In the News
Excerpts from the Article in Corporate Dossier, dated 2-8 July, 1999 on Mr. Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation
QUALITY WILL BE A KEY DRIVER. Premji constantly scours the landscape for ideas and best practices. Tell him about a thought-provoking book you’ve read recently and he’ll immediately make a mental note of it. Wipro’s the first and only Indian company to adopt the Six Sigma Progamme, which was pioneered by Motorola and refined by General Electric. Once you’ve cut through all the definitions, what the programme seeks to do is to move the company towards a zero defect situation.
Premji says Wipro’s partnership with GE in medical systems has been a great learning experience in that it has taught the company about processes. “GE’s very strong in that area. They have manuals for everything.” Premji is a great admirer of GE chairman Jack Welch...
He is also aware of Wipro’s strengths. We once asked him how it was that GE’s joint venture with Wipro was about the only one that has worked for the multinational in India. Without going into the specifics, he said, in a joint venture, partners have to deal from a position of strength. People tend to make too much of a song and dance about relationships. When it comes down to the wire, it’s a question of what each partner brings to the table...
What you cannot take away from the man, however, is his deep belief in an ethical organisation. He would rather spend a crore than pay a one lakh rupee bribe, and he has done it too. There have also been occasions when he has walked away from a deal because it stank...
Adapted from an Article in Corporate Dossier, dated 4-10 June, 1999
PRESIDENT AND CEO, GE Medical Systems, Jeffrey R Immelt is here in India to boost the 35 per cent market share that Wipro GE has in the $200-250 million medical equipment market in the country. And also to fructify plans to use India as a global base for manufacturing and exporting some components, and to source software for the company’s other operations worldwide.
Immelt’s tours have ended in a series of associations with hospitals here. He has already signed up with the Escorts Hospital in Delhi, and Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. “Very soon we will have relationships with about 5-10 hospitals in India much like our association abroad with hospitals like Johns Hopkins Institute and Mayo Clinic,” he says. The purpose is to develop clinical relationships and collaborate on research and training.
Immelt expects a growth of 15-20 per cent in healthcare which will come - apart from the large and well-equipped hospitals that will continuously upgrade their medical equipment - from smaller clinics and hospitals in rural areas.
