Human Resource Management Case Study

Case Title:

Grooming Future Leaders: The Infosys Way

Abstract:

The case highlights the leadership development initiatives at Infosys Technologies (Infosys), one of the most reputed IT companies in India. Infosys Leadership Institute (ILI) established in 2001 was fully dedicated to this initiative and every year over 100 potential leaders were groomed. There was a systematic selection process to shortlist candidates for the three year leadership development program at ILI. The interventions and leadership development program was based on the ‘nine-pillar’ model and formulated incorporating the best practices in leadership development followed by successful global companies.

According to a study in 2002, it was estimated that by 2006 most global organizations would lose 40% of their top executives. The case also discusses the leadership development initiatives undertaken by many global and Indian companies. On August 20th 2006, N.R. Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, who turned 60, the retirement age at Infosys, stepped down from the post of Chairman. How successful the leadership development initiatives at Infosys would be in grooming future leaders who could fit into the shoes of its founders?

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss the leadership development initiatives undertaken by Infosys and other global and Indian IT & software companies
• To highlight the ‘nine-pillar’ model at Infosys
• To debate how successful the leadership development initiatives at Infosys would be in grooming future leaders.

Keywords : Infosys, India, Narayana Murthy, Infosys Leadership Institute, human resource management, leadership development, Nine pillar model, training and development, mentoring, best practices, HRM Case Study, interventions, overall development, attrition