Nandan Mohan Nilekani -MD Chief Operating Officer and President, Infosys Technologies

nick18_in

MP Guru
Hi all..

This will really motivate u all..

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"We will continue to build a truly global corporation"
- Nandan Nilekani

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Nandan Mohan Nilekani - the young and enterprising Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and President, Infosys Technologies, has played a key role in ensuring a prominent position for the Indian software industry on the global IT map. A co-founder of Infosys, he says it is a great sense of satisfaction when he looks back today at the growth of the Company. However, he knows that it is not time for him to rest on his laurels yet and believes that there is much more to be done.

In an exclusive interview with Peopleone Consulting, Nandan Nilekani speaks about his most satisfying moment at Infosys, the Company's work culture, the impact of the US economy slowdown on Infosys, the Company's plans for the future and more.
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From a humble beginning in the 80's, Infosys has grown by leaps and bounds to be the IT giant, the dream company of people in India today. As a co-founder of the company, how do you feel, when you look back?
We are extremely happy that Infosys has grown to be the most admired company in India. None of us had dreamt that Infosys would become as large as it is today and therefore are delighted with the results.


What would you term as your most satisfying moment at Infosys?
Perhaps, the most satisfying moment for me was the listing of Infosys on the NASDAQ. This marked our entry into the global market, competing with the world's best corporations. Our presence on the Nasdaq has been an eventful one, with Infosys being the company with the largest market capital amongst all the Nasdaq listed IT software services companies!


What do you think is the biggest challenge that you face as the COO and MD of Infosys?
As the MD of the company, my challenges are that of the organization. We strive constantly to deliver value to our clients, attract new business from the most lucrative markets, attract and retain the best and the brightest people and constantly deliver value to all our stakeholders.


Do you think an MBA is necessary for managing a technical company or is sheer experience enough?
It is a combination of managerial skills, technical expertise and people management skills that makes a good leader.


How would you describe the work culture at Infosys?
We, at Infosys, have an open-door policy. We value our employees and encourage them to make decisions and own their work. Even though we have a strength of 10,000 people we have a flat organization when it comes to communication and information sharing.
Infosys provides employees an environment where they can learn and empower themselves. Work life is enriched because of three factors:
• learning opportunities which are immense, constantly equipping them to stay abreast of the latest technologies
• financial benefits which aim at holistic wealth creation
• emotional support through strong teams, an open door as well as programmes involving families
The culture at Infosys also ensures that its employees work and have fun at the same time. We provide a variety of facilities on campus for our employees and these include gymnasiums, sports facilities, a swimming pool, golf course etc.


What are the key thrust (technology) areas of Infosys right now?
We work with our clients on a wide range of cutting-edge technologies. A lot of work is being done in the SCM, CRM, ERP areas. We are also undertaking new projects in telecom, wireless and web based technologies. We will continue to train our people in the latest technologies so that we can continue to provide our clients with the best solutions.


How does Infosys prepare its IT professionals to take up new challenges and upgrade skills to work with new technologies?
For every employee who joins us fresh out of college, we organise a 14 - week training to equip them, irrespective of their background, with the technical and soft skills they require. Other employees undergo regular training in technical areas as well as in soft skills like leadership and team management.


Infosys set up its dedicated Education & Research (E&R) department as far back as 1992. Infosys E&R department caters to the learning, research and
Knowledge Management (KM) needs of the organization in diverse technology areas. The department has delivered training days that compare well with those of any large university! Infosys also has a Learning and Development department, which enables Infosys employees to perform proactively and effectively in a global environment so as to maximize value to the customers.
What is Infosys' recruitment philosophy?
When we recruit, apart from the basic qualifications, we focus on the 'learnability of the individual', which effectively means how well and how quickly an individual is willing to learn and then use that knowledge in any given context. We stress on this aspect very strongly and it is the reason for Infosys' growth amidst changes in technology and business.


As per reports, Infosys has about 5 to 15 % of the total staff strength on the bench. Why is it so?
Infosys has always maintained a strategic bench of employees, to enable the company to respond to any new business assignments. This is in fact a requirement, so that when there is a new project, we have enough resources to begin work immediately and meet client deadlines. The percentage of people on bench also includes employees on leave, undergoing training as well as those between projects. The utilization rate excluding trainees for the quarter ending June 30, 2001 was 73.2%.


Do you have any plans to focus on any other promising areas?
We are looking at new areas of service like IT outsourcing, System Integration and Business Process Outsourcing.


How is the US economy slowdown affecting Infosys? What measures are you taking to tackle the problem?
The US slowdown has definitely affected Infosys' growth. However, this is a great time for consolidation. We have a de-risking strategy, which ensures that our business is widespread. We have also strengthened our presence in Europe and the Asia pacific. In addition, Infosys has put in place a Yield Management System to ensure that profitability is met in spite of billing pressures.
Infosys still offers its customers an unmatchable value proposition that has become more important in an economic environment with stringent IT spending. Our relationship with our clients enables us to grow even in a challenging economic environment.


How far has Infosys explored the European market? Is it as promising as the US market (I mean as US was till recently)?
We have explored the potential of the European region and have been actively developing our business in such emerging markets. We have strengthened operations in Europe, which acquired a new momentum with the percentage of revenues from the region going up to around 20 % last year. This is the highest ever from this region. We have added a number of big names to our list of clients in the European market including American Express, Airbus, Telenet in Belgium and BHF Bank in Germany. We have a development center in London and marketing offices in UK, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and France.


The sudden shivers sent by the US recession have spread gloom over the Indian IT sector. How long will it take for India to recover from this shock? What are the specific steps to be taken towards a speedy recovery?
There are many speculations as to when the economic environment will show signs of recovery. However, we will have to wait and watch the situation. Indian IT companies must take this time to consolidate their operations and improve their value proposition to clients.


What according to you is the role of a giant company like Infosys in shaping the Indian IT sector and ensuring a bright future for the same?
Infosys has always tried to be a role model to other companies. We set a standard of corporate governance previously unheard of in India. We continue to be ruled by our fundamental value system. Infosys has always worked closely with the government and IT forums to ensure the growth of the IT sector in India. We have also been a responsible corporate citizen, contributing our resources to improving weaker sections of society.


What according to you would be the future of the Indian IT industry?
The Indian IT industry, in the past few years, has displayed tremendous growth. We believe that India will be one of the major global players in this industry. We have the talent, the acumen and the skills, as well as an active government that has extended tremendous support to the growth of IT in the country.


Where do you see Infosys in the next two years?
Without looking at timelines, we will continue to build a truly global corporation, providing the best of solutions to our customers. We hope to become a more multi-cultural company and become truly global in all its operations.


Lots of our youngsters have shed US dreams and now they have hopes in Germany. Are their dreams justified?
Germany is a growing market and has lots of potential for the IT industry.


What would be your advice to young job seekers?
India is going through the most exciting stage in its economic history. We see young people as key players in its growth. We would like to encourage these people to think big and use their talents to make a difference to society
 
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