नॉलेज इकॉनमी की धूम

हाल ही में हुए TiECON में स्पीकर ने 'नॉलेज इकॉनमी' शब्द का बार बार इस्तेमाल किया। भोपाल से TiECON में शामिल होने आए मेरे युवा उद्यमी मित्र विजय कुमार, जो कि मेरे बगल में बैठे थे, ने पूछा, ‘राज सर, ये नॉलेज इकॉनमी असल में है क्या?’ मैंने बुदबुदाते हुए उन्हें कुछ-कुछ तो बता दिया लेकिन में उन्हें अपने छोटे से जवाब से  संतुष्ट नहीं कर पाया। मैंने वापस लौट कर नॉलेज इकॉनमी पर रिसर्च की।

मैंने एपीजे कलाम की स्पीच निकाली जो उन्होंने ASSOCHAM की 'नॉलेज इकॉनमी' नाम से हुई समिट में दी थी। इस स्पीच में उन्होंने पुरानी अर्थव्यवस्था के साथ साथ पुराने समय और वर्तमान समय में नॉलेज इकॉनमी से जुड़े मसलों पर बोला है।

इस स्पीच के कुछ महत्वपूर्ण अंश हैं-

1. कल प्राकृतिक संसाधन के तौर पर 'पावर' का नाम लिया जाता था। आज नॉलेज ही पावर है।

2. कल हाइरार्की यानी वर्गीकरण काम करने का मॉडल था। आज मिल जुल कर कम करना ही वक्त की मांग और जरूरत है।

3. कल लीडर ही आदेश देते थे और नियंत्रण रखते थे। आज लीडर सशक्तीकरण करते हैं और सिखाते हैं।

4. कल शेयरहोल्डर्स आगे रहते थे। आज कस्टमर्स पहले आते हैं।

5. कल कर्मचारियों को आदेश दिए जाते थे। आज टीम फैसला लेती है।

6. कल वरिष्ठता (सीनियोरिटी) स्टेट्स की पहचान थी। आज रचनात्मकता स्टेट्स बताती है।
7. कल प्रॉडक्शन से पता चलता था कि अवेलेबिलिटी क्या है। आज प्रतियोगिता ही असल कुंजी है।
8. कल वैल्यू ऐसी चीज थी जिसे एक्सट्रा समझा जाता था। आज वैल्यू ही सबकुछ है।
9. कल हर कोई एक दूसरे से कॉम्पिटिशन कर रहा था। आज हर कोई अपने आप में कस्टमर है।
10. कल हर हाल में प्रॉफिट हासिल किए जाते थे, किसी भी कीमत पर। आज ईमानदारी से काम करना और ईमानदीर से सफलता पाना हर उद्यमी का मंत्र है। प्रॉफिट तो अपने आप पीछे आ ही जाएगा।

मैं अपने सभी उद्यमी दोस्तों को बता देना चाहता हूं कि  2020 तक आर्थिक रूप से विकसित देश बनने की कोशिश कर रहे भारत के संदर्भ में यह बहुत जरूरी है कि उद्यमी यह जानें और  दिन प्रतिदिन के कारोबारी कामकाज में कुछ महत्वपूर्ण बिजनस प्रैक्टिसेस को व्यवहार में लाएं। तभी, वे 'नॉलेज इकॉनमी' के दौर में सफल  हो सकेंगे।

मैं उम्मीद करता हूं कि मैं 'नॉलेज इकॉनमी' के बारे में पूछे गए अपने दोस्त विजय के सवाल का पूरी तरह से सही जवाब दे पाया हूं।

Knowledge Economy-Unplugged!!

At a recently held TiECON, speaker after speaker used the word  “Knowledge Economy”. My young entrepreneur friend Vijay Kumar who travelled all the way from Bhopal to attend the TiECON, sitting beside me loudly asked me  “Raj Sir, yeh Knowledge economy exactly hai kya ?”.I murmured something about knowledge economy to him however  couldn’t give him a convincing reply. I came back and did some research on the topic of “Knowledge Economy and found a very relevant speech made on the topic by Knowledge Guru of our age,Dr A P J Kalam.

I reproduce a speech by Dr A P J Kalam which he made at ASSOCHAM organised Summit titled  “Knowledge Millennium”. In his speech he talks about old economy and knowledge economy in terms of yesterday and today. Extracts from the same are as under:

1. Yesterday-natural resources defined power. Today-knowledge is power.
2.  Yesterday-hierarchy was the model. Today-synergy is the mandate.
3. Yesterday-leaders commanded and controlled. Today-leaders empower and coach.
4. Yesterday-shareholders came first. Today-customers come first.
5. Yesterday-employees took orders, Today-teams make decisions.
6. Yesterday-seniority signified status. Today-creativity drives status. 
7.  Yesterday-production determined availability. Today- Competitiveness is the key.
8. Yesterday-value was extra. Today-value is everything.
9.  Yesterday –everyone was a competitor. Today-everyone is a customer.
10. Yesterday-profits were earned at any costs. Today-work with integrity and succeed with integrity is the mantra for every entrepreneur. Profits would follow, anyway.

Let me tell my entrepreneur friends that with India as a nation looking forward towards achieving an economically developed status by 2020,it is all the more imperative for entrepreneurs to know and adapt the above points in their day to day business environment to succeed in “Knowledge Economy”.

Vijay, hope the above  answers your query finally about the “Knowledge Economy”.

Responsible Entrepreneurship.

I happened to attend  ASSOCHAM  organized 3^rd CSR Summit .At the event, the Chief Guest Mr Veerappa Moily, Minister for Corporate Affairs reiterated  that the Government was not in favor of imposing its views on the corporate sector. He said “We will encourage a voluntary approach on CSR initiatives of private sector. We will act as facilitators for companies to adopt social, environmental and economic responsibilities,”

Mr Arun Maira, Member, Planning Commission said in India in his note exhorted  people at large saying “It is time we write off companies that do a lot on CSR, but have a business model that is harmful for the society at large.”

Mr Satvik Varma Founder Independent Law Chambers quoted from A C Nielsen study which says that  that people tend to buy more from socially responsible corporate and what’s more interesting is that they are even willing to pay little more for the products and services of CSR responsible organizations.

 Hearing all this, I wondered if all this talk of CSR only for established corporate sector. I came back to home and searched more on the much spoken guidelines for CSR and realized that it makes sense even for a MSME to follow the same and reap benefits for self and the society in longer terms.

Young Entrepreneurs are therefore encouraged to ensure that not only do they follow the Guidelines for  areas directly within their immediate control or within their sphere of influence, but encourage  and support their vendors, distributors, partners and other collaborators across their value chains to follow the Guidelines as well.

A summary of the 9 basic principles is provided below for your perusal.

1.      Ethics, Transparency and Accountability: Ethical conduct in all its functions and processes is the cornerstone of responsible business.

2.      Goods and services that are safe and contribute to sustainability: All stages of the product life cycle, right from design to final disposal of the goods and services after use, have an impact on society and the environment.

3.      Well being of employees: Well being of all categories of employees engaged in activities contributing to businesses, within or outside of its boundaries and covers work performed by individuals, including sub-contracted and home based work.

4.      Responsive towards stakeholders: While appreciating that all stakeholders are not equally influential or aware, the principle encourages businesses to proactively engage with and respond to those that are disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalized.

5.      Respect and promote human rights: The principle recognizes that human rights are the codification and agreement of what it means to treat others with dignity and respect. This holistic and widely agreed nature of human rights offers a practical and legitimate framework for business leaders seeking to manage risks, seize business opportunities and compete in a responsible fashion.

6.      Environment: The principle encourages businesses to understand and be accountable for direct and indirect environmental impacts of their operations, products and services and strive to make them more beneficial.

7.      Influence public and regulatory policy in a responsible manner: Businesses operate within the specified legislative and policy frameworks prescribed by the Government, which guide their growth and also provide for certain desirable restrictions and boundaries. The principle emphasizes that policy advocacy must expand public good rather than diminish it or make it available to a select few.

8.      Inclusive growth and equitable development: Reiterates that business prosperity and inclusive growth and equitable development are interdependent.

9.      Provide value to customers and consumers: Recognizes that customers have the freedom of choice in the selection and use of goods and services, and enterprises would strive to make available goods that are safe, competitively priced, easy to use and safe to dispose of, for the benefit of customers.

Responsible entrepreneurship can also contribute to creating a more positive image of entrepreneurs in society and encourage more young people to choose self-employment as an attractive career option.

Hope budding entrepreneurs include  “Be a responsible entrepreneur” motto in their business strategy.

The Budding Turks-Kumbh of budding entrepreneurs

The Budding Turks-Kumbh of budding entrepreneurs

Kumbh of budding entrepreneurs

I often come across young and budding entrepreneurs who are keen to know how they can benefit from participating  in TiECON.Manoj,a  young and innovative entrepreneur  is one of them whom i happened to meet at recently organised IPR Seminar by FICCI in Delhi.He had traveled all the way from Dehradun to attend the seminar.He told me that he was an innovator duly recognised and appreciated by his state government.Inspite of the recognition he was struggling to get his innovation patented and also facing problems raising funds for his prototype.I told him about TiECON.He registered the very next day.Likewise many more aspiring young entrepreneurs are expected to gather at TiECON Delhi sometimes referred to as Kumbh  of budding entrepreneurs.

Each year,entrepreneurs-irrespective of their turnover,company size and years of existence,eagerly wait for the Maha Kumbh of all entrepreneurial events ie TiECON,Delhi.This year TiECON Delhi is being organised on September 30th-October 1st at Hotel Taj Palace.

My association with TiECON goes back to 2003.I was just about to leave for Bangladesh on the invitation of SWISSCONTACT to share my experiences of promoting entrepreneurship through media.I  was quiet excited to be at the Kumbh of entrepreneurship as i knew it would give me ample ammunition to share with budding entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.And i was right. 

I remember the keynote address by late C K Prahalad,the world renowned management guru.The venue was Kamal Mahal Hall of Maurya Sheraton and at 9 am in the first week of January month,people from different parts of Delhi had driven in the foggy & chilly  morning to hear CK Prahalad on "Entrepreneurship at the Bottom of the Pyramid".The hall was packed beyond its usual capacity of 1000  delegates and many of them could be seen standing at what ever space they could manage to stand in.I had never before seen such a large gathering of budding entrepreneurs at one venue.Everyone heard him with rapt attention in pin drop silence.I had purchased "Bottom of the Pyramid" an evening before to get his autographs.When we broke for tea,i rushed to the dais to get his autographs but than i realized that there were many more who had this smart idea and therefore there was a long 'Q' already.I had to wait for 15-20 minutes to get his autographs.No doubt i had to miss the much  awaited  tea on a winter morning but in return i got a memorable autographs from the management legend.

The TiECON 2003 had star speakers,VC's, succesful entrepreneurs,policymakers and who's who of the Indian industry including Montek Singh Ahulwalia, Kanwal Rekhi,Sam Pitroda,Sunil Mittal,S.Shiv Kumar,Naveen Jindal,Kiran Karnik,Saurabh Srivasatava and many more.Another star attraction was MENTORING opportunities with successful entrepreneurs and experts.Thanks to mentoring opportunity,I met  my mentor Pradeep Gupta (PG) ,CMD,CyberMedia Group.Later i had the opportunity to work with PG for almost 5 years.

Tell me where else could i have met,heard,interacted and even got the opportunity to be mentored by  such renowned,successful speakers and visionaries at one place.Since 2003,each year,i wait for TiECON eagerly and look forward to participating this year,too.

I have many more fond memories of my association with TiECON as well as TiE  Delhi .Thanks to my association ,i had the opportunity to attend television show recording of  two remarkable entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Nandan Nilkeni moderated by Prannoy Roy.Many of you must have seen the recorded episode run many times over on NDTV but soon i would share few interesting experiences of the event.

I am sure like earlier years,this year too TiECON would be a great opportunity to meet,learn,share and network and even get mentored.

See you at TiECON Delhi 2011!!