Leadership Case Study

Grooming Future Leaders: The Infosys Way

OR

Abstract:
The case highlights the leadership development initiatives at Infosys Technologies (Infosys), one of the most reputed information technology (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 programme at ILI. The interventions and leadership development programme 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 organisations would lose 40% of their top executives. The case also discusses the leadership development initiatives undertaken by many global and Indian companies. On 20 August 2006, NR Narayana Murthy, the Co-founder of Infosys, who turned 60, the retirement age at Infosys, stepped down from the post of Chairman. How successful would the leadership development initiatives at Infosys be in grooming future leaders who could fit into the shoes of its founders?

Pedagogical Objectives:

Keywords :  Infosys, India, Narayana Murthy, Infosys Leadership Institute, Training and development, Leadership development, Human resource management, Nine pillar model, Mentoring, Best practices, Interventions, Overall development, Attrition