Book Name: Tata's Leadership Experiment : The Story of the Tata Administrative
Service
Author:
Mukund
Rajan, Sonu Bhasin, Bharat Wakhlu
Publisher: HarperBusiness
Tata’s is one of the
leading, most trusted, and respected brands globally. Tatas were the first
industrialist who brought many social changes before it became law or statutory
compliance requirement in India. When a new employee joins the Tata Group
company, it is a custom during the induction to handover few books authored by
R M Lal, related to the Tata founders.
The authors of this
books are cadres of Tata Administrative Service, who held top positions in
various Tata Group companies. The authors narrate the origins of formation of
TAS, under the leadership of JRD Tata. This in similar lines of having IAS
cadre of India, when the concept of having management cadre was not yet
developed in Indian Industry. Jokingly TAS were also branded as Tata’s Adopted
Sons. The authors have captured few anecdotes of the TAS officers, the entire
interview process, the directors spending time in selecting these candidates,
put them in ease during the interview and selection process, shows the rich and
robust process that the group had adopted and overall enhancement of the
processes under the successive chairman of Tata Group. One of the most
important insights about the selection process is not just the EQ or IQ, its
all about how the candidate fit into the groups ethos and value system and
coach to become the future leaders. The wide exposure in group companies before
finalizing for a group company with very challenging role is very fascinating.
The books also capture the cultural change and strategy
under JRD, Ratan Tata, Cyrus and back to Ratan Tata. Gives a good understanding
of how the TATA group has evolved and how each chairman used the TAS cadre for strengthening
the future leadership within the group. The release of code of conduct (Tata
Code of Conduct) and organization improvement model for holistic assessment of
performance of the company using TBEM (Tata Business Excellence Model) for
unification of the group providing a new thrust on Quality. Commemoration of
JDR-QV (JRD Tata – Quality Value) award for recognizing and awarding the
company on the holistic score of the assessment on the overall performance on
JRD’s birthday.
The book provides an inside story on how TAS
officers were provided the empowerment and entrepreneurship attitude resulting
into formation and successful new companies such as Titan etc.
The authors have provided a very balanced
opinion on the controversies surrounded during the period of Ratan Tata related
to Singapore Airlines, Tata tea, Corus, Tata Finance, Singur and Tata Nano,
Niira Radia etc.
The authors have also mentioned some of the
group level programs on Sustainability, Innovations, Digitalization. Evaluation
of tata companies for divestment using the “RESPect” model, predicted on
Returns, Excellence, Scale and Prospect to determine whether a company was
delivering the expected returns; whether it was globally competitive or at lead
in India champion in business; whether scale justified its existence in the
group portfolio; and whether it had potential for future growth is
enlightening.
The author also analysis the success of the TAS
cadre occupying the corner seat of the larger and medium size companies within
Tata Group and competencies of TAS officers who serve as torchbearers of the
values of the Tata Group and as the ‘gyroscopes’ who would ensure that the
human side of business – the compassion, Tata way – was ever in focus.
Recommendation:
A balanced book on the Tatas Leadership cadre
and how it can adopt to the future. Must read of any management trainee or Tata
enthusiast.
