Change and Leadership: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

In this article, Prabhu examines the ‘Indian way of leading and managing change’, particularly contextualising it to the Indian IT Industry. In doing so, he brings together the cultural, sociological and philosophical streams of thought embedded in Indian reality.

He asserts that:

1. One, need to examine the contextual importance of understanding ‘Indianness’ and the Indian way of dealing with change.

2. Next, to leverage a style of leadership which draws on a deep understanding of the culture and context that drives Indianness.

Prabhu draws on data from a quantitative survey he carried out to examine the perceived importance versus practice of various leadership attributes during times of change in organisations as also research from elsewhere.

Prabhu looks at perceived gaps in leadership practice, and ways to address these by leveraging what can be defined as Indianness in leadership and management and offers a construct that seeks to integrate.

Now more than ever before, it is all the more imminent that we bring focus to how Indian leaders manage and support in times of change.