Clarke Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 I would be interested in hearing from folks who have worked in a TATA, or any other leading group, of India and how has their experience been typically. Many years back, I worked for a few months with one of the groups mentioned in this thread. It was crap at the local office, the regional centers where I did spend some time were slightly better. Overall employee morale wasn't exactly upbeat and multiple incidents reflected that. I did get a taste of another group during the Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) tests when the competitors came along. Some of them did not have sufficient local equipment (or maybe it was faulty) and had to bring it in from the regional center. One competitor made sure it stopped at the Octroi office on the city outskirts to ensure everything was being brought in legally. Trust me, that was news to us "must be guys from ****". You can take a wild guess to decide which groups are being referred to above.
DomainK Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 A great man. Hope he lives his retired life peacefully.
Lord Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 Many years back, I worked for a few months with one of the groups mentioned in this thread. It was crap at the local office, the regional centers where I did spend some time were slightly better. Overall employee morale wasn't exactly upbeat and multiple incidents reflected that. I did get a taste of another group during the Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) tests when the competitors came along. Some of them did not have sufficient local equipment (or maybe it was faulty) and had to bring it in from the regional center. One competitor made sure it stopped at the Octroi office on the city outskirts to ensure everything was being brought in legally. Trust me, that was news to us "must be guys from ****". You can take a wild guess to decide which groups are being referred to above. c'mon take names:P
ganeshran Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 From my interaction with TCS employees, they see themselves as working for a large software company (like Infy/Wipro) and not necessarily a part of the tata group, (except when they get a 5% discount at Croma or Tanishq). They identify more with Chandrashekharan/Ramadorai than Ratan Tata.
Anonymous Posted December 29, 2012 Posted December 29, 2012 A tribute from one of his main competitors. http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/audacious-yet-humble/article4229721.ece?homepage=true Audacious, yet humble R. SESHASAYEE Ratan TataÃÔ legacy goes much beyond the Tata Group; much beyond industry in general. It is a legacy on which New India needs to be built. Ratan Tata is one of the very few who have given concrete shape to the concept of a New India. Coincidentally, this modern, New India was squeezing itself out of the eggshell, as Ratan took charge of the Tata empire at Bombay House. I believe in his sketch book the specifications of New India were pencilled thus: contemporary, yet classic; audacious, yet humble; tough, yet humane, and yes, pervasively ethical. New India personified Ratan Tata no doubt believed that the Tata Group had an obligation to reflect, if not lead the creation, of this new persona of New India, at least in the industrial sphere. And, when he got the group to adopt these traits, he did so, without beating the drums just naturally, simply. Ratan TataÃÔ initiatives to contemporize the Tata portfolio, through jettisoning a few sunset industries and foraying into sunrise industries have been well documented. This he did, whilst the future of India was still hazy, although bright. Precise industry segments that would exponentially grow were as yet unclear. But then, leadership is all about navigating through ambiguities. It cannot be anybodyÃÔ case that Ratan got all the bets right. An entrepreneur is considered brilliant, even if six out of ten bets turn out winners. Ratan TataÃÔ score is decidedly higher. Even those companies that he retained in the portfolio were required to go through a massive change, comprehensively encompassing their products, processes and culture. I have personally drawn inspiration from the transformational story of Tata Steel. Indeed, there were other companies and groups which undertook sweeping changes from top floor to shop floor, which imparted a new sense of dynamism to Indian industry during the ember years of the last and the early years of this century but it is fair to say that the Tata companies were in the vanguard of this movement. Keeping the faith Yet, in the dazzle of modernity that the Tata group was embracing, history was not rubbished nor denied its honour. Bombay House, solid and sepia, and not some glass and steel skyscraper at Bandra Kurla, has remained the sanctum of the Tata empire. I have always been astonished by the pride of the Tata heritage that employees wear on their sleeves. There are few business groups that have achieved a happy synthesis of the contemporary and the classic as neatly as the Tatas. New India is yet to figure out how to get the concoction of the old and the new right. Yet, I think, India has fared better than China. When you visit a modern Chinese city, you could be pardoned if you thought that someone took a giant wet cloth and cleared the place of all vestiges of its three thousand years history. Perhaps, India has too much of the ancient, too little of the modern in culture, food, clothes, music, everything. New India could take some leaves from the Tata Group to achieve the right proportions in the cocktail of the past and the future. Humble audacity or audacious humility sound like oxymorons. But thatÃÔ the character that Ratan Tata has managed to impart to the group. When Tata bid for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), it was decidedly audacious. There were many in the auto industry, including me, who thought this would turn out to be the fatal flaw in the auto business of the Tata Group. But even so, none failed to admire TataÃÔ guts. It should also be noted that the JLR conquest was devoid of triumphalism. I once heard Ravi Kant, then CEO of Tata Motors, describe how Ratan urged everyone to remain humble in their interactions with the Koreans when Tata Motors acquired the Daewoo CV business. Courage and humility both flow from the same springhead: self-belief. When you meet Ratan Tata, it is difficult to think of him as a tough person. He is invariably gentle and courteous. Yet, in the very early days of his stewardship, he showed remarkable toughness, when he set about dismantling, what was referred to as the ôatrap structure. That structure of autonomous federalism, he figured out, was inconsistent with the concept of a modern business conglomerate. Business schools can debate the right structure for a group like the Tatas, but I doubt, if there is one correct answer. But then, the issue is not about structure, but the need for toughness to push oneÃÔ agenda in the face of opposition and challenges. Organizational behaviour almost always mimics the character of the leader. While I have heard anecdotes of RatanÃÔ sense of compassion, it was the conduct of the employees during the terrorist attack on Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, that so eloquently articulated the ethos of not merely the leadership, but of the entire organization. That will go down in the global history of organizational behaviour, as an unprecedented water mark. Organizational values are not what you print and hang on the office wall. They are what show up, when under test. Emerging unstained Ethics, has, for long, remained a strong attribute of the Tata brand. There are many in Indian industry, who would argue that, given the political milieu it is indeed impossible for any business to stay lilywhite. I would, on the other hand, argue that there are not many leaders who would even attempt to set high standards of ethics whilst they constantly gripe about social decadence. Ratan Tata, I believe, was genuinely committed to business ethics being the anchor of all commercial pursuits. That in itself is worthy of emulation. The recent explosive expression of public angst against corruption, the êndian Spring? is a welcome proof of the peopleÃÔ deep desire to see better probity in public life. Any national leader should see an immense opportunity to ride this wave to write a new script for an ethical society. I might severely risk credibility if I hold out that Ratan Tata managed to impart excellence uniformly in all the attributes in all the organisations in the Tata empire. Even Divinity allows for aberrations. That he managed to raise the bar in the Tata Group is undeniable. That he set new benchmarks is equally unquestionable. That he did so, because of his larger vision about the emerging New India is my hypothesis. HereÃÔ then the proof of concept; proof that change is possible; change to excel is feasible. It is for others to take this forward.
Lurker Posted December 31, 2012 Posted December 31, 2012 From my interaction with TCS employees' date= they see themselves as working for a large software company (like Infy/Wipro) and not necessarily a part of the tata group, (except when they get a 5% discount at Croma or Tanishq). They identify more with Chandrashekharan/Ramadorai than Ratan Tata. Thats a modern day evolution. Today TCS is a public traded company. It wasn't always the case. There was a reason why TCS for the longest time couldnt pay as well as Infosys, for example. You could not have that imbalance between a TCS employee as compared to say a TISCO. In fact it wouldnt be out of place to suggest during times of duress the success of TCS was used to fund channels to other Tata Sons companies. Of course these would be a complete no-no in modern day shareholders world. Once after my online deputation I had returned home to realize I was legally bound to work in India for a certain amount of India. I remember shooting off a strong letter to HR and lo and behold the Head of HR came over to SEEPZ, Mumbai and talked with me. I was not convinced in the end but to give that attention to a young 20 something guy is something I will never forget. Incidents like this are reasons why someone like me will always put a TCS ahead of most of its compadres.
Lurker Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 :winky: That has been as careless and blatant display of money as you could ever see. I don't begrudge him his money, good for him, and I am sure he has created jobs for many people but that kind of money spent in Bombay for a house? Speechless. My only ding against TATA, in keeping with the thread, is they are often buried outside India (Paris). Like JRD was. Again, its a man's last wish so cant really hold it against him.
Yoda-esque Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 That has been as careless and blatant display of money as you could ever see. I don't begrudge him his money, good for him, and I am sure he has created jobs for many people but that kind of money spent in Bombay for a house? Speechless. My only ding against TATA, in keeping with the thread, is they are often buried outside India (Paris). Like JRD was. Again, its a man's last wish so cant really hold it against him. His mother was French and yes, thats the ugliest building I've seen
Clarke Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 WTH is that?:ohmy: Ambani's love for the people of Mumbai
EnterTheVoid Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 Yeah, his house is morally reprehensible but than again, how many morally ethical businessman are there, if any? Besides, I don't know what gives anyone the moral authority to tell him what to do with his money.
Sachin=GOD Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 That has been as careless and blatant display of money as you could ever see. I don't begrudge him his money, good for him, and I am sure he has created jobs for many people but that kind of money spent in Bombay for a house? Speechless. My only ding against TATA, in keeping with the thread, is they are often buried outside India (Paris). Like JRD was. Again, its a man's last wish so cant really hold it against him. JamsetJi Tata, Dorab Tata, RatanJi Tata, JRD Tata all died outside India so its not really surprising that they are not buried here.
Lurker Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 JamsetJi Tata' date=' Dorab Tata, RatanJi Tata, JRD Tata all died outside India so its not really surprising that they are not buried here.[/quote'] Thanks man (and Yoda :hatsoff: ). Did not know that
Yoda-esque Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 Yeah, his house is morally reprehensible but than again, how many morally ethical businessman are there, if any? Besides, I don't know what gives anyone the moral authority to tell him what to do with his money. Nope.I have no moral issue here. The issue is entirely to do with aesthetics :cantstop:
ganeshran Posted January 7, 2013 Posted January 7, 2013 JamsetJi Tata' date=' Dorab Tata, RatanJi Tata, JRD Tata all died outside India so its not really surprising that they are not buried here.[/quote'] Parsis bury their dead I thought they dump the dead and crows /vultures feed upon the remains
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