From the Editor
It's the basic law of nature: big events impact big entities more. So, a storm is more likely to damage a tree than a plant. Yet, a fundamental irony guides public perception.
It's the basic law of nature: big events impact big entities more. So, a storm is more likely to damage a tree than a plant. Yet, a fundamental irony guides public perception. The consequences of big events are disproportionately judged by their impact solely on big institutions. For instance, if the current economic crisis- which is the mother of all big events-has severely impacted the Tatas, the Birlas and the Ambanis, it must have crippled smaller businesses even more. This stands to reason. But everything that sounds reasonable is not always true. Business Today had recently profiled a few winners in the current downturn (issue dated March 22, 2009).
Discerning readers would have noticed a fair representation of small companies in that list. Obviously, a large number of small companies have been able to brave the slowdown better than their bigger counterparts. And since success in today's business isn't limited to a particular geography, many small companies aren't just doing well in India but abroad, too. They are acquiring businesses in the US and Europe and integrating them successfully-more successfully than some multi-billion dollar acquisitions done by large Indian companies. These are India's global champs that the world knows little of. Their stories are inspirational and instructive, for they can teach the big companies a thing or two about how to make and manage global acquisitions. Our cover story (pg 46 to 58) provides the details. Our Special for this issue (Shortfalls as Opportunities, pg 84-95) could make you wonder if we are being optimistic to a fault.
At a time when the UPA government is leaving behind a trail of deficit in every infrastructure sector, we have decided to concentrate on opportunities. The reason is simple. When it comes to infrastructure, the opportunities missed aren't always opportunities lost. Infrastructure is one area where demand still far outstrips supply-the current downturn notwithstanding. We provide a snapshot of what investment avenues are most immediately open in five key areas.
Opportunities are something the world's biggest software company, Microsoft, too, is scouting for in India. Having lived for almost two decades as a company whose revenue base is disproportionately lower than its customer-base (about 90 per cent of its software used in India is pirated), the company is finally reworking its business strategy. We outline it on page 66. For most businesses, elections come like a long pause when only business-as-usual goes on. There is one company for which elections do exactly the opposite- they end a five-year pause and pump up the business. Turn to page 150 for details.
Discerning readers would have noticed a fair representation of small companies in that list. Obviously, a large number of small companies have been able to brave the slowdown better than their bigger counterparts. And since success in today's business isn't limited to a particular geography, many small companies aren't just doing well in India but abroad, too. They are acquiring businesses in the US and Europe and integrating them successfully-more successfully than some multi-billion dollar acquisitions done by large Indian companies. These are India's global champs that the world knows little of. Their stories are inspirational and instructive, for they can teach the big companies a thing or two about how to make and manage global acquisitions. Our cover story (pg 46 to 58) provides the details. Our Special for this issue (Shortfalls as Opportunities, pg 84-95) could make you wonder if we are being optimistic to a fault.
At a time when the UPA government is leaving behind a trail of deficit in every infrastructure sector, we have decided to concentrate on opportunities. The reason is simple. When it comes to infrastructure, the opportunities missed aren't always opportunities lost. Infrastructure is one area where demand still far outstrips supply-the current downturn notwithstanding. We provide a snapshot of what investment avenues are most immediately open in five key areas.
Opportunities are something the world's biggest software company, Microsoft, too, is scouting for in India. Having lived for almost two decades as a company whose revenue base is disproportionately lower than its customer-base (about 90 per cent of its software used in India is pirated), the company is finally reworking its business strategy. We outline it on page 66. For most businesses, elections come like a long pause when only business-as-usual goes on. There is one company for which elections do exactly the opposite- they end a five-year pause and pump up the business. Turn to page 150 for details.
