AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY-A PERSPECTIVE

CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM-A SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT TOOl

There are two types of Management Approach which are followed in any enterprise as under A. Management by Control B. Management by Cooperation

Each type of above approach is adopted depending on the type of institution, both Govt and Private Corporate . Each of Management Style has its own Merits. For example , the Govt Institutions like Defence, Security Agencies, Law enforcement Agencies needs Management by Control , where as policy drafting institutions, public utility services, parliament activities needs Management by Cooperation . Similarly Owner Driven Companies, Small Trading House , are managed by control whereas Large Corporate, MNCs, are managed by principle of cooperation to bring in feeling of ownership of responsibilities.

During my last 40 years of working with Large Corporate Sector, MNC, Big Trading and Marketing House, I felt the need of both type of Management Approaches depending on industry and the business environments prevailing from time to time.

I have discovered and experienced that to drive benefits of both the Management techniques , a very effective tool of constituting Cross Functional Team [CFT ] is evolved which uses both the approaches in managing. recent policy decision of introduction of GST is a correct example where principles of both the control & cooperation are followed.

In the Private sector all types of growing manufacturing companies ,multi location Business Houses ,MNCs this management tool of forming CFTs can be carried out as Operating Guidelines because as the enterprises grow each deptt ie Finance, Marketing, Production , R&D, Purchase, HR etc assume larger role to steer the company which most of the time leads to working in compartments without appreciating each other compulsions rather finding faults in each other deptt which leads to overlooking the end customer .

It must be remembered that Companies business or the company customer is for all the deptts and each has a role to work with single objective to provide best of services and delight to their customer in meeting their demand and protect the co's own interest of profitable growth . Its a fact that company and its all the deptts exists only till the time customer exist .

To overcome the above dilemma Management can use the tool of creating the CFTs to address the issues of customer services, achieving business Goals, future expansion, business diversification strategy and investment which helps in adopting management principles of both Control and Cooperation helping to imbibe the feeling of ownership of responsibilities in the organisation .

CFTS will work on the principle of Management by Cooperation as all the important decisions /policies are taken by discussions/ debates , soliciting each deptt cooperation where even disent is recorded in the minutes . Final approval is given by Management ie Chairman, MD /CEO , exercising their role of Management by control.

Following CFTs can be considered for smooth operations of achieving current business plan and finalizing future Road Map of Growth. CFT-Annual Business Plan : Members - Heads of Mktg, Production, Finance CFT-New Product Development : Members - Head of Mktg, R&D,Purchase, Production CFT-Quality Improvement : Members- R&D, Purchase, Production, Marketing There can be various CFTS on Diversification, Projects etc.

CFTs are represented by each deptt No 1 and No2 persons to maintain the continuity,Zonal level sales manager can be called by rotation, and Head of CFT is nominated by Management with clear direction of schedule calendar plan of meeting . Minutes of meeting are circulated within 48 hours of conducting the meeting requesting the Management final decisions which becomes Operational guidelines for each deptt who then own the responsibilities in the best interest of profitable growth.

UKJ