Internationalizing Indian companies: organizational issues and challenges

Abstract

This paper examines issues which arise in designing Indian organizations for global business. Drawing upon 2 years of research with 14 observed Indian cases, the paper discusses organizational designs actually observed and postulates design considerations which may be more appropriate, given the strategic challenges facing the organization. Organizational design is discussed in the following dimensions: vision, kind of excellence, management styles, structures and systems, and upgrading mechanisms. Not surprisingly, the paper finds that different strategic contexts call for different desings ~ which raises problems of its own. Finally, some reflections are offered on the crucial decision of whether to keep domestic and international operations together or apart.