India Inc all set to sweat it out in Goa

Goa has India Inc executives, who are in town to participate in the Microsoft Corporate Challenge, rocking to its beat.

A three-day international corporate event scheduled over the weekend will see some of the country's business tycoons face a series of "mental and physical challenges".

Ranjivjit Singh, director, consumer business, Microsoft India, said, "We are very excited to bring the Microsoft Corporate Challenge to India for the first time. With this competition, we hope to break new ground and demonstrate the team spirit that drives our company."

Each organisation has a group of six and will have to compete with other such groups. The Challenge is designed to demonstrate that teams that work as a cohesive unit far outperform the ones dominated by individual brilliance, an essential ingredient for success in today's world.

Reliance, Bharti, HDFC, Intel, Hewlett Packard, MSN, Kingfisher, McDowells, Morgan Stanley, JWT, Times Internet and other companies which are all set to slug it out over the weekend.

Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director, Kingfisher, said: "Goa is a happening place and we are just rocking at the moment," adding, "while the event challenges both the physical and mental fitness levels of a person, it is the team spirit, which is an embodiment of the most critical ingredients for survival of businesses today."

The international game format has been conceptualised by the DNA Networks and Sports Media.

The key to success will be effective leadership, quick decision making, playing on strengths, developing strategies and changing them around in quick time, but the single most important factor will be the ability to work as a team.

T Venkat Vardhan, managing director, DNA Networks, "The Microsoft Corporate Challenge adds another dimension to our portfolio, enabling us to network corporates to compete with each other in a totally different arena.

"The format of event has been a huge success the world over. We have taken the skills and lessons that are acquired and practiced in the boardroom and juxtaposed them in the most surreal outdoor environment. It will demonstrate, among other things, relationships between colleagues being transformed over two days and nights," said Prem Bhatia, managing director, Sports Media Ltd, said.

The six members of the teamwill come back as a cohesive force reinforcing the team spirit among them.