Cover Story
- Cognizant has overtaken Bangalore's Wipro to the Number three rank by revenues among IT service firms operating from India. Infosys, ranked second, is next in its sights. Under headman Francisco D'Souza, Cognizant has turned the outsourcing model on its head.
- Four-and-a-half years ago, when Francisco D'souza was appointed CEO at Cognizant Technology Solutions, he was, perhaps, the youngest management professional holding that position.
Nokia is pioneering mobile payments in India
Nokia is pioneering mobile payments in India, but it needs to straighten out many kinks - soon. To continue offering the servcie, it should keep its agents happy. The game will likely to change substantially over the next two years.The new GM India plans to launch five Chinese cars in six months
The India arm of US auto maker GM is in the midst of a DNA change, a result of the 50 per cent stake Chinese automaker SAIC bought in the company in February 2010 for Rs 2,990 crore. The new GM India plans an audacious assault on the Indian market with no less than five Chinese cars in six months, starting January next year.The corporate sector's mood has deteriorated sharply
The corporate sector's mood has deteriorated sharply. It feels there is little hope of the government or RBI's policies improving the gloomy economic scenario.Why the upstart Taproot India has won the admiration of even big rivals
Why the upstart has won the admiration of even big rivals.Microfinance in India is at a crossroads, says Nancy M. Barry
While a few microfinance institutions, or MFIs, have innovated in providing a mix of client-responsive products and services, most adopted a narrow, uniform model of disbursing group loans to very low income clients, mainly women.For how long F1 will bask in cricket's misery
Come October 30 and the 5,137-metre Buddh International circuit in Greater Noida, near Delhi, will be on fire. Ninety-six Pirelli tyres will singe the tarmac at the 17th Formula One World Championships. It may be a good time for cricket's rivals to take the crease.Now, get expert medical advice round the clock
A number of start-ups have begun offering medical advice round the clock, either on telephone or online - some providing basic diagnosis and treatment suggestions, others a lot more. The specialists are a global crowd, with some based in the United States, Britain, West Asia and Africa, apart from India.ABB pushing technology to India like never before
Last year, ABB raised its stake in ABB India from 52.11 per cent to 75 per cent, by buying back shares for $1 billion from investors. The company is pushing technology to India like never before with an eye on pumping up its $1.3 bn local sales.Microfinance institutions redefine their focus
Microfinance is the business of disbursing modest, short-tenure loans without collateral to small borrowers. But a year after new regulations in Andhra Pradesh that sought more control over the business all but killed it, microfinance institutions, or MFIs, have turned to financing bicycles to tractors, cooking stoves to houses. They have redefined their focus and are busy diversifying.Exporters fear they will be hit hard by the slowdown
Global economic woes have finally begun to shadow the best performing of India's macroeconomic indicators - exports. BT spoke to more than 50 small and medium exporters, industry associations and policymakers - to find that almost all of them were fatalistically waiting to be hit hard by the slowdown.Aegis from the Essar fold and Aditya Birla Minacs are giving BPO veterans tough competition
In India's rapidly growing BPO industry, Aegis and Minacs are outliers; very different from new-age start-ups seeded by professionals, such as WNS, or outsourcing units spun off from multinationals. Aegis and Minacs, by contrast, come from old world business groups which have made their millions in businesses such as cement, steel, petroleum and aluminium, among others.Will Vijay Mallya's decision to shut down Kingfisher Red pay off
Vijay Mallya shuts Kingfisher Red at a time when low-cost aviation is flying high. Its 15 single-cabin, no-frills aircraft would be converted into a mix of business and full-service economy class seats to become part of the airline's full-service fleet.
Readers' vews on Busienss Today stories
Your cover story (King B, October 16) highlights Kumar Mangalam Birla's vision and journey. He gambled with ideas, strategies and dared to dream of a global setup different from the typical Birla style.
Jindal Steel and Power Ltd MD Naveen Jindal admires J.R.D. Tata
Naveen Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd shares his leadership style.
People who made news
Starring: D. Shivakumar, Stephen Lussier, G.V. Sanjay Reddy, Manish Kejriwal, Sumant Sinha
If you feel listless at work, you should see a counsellor
If you feel listless at work, you should see a counsellor. A fascinating tale of the intersect of neuroscience and computing
This is a fascinating tale of the intersect of neuroscience and computing.
Eco-friendly homes can help you save money
Eco-friendly homes may be expensive, but will help you save money in the long run.
CavinKare is now working towards a global presence
CavinKare, which began the sachet revolution, is now working towards a global presence. How different things work
For deep underwater salvage, scuba diving equipment and training in diving skills is essential. Equipment like side scan sonar, state-of-the-art detecting devices, underwater cameras and even underwater robots may be used.Reliance 3G Tab is not bad, BlackBerry Bold 9900 hits the sweet spot
One more android tablet, and a late sizzler TRAI issues a consultation paper on Unsolicited Commercial Communication, or UCC, invites stakeholders' comments.Widespread urbanisation may raise the global demand for water five-fold by 2050
Widespread urbanisation and affluence may raise the global demand for water five-fold by 2050, even as water supplies come under pressure, says a Citi report.DreamWorks Studios JV with Anil Ambani
Motion picture company DreamWorks Studios, a $825-million JV between Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider on one hand and Anil Ambani's ADAG on the other, was formed in July 2009. The Michelangelo of the computer era, says N.R.Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus, Infosys, in The Times of India.A normal monsoon may not dampen food inflation
A normal monsoon may not dampen food inflation.Biggest deals in the past 30 days(September 2011)
Hyderabad-based GVK Group, through its group companies, has entered into acquisition agreements with the Australia-based Hancock Prospecting and its affiliated entity, Hancock Group.Will RBI's 12th interest rate hike help tame inflation?
Just as all the earlier interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India over the past 18 months have not been able to bring down headline inflation, this time too they do not believe the latest hike is going to make any difference.RBI mulls inflation-linked instrument to blunt the bite from price hikes
RBI mulls inflation-linked instrument to blunt the bite from price hikes, but uncertainties remain.IMF sees Global Economic Growth Slowing in 2011
The International Monetary Fund sees Global Economic Growth Slowing in 2011.Meaning of new word in business - Hippo
In workplaces, the Highest Paid Person's Opinion, or HiPPO, becomes the deciding factor in official discussions.'Providing access to quality health care should be the real concern'
Providing access to quality health care should be the real concern, not the perceived impact of FDI on drug prices.Events of the fortnight and upcoming
Long Live the Monk: Steve Jobs redefined the way we look at computers, music and communication through an unwavering self-belief.Why has Steve Jobs touched our hearts?
As inspiring as his life was, Steve's battle with cancer and the way he spent his final weeks is equally inspiring.Cisco Systems Marie Hattar on the future of communications
Marie Hattar, Vice President, Borderless Networks Marketing at Cisco Systems, shared its findings as well as her views on the future of communications in a telepresence interaction.
Employers feel hiring would drop, says BT-TeamLease survey
The latest BT-TeamLease survey shows hiring has slowed. Employers have grown cautious. Both the Employment Outlook Index, or EOI, and the Business Outlook Index, or BOI, reveal a three percentage point drop for the October to December 2011 quarter, compared to the previous July to September quarter.
Corporate honchos are also writing popular fiction
Corporate honchos are also writing popular fiction.
Amazon presents the most credible challenge yet to iPad
Amazon presents the most credible challenge yet to iPad. 
