The world is dominated by life-long learners: the people who take the time to learn everything they can about their chosen field and everything they can about corresponding subjects. The 400 most successful businesspeople “the Forbes 400″ attribute most of their success to reading at least one non-fiction book a month. But, when you have a family and work wants to dominate your time, carving out the time to read all those books can be difficult. New books on every subject are being published every day. How is one supposed to keep up at work or school, spend time with family, and find time to read ten to fifteen extra books a year?

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The hype around Corporate Governance is on an all-time high in the era of Enron, Worldcom and Satyam. The severe impact of the economic crisis on every common person of our global business ecosystem has suddenly made Corporate Governance a popular lingo.

Typically, when one talks of Corporate Governance, feelings of a crisis erupt within minds. Probably due to the numerous and big business failures we have faced in last few years. However in reality, the goal of Corporate Governance is much more optimistic. Corporate Governance is about promoting Corporate Fairness, Transparency and Accountability for all stakeholders - shareholders, employees, customer, suppliers and immediate community. It thus works as a corrective mechanism which ensures sustained benefits for all stakeholders. The role of Corporate Governance becomes even more critical in case of mergers. In this article, we would discuss certain aspects Corporate Governance and see how it takes care of shareholders, employees and community.

Lets talk about shareholders first

The most important issue concerning the shareholder is likely the impact of the merger on the valuation of their equity capital. This is justified on the basis of the acquiring company expertise, inputs, synergies; etc the acquired business would lead to improved cash flows than what would have been possible had the business continued on its own.

It is necessary in case of acquisition to insure that promoters or controlling group of the acquired co. or their associates do not compete with the acquiring co. in the same line of business for a reasonable period of time.

One or more directors of acquiring co. may be on the board of the acquired co. If so there would be apparent perception of conflicts of interest even though the individual must be acting in the best interest of the shareholders.

Good practice demands that interested directors disclose their interests as required by law &they must refrain from exerting any direct or indirect exercise.

Even in respect of valuations, it is good practice to employ two set of valuers to conduct the exercise. One set of valuers should be appointed by majority sh. Holders & another should represent the minority interest.Their independent valuation could be discussed and reconciled to arrive at fair value.

So can the attempt of CEO of Satyam computer, Ramalinga Raju, to purchase the twin company Maytas infra and Maytas properties be regarded as an attempt to bypass the principles of Corporate Governance?

The decision was not made taking into confidence all the stakeholders. The two sons of Raju were major interested party in the twin companies. The deal would have made the cash rich Satyam into a debt ridden company as it’s entire holding of $1.3 billion cash would have gone to Maytas Properties and in Maytas Infrastructures. Importantly, Ramalinga Raju was holding only 8.5 per cent stake of Satyam computer to take such critical decisions! The economic rationale of entering real estate in name of diversification is already a much discussed topic and I need not elaborate further

Thus, leading to the fall of India’s 4th largest software co.

From perspective of employees, it is important to note that since

The merged business is virtually independent of operations of acquiring co., there is bound to be duplication at management & supervisory levels in a combined entity. For example, the CEO of the acquired co. is retained to be head of combined operations. Employee of acquired co. will be concerned that their chief is crossed over to other side while those of the acquiring co. will fear that now head will favor his earlier team. Such situations should be tactfully handled with full transparency and adequate communications. Managing workmen at junior & middle level is also a sensitive component.

Let us understand it through example of HP -Compaq merger

Hp-Compaq made a huge and disciplined effort to smartly and sensibly deal the people’s issue. After the initial announcement, the first step they took was to place face-to-face the troops, and share with them as much information as possible.

They established a merger mentor program, whereby they put all their people managers through a training course designed to help them more effectively lead their team in a period of ambiguity and uncertainty. They also ran a weekly management teleconference; open to all managers, where they could discuss how the business was traveling, and many other issues people wanted to bring up.

One very important thing that they did in the period was to roll out a series of aggressive performance targets for the business to achieve together with the associated demand-generation programs. The level of detail in the planning was really apparent. On the day the new company launched, the top three levels of management had already been appointed globally, the product road maps had been finalized, the new web site was up, and an enormous amount of analysis had been done of key customer accounts.

This high level of readiness was a result of the level of resources dedicated to Corporate Governance aspects of their merger.

Corporate Social Resposibility is increasingly becoming a critical component of successful Corporate Governance

The acquired co. may have undertaken certain corporate social responsibility programmes. In the event of any alteration in these programs, the decision should be properly and timely communicated so that misrepresentation or misunderstanding do not happen.

Arcelor Mittal’s merger in Year 2007 is a good example of high standards & best practices of Corporate Governance in several aspects. The management developed a detailed community engagement manual for this merger.

The engagement process helped local operations map their different stakeholder groups, understand their issues, and develop effective action plans, which could be monitored and measured.

Each local CEO was accountable for the corporate responsibility programmes in their area, and expected to put in place a clear management and governance structure to help them do this. A key element of this was establishment of local corporate responsibility forums to review and monitor local progress. This included line managers from Human Resources, Environment, Health and Safety, Legal, and other operational departments.

The company too developed action plans in partnership with regional management for governance structures, policy development, stakeholder engagement programmes, audit processes, training, and the selection of metrics and targets to assess performance.

Corporate Governance is an emerging field. Its more than mere art and science. Its more to do with ‘ethical quotient’. The focus of Corporate Governance, despite its popularity, is still more on standards and compliances procedures. While that is extremely necessary, what is even more important is to educate companies, corporations, decision makers and stakeholders on how highest levels of ethical standards alone can ensure sustained growth, avoidance of unwarranted crises and provide any meaning to their relentless pursuit of profit maximization. Examples of recent Corporate Governance failures reinforce the childhood lesson of ‘As you sow, so shall you reap!’. In today’s connected world, ‘Any deviation from highest standards of ethics will eventually come back to you with much more magnified impact’. This should be imbibed in the system and Corporate Governance should ideally become not an external enforcement but an internal motivation for everyone. This is more so valid in the sensitive matters of mergers and acquisitions.

Naina writes on topics relating to Ethics, Governance and Corporate Law. She is also an independent consultant working in these fields, as well as conducts sessions on motivation and soft-skills. If you enjoyed reading this post, visit Naina - Vision of the Ultimate for more such stuff.

It can be very difficult to find beautiful and memorable corporate gifts. Many corporate gifts are just rubbish, especially the less expensive ones. However, there is a class of gift that is always treasured and can be thought of as useful too.

Have you always given a calendar or a letter opener? Or a key ring, just like every other business does? Or a bottle of wine that is forgotten the day after it was opened? Well, there is hope yet. What about glass crystal? Everybody loves lead crystal, do they not?

Lead crystal items really are the bees’ knees of gifts, corporate gifts or not. People always need ashtrays, paper weights, and pen holders and made of lead crystal they look expensive and stylish adding to the image of your company.

Lead crystal items come in many kinds. They make fruit bowls, vases, glasses, paper weights, pen trays, ashtrays, picture frames and carriage clocks along with a dozen other items. When choosing a lead crystal corporate gift, you might like to bear the following things in mind:

If you are presenting these corporate gifts to your staff, you may like to distinguish between your employees or give everyone the same gift. You can on grounds of sex, length of service, marital status or input to the company’s profits. There again, you may know the longest serving personnel very well and want to get them something that will suit them personally. You can do this in terms of price or style or both.

For example, office staff might like a lead crystal paperweight, pen-holder or picture frame. Blue collar workers may rather a lead crystal vase or bowl. Single people might play golf or sail and like an item etched with a golfing or sailing motif. Married people might like a picture frame or a vase. Long-serving personnel or high-earners might like a carriage clock.

Cost is obviously an important issue, but usually corporate gifts are tax-deducible and glass crystal items vary greatly in price depending on the manufacturer. For example, you can get a nice lead crystal goblet set for $15, but if you want to give Waterford lead crystal, you can expect to pay three times as much.

Are you giving these corporate gifts to clients or / and prospective clients? In this case, you will have to have them inscribed with your firm’s contact details. You will also want the corporate gift to stay in the client’s office, so it should be office orientated, not home orientated. Something like a heavy paperweight shaped like a rock or a desk tidy fashioned like a boat.

This is the best kind of promotion after word-of-mouth and sign-written vehicles and should be taken seriously by any company that must have clients. Giving a well-thought of gift like lead crystal is a way of enhancing your reputation and that of the beneficiary.

The only other thing to bear in mind is that corporate gifts in lead crystal are valuable and need to be handled with care, so if you are having them inscribed, which you have to do, then you will need to know how long it will take to get your batch done and delivered.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Waterford crystal vases. If you have an interest in Irish crystal or wedding rings, please go to our website now at White Gold Claddagh Ring

There are few sports that are as exciting and thrill filled as Formula One. A truly global World Series, recent years have seen the sport grow exponentially in popularity. Getting involved with the sport, even at the very lowest level as a sponsor is incredibly expensive, however, with F1 show cars, companies and individuals can have some semblance of association.

There are three types of F1 show cars, each quite different and serving different purposes. The first, the replica model, just demonstrates the evocative shape and styling, where as the second, a replica that is complete with engine offers the chance to drive. These are at each end of the spectrum, and it is the third, a replica with a simulator that many are turning to.

The first type though is great to hire just as a talking point at an event, and allow people to have their photo with. It is sure to impress, yet is not ridiculously expensive so could even be used as a novel display at a birthday party or some such.

The second is by far the most expensive and can be used on track days in many locations. However, they are not real cars so the power and stresses involved can be managed by most. The price of these makes them less affordable for most companies and individuals of course, but there are companies that organize track days to give your guests a thrilling experience.

Holding the middle ground between these two is the simulator set up. You get a full sized replica as with the first type, but with a staggeringly real simulator program built in. They not only create that impact of a display, but allow guests to get some sort of idea what it could be like to be racing around Monaco, Silverstone or Singapore.

Companies are always looking for something to get ahead, and many individuals want to really go to the limit when hosting their own party. And to be fair, there is little to beat the thrill and impressiveness that comes from F1 show cars, no matter the type.

The Formula One World Series is about as exciting as motorsport gets, and the rise in popularity from across the globe all over recent years has been incredible. An inexpensive way to get involved in the sport lies with F1 show car hire. More info on this and F1 Pit Stop Challenge .

An alternate form of Six Sigma Training is Lean Six Sigma. Although it is an altered form it has many of its own capacities, and knowing the differences can add to your quality improvement projects, more then you may think possible. Although the basis fundamentals of Six Sigma are still evident in Lean, there are a few additions that set it apart.

The eight elements of waste is the focus of the Lean Six Sigma Process. It has been proven that by simply removing these areas of waste, the company will actually improve quality. Below you will find what the Lean process considers wastes, and examples of each.

-Wasted Human Talent: Anyone that is without a specific job function or who’s work may be slowing the process down.

-Defects: Any product or process that is not working properly. Before they can be eliminated, however, they will require a fixable solution.

-Inventory: This refers to an over sized “To Do” list of work. You never want to have to much product waiting to be worked on. A doctors office, for example, does not want to have to many patients in the waiting room at one time.

-Overproduction: Having to much of something before it is needed may be harmful to the organization and efficiency of the operation you are working in.

-Wasted Time: The amount of time that is spent waiting for a product. Any down time should be spent on needed areas of various activities or process. For example, you should never have five employees just standing around waiting for a supply truck to arrive, instead find other areas that they can be useful while they wait.

-Motion: Simply put, too much unnecessary movement by people. For example, a clinic that sends patients to triage when they have booked appointments is wasted movement because they can go straight to the exam room.

-Transportation: Any form of ineffective transportation that is used to move people or a product. If it is not necessary then it is wasteful and not needed.

-Process Waste: Things that have to be done, but don’t add value to the process, product, or service at hand. For example, a bank manager has to process a lot of paperwork, but this doesn’t help customers or increase the banks ability to serve those customers in most cases.

Understanding these areas of waste will assist you company with enhancing the quality of the projects you produce.

Create the most of your business skills with six sigma. Getting six sigma certification online will benefit yourself in addition to your business. To learn more go to www.sixsigmaonline.org.

There are many different ways that you can provide yourself with the tools that are necessary to be a success with your business. Corporate catering is a very important element, one that will allow you to succeed in just about any venue. Whether you are planning on having an employee meeting , or whether you are planning a conference that might last for a week or more, having catering is always a good idea. Working can be difficult, and when your employees are focused on doing what you would like them to do, having them fed and happy will make it even easier for you. Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland will provide you with the food and drinks that you need for your corporate event. It is important that you find a company to do your Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland that you can trust, and one that you know will be able to provide you with everything you are looking for.

When you’re attempting to find Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland, there are a couple of things that you’re going to need to bear in mind, to ensure that you have given yourself with the best company for your requirements. .First of all, you’re going to need to go with the sole company which has the best reputation, and the best references to show you precisely what they can offer. It’s also crucial to have a look at the diverse foods and drinks that are offered, so you can plan your company catering in the proper way for your event wishes.

When planning Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland, it’s critical to have a look at many things. Firstly, you’re going to need to have a look at the type and amount of food that you are going to be needing. For a straightforward meeting, this may mean one meal, except for a week long meeting, in can suggest almost anything.

It is vital for you to provide the event with good food and drink, no matter how long the event lasts, and no matter how many people are there. Therefore, the best companies that deal with Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland are going to be able to sit down and talk with you about the event you are planning, in order to make sure that they can give you what you need.

Remember, to have the most successful event, you wish to be certain that you’ve planned everything as fully and utterly as possible. When you’re having a look at doing an event where you could have folks gathered in one place, you would like to look at Corporate catering Rockville Maryland, and catering Montgomery County Maryland so you can feed your people and the others that are at the event.

Before you make your next decision on Corporate Catering Rockville Maryland, be sure to checkout Thymeout, the best for Catering in Montgomery Maryland

When it comes to advertising, there are many directions you can go. You could rely on word of mouth or spend all kinds of money on media promotions, such as televison, magazone, newspaper or radio ads or you can choose other options that are available to you. There are so many wonderful promotional options avaiable, that are also relatively cheap, that you can find a successful method to advertise your business no matter what your business size or budget is.

Have you ever looked through a catalog, or online at promotional merchandise? While there are any items to choose from, and it can seem like an impossible decision, promotional items can be a very effective form of advertising. There are many items that are useful and functional that will make a great impression on those that recieve them. Items such as promotional laptop bags, promotional calendars and promotional travel mugs are great ways to gain exposure in your community and give out a message that you are a reputable business that will do anything to make your costumers happy and satisfied.

Utilizing promotional merchandise has many benefits. For starters, potential customers will enjoy receiving your gift, and if it is something that they can utilize, you will make a stronger impression.

When putting your names on items such as key rings or mugs, your company name and logo will be promoting your business each time the items are uses.

Upon deciding what promotional item to use think of your target audience, your marketing budget and what items will you audience find most useful.

You will also need to decide what you want printed on your item. You can print your business name, slogan, or more. It would be wise to always include contact information, such as an email or phone number.

For quality imprinted mugs and gifts, go to yesgifts.co.uk right away. We have many types of customized company gifts for any budget.

An paperweight that is engraved with your company logo are great promotional gifts for your clientele and employees. They look great onto of their desk and provide you with expanded advertising to all those that are in the area. Promotional paperweights are available in a variety of colors, designs and material making it easy to find one suitable for any occasion.

Non Complex Paperweights

These paperweights are fashioned and designed in simple shapes. Due to the ease of the items appearance they tend to be a large crowd pleaser. Some shapes that can be included in this category include.

Globes: Made of solid glass, globes are easily etched and may be clear or opaque, as well as tinted to any color.

Cubes: A cube will give you ample space for imprinting and are know to bring forth a sense of teamwork, with each side be representative for different aspects of success.

Stars: A star is the ultimate sign of achievement. They can be purchased in silver or gold and can be engraved with your message by lasers.

Fascinating Paperweights

Hourglass: This look very simpler to a lava lamp and is made from liquid. It can be engraved on the casing and is something that is entertaining to watch, which makes for a nice brake during the work day.

Traditional Sand Timer: Unlike the first hourglass paperweight, this one is made with sand inside. It is a great gift for fast and accurate employees.

Lava Goo: Inside this paperweight is a thick liquid that when shaken makes a great show for you to watch.

Mood Light: Engravable, this small desktop light emits either subtle orange, blue, green or pink.

Odd Paperweights

Propeller: This is a paperweight that is also used as a letter opener. The heaviness of the paperweight makes it spin fast like a propeller, when you place it on the desk and just spin it for fun.

Note Holders: With a heavy silver base, this product has a long neck and a holder for notes at the top.

Piggy Bank: Made of sterling silver, this classic and charming gift will remind employees of the old adage a penny saved is a penny earned.

One of the best way to show your appreciation for your executives is to utilize promotional gifts. You can find a wide variety of items, such as promotional mugs, by logging onto www.promotionalpro.com.

Everyday, we see totally different corporations making a gift of many merchandise and items. Most of the time these things are used to promote the corporate brand. Companies provide away this stuff for one purpose: to depart an enduring impression to people for them to try to to business. The range of items that companies distribute is intensive for example from easy cups, key chains, t-shirts, calendars to something as extravagant as golf clubs, companies are using these items to market company identity and create a mark in the market. Nonetheless, a specific item that has steadily gained the attention of firms and marketers worldwide is thumb drive.

For the past few years, the globe has witnessed an amazing increase in the usage of thumb drives. These flash drives have gained steady usage from folks significantly as a result of most people interact with computers nowadays. Thumb drives offer ease when it involves file transfer and portability. People will carry it anywhere along with their most important files. Thumb drives can carry thousands of footage and will contain just concerning any file.

This is often the terribly reason why firms are currently opting for flash drives as corporate gifts. Since the functionality and customer reach of thumb drives is extremely vast, companies are benefiting from this for his or her promotional campaigns and advertisements. As a result of of its functionality, it advantages both the corporate and its target consumers. This article more discusses how thumb drives will benefit the corporate when used as part of the selling campaign.

The first thing to understand when it involves thumb drives is that its usage is extraordinarily high therefore its marketing potential is additionally high. Among all the promotional things, thumb drives have the foremost potential these days. Individuals today can barely create it through the day while not a pc and the Net and data is very important to people. The company can take advantage of this terribly fact with the employment of thumb drives. Since folks will barely function while not thumb drives, then the exposure that the company will get when using thumb drives as corporate gifts is additionally high.

Firms who have seen the potential of thumb drives have well used these drives by imprinting their company brand, name and even web site addresses along with different information which will lead the individual back to the company. During this case, whenever a person uses the thumb drive it’s like the company is continually doing advertisement. Other folks at intervals the person’s distance will conjointly get to see the thumb drives. Another sensible issue regarding thumb drives is that they will be pre-loaded. This implies that whenever the person uses the flash drive a easy advertisement may begin the window screen. From photos to straightforward text message, the flash drive can advertise the corporate in many ways.

There are many thumb drive providers giving discounted prices for bulk orders. In this case, thumb drives not only build sensible promotional things they are conjointly terribly cost efficient.

Friendship Apparels and Gifts is a Singapore based mostly company that offers an online store, which offers a wide selection of merchandise that can be gifted to friends, colleagues or business associates. This company started off as a tiny unit for providing custom made uniforms to many renowned organizations like Panasonic, Hewlett-Packard and many more.

Whether it’s premium gifts or corporate gifts, choosing the right gift for somebody you liked can have immense effect on both. Usually gifts are special ways to express and show your love for someone. So finding an appropriate gift for the one you love can give immense joy and happiness. There are wide ranges of gifts available in the gift collection and you can choose the special gifts if you really want to impress yourself.

While choosing an appropriate corporate gifts you must give specific attention in selecting the gift item. Corporate gifts are a exact way to focus your corporation and give a higher publicity. Irrespective of if you are organizing a special event like the Christmas party or a corporate seminar, corporate gifts are ideal ways to make these events impressive.

Company gifts such as garments, travel bags, baggage tags, travel kits and accessories, atlas and maps will make a journey more comfortable for a busy business executive and this type of premium gifts assist to promote a particular brand to peoples. Men and women’s fashion watches are other goods substitute because of their high professed value. These watches are exclusive and cost good amount of money but you can also find a wide range of exquisite watches in a gift store that suits your choice and fits your budget.

Birthdays, New Years, or any anniversary are some of the most special occasions that are remembered throughout your life. If you really wish to make these occasions memorable you’ll be able to find the best gift for your partner from the gift shops.

Homemade things can also be the perfect birthday present for your guy. There is nothing special to show how much you care more than a present with basket filled with some of his favourite homemade delicacies because men has a deep tendency for food and this is a special present that came straight from the heart.

A new year is an occasion where everybody makes resolution to change themselves to better persons. Thus this may be the right chance to give somebody a gift that would means a lot for him and will be remember throughout his life. New Year is also a wonderful event where all members of the family and friends get together to sound in the New Year. Exchanging of present may be a traditional and an vital part of this particular occasion. This is the time to impress somebody by giving a perfect gift. Clothes, jewellery, stuffed toys, books, cookies and candies are some of the ordinary things that are used for this event. Musical instruments are best option for someone who loves music.

Gift items like drawing and coloring materials, toys and games things are most popular and can be ideal gift for kids. Another memorable and romantic occasion is the Valentine’s Day. Especially for lovers this is often a special occasion to impress and express their love by giving a unique gift which can get from a premium gift shop . Expensive perfumes and beauty products are some of the best gift items for this occasion.