515. Sivanandam's Decision

Industrialist Sivanandam would always introduce Balu to every one, as the person who had been functioning as his right hand, from the time he had started his firm.

After Balu had completed his Bachelor's degree, he got a job in Sivanandam's firm. Since Sivananandm's firm was small when Balu joined it, he considered the job to be a temporary one, till the time he would get a better job. 

However, the concern and affection with which Sivanandam treated Balu made him continue to work in that firm. Eventually, Balu stopped looking for other jobs and firmly attached himself to Sivanandam's firm.

As the firm began to grow, several people better educated than Balu, including technical experts, computer professionals, finance and marketing professionals etc. joined the firm. But, Sivanandam created a structure under which all such people came under Balu, in the management hierarchy of the firm.

Sivanandam would often tell Balu, "I am planning to expend the firm in a big way. When my idea materializes, you will get even more importance in the firm."

"Balu! The time has come for implementing the expansion project I have been envisaging since long" Sivanandm told Balu.

"I am very happy, sir!" said Balu.

"This is not exactly an expansion project. This is a new project. So, I am planning to start a new firm for implementing this project" said Sivanandam. After looking at Balu's face for a minute, Sivanandam added, "I am going to make Ramanan the the CEO of the new firm."

Balu didn't say anything. But his face reflected his sense of shock and the feeling of disappointment.

"When I was planning this project earlier, my idea was to make you the CEO of the new firm. But I now find that the implementation of this project will be somewhat complicated. It needs getting approvals from different agencies at every stage of the project. Additionally, right from constructing the buildings for the factory, through procuring the machinery, till installing the machines and commissioning them, we need to engage different contractors. We need to work closely with the contractors, monitor and correct them and even fight with them if needed, to ensure that the work is done as per our requirement and that it is completed as per the schedule. This will be a challenging task.

"I know that you are a competent person. But managing the implementation of this project demands a degree of toughness on the part of the CEO. It requires a certain kind of background and experience. From that perspective, Ramanan will be the most suited person to don the role of the CEO.

"But, your importance will not diminish even a little. Rather, it will go up, as I have promised you. I am going to make you the Executive Secretary to the Chairman. Therefore, Ramanan, the CEO, could approach me only through you, to get approvals and clearances from me. You will be the next in command to me both in the existing firm and in the new firm. Do you understand?" 

Balu understood that Sivanandam had made this arrangement only to ensure that he shouldn't feel disappointed at having not been made the CEO of the new firm.

Though Balu felt disappointed at having not got the responsibility he had been expecting to be given as hinted by Sivanandam earlier, he understood the reasoning behind Sivanandam's decision and his offer of another high level position to him to assuage his disappointment.

Balu nodded his head quietly, conveying his acceptance of Sivanandam's decision.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 52
Assessing Before Acting

Verse 515 (in Tamil):

aRindhu ARRich cheygiRpArkku allAl vinaithAn
siRandhan enRu EvaRpARRu anRu.

Meaning:

Assign the task to one who understands the task and has the capacity to plan and execute the task, and not to the most prominent, or likeable person.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sivAnandhaththin mudivu' by the same author.)

Verse 516
Verse 514