
New Delhi: The United Kingdom’s oldest industry chronicle Manager was relaunched here on October 5, 2024. The publication was founded by the IAM, the UK’s oldest management and vocational training college and awarding organization established in the year 1915.
Manager acquired its name after the IAM’s Bulletin of the Office Machinery Users’ Association Limited was renamed in 1996. It covers a diversified portfolio of ethical business practices that focus on balancing profit with responsibility towards stakeholders, society, and the environment.
A national seminar marked the relaunch where the reshaping of political governance, business, and economy in the face of technological developments within emerging cyber-physical systems in the fourth industrial age was a key discussion area.
Ravi Karan Sahu, Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Oil Ghani Board and Technical Education & Skill Development and Employment Department, said economic self-reliance can play a significant role in creating jobs and skilling the workforce. Dr PR Datta, Executive Chair, Centre for Business and Economic Research (CBER), UK, said businesses were increasingly moving toward platform-based models, where they acted as intermediaries that connect buyers, sellers, and other participants in a value-creating network.
Dr Dinesh Tyagi, a former secretary of education and finance in the State government, stressed that governments must develop policies that keep pace with the rapid advancement of technology. This, according to him, included updating regulations to address issues such as data privacy, AI ethics, digital platforms, and cybersecurity.
Dr Rajat K. Baisya, professor emeritus of Jadavpur University and former Dean of IIT (Delhi) & CEO of Emami Group, said in the fourth industrial age, business was undergoing a profound transformation driven by advanced technologies that are merging the physical, digital, and biological realms, and this convergence was reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and fundamentally changing how businesses operate, compete, and deliver value.
Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India, pointed out how sports had evolved beyond entertainment to become a major driver of economic growth, innovation, and business opportunities.
Hiren Raval, CEO, C3S Business School, Barcelona, Spain, said edupreneurship—the fusion of education and entrepreneurship—was gaining prominence in the Fourth Industrial Age as rapid technological advancements and an evolving workforce needed to create new opportunities and challenges in education.
Dilip HM Chenoy, CEO of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), said lifelong learning had become a key component of workforce management in the fourth industrial age.
In Industry 4.0, where the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping industries, the media sector is undergoing a profound transformation.
Rakesh Sharma, president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), spoke about the new mantras of political governance emphasizing the four pillars of smart governance which include Integration, Interoperability, Collaboration, and Trust.
Dilip Cherian, a leading communications & political campaign advisor said today it was all about microtargeting and personalization, with access to vast amounts of data. “Political PR now often involves the strategic use of memes, hashtags, and viral content to shape public discourse. Memetic warfare can influence public opinion subtly and effectively, spreading messages that resonate emotionally or humorously with audiences,” he said.
“To keep pace with these changes and harness the full potential of this digital revolution, skilling and upskilling the workforce is critical. Skilling can empower media professionals to adapt to new tools, platforms, and business models, thereby driving innovation, creativity, and efficiency in the sector,’’ Professor Sarat C Das, editor of Manager, said.
The event, hosted by Keystone Group of Institutions and Kilax Ltd.( UK), also had a ‘Manager Award’ ceremony. The occasion awarded a hundred individuals in multiple categories of business, economy, and public services. The list of distinguished awardees included former Indian ambassador to Ukraine V. B Soni, and Padma Nila Madhab Panda, a well-known Indian film producer, and director, as well as leading classical dancer Dr Atasi Misra.
– global bihari bureau
This publication will fill a void in the management literature space. Being from Tata Steel and a keen followers of MRA, this publication should be required reading for management students and professionals.