Singur enters B-school texts as a ‘complexity problem’

The controversy is likely to develop clear land acquisition dos and don’ts, with national ramifications


KOLKATA: “Singur” is being touted as one of the most live cases studies for management schools-it has, perhaps, snowballed into a case of “complexity management problem”.

The intricacies and complications of the open-ended decisions by the West Bengal state authorities and the Opposition at this juncture has made Tata Motors come out incisively against the decision taken at the Sunday’s bipartite meeting.

It has expressed its distress “at the limited clarity of the outcome of the discussions”.
Experts say the controversy is likely to develop clear land acquisition dos and don’ts with an unambiguous methodology, which will have national ramifications.

Says Ranjan Das, professor of strategic management, IIM-Calcutta & president of The Study Academy, “Any strategic decision should factor in contingencies, which may not always be visible - social or emotional issues, for instance, which emerge from rehabilitation.”

In the case of Singur, the Left may not have factored in all the issues of the interest groups, says another political analyst, echoing Das.

For instance, an industry source says, “People with limited knowledge are taking a call on the project.” Additionally, one major grouse now is that the Tatas were not consulted in the finalisation in the points of agreement.

Ranjan Das says that some of the aspects of the Singur problem confirm the “complexity management problem” in a book, ‘Complex Issues Management,’ which he has recently published.

“Every actor is pursuing his own agenda but does not have dominating control on all the decision-making forces,” Das says in his book.

Interestingly, keeping the contentious core issue of 400 acres alive, Mamata Banerjee is upbeat on having extracted her pound of flesh.

“Mamata’s own strategy here is perhaps correct and she will try to accumulate interest of many more such issues till the next elections,” says a political expert on condition of anonymity.

But, says Prasanta Ray, eminent sociologist and political analyst, “Personally, I feel, the Left will gain from the Singur controversy, because, it has gained back lost ground with its pro-industrialisation stance after the Nandigram setback.”

He adds, “Moreover, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will go down in history for having wooed the iconic Tata brand.”

Meanwhile, the Singur controversy has occupied Bengal’s mindspace like never before. From poster writing and signature campaigns to holding town hall meets, it’s all happening in Kolkata. IT professionals have created a website to garner support for the Nano.

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