Mix the Old and the New

You can hire the most able, talented employees in all of India, but even that won’t ensure success if your team India is long on talent but short on training. That brings me to the next nugget of wisdom from Chanakya: “One conversant with the science, but not experienced in practical affairs, would come to grief in carrying out undertakings.”

India is awash with B-Schools (as business schools are known in India), and management degrees are in fashion. These schools have excellent curricula and the caliber of students is outstanding, but make certain that you hire some experienced staff, too. They can warn you of possible pitfalls and offer advice on what works or doesn’t in India. Aim for a sensible mix of the old and the new (particularly those who are eager to be trained) for best results. Good recruitment agencies (look at Chapter 7 for details) should be able to help. And for new recruits, organize mentoring programs to help them get on-the-job training.

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