Infosys to launch new book on leadership

BANGALORE: Infosys, country's second largest IT company that is also known for its values and leadership practices, is set to reveal all these practices in a new book.

The first authorised book, Leadership @ Infosys, from the Infosys Leadership Institute on effective leadership strategies is set for launch on December 13.

Published by Penguin Books India, it contains information essential to understanding Infosys' continued success as a corporation ahead of the curve.

"We are trying to capture on leadership philosophy, model and things like that," CEO and Managing Director S Gopalakrishnan told PTI. "This book is mainly based on people's personal experiences."

Edited by Infosys Leadership Institute Vice-President and Director Matt Barney, the book has foreword by the Bangalore-headquartered and NASDAQ-listed firm's Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy and Gopalakrishnan and epilogue by Head of Human Resources T V Mohandas Pai.

"Powered by intellect, driven by values" -- Infosys has been at the forefront of a new India Inc since 1981. Leadership @ Infosys is the first book to codify Infosys' "unique" history, values and leadership practices that account for the firm's stellar rise from USD 250 seed capital to a multibillion dollar global enterprise, Gopalakrishnan said.

As an extension of Infosys' tradition of growing leaders through a programme called Leaders Teach, the book captures the origins of Infosys' leadership approach and leverages advanced psychometrics to identify current leaders who are "exceptionally effective" in Infosys' leadership model.

These leaders share approaches that they believe account for their successes, and are candid about where they stumbled in the past to help junior leaders avoid their mistakes.

Chapters based on Infosys' Leadership Journey Series include discussions of strategic leadership, change leadership, operational leadership, talent leadership, relationship and networking leadership, content leadership and entrepreneurial leadership by thought leaders in each area.

"He (Barney) has managed the whole exercise (editing the book). The book captures a representative sampe," Gopalakrishnan said.

Dr Barney is the senior most Infosys leader responsible for the selection, development, research and succession of senior and high-potential leaders worldwide.

Previously, he has held similar roles at Intel, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Motorola and Merck. He has published and presented papers and books in areas including Lean Six Sigma, leadership development, psychometrics, human capital, risk management and simulations.