1. The Ganesha Attitude - It is believed that Indians do business with a Ganesha attitude. We always pray to this handsome God before we start off our business. Every Shop in India has a place reserved for him and Lakshmiji which is well lighted and close to the cash counter. True. Any person who has been to India and did a bit of visit to the shops would have see this.
This is often interpreted as lacking professionalism and slow progress mindset in business world. Yes the red tape is bigger than usual in India to start business but if you look into it, Ganeshji has nothing to do with it :D. The lethargy is part of bureaucracy which is fast fading away. Visit Ahmedabad, Bombay, Hyderabad and Gurgaon.
And the habit of a small prayer before business start- well religion has nothing to with it. It is part of our culture. From childhood, we have been taught to pray and seek God's blessings before we start our day. Be it in business, work or studies. Be it any God. Ganeshji just appears to be a favourite one with most businessmen. With his pot belly and beautiful stretched eyes, he just fits into the picture of satisfaction and success.
2. The Family Corporates - Most business in India are family run business houses. True. Because that's how Indian business grew post Independence. Be it good or bad, not everyone has the acumen to run business. We all know that we have different qualities- some are able businessmen, some able administrators, yet some other researchers. In India, somehow it ran in the families, may be because traditionally the father always passed the baton to his first son- be it the kings or now in business. But things have changed a lot over the last few years. Rarely you will find these days a son who has followed the foot steps of his father. Globalization, generation next and open education system has had its combined effect. Yes Reliance ( a business powerhouse) is still family run, but do any one of us think that some one would have done it better than the 2 sons holding the throne. I beg to differ if someone does. But then there are other sides - look at Infosys, the children of the founders have been denied official position..they are shareholders not managers. So has the the evolution at the TATAs happened. I cannot think of a more diversified,respectable, equal opportunity and well managed industrial conglomerate. One that has contributed a lot to the country where the group was formed and to the society at large. Thought the baton was passed along to people who had been a part of the family, you cant name one in the line who were not worthy of the position they held.
In the discussion, what caught my attention most was the blood group concept to explain how different Indian cultures participate in business. Like Tamils and Bengalis were representative of Blood group O- universal donors; they can work anywhere under any boss. While Punjabis and Parsees were representing Blood Group AB- universal acceptors, they can make everyone work. I am not sure how true all definitions are, in this changing semi globalised world but I loved the thought process for sure.
3. Not only Business but Sell - This was the best one of the lot. Not because it was about Indian business but because when I pondered over the speaker's thoughts, I found out how true it was for every market. We know it, but we just dont realize it well to apply it. Business without selling is not going to do any good to the person setting up the business. In India, if you want to sell, you have to go for the Indian hearts. Examples- BATA shoes; it is a Switzerland headquartered company but most Indians take it to be an Indian brand especially Bengalis. They are so head over heals over its products. HUL- Hindustan Unilever Limited is another big example.
Well, want to learn from failures. The speaker laid it all out in plain English language. An example- Kellogg's initial entry to India. They had come to India to sell cereals; how to have it ? In cold milk. well that's how they have it in western countries but we Indian traditionally had hot breakfast. Hot Milk for the Kids, tea/coffee for the elders. Followed by Idli/Sambar in the south, Puri Sabzee in the north so on..but whatever you choose all are served HOT. There they met failure till situation changed a bit.
When Mcdonalds came to India- well they never sold burgers they sold fast food, they sold lifestyle. They created tables and places to sit together with family to eat- Indian way of enjoying food..going out together.
The one that touched my heart was the example of baby products. Let me explain how the speaker put it forth to us. When a baby is born in India, by tradition the baby is born to the family more than to the mother. Everyone from the new grandmas, grandpas, mama/ chacha(uncles), masi/ chachi/mami (aunties) ...and...well also the parents no doubt... are excited and want to give all the warmth and love to the new born. At this time there are two advisors to the mother- the doctor and the midwife/experienced mothers. Johnson used the former channel to the market while Wipro the latter. How true I realized. A consequence - look at the market. Both are successful but while Johnson is popular with upper class city customer segment, the latter, Wipro baby products is dominates the suburban middle class and lower middle class customer segment. Wow..that's what I call practical view of the segmentation theory I learnt in Marketing class and statistical method called clustering....the thought process rocks...
I loved them all..and wish to learn more...reflect more...realize more....till then...tata!!
P.S.: This are personal interpretations and thoughts; has no bearing with any institution or organization I am attached with.
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