TAKE CARE OF THOSE WORKING IN NEW REGIONS - Chanukya's way

[Guest guest]

TAKE CARE OF THOSE WORKING IN NEW REGIONS - Radhakrishnan Pillai

 

 

 

The need for expansion and growth is a universal. Like humans, even corporations

want to grow. Companies want to introduce new products, explore new markets and

grow in their turn over. But when a company wants to expand into new territory,

it has to send people into the region first.

 

For such people who are sent out to make new discoveries, Chanakya suggests that

the company take full responsibility of them in the unexplored region:

 

" He should provide one making a new settlement with grains, cattle, money and

other things " (5.2.4)

 

 

When a company sets its sights on a new region, it has to send one of its

trusted seniors to go and settle there fro sometime. The cost of the same along

with their safety, has to be ensured.

 

How to do that?

 

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH WELL

 

Whenever a company wants to expand – whether for a new market, for acquiring a

firm or even making a strategic alliance - a lot of research has to be done.

Reading, getting the information from industrial reports and consultants, etc

has to be carried out. Also, get a local person from that region to give you

further insights. This is the basic foundation for expansion.

 

2. SEND A PILOT TEAM

 

Based on the information gathered, send one or more of your senior management to

that region. Do a cross-verification on the facts gathered. Meet lots of people

- from various backgrounds - to understand the region, and its culture, better.

Your `eyes' and `ears' are the basic tools for this. Document your study and,

after you come back present the same to the parent company.

 

3. PLAN YOUR MOVE IN PHASES

 

If the venture seems profitable, move in phases. Have you ever observed how the

various multinationals make their entry into India? Usually, a single person

will move in first and stay in the region for about a year or two. During this

phase, Chanakya advices that the firm handle the entire costs of living and

security of the person. Some firms even move entire families of their

representatives here, taking care of children's education, vacations and

entertainment.

 

4. BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL

 

After gaining a year or two of experience, one will get a grip of the new

region. Then move into full-operations mode and succeed in that place. Note that

it is not about conquering a new territory - a company also has to be socially

responsible. Make sure you also `contribute' to the new place instead of just

making profits and taking profits from there.

 

Swami Ishwaranandaji of Chinmaya Mission put it best when he said, " Conquering

does not mean killing. It means taking a place in the hearts of the newly

acquired region "