Corporate Attire

I may be stepping over some nice toes here but I felt like talking on the issue. Having experienced seven years of Corporate life in Karachi, I have always seen men dressing in an uptight suiting or at least a dress pant and proper tucked in shirt, shorts are not acceptable even on casual fridays. While women can dress as they like, skirts will also do, exposing some extra skin is very acceptable, even preferred by many. While I believe in personal space and freedom, this does not fall in the personal domain, it creates conflict in admirers minds, distracts him or her from the goals of the business and society blames them on what is followed.

This does not stop here, pretty news casters are equally to blame for inciting viewers, yes I notice them, I am a guy. Their job is to deliver news not modeling, we have models & actors for that. Many organizations prefer keeping such beauty in house, as it helps accomplishing stretched goals, especially in the sales function. On the other side many companies are just too scared on touching this sensitive topic, as it  could label them as extremist, fundamentalist or even terrorist, a word coined to undermine others. Many organizations have gone out of their way to chalk down instructions in their manuals that limits individuals freedom in dressing, implementing that policy however is difficult task, you cannot ask a beautiful person wearing a low cut blouse to go cover it up-just too rude!.

The advent of sexual harassment laws have made this issue of an urgent nature, they are pushing victims of sexual harassment to report incidents to a special committee, which may result in prosecution, whether the committee realizes that the victim was also at fault is a question we would like answers for. But the issue is not of harassment, as offenders will be active even if proper dress code is followed. The implementers of the law are asking organization to train their employees in Sexual Harassment laws & how to report incidents, this presents a good opportunity to inform the participants on their own responsibility, on controlling the incidents, to wear decently. While my experience is limited to Karachi, the matter is of globally nature (I am talking about accomplishing corporate goals here). You can find several articles on corporate dress codes in the US, where it seems that they have risen to make clear policy guidelines & recommendations on corporate attire.

Rising to the top - the short way

If you are looking for a short way to rise on the corporate ladder, you won't find it here, go and do some actual work. What I am more interested is in shortest possible way that would put anyone close to the top management, from there on, it is all about hard work and luck to play its role.

The point came in a discussion with some marketing friends. As we all know the marketing folks are closest to top management! who better to dig out the influential tool. Yes it is a tool and its called 'Pricing'

How does pricing brings you closer to the top management.?

Well, for one, it is the thing in direct control of the top management, all other Ps (Product, Placement, & Promotion) are the result of extensive R&D, there is little that can be changed. Secondly it comes last in the four 'Ps', and we all know that we remember the closing argument/scene the most, that's what pricing offer, the last scene in a long play. On top of that, pricing translates into profit, pricing strategy sets mood for the profit to rise (or fall, in-case you are fired, don't say I didn't warn you) 

Speaking honestly, pricing is not that simple, it is actually quite difficult. It has to take under consideration all the factors, from the raw idea of the product till the consumer sees the product in the shelves, the whole supply chain has to be thoroughly studied and mastered. It means that to be a great pricing strategist, you must master the whole chain that it had followed. 

Dilemma of Family Businesses in Pakistan

Family Businesses in Pakistan are the real success story, where most of the Businesses are run by Entrepreneurs' children & then their children and so on. There are very few cases where the torch has been handed over to Professionals. It seems that Entrepreneurs have little trust in professionals to run their businesses or there is something entirely different.

What this translates into?

The business growth is limited by the number and interest of Seth's children. 

I came across a story by Asad Umar speaking about the dilemma. He was traveling with a well known successful entrepreneur in Pakistan, during the discussion the Entrepreneur talked about the vast array of facilities offered by Bangladesh for the textile sectors in Pakistan and that many Pakistani Businesses are moving there.

That is where things get interesting, when Asad queried on the reason why he hadn't moved his Business there. The answer was

None of my children want to live in Bangladesh

 
If this is whats limiting the growth of businesses in Pakistan then there is an urgent need for the Business Schools to come up with research of those organization who have successfully handed over their business to professionals. Also, work should be done to change the mindset of the Seth's in Pakistan.