May This "India Way" Paper Be a Change Agent.

A commentary on the article "The India Way: Lessons for the U.S." by Peter Cappelli, Harbir Singh, Jitendra Singh, and Michael Useem, published elsewhere in the same issue, is presented. The topic is a comparison of the prevailing corporate cultures and business models in the U.S. and India. The argument that Indian firms tend to take a more socially engaged approach, while U.S. companies typically focus narrowly on shareholder value, is discussed. The question of whether U.S. businesses would do well to adopt some of the best practices of successful Indian firms is addressed, and it is said that Indian ideals of corporate governance could well have a salutary effect on U.S. business philosophy.