ICIS Blogs

Micro-management gone too far?

"Nobody can see until the end of the month - never mind into the third quarter," commented an olefins trader recently. "The reason is that very senior managers are too busy micro-managing everything, from getting involved in trying to track...

Published 8 May 2009 7:26 by Asian Chemical Connections

Filed under: US, Economics, China, Indonesia, Europe, India, Japan, Middle East, Business, Markets, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, APIC, Managing people, Knowledge management, Company Strategy, South Korea, financial meltdown, CEOs, Taiwan, micro-management, commodity chemicals, credit control, human resources
If manufacturers started buying up their suppliers....

This excellent article from The Economist about vertical integration got me thinking that if, say, auto makers start buying up parts suppliers in developed markets (in developing markets the plastics processing industry is too fragmented) we could end...

Published 2 Apr 2009 15:44 by Asian Chemical Connections

Filed under: US, Economics, Europe, Japan, Polyolefins, Business, Singapore, Toyota, The Economist, Company Strategy, South Korea, M&A, Taiwan, Muhammad Ali, vertical integration, George Foreman, plastics processing, Rumble in the Jungle
How to make money in a downturn Part 1

Herein begins an occasional series where I offer advice on how to make a little cash. By the way, is it me or do I get the sense that a lot companies haven't woken up to the severity of the crisis we are in? A recovery this, and I think quite probably...

Published 9 Feb 2009 13:16 by Asian Chemical Connections

Filed under: Economics, China, Indonesia, Europe, India, aromatics, Japan, Middle East, Olefins, Polyolefins, Styrenics, Business, Markets, Methanol & Derivatives, Malaysia, Philippines, Fibre Intermediates, Company Strategy, South Korea, financial meltdown, Kate Beckinsale, trade protection, antidumping petitions, living in cloud cuckoo land, John Cusack
Lobbying for protection

Protecting local companies during these difficult times is back on the Indian government's agenda. Antidumping investigations are on the rise with companies working hard to prove that low priced imports are hurting their businesses. The government...

Published 30 Jan 2009 7:34 by India Chemicals Blog

Filed under: China, Companies, Petrochemicals, Government Policy, economy, caustic soda, polyol, dumping, South Korea, melamine, nitrile rubber, synthetic rubber, ADD
Work can be the death of you

My dear old mother used to often say "what's the world coming to?" as if life was constantly getting worse. But for South Korean workers - and for workers everywhere in Asia - expectations of employers have long been unreasonable. Tied into...

Published 29 Jul 2008 10:15 by Asian Chemical Connections

Filed under: Managing people, Company Strategy, South Korea, work/life balance, Asian working culture

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Micro-management gone too far?

If manufacturers started buying up their suppliers....

How to make money in a downturn Part 1

Lobbying for protection

Work can be the death of you