The Corporate E-volution ...

TIMES have changed. Corporate India no longer ticks to the rhythm of the Big Ben. Colonnaded buildings have been replaced by glass and chrome structures. British business conventions seem to have taken a beating. America the new Super power is changing equations both within and outside the political arena. Today, nations look to the world leader, to be mentored in translating their dreams and opportunities into a reality. In addition, the advent of the Internet has also necessitated a change in business paradigms. Business is now conducted in e-time on a global perspective. Traditional ``brick and mortar'' companies have to co-exist with new dot com entrants and evolve into ``click and mortar'' companies or adapt accordingly. With reality becoming ``virtual'', it is no surprise that corporates in India have also altered in their look and functioning.

Style guide

Appearances matter and companies have to pay attention to the design of the office. Optimal use of space and minimalism seems to be the new order in corporate design. Architects and interior designers will help you to ensure that the company projects the right image to its customers and associates. Besides being functional, office space should be equitably allocated, indicative of the democratic style of functioning that you promote. You need to support an environment that beats the heat and the odds.

Cool and comfortable

Formals advocated for decades have come in for a ``dressing down''. In their bid to be progressive, companies today reveal a total disdain for conventions. You can espouse a casual dress code at work, in keeping with the trends and time. However, watch out, to keep the rising hemlines and plunging necklines under control. Stuffy formal clothes have given way to Friday dressing. Giving employees the freedom not to conform is a small concession to keep attrition levels low.

Creative consideration

Constant innovation is essential to keep pace with change. Telecommuting and flexi-time are effective ploys to win employees over to your side. You need to encourage out -of -the - box ideas to improvise processes and performance and remain in the fray. Creative employees and solutions are crucial to contend with unpredictability. To meet the demands of a kaleidoscopic future, you require a colourful rather than the run- of -the -mill team.

Consensus not

one-upmanship

Companies today, encourage team play and collective effort. Deliberations and discussions with the top management are more the norm. You need to welcome initiatives by employees. Employees should be empowered and decision-making should be a collaborative effort. Boss less leadership would keep the flock together and motivated. Seek to obtain the best performance from the individual and the team.

Linear progression

Age is no longer the criterion to make your first million. Experience does have a role to play, but is no longer singled out for progression within the company. You need to encourage enterprise and hard work, without ignoring wisdom that comes with age. The climb up the corporate ladder is not weighed by "the years that you have served the company", conversely it is made easy by "how well you have served it". The crop of young entrepreneurs and CEOs that are in the limelight, indicate that age or the lack of it is irrelevant in the bid to join the big league.

Money matters

Remuneration should not be fixed, but dependent on performance, which is benchmarked on various criteria. You need to focus on merit as the main consideration to reward an employee. Incentives are provided to ensure that employees are motivated to perform. Expertise and skills in achieving objectives enhance the chances of raking in the big bucks. You need to compensate star performers adequately, and prompt non- performers to follow suit.

Companies are a far cry from what they used to be. The need is to learn, unlearn and re-learn to remain at the forefront. Employers and employees seem to thrive on the challenges and changes that they are exposed to. Undeterred by a future that seems uncertain, they spur on with technological advances that aid them. Globalisation and glocalisation of businesses reveal the need for you to set internationally acceptable parameters and standards. With liberalisation and disinvestments, Indian companies have to cope with foreign players on a level playing field, or get left behind.

ANITHA MATHAI

anitham.hyd@careercommunity.co.in