The success story of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project’s execution has been published as a case study for the benefit of management practitioners and students by the world-famous Stanford University in a rare honour in the field of management studies.
A study done by an ISB team under the leadership of Prof Ram Nidumolu on the Hyderabad Metro rail found place in the latest spring 2024 issue of ‘Stanford Social Innovation Review’ (SSIR) amidst stiff global competition from several other similar studies, said an official release on Sunday.
The case study highlights the extraordinary skill sets displayed by HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy and his team in handling a plethora of sensitive issues and agitations to make the near impossible PPP (public, private partnership) metro rail project a reality.
About SSIR
SSIR is a prestigious quarterly journal of Stanford University that publishes impactful and path-breaking projects, leadership styles, etc., which offer innovative solutions to the world’s endemic problems.
Challenges
The manner in which Mr. Reddy and his team managed to overcome the initial Maytas failure as well as numerous agitations and how they converted the diverse socio-religious groups and political parties which originally opposed the project into its supporters and therefore, saved the project from innumerable court cases and other challenges were mentioned as a highly effective leadership example in the study.
The Strategy
Recognising the HMR team’s ability to align the broader interests of the project with the often-contradictory individual interests of diverse stakeholders including the Concessionaire, the lending banks, owners of affected properties, trade associations, hawker unions, opposing socio-religious and political parties etc.
The study attributed this mammoth achievement to the MD for not acting like a typical bureaucrat but as someone who exhibited an entrepreneurial mindset. The report states that with passion and commitment to the project, he continuously followed an inclusive stakeholder policy and transparent communication style.
An Example for the Future!
Based on this successful leadership experience, the study developed a new concept of stakeholder management and indicated that management practitioners can learn a lot from the Hyderabad Metro experience as to how to build mega public purpose infrastructure projects through private sector capital and resources, with deep engagement of all stakeholders including media for the broader social good.
Moreover, the case study added that as Hyderabad continues to grow, the metro rail will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping its future, offering an enduring example of democratic leadership that dared to dream big for the common good.
Courtesy: The Hindu
