Moonlighting

If moonlighting by any employee in anyway compromises with his/her full-time employer's interests, then does it make sense to be acceptable to the latter? Surely, the answer would be an unequivocal NO.

On the other hand, if it does not compromise with the full-time employer's interests in any way whatsoever, then it's only prudent for the employee to take his/her Bosses into confidence, before getting into it.

Yes, times may have changed, and the 'employer-employee' relationship too may have undergone changes in varying proportions, depending on the culture of the organization.

But one aspect will never ever change, and that is, the element of 'trust' as the edifice of such a relationship.

Rate increases by US Fed

If the US Federal Reserve is bent upon making sizeable rate increases until they regain control of inflation, and even if it means risking a recession for the US Economy, then are they prepared to tackle the recessionary trends in the US Economy, should their aggressive rate hikes actually result in the same? Would they again resort to monetary easing to revive the economy followed by aggressive rate hikes later on?

That their aggressive rate hikes are leading to strengthening of the US Dollar vis-a-vis other currencies in different proportions, depending upon the state of the respective economies, thereby leading to flight of capital to the US and other consequences, should be a matter of concern not only to the central bankers across the world, but also to the IMF in particular. The latter may have to bail out so many troubled economies in the foreseeable future, all due to the fallouts of such measures of the US Fed.

If the key issue is to tackle inflation to bring it to "tolerable" levels, then all the central bankers especially in the emerging economies, need to form an informal group to deliberate upon the new definition of such "tolerable" limits, taking into account other macro-economic scenarios in their respective economies. Besides, they need to deliberate upon some out-of-the-box solutions to address inflation, without risking the highly avoidable side effects of recession. Perhaps, reducing dependence of US Dollars, and giving very lucrative sops for attracting Foreign Direct Investments could be part of the solutions.

It's here that our RBI could take a lead, by forming such an informal group. IMF should be an enthusiastic member of such a group for obvious reasons.

Rejuvenating Indian Film Industry

Some years back, at a social get-together, I met one of the top film makers of Bollywood. He revealed that in quite a few cases, when a film is first conceptualized by way of a script, it is something else. Then, before the shooting even begins, it undergoes some changes to meet the requirements of some important stakeholders, and then during shooting there are again some other changes, and finally when it is released there are yet some more changes.

Assuming this to be an authentic information, I wonder if it's indeed a miracle that such films do well.

Media is indeed buzz with thoughts regarding ways to revive the glorious days of Bollywood in particular, and Indian film industry in general.

While our films today may have made quantum leaps in technical aspects as compared to what prevailed decades ago, yet they do seem to be sorely lacking in great storylines, glamour quotient, soul stirring lyrics and music etc as compared to what we got decades back. It's no surprise that in quite a few singing reality shows, kids prefer singing some chartbusters of yesteryears, perhaps when their parents were toddlers or yet to be born.

Top stars do have all the right to demand astronomical fees, if they are indeed so confident that it's they who can drive masses to the movie halls by themselves. But they would do well to realize for their own survival, that it's the overall ecosystem involved in a film production, that accounts for their success.

Going by the massive success of some films made in south of Vindhyas in the north of Vindhyas, besides in some key overseas markets, it's now time for a pan-India Film Association to take root, to rework the entire business model to revive that golden era.

This should also include strategies such as - talent scouting, storylines, minimal or preferably nil changes after a script is finalized, profit-sharing instead of astronomical fees paid upfront, and above all time bound completion of films etc.

RIL's acquisition of Campa Cola

By acquiring 'Campa Cola' for a highly bargain price of Rs. 22 crores, has the energy-to-telecom and now to FMCG conglomerate 'Reliance Industries', managed to disrupt the concept of 'core competence', or the jury is still out?

Well, having some memories of 'Campa Cola' going back by four decades, must admit that my preference those days was tilted towards it's key competitor - 'Thums Up', mainly due to latter's taste. Their highly entertaining commercials served only one purpose for me, and that was entertainment, and nothing more.

Now, to take on giants like Coke and Pepsi in the aerated drinks segment, RIL should not stick to Campa's old formulations, but invest in R&D to 'attack' these giants with 'arsenals' involving - price, taste, and above all, health and hygiene which have become the buzzwords in the post pandemic world.

That Coke and Pepsi too would be already gearing up their respective 'war rooms', to be prepared for their new 'battleground', is anyone's guess.

Till the jury on RIL's latest move is out, we can be reasonably sure that they are well on their way to disrupt the concept of 'core competence'.