A Disciple Becomes the Guru

Abstract

Despite its low rates of postgraduate science and engineering graduation, India is rapidly becoming a global hub for R&D, with a momentum and scale similar to those it accomplished in IT services.

If engineering education is so critical to global competitiveness, how is India succeeding? To answer this, we met with the CEOs, human-resource directors, R&D leaders, managers, and employees, and visited the R&D and training facilities of 24 leading companies in India. These were in rapidly growing emerging sectors, including IT services, business-process outsourcing, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, financial services, retail, hospitality, and education - all of which have managed to grow and innovate despite skills gaps and talent shortages.

We identified seven key areas in which Indian companies have developed innovative practices: employee recruitment, new employee training, continuing employee development, managerial training and development, performance management and appraisal, workforce retention, and education upgrades.

Keywords: India, workforce development, management, globalization