“Uncivil aviation” ( May 31) by Sanjaya Baru correctly diagnoses weak leadership at the top, and not the government ownership, as the main cause of the woes of Air India. I would add that a complacent management and an irresponsible set of trade unions have proved poor inheritors to the brand created by JRD Tata. Man-management problems in the company have been endemic and enduring. Initially, the government pampered the employees taking advantage of monopolistic conditions of business. The organisation was often bereft of competent professionals at the top. Even now, the company is headed by a bureaucrat. Also, unions have refused to move with the times. Even legendary Russi Mody failed to reform the work culture there.
Consequent demoralisation in the organisation calls for long-term remedial steps such as an organisation-wide employee attitude survey, revitalisation of a sensitive grievance resolution system and creation of a climate of trust and mutuality of interest between the management and the workforce to make bilateral communication purposeful.
Y G Chouksey, Pune
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