One of the most diverse nations and the seventh largest in the world, India may best be understood as a land of contrasts. From its vast deserts to its snowy mountain peaks, India is home to a host of different ethnicities and cultural traditions that can be traced back more than five thousand years. Boasting a rich and complicated cultural heritage, India defies generalizations and may confound and delight its visitors with its vast array of regional customs. Wide differences in language, food, music, and other cultural elements make India a fascinating country to explore.
India's recent emergence as a powerhouse in the technology and outsourcing industry has inspired many to take a closer look at India's economic opportunities. Yet this is only one dimension of India's intriguing 1 billion plus people. As successful as its globally visible information technology services industry is, it only employs less than 1 million of the country's diverse people. In contrast more than 200 million people still live on less than $1 per day. It's this kind of disparity that still marks the business cultural landscape, which is a reflection of the country's extremes. On one end are some of the more traditional attitudes and structures relating to bureaucracy, processes, women and minorities. On the end of the spectrum are western-influenced, leading-edge businesses run by MBAs, Indian or foreign obtained, whose attitudes reflect the direct impact of globalization on India.
India's business culture differs by region, industry, religion, and exposure to the rest of the world. At itsvery core, the Indian business culture is impacted by traditional beliefs and values. The influence of Hinduism and its caste system along with fatalism permeate throughout businesses and workers. There is a keen sense that everything happens for a reason - whether it's a natural event impacting business processes or a business interaction. Not sure how to navigate the cultural nuances in modern India, CultureQuest can help.
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