Alchemy of Change: Managing Transition through Value-Based Leadership

Change is inevitable and usually painful. A spoonful of empathic leadership, a smattering of new tools and a few sachets of foundational values boil together to create organizational transformation. However, not all change efforts are successful. Alchemy of Change shows that value-based institutions, which evolve from the wisdom of the soil, can bring about enduring change.   Introducing the Indian Model of Change, which is based on Indian values of leadership, dialogue, mutual respect, and goal setting, the authors explain how the nuances and distinctions of the Indian mindset and cultural backdrop can help to keep pace with today’s fast-changing world. Through real case studies and references from diverse literature, the book shows that change management cannot be treated as a mechanical exercise because change affects and is affected by human emotions, both at an individual and collective level. It is an insightful read for senior management and HR professionals, for all stakeholders who are entrusted with the task of facilitating or bringing about change in an organization, as well as students of change. For the general reader, the book can be a journey in self-awareness and growth.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by T. V. Rao Preface Acknowledgements Part I Change is a Fascinating Kaleidoscope Change Is Life, Life Is Change Anatomy of Change Changing Organizations Part II Experiences of Change Mega Corporation: Challenging Old Paradigms AG Corporation: A Change That Reinvented a Corporation Akash Corporation: Lip Service Does Not Bring Change Part III Manage It or Be Ready for Oblivion The Blueprint Preparing for Change Vision for Change Building a Dominant Coalition Designing Change Strategy Handling Resistance Sustaining Change Part IV Your Toolkit for Change It’s a Team Game Culture of Learning and Innovation Helps 90 Per Cent of Change Management Is People Management Who is Holding the Reins? Unleashing the Power of Infantry Part V Leadership: The X Factor of Successful Change Facilitation Leadership and the Need for a Change Leader Value-based Leadership and Successful Change Part VI Culture and Values as Vehicles of Change Influence of Culture and Indian Culture Values as General Ideals and Standards Indian Values as Civilizational Backdrop Part VII Indian Model for Driving Change Epilogue References

About the Author :
Dr H. N. Arora is an organization change specialist. He retired as Group Corporate Head HR and IR, Escorts Group, after having held top positions in Bhilwara group, Reliance, Indian Rayon and so on. He has closely observed the management philosophy of the founder of Reliance Group, late Sri Dhirubhai Ambani, in action. Dr Arora has helped many MSMEs and large industrial conglomerates in successful change management efforts, sometimes in seemingly hopeless situations. Subsequently, he did his doctorate on change management and leadership under Dr T. V. Rao. Even now, Dr Arora continues as an adviser/consultant to many organizations. He is a keen observer of human collective behaviour, and a strong believer and practitioner of value-based leadership. He is an enthusiastic student of Indic thought and philosophy.   Rajan Sinha is the Chief Executive Officer, Mantrana Consulting. He is a PCC-level certified Life and Leadership Coach from Coach For-Life, Inc., USA. Formerly being the Head of Human Resources with many organizations such as HMT, Escorts (including Escorts Heart Institute), Denso India, OCM and so on, Rajan is an adviser, trainer and coach to many corporates and NGOs. He has also facilitated hundreds of workshops and training programmes in India, the Middle East and East Africa. He is one of the renowned psychometric assessors in India with the most international certification. His other major works have been in the area of design and implementation of HR systems, policy making, team building and so on in India and abroad. He is also doing a fellowship at the Academy of Human Resource Development, Ahmedabad. He is a keen photographer and traveller.

Review :
Indian wisdom and value systems are one of the most amazing and fascinating strong foundations of knowledge. It’s really commendable to see that Eastern thoughts are blended in this book, which facilitate the integration of knowledge, application, experience and practice on the Indian corporate playing field. This book is going to be one of the very interesting collections for any student, learner, practitioner, thought leader or even for researchers for any kind of reference at any point of time in their life. I wish the authors great success with this book. I see the practical use of this book in my own research as a really handy guide, whenever I look for management of change. It was delightful to read the book Alchemy of Change: Managing Transition through Value-based Leadership. Both the authors, Dr H. N. Arora and Rajan Sinha, are scholarly practitioners. They bring in the text their deep insights to explain various issues pertaining to organizational change. Their deep familiarity with Indian spiritual traditions and value systems has been brought to good use. This can be of considerable value to Indian scholars and those in other countries. Their ‘Indian Model for Driving Change’ is a valuable addition and can be useful for researchers and practitioners. The model has the potential of expanding itself into a larger treatise. The simple and lucid style of writing makes the reader enjoy the text. It is a unique combination of information and wisdom. Rare book on change management where the authors have shared their actual experiences of facilitating change through three case studies, related them with global literature on change theories and ultimately presented change model specifically relevant for Indian culture. A must read for business leaders, human resource professionals and scholars with interest in change management. Arora and Sinha have put together a useful compilation of case studies and practical examples from the industry. This approach makes the book a valued reference even for experienced HR professionals. The book provides a refreshing perspective, devoid of stereotype and cliched description. Instead, they have leveraged their legendary thirst for reading Indian scriptures and history and have provided a uniquely balanced viewpoint. I feel this book will be a treasure trove not only for the students but also for seasoned HR practitioners. The change has been the lifeblood of human kind, who has evolved over thousands of years from amoeba to chimpanzee to Homo sapiens. These changes transform not only the organization but the leaders themselves at many times. The authors, through their in-depth research, bring out a plethora of change practices that seem to be set amid a spectrum of several solutions, provide a coherent yet diverse perspective and create a successful alchemy for change. This is a must read book for entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as students, who understand that quite often change management is like a process of metamorphosis that drives leaders and teams to pass through a valley of death with courage, determination and resilience. Alchemy of Change is indeed a labour of love. It is a product of brilliant combination of academic erudition and professional exploration. Arora and Sinha have narrated in this volume a few Indian corporate ‘change stories’ and how they fit, not fully though, in the conventional (Western) theoretical framework of change management. The book captivates readers with fascinating stories, insightful anecdotes and useful theory frameworks. The authors have been courageous to view transition management, based on their rich ‘personal corporate experiences’, from a different lens of native wisdom. They have suggested and argued for, quite powerfully, an Eastern Indian model of managing a sustainable transition for well-being of all stakeholders. This is surely a seminal contribution. Change implies giving up the old and adopting new ways of thinking and doing. This book fulfils this statement, quite well. Very readable and stimulating work. The need to understand and respond to change, in this everevolving world, will always remain a contemporary pursuit. Heraclitus had aptly observed that change is the only constant. On this vital aspect of leading change, the authors have endeavoured to blend Western thought with Eastern wisdom, particularly Indian values, with examples that illustrate and insights that illuminate, which are easy to understand and are practical in application. Change and its management is inevitable in 21st-century organizations. The authors present the art and science of it in a very lucid manner in this book. They underscore the significant role the mindset and culture (both within the organization and outside in the society) play in this often chaotic journey. Indian leaders, who are either starting on or in the midway of a change journey, will hugely benefit from the authors’ deep expertise shared through this very context-focused book. I appreciate and acknowledge the immense passion and in-depth, insightful transition process objectively captured by the authors together with more than eight decades of impeccable corporate professional expertise, conceptualising a new paradigm shift to successful change management using Eastern philosophy and aligning with Indian culture. I admire their efforts in sharing life’s learnings with authenticity, practicality and honesty. Culture and values have been thoroughly evaluated with greater relevance to the traditional beliefs of the very essence of Indian philosophy hitherto untapped in management practices. I am personally aware of immense keenness, extraordinary efforts of the authors, great research instinct, voracious readership and great spiritual maturity in their thought process with conviction. Practical industry examples, both in public and private sectors, have been extensively referred to judiciously. I feel extremely proud of the authors for believing, showcasing and creating awareness amongst knowledge- and guidance-seeking professionals, academicians, researchers and practicing managers/ business leaders. A few years back, Dr H. N. Arora advised us on change management. He has created a benchmark on value-based leadership that, I’m very confident, will be useful to all professionals in creating hurdle-free change. Chapters and case studies in this book are best examples of transformational leadership where a leader is not blindly followed but respected because of trust-based management aiming at common and collective goal of organizational performance. I’m sure that the book will be beneficial to all leaders and professionals. The language we use while shaping change often gets jargonized and becomes daunting. Alchemy of Change shows that simplicity of the language creates a pull that makes changes easier and faster. “This work derives major strength from its simplicity… The content flows from beginning to end as experiences the authors learn from. Slowly you feel like a co-passenger on this change management journey.”