Plus Program Provides Tips
for Business Success in India
By Chantelle WallaceDoing business in the world’s largest democracy is now a little less daunting for those who attended the Feb. 15 MBA Plus Program lecture, “Averting International Business Disasters in India.”
The Plus event was the second of a five-part series “Business
Across Borders,” aimed at helping MBA students succeed in the
sometimes-confusing world of international business. The sessions
are led by international MBA students who have substantial work
experience in each nation and want to help teach their peers about
working abroad. Future countries to be covered include Brazil,
Mexico and a combined session of the United Kingdom and Western
Europe.
Emerging Market
Home to 1.1 billion people, half of whom are under 25 years old, India is rife with investment opportunities in sectors beyond information technology. Financial services and real estate are growing with India’s mushrooming middle class, said Bhootnath Singh, MBA ’08 and former IT consultant.
Singh offered tips to navigate India’s business landscape. For example, there are no laws protecting intellectual property, so extreme efforts to protect potential patents must be made. Indian business partners must be pressured to keep sensitive information private – it can’t be assumed they will know to do so.
Communication Styles
American business people tend to communicate more directly than Indians, said Singh. “Indians by nature are not as aggressive as Americans.”
Indian employees are also more reticent to complain about work problems, said Jitesh Sharma, MBA ’08 and IT and business consultant who hopes to specialize in energy finance after graduation. “If employers want a culture where the staff feels comfortable speaking out and giving constructive feedback, they will have to work on it.”
He recommends making small talk about the weather and cricket games before launching into business discussions to put your Indian business partners at ease. It’s also important to keep dietary restrictions in mind when planning business meals, as India’s Hindu population is usually vegetarian, and its Muslim population doesn’t eat pork.
Corporate Culture
According to Sharma, India’s work force tends to be more relaxed than North America’s. He contrasted his work experience in Canada with that of India: In Canada, workers are quiet and focused on completing their work so they can leave at 5:00 p.m. This doesn’t leave a lot of time for chatting with coworkers. Indians tend to socialize at work by taking multiple coffee breaks and long lunches. Many Indian offices even have ping-pong tables for employees to use during their workday. This convivial atmosphere can concern U.S. managers, but Indian workers will stay later to get the work done.
“It’s not a reflection on the quality of work or the employees. The principle is that your work must be done —whether you do it in four hours or 14 hours doesn’t matter,” Sharma said. In fact, because of India’s typically-youthful workforce, many work about 100 hours each week.
Potential Prowess
Though its image in the West is often one of poverty and underdevelopment, India was the world’s richest country previous to the 17th century British invasion. It is the most prolific film producer in the world, and was the site of the first university. If past performance is any indicator of future success, India’s potential as a global leader is undeniable.
For more information about future Business Across Borders events, please contact Plus Program Director Saleem Assaf at saleem.assaf@mccombs.utexas.edu or Business Across Borders Coordinator Leslie Jarmon at ljarmon@mail.utexas.edu.
For information on specific programs at the McCombs School, consult our contacts page. For media information, contact the Communications Director by phone at 512-471-3314 or by email at CommunicationsDirector@mccombs.utexas.edu.
