Mumbai's IT channel association Trade Association of IT (TAIT) has much to be proud of. For the fourth year running, it has managed to bag the honor of being the best association in the country, as determined by a survey conducted by IDC India, India's premier market research agency.

The two other associations that followed TAIT are Nagpur-based Vidharbha Computer Manufacturers and Dealers Welfare Association (VCMDWA) and Pune-based Computer and Media Dealers Association (CMDA), interchanging their positions from last year's ranking. What is commendable is that both these associations have seen an improvement in their member perception since 2007 when they were at number 8 and number 9 positions respectively.

Nine associations saw their rankings slide down in the survey with Amritsar IT Association heading the list, falling 15 ranks below. It was followed by Ankleshwar Bharuch IT Association, which slid down 11 rungs and Panipat Computer Dealers Association by 10 ranks.

The remainder six associations that saw their fortunes slid by a single digit rank included, Pune's CMDA, Kolkata's Compass, Baroda IT Association, Indore's Madhya Pradesh Telecom & Computer Traders Association, Bhubaneswar's Information Technology Association of Orissa (ITAO), Patna's Bihar IT Traders Association (BITA) and Coimbatore Computer Dealers Association.

Top 5 associations
Trade Association of IT (TAIT)
Parameters like elections, internal meetings, awareness programs and website participation have a high weightage in the analyst evaluation and TAIT rated high on these parameters, which helped bring it to the top of the charts. According to information submitted by the association it conducted 20 meetings last year, with a committee meeting on the first Friday of every month and timely elections. It regularly updated its website 12 times last year and conducted three awareness programs in the past year-the Landmark Forum, an insight in the period of recession by Jagdip Kapur and lectures on recession by HP, D-Link, Sony and Intel.

TAIT received good member feedback on almost all parameters. Members gave a high rating on its ability to resolve problems, either through its online complaints resolution forum or its proactive steps to register an arbitrage committee with advocate Rajiv Jain acting as an arbitrator for problem resolving.

However, due to low ratio of number of full-time employees to the members as compared to associations like VCMDWA of Nagpur and ITTA of Puducherry, TAIT's analyst evaluation score was less than these associations.

In social activities, the association stated that there is no fixed frequency for the same but it was conducted as and when needed. Last year, it donated Rs 2 lakh to the Mumbai Police after the 26/11 terrorist attack in the city. This aside, it organized family-oriented functions like Diwali mela, a picnic for members with their families and a Holi get together as well.

Vidharbha Computer Manufacturers & Dealers Welfare Association (VCMDWA)
Among all associations, VCMDWA rated highest in the analyst evaluation, as it scores high in almost all the parameters. The association saw its membership number going up from 98 in 2008 to 120 this year. It organized around 30 meetings per year, has conducted three awareness events for its members in the past year, which were effectively communicated (a ranking of 10 has been provided on communication means in the analyst's evaluation) largely through SMS.

To balance this out, it conducted events like a Diwali mela, Haldi Kumkum on Sankranti, a garba dance during Navratri, a family picnic as well as a show where ghazal singer Penaz Masani peformed.

Amongst social obligations, they donated three tricycles to handicapped persons and conducted blood donation campaigns. This aside it found a novel way of distributing sweets on Diwali festival asking citizens who received excessive sweets on the festival to donate it to the association which then distributed it amongst slum dwellers. VCMDWA also adopted 11 year old Prajwal and is looking after his education needs as well.

It updates its website every month and has made provisions to handle complaints on the site. VCMDWA scores high on it full-time employees to the number of member ratio with its two full-time employees and eight office bearers.

Since all these parameters have a high weightage in the ranking, VCMDWA emerged as a strong association. Although the analyst evaluation score of VCMDWA was higher than the top scorer-TAIT (Mumbai); it scores second rank due to lower score on size of the city and a relatively low score on member feedback as compare to TAIT.

Computers and Media Dealers Association (CMDA), Pune
The only ISO certified association in India, CMDA bagged the third rank this year on the association ranking. It managed to increase its member strength from 325 to 350 this year of which 150 actively participate in its affairs.

The association has high number of 16 office bearers and two full-time employees. It organizes internal meetings every Thursday and has held seven business events, three seminars, and two awareness events. One of the events was a training event done with the Pune Linux User Group at discounted rates for CMDA members.

It is rated high on monthly updates of website which has a discussion forum, advertisement section, technical articles, tips on buying a PC, an expert section, details of local service centers as well as vendor warranty policies.

On the social front, it donated one PC, printer, UPS and voice recorder to the Blind Men's Association. It also donated Rs 1.5 lakh to the Jagruti Blind Women Association for its computer lab.

It also conducted a Diwali mela, sports event and a health check-up for its members. During the Diwali Mela a talent award was given away to sports people who participated in state or national level and also to those students who secure 90 percent or more marks in class 10th or 12th exams.

Since it conducted just two awareness programs in the past year and has been rated low on exhibitions and business events conducted as well as the effectiveness of communication, its analyst evaluation score is less than associations like TAIT and VCMDWA resulting into fall in ranking.

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