Do Indian leaders hesitate to make independent decisions?

Dear Gargi,

Very well intended question but requires some clarification:

1. If, Referring to decisions for self interest or benefits?

The Answer is "they are most efficient in this world".

2. If the question is for the cause of nation or its citizens?

.....did anyone mention a speed termed SNAILS. that too with biggest If in first placel.

So dear friends, It is not hesitation without "cause and effect", it is with a lot of purpose and motive.

I am supporting Domenico on this one.

The view of one professor is not good enough to underrate Indian Leaders. My big question is who is really running this country with such a large population if the leaders are hesitant to make independent decisions? Who is really making these decisions? Will you condemn all by  mistakes of some or a few?

As a matter of pure logic, it seems to me it's quite strange you have doubts like this, considering that India is one of the fast growing countries in the world and your big corporations are ready to make direct investments/ acquisitions in western countries....

Of course, this is only the perception of an external observer

Indian leaders .... U mean Indian Political Leaders ?

Even in Corporate world, decession in matters of big affair, is not the Board consulted ? In recruitment interviews, more than one person is not seen to occupy the chairs ?

Political world : In Indian democracy, our President is not authorised to take independend decession - s/he is to consult the Ministerial (Board)

--  Again, the Ministers are to get affarmation from the Parliament - in some matters both of the Parliaments. An exception : no authorisation was taken from Parliament when Nuke deal was done with USA though it was an International agreement. Now, problem errupted to get Parliament's nod in "Safe-guard Agreement" .. !

May Aston Business School understand our way of functioning ? Or may we illastrate our system which has differences that with USA or so ?

----------- Decessions are decessions whether single man or collective. The moot question remains : Is / was the decession taken keeping in view the larger interest of the stake holders ? Was the decession reviewed ? Was the impact judged ?

The issue of managerial leadership in the context of cultures of the world has been best dealt with by studies by scholars like Hofstede. Indian managers come out as leaning towards collectivism and having high power distance. In other words, Indian culture encourages participative decision making yet the lower-level managers hesitate in taking decisions on their own and look up to their superiors. The situation could however be changing. Younger managers now could be taking initiative and older managers might be adjusting to the new realities.

Yes you are correct Ravindra Ji.

Whether related to politics or business organization, our Indian leaders are capable of taking independent decisions. Since they have to consider several factors like adhering to professional standard operating procedures, developing a plan to accomplish, maintaining situation awareness in order to anticipate needed action, developing contingencies & considering consequences, and also handling the rapid changing environment. Therefore it can not be construed as hesitating to make independent decisions. Moreover, the decision making process involves many to convince and to have unanimous and collective consensus to implement. Decision making is collective participation to be successful.     

Seeking concensous is not playing safe but enlisting the support of the team mates.  And there in nothing wrong with the team-play.  Only lone-rangers tend to impose their decisions on all others for that reason only they are kept isolated or rarely receive cooperation from other team-mates.

Gargi,

There are no confusions in self servicing, Let me assure.

I beg to disagree. We are a country of collaborative living. We respect the thoughts of other people. May be this has made some best brains to declare that we are not independent thinkers. We Indians do make most of the Independent decisions. Indians think of a plan put it across the board and fine tune it thats it. We are a independent decision makers.

if indian leaders cannot take independent decision, then whole definition of leader fails.

Who make a leader a leader ? It is us i.e. we.

Wherever a collaboration of work comes, or team work is involved, a collective decision is essential although a leader initiative for that collection decision and leading from start to finish makes him/her a leader.

Leadership is not constraint to country but character.

If we want to see the change, we must become the change.

Enjoy.

Yes I agree with you they took as you said it brave indipendent desicions. yes when these desicions were taken they were at the top of the helm of affaires (Headding the Governments). Any honest person who have worked for Government, in particular near the seat of Power, that is in a position in the executive branch either near State or Central Capital would know who is responsible for these decisions or what made them agree to take these decisions. In general Indians in India are copycats and do not have the confidence to take decisions. That is one of the reasons why Indians have shined when they were working for Other Countries. Lets not boast and take pride for life long because of few notable exceptions in this country. Most of our political decisions brave or not, inteligent or not are mainly with the intension of getting political gains and make himself a hero or leader and originated not by the leader but by others. People who doesnot know how a budget exercise goes on and who all contributes think it is the finance minister who has done it all. Minister only gets briefed by the people down in the line what a decision if taken will results in, what are the options available, what is likely to happen if a decision is not taken etc. His contribution may be some times based on what political / financial, he or his party is going to get and the lobies and that too in the form of directions like I want this done or I want this kind of result I dont know how you will do it, I will give you all the freedom and will punish you if your idea fails etc. given to the executives down in the line. A good speaker and inteligent Minister will read, understand, hear to people and prepares himself properly. Some / or most of these decisions have resulted in converting our education system in to a pure business of making money by selling degrees and creating brand images, increase in curuption at all levels, increase in people worship, has taken our country to Stone age. Take for example the recent BT brinjal episode. Any common man will know what is important for India and needs to be taken as priority to acheive Food security, Nutrition security and Micro nutrition security. Our Yields of Cereals pulses and Oil seeds or very low when compared with International yields. We were not in a position to solve the problem of sunflower oil seed yield which they say is due to polination problem, We were not able to improve the cashewnut yields and still import raw cahew nut from Brazil and AFrica and 10 years from now if we dont solve this all our cashew nut processing units will have yo close down. We are not in a position to solve problem with Pomegranate fruit in Karnataka which is facing a threat of extinction now (Retail Pomegranate price has sored to Rs. 180 a kilo from Rs 30 a kilo two years back as a rsult in Karnataka). We didnot solve the problem in Nanjangud rasabale (a variety of banana) which is almost extinct now ( poor mans fruit which was just Rs 2-5 a kilo 5 years back is now Rs 40 a kilo), we are not preseving Muttu Gulla (A variety of Brinjal grown in Udupi area) known for its quality/ taste and medicinal properties. But the Minister thought it fit to waste time and money on BT Brinjal isuue which he successfully used in the Road shows conducted and showed he is good speaker, inteligent and for the people and will not take any hasty decision. He could have simply rejected the BT Brinjal at this juncture woth out all these Tamasha simply stating that our priority is Staple food, Edible oils, vegetable proteins ( to ensure food security, and nutrition security) first and then Cheap fruits and vegetables to ensure micronutrition security, in that order and should have told them that Brinjal can simply wait.  That would have been a bold decision. He probably saw an opportunity to project his image in BT Brinjal. Yes we cannot be complaining all the time.