Amazon and Walmart, with more than a trillion dollars in annual revenues combined, are the two largest
companies in the world. They have not only redefined the retail industry—Walmart in the 1980s/1990s and
Amazon since 2000—but have also been the benchmark for best practices in business (in terms of the use of
IT, supply chain, data analytics and customer orientation).
In the coming years, Amazon will probably dethrone Walmart as the world’s largest company, a position
that Walmart has occupied for more than two decades. By examining these two companies and their
business models in depth, Nirmalya Kumar elucidates the more general phenomenon of incumbents competing with disruptors (e.g., Volkswagen vs Tesla, Marriott vs Airbnb) as well as the move to omnichannel retail, where physical stores must coexist with online retailers.
Clash is a lucid, well-researched and eminently readable discourse on the future of retailing, the economics of e-commerce delivery models and whether its two largest players will collide head-on or coexist in
strategic complementarity.
Archives: Books
The Power Above Us All
A novel of ordinary decent criminals and extraordinarily brutal cops weaving together and colliding inside the giant slum of ‘Dreamland’, within the megalopolis of Metro Manila, Philippines.
Dreamland’s entrance may smell of soap from the nearby detergent factory, but within the sprawling maze of thousands squeezed into tenements and shanties, there’s only the reek of corruption, crime, and cockroaches—the insect and human kind.
Dodong’s cushy life as a low-level criminal takes a violent turn when his girlfriend Che, a beautiful bar girl, turns up dead. The police officers have tagged Dodong as the primary suspect and he decides to scrub any evidence he and Che were ever lovers to survive.
With the help of his best friend Buldan, Dodong endeavors to investigate who framed him. As they try to elude the villainous police officer Elmer, a manhunt for the serial killer of gay men proceeds with startling incompetence.
This manhunt is also connected, among other things, to part-time mortician Butsok’s increasing purchases of oil and why his sister’s a cripple.
These seemingly disparate stories will unlock the mystery of Che’s death and Dodong’s suffering. As the cordon tightens around them, Dodong and Buldan move towards a furious denouement, encountering unlikely allies and enemies, stumbling on foul truths in their world drenched in perpetual violence and poverty.
When all paths unforgiving are found, the friends will wish they’d never uncovered the power above that rules all and spares none.
My First Box of Books (Penguin Early Learning Library)
My First Box of Books is the perfect way to make early learning both fun and educational for your little one.
Why You Will Love This Boxset:
- Comprehensive Learning: With 20 vibrant board books, this set covers essential early learning topics such as letters, numbers, colors, shapes, animals, transport, and more.
- Age-Appropriate: Specially designed for toddlers and preschoolers, the clear labels and bright illustrations make learning an enjoyable experience.
- Boosts Key Skills: These books help develop essential skills such as language, visual recognition, motor skills, and cognitive abilities.
- Durable & Child-Friendly: Made with sturdy board book materials, this set is perfect for little hands that love to explore.
- Fun & Interactive: Each book introduces topics that are part of a child’s world, like parts of the body, food, action words, and everyday objects, making the learning process relatable and exciting.
This collection is a fantastic way to introduce your child to the world of knowledge in a playful and engaging manner.
Titles in the boxset:
1. My first book of ABC
2. My first book of Numbers
3. My first book of Colors
4. My first book of Shapes
5. My first book of Things at home (and around us)
6. My first book of Fruits and vegetables
7. My first book of Seasons and Opposites
8. My first book of Transport
9. My first book of Animals (Domestic and Wild)
10. My first book of Birds
11. My first book of My Body
12. My first book of People At Work
13. My first book of Flowers
14. My first book of Food We Eat
15. My first book of Insects
16. My first book of Sea animals
17. My first book of Toys
18. My first book of Baby animals
19. My first book of Baby objects
20. My first book of Action words
My First Box of Books (Penguin Early Learning Library)
My First Box of Books is the perfect way to make early learning both fun and educational for your little one.
Why You Will Love This Boxset:
- Comprehensive Learning: With 12 vibrant board books, this set covers essential early learning topics such as letters, numbers, colors, shapes, animals, transport, and more.
- Age-Appropriate: Specially designed for toddlers and preschoolers, the clear labels and bright illustrations make learning an enjoyable experience.
- Boosts Key Skills: These books help develop essential skills such as language, visual recognition, motor skills, and cognitive abilities.
- Durable & Child-Friendly: Made with sturdy board book materials, this set is perfect for little hands that love to explore.
- Fun & Interactive: Each book introduces topics that are part of a child’s world, like parts of the body, fruits, vegetables, and everyday objects, making the learning process relatable and exciting.
This collection is a fantastic way to introduce your child to the world of knowledge in a playful and engaging manner.
Titles in the boxset:
1. My First Book of ABC
2. My First Book of Numbers
3. My First Book of Colors
4. My First Book of Shapes
5. My First Book of Things at Home (and around us)
6. My First Book of Fruits and Vegetables
7. My First Book of Seasons and Opposites
8. My First Book of Transport
9. My First Book of Animals (Domestic and Wild)
10. My First Book of Birds
11. My First Book of My Body
12. My First Book of People at Work
Zarra and the Twelve Realms of Kayangan
Forced to work for her aunt like a modern-day Cinderella, twelve-year-old Zarra Nuraman thinks her life is awful until one day her fairy ‘godmother’ turns up and kidnaps Zarra’s baby cousin. Zarra follows her cousin and ends up in Kayangan – a parallel universe filled with the characters of the Malaysian folktales she grew up with. In this land where magic fairy coats and were-crocodiles exist, and where even saying the wrong thing can kill you, Zarra is being hunted by the evil Queen Zamrud. With the help of the Border Guardians, Khai and Amir, and a magic Bidari coat which can transport her anywhere she wants, Zarra has three days to rescue her cousin, and in the process discovers a secret which changes her life.
Tapestry of the Mind and Other Stories
Tapestry of the Mind is best described as the writer’s literary love affair with trying to make sense of the human psyche. It is a collection of seventeen fully-developed short stories that are serious, funny, tender and grounded in Malaysia and, in particular Aneeta Sundararaj’s hometown of Alor Setar in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
The reader moves among a diverse range of protagonists from classical Indian dancers, toddlers engaging with spirits, pet therapy, mothers losing their children because of inequitable laws and the manipulation of the metaverse, men lacking self-worth, and divorcees mulling failed marriages, to probable stigma of homosexuality, narcissism, mean adults, sibling rivalry, bullying, spiritual abuse, clandestine adoptions, autism, environmental disasters, men’s regret from love lost, and the destruction of the mission schools.
Like all love affairs, specific and unique cultural, ethnic and religious differences gave rise to moments of betrayal, poignancy, heartache and, sometimes, much mirth. Ultimately, this haunting collection pieces together an everlasting tapestry of words rooted in brutal honesty. When viewed as a whole, it brings to light issues long avoided, evaded or hidden. With each story prefaced by a quote from an expert in mental health, Tapestry of the Mind is cradled with gravitas.
Why Women Don’t Talk Money
Society is uncomfortable with two factors: women in power, and women with money. But, why is that so? Despite the societal advancements the world has made since universal suffrage, women are still uncomfortable discussing money matters with their partners and peers.
In this book, 24 powerful women bare their souls to finance professionals Sharon Sim and Serena Wong about their struggles with making money and keeping it, their sometimes uncomfortable relationship with the all-powerful dollar, and how they’ve come to terms with, even celebrate, their financial and personal status in the world.
The Twin Blades of Doom
Julian Kee and his friends have already saved the Underworld twice from destruction and chaos. Can they do it a third time?
In his misguided attempts to harness the power of technology, the children’s erstwhile mentor Wuchiwark has unleashed a blight across the Underworld, causing the plants and animals to mutate into fearsome beasts. Only the legendary Twin Blades of Doom can undo the curse, so off the children are sent on yet another thrilling adventure! However, firmly believing that being a hero should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not a permanent job, Julian hatches a daring plot which, if successful, will resolve the Underworld’s problems once and for all.
This third book in the Prophecy of the Underworld series continues to serve up much fun and laughter about adventures, heroes and the crazy world of publishing!
Reputations of Value
Companies today operate in an era characterised by volatility, crisis, lack of trust and intense scrutiny. People have a growing expectation that the private sector not only markets a particular product or service but also takes an active role in making broader contributions to society. The spotlight has never shone more fiercely on what companies say—and do.
Yet, a significant number of companies grapple with the challenge of proactively earning and safeguarding their multifaceted reputations. The stakes are higher than ever, as the trajectory of a company’s growth is intricately linked to its ability to strategically enhance its standing in the eyes of stakeholders – including investors, customers, employees, regulators and activists.
Reputations of Value examines the profound impact of corporate reputations on any company’s ability to advance its business agenda over time. The book features insights from subject matter experts around the world. It serves as a guide for those wanting to better understand how companies can operate on a stronger, more resilient, and authentic basis in the face of a dynamic and unpredictable landscape.
Bleeding Sun
Bleeding Sun is a novel about agrarian reform but it is also the story of Simon, a farmer’s son, who is born in the poorest province. He grows up with no mother, his father dies after he graduates from high school, falls in love with a socialite, runs away from home and returns with a silent vengeance.