As long as we let Government Policies dictate the passion, integrity
and consistency of individual entrepreneurship, we will continue to
look for scapegoats for our failures to excel. Granted that we have
moved from a protectionist policies of many years to a more open
economy and allowed a lot of multi-national companies play in our
markets. At the same time, if as individuals we do not step up to the
competition, we are likely to surrender our share of market ownership
to global players (remember East India Company?), who are more than
happy to dump products in the Indian marketplace that have outlived
their life in other markets.

Recently, I was in Delhi to conduct research and was visiting homes to
understand people's life with technology. I was aghast to see in one
Punjabi home a Microwave oven purchased from Indian market that had
English and a foreign language script on the front panel. This was a
perfect example of a foreign manufacturer getting away by selling a
product that had no respect for the information needs of an indian
household.

More than the system, it is the mind that drags us down. Honestly, I
am glad that I studied at NID at a the time I did. NID education
unshackled my exploration of the possibilities. I am so glad that I did
not spend my college life memorizing information that would have been
outdated within two to five years after I graduated anyway. Instead, at
NID I developed a yearning for challenging my own status quo and for
searching for infinite possibilities and that is what keeps me hoping
and working for a better future everyday.

Uday



On Monday, May 3, 2004, at 11:17 AM, Rajeev Manikoth wrote:

> I think that we have always played it "safe". As a nation we have
> preferred to exist within the status quo. If we dare to break the
> mould and set out your own path things can change dramatically. We
> need to focus on excelling on whatever we do. I have always maintained
> ( on other forums ) that people need to come to us because we can be
> good. NOT because we are cheap.
>  
> Rajeev Manikoth
>
> deepankar bhattacharyya <deepankar_bhatta@...> wrote:
>
> More and more Indian companies are becoming customer focussed. They
> are being
> allowed to do so. For too long goverment policies relying on a permit
> raj
> decided on most parameters that determine business growth and
> innovation. Some
> very indegenous notions of socialism decided what could be produced,
> in what
> quantities and at what price levels. The market was not allowed to
> operate freely,
> monopolies were built, corporate culture depended on maintaining
> status quo,
> managers were dissuaded from any innovation. Competition was not
> encouraged.
> Political and government control was all-embracing.
>
> Things are better now, consumers are beginning to develop a voice,
> barriers to
> growth of competition are crumbling. Markets in India are maturing and
> expanding,
> Indian corporations are able to stand up to MNC competition and are
> changing.
> The ! newer generation of professionals have not spent a lifetime
> being badgered
> in an environment that had to keep an unwieldy workforce, hang on to
> outdated
> technology, cater to a captive market and be at the beck and call of
> every
> 'babu'.
>
> It is not a distant scenario when Indian corporations will be globally
> competitive, but this is unlikely to happen unless local markets also
> develop
> in terms of both size and sophistication. Remember, we have just been
> unshackled
> to some extent and the freedom that our minds must feel in order to
> attain a
> position of leadership is only now being experienced.
>
> Many Indians know that they are among the best in the world, our
> customers are
> beginning to tell us that they want top class products and services,
> our
> corporations will deliver.
>
> I have worked in the Indian business environment since the mid 70s and
> have
> watched the changes at close quarters. Things have never been as
> exciting as they are at the present time. Yes, we are the white collar
> labour pool of the
> world, but we are continuously looking to move up the value chain.
> Indian
> business is setting up shop in global markets, it is developing
> competitive
> edges in many areas, local markets are growing at a never before pace,
> complex
> synergies are at work.
>
> Dont be disheartened, Uday and Sudhir, 'times, they are a changing...'
>
> Deepankar
>
>
>
> --- uday_dandavate wrote:
> > The crisis of confidence in competing in the global mindset comes
> from the
> > traditional feudal mindset of "Serving the Master". We are satisfied
> when
> > someone else contributes to our wealth, that someone else might be
> the
> > government , A funding agency, A corporate house, or a charitable
> > organization.
> >
> > Not that India does not have the monetary resources or knowledgebase
> to
> > produce world class technology, products or serv! ices. We lack
> focus on and
> > commitment to developing key areas of excellence that can compete in
> the
> > global marketplace. Given the right environment and work culture,
> Indians
> > have risen to the top of global corporations.
> >
> > Having worked with innovation teams within many global corporations,
> I have
> > realized that they key to success in developing globally competitive
> products
> > is to tune the innovation process to the culture, behaviors and
> needs of the
> > markets in which one wants to compete. Technological innovation
> alone does
> > not help organizations succeed. How these technologies are
> translated into
> > local context is what determines its ultimate success. Succesful
> global
> > companies are continually tuned into the voice of their consumer. It
> is not
> > difficult for Indian managers and business owners to develop a
> culture of
> > tuning into their consumer's life. When end-users of prod! ucts play
> a role in
> > defining the products, the organization develope the capability to
> make
> > investments in innovation that is meaningful to the marketplace.
> >
> > I can understand the frustration of Sudhir, when he says, "I feel we
> > > are out of our depths to understand and change that..since thats
> how
> > > these companies are set up." On my part, I have been trying to do
> my bit by
> > reaching out to the Indian industry through writing papers (wrote a
> few articles
> > in Business World) and facilitating Industry workshop (did a couple
> at IDC and
> > through NID). I am hoping to reach out further and more regularly,
> so that
> > atleast someone begins to liesten.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Uday
> >
> > In nidesign@..., "Sudhir Sharma"
> > wrote:
> > > Hi Uday welcome to the group,
> > >
> > > What u say is very right...we have been w! orking with many IT
> domain
> > > clients and recently met up with a big company in Delhi....the
> story
> > > is same....all doing very well and great..but all supporting
> > > companies from west and really competing with them...they all
> > > compete with other indian companies in supporting them. I feel we
> > > are out of our depths to understand and change that..since thats
> how
> > > these companies are set up...but still a few of them seem to have
> > > the vision at least.
> > >
> > > I am in Hanoi (Vietnam) from 8th till 11th and then in Singapore
> > > (11th till 15th may)...will like to meet up anyone from this group
> > > in that region. Do mail me suhdir@e... or sms +91
> > > 98220 93832. Or if u know any Nidians in that region do let me
> know.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > Sudhir Sharma
> > > Elephant Design
> > > GD 1983
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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