Mizan Rahman

Bio: Mizan Rahman is an academic researcher from University of Lincoln. The author has contributed to research in topics: Bottom of the pyramid & Tourism. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 23 publications receiving 274 citations.

Making profit to solve development problems: the case of Telenor AS and the Village Phone Programme in Bangladesh

Abstract: Multi-national corporations (MNCs) and large domestic companies have traditionally ignored a large part of the world's population with lower income levels, also known as the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). New empirical measures of the behaviour of those at the BOP and their aggregate purchasing power, however, suggest significant opportunities for the MNCs - as the BOP constitutes a $5 trillion global consumer market. In this paper, we explore the key elements of the BOP thesis and offer a critique from a number of developmental and marketing perspectives. We argue that instead of focusing on untapped low-income markets for profit-generation only, a business model that integrates local people and takes into account the local socio-economic context of the target markets, is a more sustainable way to successfully penetrate the BOP markets. To illustrate this point, we explore a case study from Bangladesh, namely Village Phone Programme (VPP), an initiative undertaken by Telenor AS, a Norwegian telecommunicati...

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH: COLONIAL PERIOD TO 21st CENTURY

Abstract: In a world of global market competition, the secondary level education has become a part of basic education. Secondary schools are vested with the responsibility of imparting knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for individuals to fit into society and be able to contribute fruitfully to its development. This article analyses the development of secondary education in Bangladesh in different period of time, socio-political context. Therefore, a general overview of secondary education is provided which is followed by historical evolution of secondary education in the British and Pakistani rule over Bangladesh. In conjunction with primary and mass educa­tion, secondary education was revised with great emphasis on the development of an all-round individual, female education, the acquisition of quality education, and the inculcation of technical and science education. A good number of commissions and committee were formed in different time to make changes in educational arena. Following the recommendations, the system of educational administration has been decentralised to promote school-based management and teacher empowerment. Furthermore, the non-government schools have been always encouraged to play an active role in providing secondary level education. A new education policy for Bangladesh has been tabled in September, 2009 after restoration of democratic process. At secondary education level a broad-based change in educational objectives, structure and system, curriculum have been proposed which is under public scrutiny.

Brand Orientation as a Strategy That Influences the Adoption of Innovation in the Bottom of the Pyramid Market

Abstract: This paper considers the Community Information Centre (CIC) of Grameenphone (name of Norwegian Telenor in Bangladesh) as a case study to investigate how brand orientation as a strategy of Grameenphone influences the adoption of an innovation like CIC in the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) market in Bangladesh. From the findings of quantitative research (factor, regression and correlation analyses), it is found that brand orientation significantly influences the ‘relative advantage’ attribute of an innovation like CIC in the BOP market. This has strategic implications for multinational corporations designing or selling products to the millions of poor people in developing and emerging economies.

Not always co-creation: introducing interactional co-destruction of value in service-dominant logic

Abstract: – Noting that a fundamental tenet of service‐dominant (S‐D) logic is the co‐creation of value‐in‐use, this paper aims to explore the theoretical possibility that the interactions between service systems cannot only co‐create value, but also have adverse consequences leading to actual value co‐destruction., – This conceptual paper critically reviews the dominance of value co‐creation and value‐in‐use in S‐D logic. Noting the relative lack of research in the converse possibility, the study proposes and explores the implications of value co‐destruction as a new concept which should be introduced within the framework of S‐D logic., – The study proposes a formal definition for the new proposed concept of value co‐destruction. It describes in detail the process by which it occurs, showing that value can be co‐destroyed through the interactions between different systems, resulting in value destruction‐through‐misuse. Indeed, value co‐destruction occurs when a service system accidentally or intentionally misuses resources (its own resources and/or those of another service system) by acting in an inappropriate or unexpected manner., – This paper is purely conceptual and exploratory. Empirical examination of the theoretical findings regarding value‐co‐destruction is required. Possible avenues of interest for such empirical research of value co‐destruction are suggested., – Limiting the occurrence of misuse by aligning the mutual expectations of interacting service systems should reduce the risks of value co‐destruction. Recovering from misuse should also be considered., – This study is apparently the first to have introduced the notion of value co‐destruction into the conceptual framework of S‐D logic.

Reviewing a Decade of Research on the 'Base/Bottom of the Pyramid' (BOP) Concept

Abstract: In 1998-1999, Prahalad and colleagues introduced the Base/Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) concept in an article and a working paper. This article’s goal is to answer the question: What has become of the concept over the decade following its first systematic exposition in 1999? To answer this question, the authors conducted a systematic review of articles on the BOP, identifying 104 articles published in journals or proceedings over a ten-year period (2000-2009). This count excludes books, chapters, and teaching cases. The review shows that the BOP concept evolved dramatically following Prahalad’s original call to multinational enterprises (MNEs). De-emphasizing the role of MNEs over time, published BOP articles portray a more complex picture, with wide variations in terms of BOP contexts, of BOP initiatives, and of impacts of the BOP approach. A simple framework for organizing the reviewed articles helps discuss findings, identify the gaps that still exist in the literature, and suggest directions for future research.

Reviewing a Decade of Research on the “Base/Bottom of the Pyramid” (BOP) Concept:

Abstract: In 1998-1999, Prahalad and colleagues introduced the base/bottom of the pyramid (BOP) concept in an article and a working paper. This article’s goal is to answer the following question: What has be...