Playing to win, How Strategy really works

Playing to Win, How Strategy Really Works by A G Lafley and Roger Martin

Harvard Business Publishing

You talk of mass market FMCG products in India, probably Unilever (formerly Hindustan Lever Limited) will come in your mind. But when you add quality to this mass market segment, no one can beat an organization like P&G particularly in markets such as US and China. The addition of Gillette have made the brand portfolio of P&G even stronger.

Strategy per se is one of the often most misused concept in business context. Every action plan as trivial as market visit can be put into words such as Lets have strategy for tomorrow’s market visit… However, while  everyone talks of the B-word, there are few organization capable of cultivating a strategic thinking and building culture. While traditional strategy implementation starts at top and get diffused at bottom, the story of P&G and its winning framework have been captured in a very lucid manner.

The simple framework of defining winning aspirations, where to play, How to win, Building core capabilities and management systems is defined with a strategic logic flow which is crucial in the current context where the challenge lies in putting different pieces together. The framework is explained in detail in context of P&G brands. Though the framework talks of basics such as understanding the customer and channels, building core capabilities – differentiation or cost leadership, managing systems, brand building and category development, in practical business scenario it is a humongous task and require discipline, skills, knowledge and investment.

From a respected legendary business leader A G Lafley along with the expertise of Roger Martin, the book reflects the thoughts of Peter Drucker as pivotal and makes it a must read for every student of strategy.

Best regards

Sunil Singh Rana

एक कोशिश तो बनती है!

जब जीवन की शाम ढल कर, तुझे रुकने को मजबूर करती है

तब आशा की एक किरण जलकर तुझसे यह कहती है

तुझ में भी जीवन बाकी है और एक कोशिश तो बनती है।

 

सरहद के पार रहनेवाले, हर शक्स ग़ैर नही होता है

उस पार भी उम्मीदें बस्ती है उस पार भी सपने रहते है

उस ग़ैर को भी गर अपनालें बस एक कोशिश तो बनती है।

 

हर बार लड़ा फिर भी हारा, तुझमें क्या उत्साह खलता है

संघर्ष तो फिर भी जारी रख, हर रात का चाँद भी ढलता है

अपने कर्मों का फल चखने की एक कोशिश तो बनती है।

 

अपने भी संग छोड़ चले और सफर तेरा अधूरा है

हर राह भी एकदम निर्जन हो और पथ पर घनघोर अंधेरा है

अपनी परछाईं को संग लेकर चलनेकी एक कोशिश तो बनती है।

 

तु कमज़ोर नही, तु सक्षम है, तेरा भी कुछ हक बनता है

तेरे भी कुछ अरमान है जिनको जीने का सपना है

उन सपनो को साकार करे चल एक कोशिश तो बनती है।

 

- सुनील सिंह राणा

 

Being Human

Hi,

Have composed few lines to sensitize other on "Being Human"...

BEiNG HUMAN

Crowded streets, chaotic traffic; hustling bodies and noisy malls;

Still we fail to see the pain and suffering of others even with open eye balls.

Moving past in speeding cars with scorching pace and no rewinds;

Still we fail to feel the grief of destitute who had been left behind.

We add new words in the dictionary and achievements to raise the toast;

Still we fail to utter a single word that we only tweet and post.

In a connected world it just takes a click to add a friend without walking a mile;

Still we fail to connect heart with our loved ones and bring a bouquet of smile.

We have evolved so much that we talk of freedom and equality of woman;

But still we are too far in the journey from human being to Being Human.

Sunil Singh Rana

Feeling Colours

Feeling Colours

I was deeply touched by a pic clicked by you in DNA dated 15^th Mar’14 titled Feeling Colours and penned down few lines with same title on the above image, though I am not regular one to write prose..

FEELING COLOURS

People have two eyes,

But only few have vision to see.

The world is bright and colourful,

But behind the cloak the sight is too bleak.

People camouflage which eyes deceive,

Ethereal beauty is what only you can feel,

Tear shed on both joy and happiness,

to cheat, the eyes have mastered the art.

Only you can feel the beauty of this world,

as you don't see from eyes but from your heart.

Sunil Singh Rana

Viktorina #7 - General Q's

Q1: Italians call it the snail, the Germans call it spider monkey, Dutch call it monkey tail and in Chinese it is called the little mouse. What we are taking about?

Ans: @ symbol

Q2: In 1861, which Bank printed the first currency notes for India which were issued for the first time in March 1862?

Ans: Bank of England

Q3: Which company started in 1893 in Chennai has forayed into brands such as Kitchen Delights, Fruitnik, Purity and Comfy? (You can name their biggest brand not mentioned here)

Ans: Amrutanjan

Q4: We all love facebook. What does an application called Buxter allows friends to do on facebook?

Ans: Allows friends to share money

Q5: Which brand delivered Pizza to astronauts orbiting the earth in International Space Station in 2001?

Ans: Pizza Hut

Viktorina #5 - Movie Time 2

Dear All,

Its movie time again with the questions on Indian Movies...Enjoy...

Q1: Officially, “Raja Harish Chandra” was the first Indian movie produced in 1900. However which was first film made in India by Save Dada in 1898?

Ans: The Flower of Persia. The movie was directed by Hiralal Sen

Q2: Which movie holds the record for highest number of songs (around 65+ songs)?

Ans: Indra Sabha. The movie featured 71 songs

Q3: Name the first Indian talking movie released in 1933?

Ans: Alam Ara

Q4: Name the film which was first used stereophonic soundtrack along with first film shot in 70 mm widescreen format?

Ans: Sholey

Q5: Name India’s first 3D film (Remember it was not a Hindi film)?

Ans: My Dear Kuttichathan. Chotta Chetan in Hindia was the remake of this movie

Q6: Which films holds the unique distinction no dialogue, only verses (poetries)?

Ans: Heer-Ranjha

Q7: Name the first Indian movie which was first distributed through satellite to multiplexes?

Ans: Moonnamathoral

Viktorina #4 - Movies & Business

Q1: Name the movie whose lead cast (Abhay Deol along with other actress) was selected based on market research conducted among 600 respondents in age group of 15 to 25?

Ans: Rock The Shaadi. The film is produced by Balaji with Genelia as other co-star selected through the survey.

Q2: Which Hindi movie was produced by 5 Lac people contributing Rs 2 each in 1976?

Ans: Manthan. The film was produced by donation of Rs 2 each by 5 Lac members of GCMMF, the power behind brand Amul.

Q3: What unique distinction was held by movie “Gadar – Ek Prem Katha” related to business?

Ans: The 2001 movie was produced by Zee Telefilms Ltd and all movie cast and crew right up to spot boy paid by cheque which was first in the Indian film industry

Q4: Which was the first Indian movie to be available through download on a mobile prior to one day of release?

Ans: Rok Sako to Rok Lo, a movie produced by Arindam Choudhary’s Planman Motion Pictures

Q5: We know “Dabangg” was the first blockbuster movie to be uploaded in “You Tube” for download officially. Name the first Indian movie to be premiered on You tube officially for international audience?

Ans: Striker