Citing JLR, UK Labour Party leader hails 'Indian Way' of management

LONDON: A senior Labour party politician has said that Tata Motors' turnaround of Jaguar Land Rover had exposed the inadequacy of managerial ability in Britain, which has much to learn from the "Indian Way" of doing business.

Lord John Prescott, who was the country's deputy Prime Minister between 1997 and 2007, is well known here by his nickname "Two Jags" in reference to his proud ownership of two iconic Jaguars from the British luxury brand's stable.

In his regular 'Sunday Mirror' column, he uses his Jaguars as indicative of the hidden success of the "Indian Way" of management exemplified by Tata Motors' takeover of operations of Jaguar Land Rover ( JLR).

"The revival of Britain's car industry exposes the inadequacy of British managerial ability. Just look at hospitals and banks. We've a lot to learn from the 'Indian Way'," he wrote.

"Well, everyone knows I'm a Jag man and I observed the decline of Jaguar/Land Rover companies under British and American management. The bosses blamed the workers and trade unions for the decline before selling lock, stock and barrel to the Indian company Tata in 2008," he elaborates.

"Three years later, Tata has doubled production to 4,25,000 cars, doubled profits to 842 million pounds, reversed the closure of plants and is about to build a new engine plant in the West Midlands. All with the same British labour force and unions that were criticised by the previous managers," he adds.

Prescott, a former Labour party MP, also pointed to the recent appointment of Satya Nadella as CEO of Microsoft as indicative of the Indian approach of doing things producing results.

"Satya didn't hold a press conference to tell everyone how great he was. He held discussions with his employees about the Indian Way. It is meant to give companies a 'broader social purpose'," he said.