Context :
L&T's
new Chairman Subrahmanyan asks staff to be ready for 'massive changes' in
ecosystem
( Money Control
/ 01 Oct 2023 )
Extract :
S
N Subrahmanyan, in his first letter to the
employees of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Group after assuming
charge as chairman and managing director of the engineering major, said the world is going through massive changes in terms of ,
Ø
ecosystem,
Ø
energy change,
Ø
sustainability as a way of life ,
-
and they must speed and scale with the
change to fulfil their customers’ demands.
“We cannot afford to rest on our
laurels for our customers will continue seeking excellence from us every day.
Our focus cannot waver from Performance, performance, performance”,
Subrahmanyan said in his
letter to the employees after taking charge of L&T on October 1.
The letter mentioned that digitization is rapidly becoming
a huge aspect of business and there is a need to harness the power of technology to keep improving productivity and efficiency
of the company.
My Take :
Some 34 years ago [
on 05 Jan 1989 ], I submitted to L&T Corporate Management, a report titled
:
Quo
Vadis ? ( Wither thou Goeth ? )
Following is its covering letter :
Mr. S.R.Subramaniam
January 5,
1989
CORPORATE DIVERSIFICATION
20th Century saw
two world-wars between super-powers.
The aim of both
was territorial expansion.
21st Century
will witness a similar war of
global dimensions - but with a difference
It will be
-
a war of expansion of economic -territory involving nations, large and
small
- fought by mega-corporations
- employing world-wide network of space-age technologies/
alliances/resources/markets.
- unrestrained by national
boundaries
- without an end
It will
be a business-war in which the unprepared will be
wiped-out and even those
who have made definite survival-plans will find going tough.
I am happy
to enclose a report which
goes beyond survival.
For many
thousand L& T-ites, it will offer hope for growth in
the 21st Century.
I suggest that
the Corporate Management sets aside one full day during the
forthcoming Strategic-Plan Meetings, to debate this report and take necessary
decisions.
With kind
regards,
H. C. PAREKH
CC : Mr.
N.M.Desai
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai / 03
Oct 2023
Related Readings :
L&T
Switchgear & Other Stories
L&T Story
I could not resist
consulting BARD and ChatGPT about their observations :
BARD :
|
Similarities |
Quo Vadis? (1989) |
S. N. Subrahmanyan's letter to employees (2023) |
|
Technology |
"L&T must harness space-age technologies
to expand its economic territory." |
"L&T must embrace digitization to keep
improving productivity and efficiency." |
|
Competition |
"The 21st century will witness a war of
economic expansion involving nations and mega-corporations." |
"L&T must be ready for massive changes
in the ecosystem." |
|
Need to change |
"L&T must go beyond survival and plan
for growth in the 21st century." |
"L&T must speed and scale with the
change to fulfil its customers’ demands." |
|
Focus on Performance |
Not mentioned |
"L&T cannot rest on its laurels and its
focus cannot waver from Performance, performance, performance." |
ChatGPT :
It's interesting to compare the observations made by L&T's Chairman S N Subrahmanyan in 2023 with your report titled "QUO
VADIS?" from 1989. While there are some differences due to the time gap
and the specific focus of each communication, there are also some noteworthy similarities:
Similarities:
1.
Adaptation to Change:
Both Subrahmanyan and your 1989 report emphasize the need for
L&T and its employees to adapt to changing circumstances. In 1989, you mentioned
the importance of being prepared for the economic war of the 21st century,
which implies a need for adaptation to new economic realities. In 2023, Subrahmanyan
highlights the massive changes in the ecosystem, energy, and sustainability,
emphasizing the need to "speed and scale with the change."
2.
Technology:
Both communications emphasize the significance of technology. In 1989, your report
mentions "world-wide network of space-age technologies," while in 2023, Subrahmanyan
talks about digitization becoming a huge aspect of business and the need to
harness technology for improved productivity and efficiency.
3.
Globalization:
Although not explicitly mentioned in your 1989 report, the idea of
mega-corporations engaging in a global economic war implies a form of
globalization. Subrahmanyan's observations also suggest the importance of
L&T operating on a global scale to fulfill customer demands, which aligns
with the concept of global economic expansion.
4.
Focus on Performance:
In both communications, there is an emphasis on performance.
Subrahmanyan mentions that L&T's focus cannot waver from "Performance,
performance, performance." Your 1989 report suggests that being unprepared in the 21st
century's economic war will result in being wiped out, implying that superior
performance is essential for survival.
Differences:
1.
Timeframe:
The timeframe differs significantly, with your 1989 report
looking ahead to the 21st century and Subrahmanyan's letter addressing the
present (2023). The specific challenges and technologies have evolved over
these decades.
2.
Nature of Challenges:
Your 1989 report focuses on the potential global economic war
and the dominance of mega-corporations, while Subrahmanyan's letter touches on
a broader range of challenges, including ecosystem changes, energy transitions,
and sustainability.
3.
Communication Style: The communication styles
differ, with your 1989
report taking a more speculative and visionary tone, while Subrahmanyan's letter is
more immediate and directive, addressing the current realities faced by
L&T.
In summary, both communications recognize the importance of
adaptation, technology, globalization, and performance in the context of
L&T's future success. The differences in timeframe and the specific nature
of challenges highlight how the business landscape has evolved over the years, but the fundamental principles of
staying competitive and relevant remain consistent.