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Small Business and Industry
by JC Verma and Gurpal
Singh. Response Books, N.
Delhi. Pages: 320. Rs. 290.
 Small business
and industry (SB&I) are not only vital avenues for
employment generation but are also platforms for budding
entrepreneurs with small budgets and big dreams. The post-World
War II Japan owes its economic resurgence to small industries
– the precursors of its present behemoths. It is easy to set
up small units because they have lower gestation period and are
ideal for labour-intensive processes. The book is divided into
two parts. The first part discusses the concepts of small
business and industry and enumerates the qualities and
characteristics an entrepreneur must have. The second part
discusses ownership patterns of small business and industry that
are influenced by the skills and funds at the entrepreneur’s
disposal.
This book
familiarises you with the various government policies that have
direct bearing on the working of small business and industry in
India. It also gives case studies in order to provide a clearer
picture.
If you are
thinking of becoming a businessperson, this book is for you.
***
Project
Management
by Ramaraju Thirumalai.
Himalaya Publishing House,
Mumbai. Pages: xxii + 302. Rs 650
 In the
fast-changing economic scenario, both at the national and global
levels, it is imperative for India Inc to shed sloth and perk up
for the competition. The days of cost and time overruns are
over. With the competition getting increasingly severe our
managers, bureaucrats and workers will have to upgrade their
skills and attitude to the international levels.
The Third World
is experiencing a variety of political, social, technological
and economic upheavals. These pose grave challenges to setting
up of new projects. This book discusses the approach and
methodology of project management – especially in the Indian
context where, along with the aforesaid ills, poor
infrastructure poses a great hazard to project managers. While
discussing the various project management techniques adopted in
India, it takes a look at the manner in which mangers deploy and
influence the human resource. Essentially the book tries to
answer the following posers:
1. How to put
together an effective project team led by a competent project
manager?
2. How to
motivate and synthesise the entire project team to implement the
project well within the cost and time, simultaneously ensuring
high quality work?
3. How to make
the organisation a strong "learning organisation", to
succeed in competitive and rapidly changing environment?
4. How and
where to bring into play the modern tools in project management?
The book can be
of use to corporate executives, project management consultants,
and other professionals who are entrusted with ensuring of
effective and efficient implementation of projects.
***
Vastu Shastra
by PS Bright. Bright
Careers, Delhi. Pages:
vi + 184. Rs 60.
 So you think
that you have completed all the formalities – legal and social
necessary for building your house. You have hired the best
architect your budget can afford, for drawing up the building
plan. You have got it approved by the relevant authorities. You
have conducted the bhoomi pooja – but hold on! Have you
consulted the vaastu shastri? No? You are out of sync
with the modern trends, my friend.
Vaastu Shastra
is an ancient science that tells you where your kitchen, drawing
and bedrooms should be. In fact, it delineates the entire
household placement. The volume deals with site evaluation,
foundation laying, griha-pravesh, business premises,
agriculture, haunted structure, auspicious signs and symbols
etc. It also has a separate chapter on feng shui. This
book gives all the details about your dream house, and also
offers advice to those who would like to rectify any drawbacks
in their existing dwelling or even the place of work. If you
follow the advice you are ensured a happy prosperous life ever
after, or so this publication appears to claim.
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THIS
book provides statistics about the Indian economy’s
performance during the first 50 years of Independence. The
author has covered all the sectors, viz., primary, secondary and
tertiary. He does not appear to be happy with the opening up of
the economy and has given statistical evidence in support of his
angst. To make the volume interesting he has illustrated some
dry facts with cartoons. But statistics can tell only a part of
the story, and can sometimes be misleading too. You must have
heard that if a person’s head is in the freezer and feet in
the oven, on an average he must be quite comfortable –
statistically speaking.
