Will India struggle to thrive unless it changes its work culture?
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Thursday, 9 Sept. 2010
|18:06 - 19:00 GMT
It's fair to say that a lot of emails we've received about Delhi's preparations could be placed into two schools of thought. And they are...
1) India's work culture is flawed and the problems in Delhi are symptomatic of that. If the culture doesn't change, it'll never be able to deliver as South Africa and China did when they had their moments in the spotlight.
2) This is how India works, but don't worry Delhi will be ready, if at the last minute. Developed countries don't understand that we get things done in a different way to them.
Tu Fengmei - Lack of discipline and lack of vision are the causes of this dismal situation currently. But it will take a long time and the whole nation to change the work culture.
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18:10
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We''re on air now - listen here -
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18:10
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Jodie in Virginia on the blog - Yes, as irrational as it is, if I lived in a developing nation I would feel let down by India's poor showing (so far) in its preparation for the Commonwealth Games. (And India is a BRIC country no less!) On the other hand, as an American I see India's performance only as a reflection on India. In fact, South Africa's good preparation (including safety) makes South Africa's success (in comparison with India's failure) even more laudable.
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18:06
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Alastair emailed - I agree with proposal 1- laziness seems endemic in India, not helped by bureaucracy, incompetence by some, and of course theft and fraud.
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18:04
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Gary Paudler on the blog - Many Indians (and there are MANY Indians) are industrious and ambitious and creative and eager to work, so I'd be very reluctant to attribute the dismal state of preparations to some vague "work culture".
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18:00
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Harshad - We definitely have a scope for improvement. but please don't decide on Indian talent or work culture by the Commonwealth Games show. It is handled by a nexus of government and some corrupt contractors and needless to say, we are totally dissatisfied particularly by the lethargy and apathy shown... the government officials and the age old "british" bureaucratic system are, to be honest, a real hindrance to India's success.
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18:00
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Tyrone - Hi, its nothing to do with the work culture Indians work hard and study harder. The pressure in India to get into good colleges etc is life-threatening literally with many youth choosing suicide as an easy way out. The ills of India are usually veneered over by the impressive Indian PR machine and the sorry favourable bias Westerners have for the nation.
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17:59
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Monica in Washington DC - It's a matter of hygiene, not culture. I don't blame visiting athletes one bit for not wanting to stay there in the reported conditions.
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17:59
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Victor - This would never have happened if this was cricket. maybe they just don't care about these games.
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17:58
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Greg emailed - Well I'm trying to decide which work culture works best? One that fails to get things ready for some athletic events or one that cuts economic corners to cause one of the worst environmental disasters in human history?
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17:58
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Geff in Nairobi - Let's give them a chance it's still 242 hours to kick off.
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17:58
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Mistah from Reno, Nevada - This is as much the Commonwealth Games leadership's fault as it is India's.
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17:56
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Saju in India - India is an emerging economical powerhouse, but there is a lack of discipline. The working culture is just hastiness to capture everything. Most leaders do not have a listening mentality.
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17:56
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Christopher in Zambia - I don't know what the authorities and the rest of the people defending the shoddy preparations. There are basic universally accepted standards which they should have been working towards satisfying. They had all the time to do so.
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17:50
113631290
Hello - Ben S here on WHYS Live. We''re staying in Delhi on tonight''s show and the problems at the Commonwealth Games. Do they indicate that Indians have to change their work culture - or is this the West misunderstanding the country?
Will India struggle to thrive unless it changes its work culture?
| Thursday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
It's fair to say that a lot of emails we've received about Delhi's preparations could be placed into two schools of thought. And they are...
1) India's work culture is flawed and the problems in Delhi are symptomatic of that. If the culture doesn't change, it'll never be able to deliver as South Africa and China did when they had their moments in the spotlight.
2) This is how India works, but don't worry Delhi will be ready, if at the last minute. Developed countries don't understand that we get things done in a different way to them.
Which do you side with?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Tu Fengmei - Lack of discipline and lack of vision are the causes of this dismal situation currently. But it will take a long time and the whole nation to change the work culture.
Comment sent via host
We''re on air now - listen here -
Comment sent via BLOG
Jodie in Virginia on the blog - Yes, as irrational as it is, if I lived in a developing nation I would feel let down by India's poor showing (so far) in its preparation for the Commonwealth Games. (And India is a BRIC country no less!) On the other hand, as an American I see India's performance only as a reflection on India. In fact, South Africa's good preparation (including safety) makes South Africa's success (in comparison with India's failure) even more laudable.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Alastair emailed - I agree with proposal 1- laziness seems endemic in India, not helped by bureaucracy, incompetence by some, and of course theft and fraud.
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary Paudler on the blog - Many Indians (and there are MANY Indians) are industrious and ambitious and creative and eager to work, so I'd be very reluctant to attribute the dismal state of preparations to some vague "work culture".
Comment sent via Facebook
Harshad - We definitely have a scope for improvement. but please don't decide on Indian talent or work culture by the Commonwealth Games show. It is handled by a nexus of government and some corrupt contractors and needless to say, we are totally dissatisfied particularly by the lethargy and apathy shown... the government officials and the age old "british" bureaucratic system are, to be honest, a real hindrance to India's success.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tyrone - Hi, its nothing to do with the work culture Indians work hard and study harder. The pressure in India to get into good colleges etc is life-threatening literally with many youth choosing suicide as an easy way out. The ills of India are usually veneered over by the impressive Indian PR machine and the sorry favourable bias Westerners have for the nation.
Comment sent via Facebook
Monica in Washington DC - It's a matter of hygiene, not culture. I don't blame visiting athletes one bit for not wanting to stay there in the reported conditions.
Comment sent via Facebook
Victor - This would never have happened if this was cricket. maybe they just don't care about these games.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Greg emailed - Well I'm trying to decide which work culture works best? One that fails to get things ready for some athletic events or one that cuts economic corners to cause one of the worst environmental disasters in human history?
Comment sent via Facebook
Geff in Nairobi - Let's give them a chance it's still 242 hours to kick off.
Comment sent via Facebook
Mistah from Reno, Nevada - This is as much the Commonwealth Games leadership's fault as it is India's.
Comment sent via Facebook
Saju in India - India is an emerging economical powerhouse, but there is a lack of discipline. The working culture is just hastiness to capture everything. Most leaders do not have a listening mentality.
Comment sent via Facebook
Christopher in Zambia - I don't know what the authorities and the rest of the people defending the shoddy preparations. There are basic universally accepted standards which they should have been working towards satisfying. They had all the time to do so.
Comment sent via host
Hello - Ben S here on WHYS Live. We''re staying in Delhi on tonight''s show and the problems at the Commonwealth Games. Do they indicate that Indians have to change their work culture - or is this the West misunderstanding the country?