Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: The emergence of new digital technologies have facilitated the process of connecting the world and also empowered the local/village communities to always stay connected. This phenomenon of being both ‘global’ and ‘local’ simultaneously is what defines today’s business and communication environment.
This was stated today by the noted management and communication expert Ashok Ogra while interacting with the faculty, and MBA students of the Model Institute of Educational Research in Jammu. “Governments, politicians, businesses- all see this emerging scene with both trepidation and offering huge promise”, he said.
Ashok Ogra who is currently Director of the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, is credited with launching both the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet in the year 1995 where he worked as Regional Director for the entire SAARC region.
He said the advent of satellite technology and its use for communication purposes – starting in 1970s onwards- has connected the world’s seven billion people in a manner that was unthinkable just a few decades ago. “This is no mean achievement. In fact, in our own country there are more than a billion people with mobiles – much more than those who have access either to safe drinking water or toilet facilities. And today mobile is being used not just for connecting but to gain access to sources of information that interest them,” he said.
Quoting the founders of Google-Larry Page and Sergey Brin- who in one of their books, describe social media as the world’s largest ‘ungovernable space,’ as a beast that has the potential to inflict both harm and also deliver huge value to us all.
“We are seeing an interesting interplay and marriage of old economy as defined by ‘bricks’ and the new economy as represented by ‘clicks’, Ogra added.
Referring briefly to the concept of ‘Female Economy’ Ogra said that while the size of world economy is close to 90 trillion US$, with women workforce increasing year after year, they account for approx 30 percent of consumer spend. And yet very little communication is directed at them, he lamented.
Earlier, Brig (Retd) Prof P N Sharma, Head, School of Management, MIET, highlighted the role of managers in new economy and how the institute is delivering value to the students by inviting industry experts.
Prof B C Sharma, Dean (Placements), presented vote of thanks.
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