Financial Times, February 14, 2023 My first reaction to this news item: “Not possible! This is not a cottage-sector start-up; this is the house of Tata.” My second reaction - “It will get sorted, and pretty soon the Tata casing factory will hit global quality standards.
I'm sure this Tata thing will be sorted out, as it's costing them money! meanwhile, they won't be paid higher prices or given "svalpa adjust" latitude on delivery. Tragically this unees bees attitude extends to matters of safety - electrical wiring, fire hazards, personal safety, road safety and so on. These are situations where like the gangsta boss said in the Bollywood flick, "Hamare yahan, galtiyan sirf akhri baar hoti hai". and then we read about all this in the newspapers.
The fact that instead of a startup or MSME, Tatas are making components also raises my eyebrows. Premier corporate group making nuts and bolts, why not leave that to an MSME, there are several in Kolhapur-Mumbai belt in Maharashtra. Is this some high-level setup?
Fun post, Mohit. UnneesBees projects soon enough end up being BaaraahBees.
Though, I tentatively disagree with the key insight. Progress does proceed quality. Japan and China did a few decades of UnneesBees before becoming manufacturing powerhouses. Linkages to exports were key perhaps. Their prosperous consumers were more demanding. The fact that Tata's underperformance became news is itself a positive sign. Had it not been for Apple, it wouldn't have even been a talking point, I guess.
Such a great observation !
It's how we raise our kids. Its how we were raised. Chalta hai attitude.
This is absolutely true, Punit.
We have to become more precise if we want to progress
I'm sure this Tata thing will be sorted out, as it's costing them money! meanwhile, they won't be paid higher prices or given "svalpa adjust" latitude on delivery. Tragically this unees bees attitude extends to matters of safety - electrical wiring, fire hazards, personal safety, road safety and so on. These are situations where like the gangsta boss said in the Bollywood flick, "Hamare yahan, galtiyan sirf akhri baar hoti hai". and then we read about all this in the newspapers.
The fact that instead of a startup or MSME, Tatas are making components also raises my eyebrows. Premier corporate group making nuts and bolts, why not leave that to an MSME, there are several in Kolhapur-Mumbai belt in Maharashtra. Is this some high-level setup?
Good question!
Maybe they see this as an entry point into manufacture of phones.
Fun post, Mohit. UnneesBees projects soon enough end up being BaaraahBees.
Though, I tentatively disagree with the key insight. Progress does proceed quality. Japan and China did a few decades of UnneesBees before becoming manufacturing powerhouses. Linkages to exports were key perhaps. Their prosperous consumers were more demanding. The fact that Tata's underperformance became news is itself a positive sign. Had it not been for Apple, it wouldn't have even been a talking point, I guess.
Thanks, Pranay - I'm open to that insight, and I wonder how the attitude to precision varies from one developing nation to another.
I will look for evidence, and any research.
Many of our works are definitely in the 'nau-do-gyaarah' range.
After writing to you this morning, I was wondering about the channels that link prosperity and quality.
I can see a channel from quality to prosperity via a better return on investment; not clear how the other channel would work.
The common observation is that the two accompany each other.