Offshoring and Indian Management philosophy
As we continue to globalize, is there a distinct “Indian Management” philosophy that is emerging? This has been a topic of analysis and discussion among management thinkers in recent times. A Business Week article titled “Karma Capitalism” sometime ago set me thinking on these lines.
Before I elaborate, I must add that there is little consensus on what exactly “Indian Management” philosophy is all about… just as most westerners have their personal views on Chinese philosophy equating it to popular classics like the ‘The Art of War’ [Again, an area where I will claim no expertise in]. This said, many managers, academics and executives of Indian origin living in the west seem to be living and practicing a distinctive style of management, weaving in some of their personal values and beliefs in the context of a western/modern management framework.
I began to pen down a few thoughts around the topic that was published in Express Computers [Globalisation of Indian management philosophy.. Notice the editorial liberty: Globalization is spelt differently in India. ]
Now, more than many other businesses that can sometimes get impersonal when it comes to human dealings, the business of offshoring is all about human interactions …though managers, sometimes even our peers get into a ‘resource management’ syndrome [ref: Musings on Offshore Resources, people and individuals?]. I guess it is easy to ask a faceless ‘resource’ to pack her bags and travel across the globe for a client’s project; but the moment one gets to know the team, the balancing between the needs and wants of the team member counterbalance a purely business decision.
I hope to continue to build on the topic in the offshoring context and particularly like Ratan Tata who is quoted saying, “I want to be able to go to bed at night and say that I haven’t hurt anybody.”
