (4 votes), Beebake (2 votes), Divya S, Shailesh (1 vote)
17) Most Creative- BISHAL K CHALISE & DIBYA KARKI (8 votes), Snigdha (3 votes), Chesang (2 votes) Arjun, Ashish, Beebake, Divya S, Karta, Ram, Rujal, Sanket (1 vote)
18) The Real MBA- BISHAL K CHALISE (7 votes), Ashutosh (5 votes), Shailesh, Rujal, Sworup (2 votes), Ashish, Manjila, Pratibha, Sanket, (1 vote)
19) Most likely to be GM/CEO/MD- BISHAL K CHALISE (8 votes), Ashutosh (5 votes), Ashish, Rujal (3 votes), Shivani (2 votes), Ram, Sanket, Sworup, Tara, Uday (1 vote)
20) Best represents our class-SWORUP SHRESTHA (18votes), Bishal (2 votes), Anjana, Arjun, Ashutosh, Rujal, Sanket, Sizen, Snigdha (1 vote)
Based on the number of votes received on all categories,
Mr. Popular- BISHAL K CHALISE (65 votes)
Ms. Popular- DIBYA KARKI & TRISHULA SHAHI(37 votes)
Most nominations- BISHAL K CHALISE (12 categories)
Most nominations in a single category- BEEBEKE SHRESTHA (25)
Most votes for self- SANKET SHRESTHA (10 votes)
No votes for self- BEEBAKE, BHAWANA, BINJU, CHESANG, DEEPASHREE, DIBYA K, DIVYA S, HITENDRA, KARTA, MANJILA, MERINA, PREETI, SNIGDHA, TRISHULA, UDAY, SWORUP
MORAL OF THE STORY:
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