507. Opening A New Branch

"Sir, we should decide who is going to be the Manager for the branch we are opening in Madurai" said Sundaramurthy, Senior Manager.

"Whom do you suggest?" asked Arunan, the Regional Manager.

"I think either Ramesh or Sudhakar can be posted."

"You didn't consider Kumar!"

"Sir! Kumar doesn't have the required experience. Opening a new branch requires the person selected to lead the branch going to that place and doing a lot of preparatory work. Starting from finding a place to rent for the office through doing the interior work for the office to recruiting some local people to work in the office, there are a lot of things to be done. And after opening the branch, he has to develop the business. Only someone having the field experience will be able to do these tasks effectively. Kumar has been mostly working inside the office..."

"When will he get the exposure, then?" interjected Arunan. "Having worked in the office for long, he would be well versed in the company's policies and procedures. Is this not an advantage he has?"

After a moment's hesitation, Sundaramurthy said, "Sir! For that matter, Kumar is not well versed in the company's policies and procedures either. In general, he doesn't show much interest in learning things. I think he doesn't have the capability needed for opening a new branch and running it well."

"I think you have a dislike for Kumar, for some reason!" said Arunan.

'I think you have a liking for Kumar, for some reason. That is why you are refusing to look at his shortcomings' thought Sundaramurthy. 

"Sir! Given Kumar's profile, it will be difficult to get the approval from our head office for posting him as the manager of a new branch" said Sundaramurthy, by way of making a last ditch attempt to dissuade Arunan from selecting Kumar for the job.

"I will manage that" said Arunan.

As he had told Sundaramurthy, Arunan spoke to the Head Office and got its approval for posting Kumar as the manager of the new branch to be opened in Madurai.

Six months had passed since Kumar assumed charge as the Manager of the new branch at Madurai. As feared by Sundaramurthy, the business didn't pick up at the branch, due to Kumar's lack of competence and experience.

"It is a new branch. It will take time for it to grow. Let us wait for some more time" said Arunan.

Sundaramurthy wondered whether Arunan could not understand that Kumar's incompetence was the root cause of the problem or he was just refusing to accept the truth.

The Head Office, which had been receiving and reviewing the monthly reports about the performance of the new branch, was repeatedly writing letters to the Regional Manager, expressing its concern about the unsatisfactory performance of the branch. Arunan kept replying that things would improve in a couple of months.

Arunan received a phone call from the Head Office. 

"Mr. Arunan! Our Madurai branch is going to complete one year" said the General Manager who was on the line. 

"Yes, sir. We have been trying to improve the performance of the branch" said Arunan, his weak tone betraying his discomfort.

"As you know, any new branch of our company will start doing well within two or three months. Madurai is a big city. It is a place with a lot of potential for developing our business. It is a matter of concern that even after nearly a year, there has not been much of a progress."

"Sir! I have a plan. I will be visiting the branch on the occasion of the first anniversary of the branch. I will stay in that place for two or three days, guide the Branch Manager properly and ensure that he shows good results very soon" said Arunan, tying to sound enthusiastic.

"There will be no need for that, Mr. Arunan. We have decided to close that branch. We have sent letters to you and the branch, conveying our decision. I called you only to inform you in person."

The General Manager had ended the conversation.

Arunan regretted how acting on his preference, without considering Sundaramurthy's advice, had resulted in a big blunder. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting

Verse 507 (in Tamil):

kAdhanmai kandhA aRaivu aRiyAth thERudhal
pEdhaimai ellAm tharum

Meaning:

It is the height of folly to choose the ignorant, blinded by affection. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pudhiya kiLai' by the same author.)

Verse 508 (Soon)
Verse 506