M&A (Role of HR) - 7. Challenges of Indian Business Environment

There are some rather strong cultural aspects that Indians need to be adept with. Though I do believe, Indians are conceptually a sharper race & technically our acumen can outlast anyone.

I have reasons to say this. We are culturally adept with managing lack of resources (Financial, People, Methods, Machines) etc. better than others. However, we are bogged down by many traditions (good as well as bad ones), many value systems (rights & wrongs), likes & dis-likes (Strong & Not So Strong) and above all our Conditioning (Ability to Learn or Un-Learn) towards the un-known.

The cultural aspects that INDIANS need to be adept with specifically in domain of M&A would be divided into various areas both ways whether we MERGE or ACQUIRE or get MERGED or get ACQUIRED:-

A) BUILDING ON STRENGTHS & NOT APPEARANCES (A look good, feel good deal might not really be a “SOUND” deal)
B) FLEXIBILITY (Be ready to understand somethings the way you have never wanted or have always avoided to)
C) OPENNESS TO CHANGE (Any M&A Deal calls for this & you can’t avoid it)
D) OVERCOMING FEAR OF UN-KNOWN (Backward or Forward Integration for LONG TERM Sustenance & Growth)
E) Look for LONG TERM & do not focus on SHORT TERM gains (First decide whether the deal is a solution to overcome our existing challenges or an opportunity to create WEALTH in all aspects – PEOPLE, FINANCIAL, STRATEGIC & BUSINESS)
F) We are culturally not very good WIN-WIN Managers. We like to compete in everything but in such deals we can’t be the WINNERS if someone is losing. The actual issues will show up sooner or later. We need to look beyond the routine style of thinking & look for a Mutually Beneficial deal.