Monthly Archives: February 2009

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To Build, Buy, or Borrow?

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Bruce Meraviglia , Technology & Marketing Editor [ Microfinance Focus ]

This month we begin a new technology column for Microfinance Focus.  This column will review current technologies that may offer benefits for MFI’s, either for internal use or for the benefit of their borrowers – perhaps even to serve as potential business concepts the MFI may choose to present to potential borrowers.  The technologies that will be reviewed will range from Information Technology (IT) to renewable energy, and such technologies in between that may be of interest to the MFI community.  Each column will be complemented by an online Technology Review blog by the author on the Microfinance Focus website that will allow for feedback from the readers of this magazine.

For this month’s column, we will discuss the issue of computer software for use within the MFI itself.  In the field of software development, every organization has traditionally been faced with determining whether it is better off paying for its own IT personnel to develop software to meet a specific need (Build), or to purchase appropriate software from an outside vendor (Buy), including the potential cost of modifying the commercially available software to suit the specific requirements of the organization.  This has traditionally been referred to as the Build versus Buy decision; a decision that each IT manager must make, and then defend to the executive committee of his organization. Continue reading →

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Role of Marketing for the MFI

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Bruce Meraviglia , Technology & Marketing Editor [ Microfinance Focus ]

For those who have been faithful readers of Microfinance Focus, you will recognize this as a new column.  You may be wondering as to the title it bears, and rightly so.  Marketing, in general, is not often associated with the MFI industry.  Rarely have I come across anyone associated with an MFI who has spoken of their marketing department as being integral to the function of the MFI, or a key contributor to the strategy the MFI is following in reaching out to new or existing borrowers.   Continue reading →

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Blue Orchard Beats Blue Chips

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Editor’s Note: Garrett Wyse co-authored a feature story in the December issue of Microfinance Focus Magazine titled:  Microfinance & Philanthropy, the New Realities.  The author’s (Garrett Wyse and Jerome Peloquin) predicted that, as a result of the financial crisis, an investment in a developing country would be more secure and more profitable than a traditional “blue chip,” stock.  In this follow up piece, “Blue Orchard Beats Blue Chips” Mr. Wyse demonstrates proof positive of his predictions. 

The report for the fund’s performance dropped into my mail box on Jan 13th.  With all the news in the media about various funds performance, the meltdown of various financial instruments markets and the imminent recession in most of the world, I was far from confident about my portfolios performance. Continue reading →