Azim Hashim Premji
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Azim Hashim Premji is an Indian businessman who transformed his family's vegetable oil business, Wipro, into one of the world's leading technology companies. As a young man of 21, he took over leadership of Wipro after his father's sudden death in 1966. Over decades, through learning, building confidence, and focusing on processes and culture, he grew Wipro into a top global IT company known for excellence, integrity, and social responsibility. Premji believes that to create excellence, organizations must obsess over quality, build teams, invest in the future, and maintain humility.
Azim Hashim Premji
- 1. Azim Hashim Premji Presented by Amit Kumar Nayak
- 2. Background Azim Premji is a graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, USA . On the sudden demise of his father in 1966, Premji took on the mantle of leadership of Wipro at the age of 21. Premji is credited with transforming Wipro, his family's vegetable oil business, into one of the world's foremost software company.
- 3. Glimpses Chairman and Managing Director of Wipro. Although one of the richest Indians, he flies economy class and is happiest when hiking, reading or discussing the foundation he has set up to promote primary education.
- 4. Premji’s Fist Lesson A shareholder, who was very articulate, very vociferous and someone who categorized himself as a public spokesman, gave him a very sincere advice in front of all the shareholders. He said: "Mr. Premji, you should sell your shareholding and give it to more mature management because there is no way a person of your age with your experience can lead this company." And that really made me more and more determined to make a success of Wipro.
- 5. Leadership In Action I want Wipro to be among the top ten IT companies in the world. The early years were more about learning than about acting. I had to carry on my father’s work, which was a big challenge. As an advisor, I can say what I want. If I were a politician, I would constantly have to compromise, and I’m incapable of doing that. As you get bigger, you have to learn to delegate. It’s also an excellent way to get staff involved in the company’s operations.
- 6. Leadership In Action Character is one factor that will guide all our actions and decisions. We invested in uncompromising integrity that helped us take difficult stands in some of the most difficult business situations. There are millions of children today who don’t attend school. However, education is the only way to get ahead in this country. In our way of working, we attach a great deal of importance to humility and honesty; With respect for human values, we promise to serve our customers with integrity.
- 7. How does one create excellence in an organization? First , we create an obsession with excellence. We must dream of it not only because it delivers better results but because we truly believe in it and find it intrinsically satisfying to us. We must think of excellence not only with our mind but also with our heart and soul. Let us look outside, at the global standards of excellence in quality, cost and delivery and let us not rest till we surpass them.
- 8. Second , we need to build a collective self-confidence. Organizations and people who pursue excellence are self-confident. This is because excellence requires tremendous faith in one's ability to do more and in a better way. Unless, we believe we can do better, we cannot.
- 9. Third , we must understand the difference between perfection for its own sake and excellence. Time is of essence. Globalization has made the customer only more impatient. This may seem like a paradox: should we aim for excellence or should we aim for speed? Excellence is about doing the best we can and speed lies in doing it quickly. These two concepts are not opposed to each other; in fact, speed and timeliness are important elements of quality and excellence.
- 10. Fourth , we must realize that we cannot be the best in everything we do. We must define what we are or would like to be best at and what someone else can do better. Excellence is no longer about being the best in India. It is about being the best in the world. We have to define what our own core competencies are and what we can outsource to other leaders. Headaches shared are headaches divided.
- 11. Fifth , we must create processes that enable excellence. Today, there are a number of global methods and processes available whether it is Six Sigma, CMM or ISO. Use them because they are based on distilled wisdom collected from the best companies in the world. Also, we must build a strong foundation of information technology, because in this complex, dynamic world, it is imperative that we use the most modern tools to keep processes updated.
- 12. Sixth , we must create a culture of teaming. I have found that while great individuals are important, one cannot have pockets of excellence. Quality gives ample opportunities to build a culture of teaming. Cross-functional teams that are customer facing can cut through an amazing amount of bureaucracy, personal empire building and silos and deliver savings that one would not have imagined possible. The other advantage of building teams focused on quality is that the teaming culture eventually spreads to the rest of the organization and teaming becomes a way of life.
- 13. Seventh , invest in excellence for the future. Future always seems to be at a distance. But it comes upon you so suddenly that it catches you by surprise, if not shock. What constitutes excellence in the future will be significantly different from what it is today. In these days of severe market pressures, there is big temptation to sacrifice the future to look good in the present. We must certainly trim our discretionary expenses, but we must ensure that our investments in strategic areas that lead to excellence in the future are protected.
- 14. Finally , excellence requires humility. This is especially needed when we feel we have reached the peak of excellence and there is nothing further we can do. We need an open mind to look at things in a different way and allow new inputs to come in.
- 15. Questions? “ Change is Universal… Change is Permanent…. Be ever willing to Change….. For, change alone leads you to Success and happiness!!!”