•  
  •  
 

IIMB Management Review

Document Type

Editorial

Abstract

It is almost a decade now since the economic liberalisation process was ushered in. As businesses and organisations learn to cope with and prosper in the fiercely competitive business environment, Round Table takes time off to consider what the next score of years holds for Indian business houses. What will it take for these houses to stand up and be counted among their compatriots in the comity of nations? A select group of business leaders, economists, academics and practitioners debate certain key issues that Indian business houses will have to address in the years ahead. K R S Murthy points out the short sightedness of adopting alien models and urges Indian business to evolve a unique model of management, rooted in its own ethos. Raghunath perceives joint ventures and strategic alliances as future competitive certainties and provides some timely pointers to fashion them. Rishikesha Krishnan delves into the rationale for focus as well as diversification and concludes that in either case, companies will have to build around their competitive advantages. Considering technical upgradation as one of the prerequisites to becoming more competitive in the post economic reform environment, Chandrashekar examines specific Indian industries to see how technical change has impacted organisational performance. Articles in this issue cover a wide spectrum of management interests. Bhandarkar and Singh draw on the life experiences of noted transformational leaders to discern the key distinction between just managing and actually transforming. Does child labour, despite its social, ethical and humanitarian negatives, provide a competitive advantage to businesses? Arriagada and Gatica conclude it does not. In Outbound Mileage, Padaki and Venkatesh attempt to demystify the halo around such programmes and also provide some useful tips to avoid associated pitfalls. Hindustan Lever is among the very few companies that groom and grow their managers from within; Nair shares some of the secrets of success and operational insights that contribute to the company's career planning and development initiatives. Bicheno, Gopalan and Mahesh offer guidance in resolving the apparent conflict between achieving customer perception of service effectiveness and internal efficiencies in delivering that service. The Interview this time features R Seshasayee in conversation with Janat Shah. Seshasayee outlines some key strategic initiatives adopted at Ashok Leyland in addressing some of the serious technical and competitive challenges that the automobile major has had to face in recent times. Shiv Visvanathan shares his Personal Perspectives on how modern business has often abdicated its social responsibilities, and highlights the need for corporations to factor in their obligations to the environment that sustains them. And, as usual, we have a reviews portfolio of books that should be on your shelves, not the publishers'! As we place in your hands this first issue of this millennium's last year, the Review team rededicates itself to maintaining and improving upon the high standards of reader satisfaction that it has set for itself. Please keep writing in and help us to take the Review to even higher levels of excellence.

Publication Date

1-1-1997

First Page

3

Last Page

4

Download

Share

COinS