Virtual MBA for the Indian corporate sector

Our economic past, characterized by scarcity, has been the driver for today's success. It forced us to be more efficient and do more with less. Not only did we get free lessons in optimizing our resources, but it also challenged us to find creative solutions and then test these in a tough operating environment. It was virtually like getting a free MBA!

If Indian IT learnt to walk in the west, it is now learning to run in India. Technology is helping bridge the rich-poor divide. We are creating innovative products aimed at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Products like Rs. 10,000 PC, a refrigerator immune to voltage fluctuations and a Rs. 100,000 car are all unique, indigenous and cost-effective solutions that could be exported. We are deploying technology to ensure that citizens can avail government services remotely and are manufacturing the cheapest mobile phones with low call rates of just Re 1/ minute. India is also innovating technology products for MNCs like Intel, Texas Instruments, Siemens – for the global consumer market. Take the case of the automobile revolution in India. If about three decades back all we could see we hoards of Ambassadors and Fiat Padminis, today global auto majors are queuing up in India, not only to sell their products, but setup large manufacturing bases. The story is being repeated in almost every other sector.

Our years of hard work, perseverance and innovativeness have forced the world to look to us for both quality and cost effective products and services, catapulting India into a major sourcing destination for a range of products and services. With the global market place shrinking, the need for trained human resources who can operate across economies and geographical boundaries is on the rise. Just think how many Indians today are leading global corporations.