Reliance Industries Limited

This is the story of an Indian business house that has had meteoric growth in size and profit in recent history; a dream case for any businessman and for a manager to be in. The logic of success can be attributed to the textbook explanation of clear vision, mission and goal set by the top leadership of the company and the perfect managerial pool in the company. From a functional area perspective, we could explain the success story by means of excellent financial and stock market management, exemplary project execution capabilities, or the innovative low-cost management of retailing and distribution. Are there other factors in the company’s leadership that enabled the perfect combination of all these management aspects? How did the company weave control over the nation — the political system, the bureaucracy, small retail businessmen, and retail investors — to be able to capture the resources and capabilities to grow in size and profit unparalleled by others in the context of a fast-changing developing country?