CRUCIAL ROLE OF CONSULTANCY ORGANISATIONS IN THE EMERGING GLOBALISATION CONTEXT

With the tremendous progress in the field of communication and information technology, the style and functioning mode of organisations and industries have undergone sea change all over the world. With the lifting of trade barriers between the nations, every arm of the industry and business find that they have to be extremely alert and should study all details at micro levels, even to retain their existing market share and positions.

To operate in such conditions, the managements have to focus on greater specialization and in achieving maximum possible level of perfection in their dealings. This obviously implies that they have to concentrate and focus on specific areas, instead of spreading their wings widely , that could result in dilution of performance and inadequate attention to details.

Such scenario would obviously mean that outsourcing would assume high level of significance in the operations in the coming years. This would not only mean that every organization has to interact with more number of organizations than they do at present , but there would also be tremendous increase in inter dependence between the organizations.

In recent times, we find conditions which one could not even imagine two decades back. Now, there are number of international organizations who compete with each other in one country and cooperate with the same organization in another country. We are also seeing conditions where competitors pool their resources and work together in such areas as research and development.

Such emerging scenarios are rapidly contributing to the greater and more important role for consultancy organizations, particularly those providing consultancy services in the field of data base management, market research , technology studies and collaborations.

However, the consultancy organizations in India are finding it extremely difficult to equip themselves adequately and raise their standards and performance to the level of expectations.

The functions of consultants are sometimes viewed as even more difficult than that of the manufacturing organizations, since the consultants need variety of expertise and talents and high level of capability, to search , collect , store and interpret the huge data and information. Many consultants have a genuine grievance that the manufacturing organizations often think that the consultancy profession is a low investment and low cost affair , without realizing that the human capital involved in the consultancy business is quite expensive and difficult to get apart from the investments required in building up and maintaining a globally competitive and updated data base.

It is strange to find that sometimes even reputed organizations refusing to recognize this aspect of the consultancy profession and showing extreme reluctance to pay the consultants reasonably well.

The requirement for the consultants is that they have to equip themselves by subscribing for large number of journals and research reports and attending seminars and symposiums to keep themselves updated and their knowledge level globally competitive.

Maintaining a data base is an expensive and difficult function and the consultants have often to wait for the opportunities to utilize such data base , which would depend upon the appropriate assignments received. When the consultants do not get adequate fees, obviously they cannot function well. When the consultancy organizations cannot afford to maintain a high quality and strong data base that are required to perform well, the client organizations , who have no alternative other than utilizing the services of consultants in these tough and competitive conditions, would themselves suffer.

Unfortunately, the consultancy profession in India still remains somewhat unorganized. Many of the consultants get into the profession either at the superannuation stage or after taking voluntary retirement from the job. Such persons are often found to lack the requisite expertise and understanding that the functions demand and which require long time and wide exposure to acquire.

It is necessary that the Government should frame appropriate policies that would recognize the importance of the consultancy organizations in promoting national economic and industrial growth.

On the other hand, the government has shown lack of imagination by imposing service tax on the consultancy organizations, which have contributed to considerably erode the already narrow margins available to them. In the absence of adequate margin, the consultancy organizations find it difficult to plough their resources in creating adequate facilities, in conducting special studies and building up the data base.

The Chambers of Commerce and industrial associations should also study the positions and problems of consultants and evolve certain recommendations for fixing the consultancy fees and recognizing the consultant's capabilities.

Earlier, Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) maintained a list of consultants in their panel, who were included in the panel based on their background , competence and performance. This practice enabled the industries to identify and choose their consultants of required standing. Unfortunately, IDBI disbanded this practice of maintaining the panel list of consultants, a few years back for whatever reasons.

Today, recognizing the importance of consultancy organizations and appreciating their due role in the national reconstruction has become a vital necessity and an unfilled task.

BIOPHARMACEUTICALS INDUSTRY - GLOBAL SCENARIO

The biopharmaceuticals industry is in balance between the need for biomanufacturing capacity and available capacity, according to a recent report, titled `Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing; Serving the Growing Need for Biopharmaceutical Production,' by consulting firm HighTech Business Decisions (Moraga, CA).

The study's findings are based on individual interviews with biomanufacturing directors at 45 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and 31 biopharmaceutical contract manufacturers.

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY - INDIAN SCENARIO

The fledging biopharmaceuticals sector has caught the fancy of a large number of Indian pharmaceutical companies for its product development potential.

The potential of the biopharmaceuticals market in India is large.

Many products in this market are presently imported, making them expensive.

Around this, many companies have begun to draw up plans in a big way.

The traditional pharma and chemical companies have gradually become more focused biopharmaceutical outfits and some are now manufacturing biotech drugs through fermentation process.

For Indian pharma companies, the advantage of entering this market is the short timelines needed to develop a product, tap the vast human resource available and make it affordable in the market.

The biopharmaceutical sector is likely to witness doubling of its revenue turnover by 2005 from current levels of Rs.33,000 crore.

A number of Indian companies have entered or are planning to enter this market. They are expected to introduce products at much lower prices. This is likely to result in larger volumes by 2005.

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Industries which largely depend on imported coal are facing a crisis situation in view of the sharp increase in landed cost of imported coal. This is because during the last couple of months the price of coal has shot up in the international market as also have shipping freight rates.

In the circumstances, the reduction of import duty form 25 to 15 percent and abolition of 4 percent special additional duty (SAD)on non-coking coal have hardly provided any succour to user industries mostly located in the coastal states, according to sources close to bulk coal consuming industries.

The article discusses the coke scenario in India in depth.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has asked the brick kilns, tiles or blocks manufacturing units located within 50 to 100 km radius of the five thermal power stations in the state to use at least 25 percent of fly ash in their product on weight to weight basis on or before August 26, 2004.

A notification, based on the fly ash utilisation gazette notification of the Union Environment Ministry, dated September 14, 1999 and amended on August 27, 2003, was issued by the Board on 28th January.

VALLARAI (CENTELLA ASIATICA)

Common names
Tamil- Vallarai
Sanskrit - Mandukaparni
Hindi - Brahmamanduki - Gotu Kola
English - Indian Pennywort
Unani - Khulakudi
Bengali - Tholkuri
Malayalam - Muttil
Gujarati - Karbrahmi
Japanese - Tsubokura
Tibetan - Sin-mnar

There is some confusion with regard to Vallarai and Brahmi, as they have similar appearance, properties, synoymns and lack of textual descriptions. Careful study of the texts clearly indicate that they are two different plants. Traditionally, both the products are recognised as being promoters of mental facilities. But Brahmi is assigned a more specific role in treating mental diseases like insanity, anxiety, depression and epllepsy, while Vallarai improves mental function through its more general rasayana effect.

In this article the following aspects are discussed

• Chemical Constituent
• Application Details
• Cultivation Practices
• Imports
• Exports
• Extraction Process
• Process Description
• Specification of Extract
• Driving Factors for Demand
• Consumption Pattern and Assessment of Demand
• Factors influencing the position for a new industry and recommendations

STUDY ON GARLIC

The British have taken to the smell and taste of garlic as never before, with few people finding its flavour strange or foreign. But in Britain, as in other countries, there is also increasing interest in how Allium sativum, which belongs to the same family of plants as onions, chives and shallots, might protect individuals against a range of diseases, particularly those that strike during the winter.

There is a long held belief that the broken down constituents of garlic can protect against heart disease by thinning the blood and helping to lower cholesterol. This could, according to researchers, reduce the risk of clotting and raised blood pressure during cold spells.

The blood thickens when exposed to cold weather, because the tiny blood vessels near the extremities contract to prevent loss of too much body heat. This leads to a more sluggish circulation and for those at risk, an increased chance of clotting. Sticky blood in the 48 hours after a cold spell is a little known cause of heart attacks, according to a European survey, which also disclosed that the British are particularly at risk. So, in theory, a regular intake of garlic - in the form of a supplement or eating it raw in salads or dressings - could be along with a flu jab, a major preventive strategy.

But it is important to eat the garlic swiftly -- its potency fades the more it is exposed to light, so young bulbs have greater health benefits. Garlic pills or powders are useful for those concerned about odour. Garlic has long been used to prevent a variety of infections.

The Romans are said to have marched into Britain on a diet of garlic to comb at our bronchitis-inducing mists and fogs. Today, hundreds of new studies are investigating its power to combat bacterial, fungal and possibly, even viral infections.

Supplements such as Hofels One a Day garlic pearls, each of which contains the essential oil from 2g of fresh raw garlic, are licensed under the Medicine Act as a treatment for colds and flue. Research also suggests that garlic in this form can prevent the development of more serious secondary infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, after a cold or flue.

In effect, this ancient remedy, with its apparently infinite range of benefits, is a Do-It Yourself (DIY) mini-medicine chest.

Some studies suggest that garlic also helps to protect against helicobacter, the leading cause of stomach ulcers; others that its anti oxidant effects increase production of anti aging chemicals. There are even garlic pills for cats and dogs and the French sometimes feed them to their horses to protect them from disabling clots that can form around the joints, while trainers in Ireland often give their race horses garlic and honey.

Garlic's benefits are attributed to the production of the chemical allicin, produced when garlic is crushed or chewed. This substance breaks down into sulphur and other beneficial compounds.

Sulphur based drugs, followed by antibiotics, have largely superseded the more homely garlic as away of treating some ailments. Although the British Heart Foundation was initially excited by the possible relationship between garlic and relatively low rates of coronary disease, it is now more cautious, says Belinda Linden, the BHF's cardiac nurse. "Many of the studies on the value of garlic in reducing total cholesterol levels are not conclusive," she says.

Scientists at Oxford University who have examined many previous experiments into the health benefits of garlic recently concluded that there were shortcomings in the way some of the tests had been conducted.

Many doctors continue to advise heart patients to take garlic tablets as a precaution. But in other cases, cardiologists are more sceptical. When it comes to fighting infections, the force of evidence, despite strong anecdotal reports, has yet to convince mainstream scientists of garlic's benefits. That could change, however, with some early signs that garlic might play a part in the battle against antibiotic resistant bacteria. Two patients at the Royal London Hospital, who were seriously ill with Vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), are believed to have recovered after being given 10 capsules daily of Allimax, a stable form of allicin.

Allicin is a very small molecule and is able to penetrate into the cell wall. In effect, it consumes the protein and enzymes without which the bacteria cannot reproduce." Further studies with allicin -- using nurses as volunteers -- are on by researchers at the University of East London.

ANILINE: PRODUCT PROFILE

This article discusses the following aspects :

* Product characteristics & Specifications
* Product applications
* Indian Manufacturers
* Technology
* Important Process Routes
* Technology Developments
* Assessment of Demand
* Consolidated Import/Export details
* Global Scenario