Time for Indian IT organizations to come out of "Womb of Hypocrisy"

The encouragement for me to write this article is on need of Indian IT industries to get realistic as they chart their journey towards winning more fierce battles and move the needle from volume to value. One of the significant impediment is to shed off its self-created hypocrisy and let global professionalism & growth culture flourish.

Let us recall back recent events at India’s largest conglomerate and now at ongoing tussle at India’s most respected software giant. The genesis of problem is the dilemma and duplicity of founders in terms of their ability to really let go the reins to new leadership ,whom they only brought in and for the fact that external talent is must if corporate have to achieve growth and innovation. Founders or outgoing Chairman have this problem in Indian context that much after they have relinquished their position they have not let go the need of everything still circling their feet before being implemented. What is forgotten very easily is that the “external” CEO was brought in as disruption was necessary, internal growth engine was slowly inching towards being incombustible and new ideas of being relevant in today’s market are more likely to come in from outside . We all can quote "Bhagvad Gita" in Corporate life yet when it comes to put in place some common sense measures, very deep institutionalized hypocritical traits come in as obstacles. Indian Boards and founders alike want new blood to come in however they have practical problems in truly embracing them and further if new CEO starts performing well ,he becomes an object of envy. To this extent, MNCs setting up shop in India also have this problem. …nothing unusual as we are part of the same populace. We need and want external talent to join and take our organizations to flourish however truly embracing them and seeing them settling in their new roles remains still unrealized.

Coming back to events at India’s most respected IT services organization , it is the above mentioned traits and need of being always being sought after is hampering the growth and march to be in league of "best of breed" Global Integrated IT services companies. One summarization, I wish to bring at this point is that so far growth was volume oriented and cost model arbitrage baaed, not to belittle the tough battles won so far. However beyond this scale, it is diversity, fresh ideas, global workforce & Professional culture that can’t be denied its entry to fuel growth and sustenance . As much as we seek parity for our talented Indian leaders to be at top positions in global organizations, when it comes to our side of things we ought to be equally fair and open. One Question at this juncture –Why not Global CEOs yet keen to  run India companies and make them truly transnational? Indian IT industry has lost its sheen to an large extent .If we further burden it with visible sub optimal professional behaviors and granting due credit to new CEOs for growth and mindset transformation Vs raising points on half understood Corporate governance then journey forward would become still traumatic .We need best of global talent and corporate governance yet when it comes to Salaries, performance bonus and severances then suddenly our Indian middle class mentality intrudes in..

Some of the good examples of relinquishing High seat of power and yet support new incoming CEO to grow are that of Hasso Plattner –SAP and Jack Welch –GE. What is worthy of attention is what drives day to day behaviors of these towering personalities and not hunger of being always right and prominent .

There are several examples of “behavioral correction” in many large and emerging Indian corporate where syndrome of “I got you here” instead of “We needed you and I am there for you” has to be optimally balanced. Indian society and corporate both are evolving and “Country is in making” so lesson for all of us is to be humble , accommodating and create value while being ready to play roles in spotlight as well as in back rows ..

There is ever justified relevance of new young Chiefs as well as supplementing it with wisdom and support of outgoing stalwarts to scale new heights .This is necessary as unlike other organizations in developed countries, leading Indian companies are important pillars of nation building and image of country to outside world.