CONVERTING WEAKNESSES INTO STRENGTHS

1     Contacts with financial institutions could prove invaluable in developing our own "Corporate Diversification strategy". Numbers of diversification (investment) proposals are processed by financial institutions and close coordination with them would give access to information like:

* Who is diversifying into what?

* What are the "markets”?

* What are the investments/returns?

* Who are the foreign/local collaborators?

* Which are the locations/state?

* What are the "guidelines" for approval/ disapproval ?

2     Development of strong ties with SIDCs could give us a lead to enter into some sectors not open to private sector as also non-Appendix I industries. Example: Main Exchanges/Optic fibre cables, etc., in the Telecommunication sector are not open to private sector. System to maintain on continuous basis, the list of LOls/ILs issued to SIDCs and interaction/discussion with cooperative/amenable SIDCs would go a long way to enable our entry into thrust areas which are normally not open to us.

3     Horizontal transfer of middle-level L&T managers, to diversified industry will help overcome stagnation as also provide growth opportunities. This will also provide opportunities for growth of lower level officers.

The above will also contribute to integration/ extension of L&T' s systems/procedures as also L&T culture/values.

4    “Critical success factors” for each of the unrelated businesses would be invaluable in our strategy for diversification. critical success factors should be ranked/weighted by- at least 5 industry experts. The above should - be then ranked in a descending order of importance.

Action plans against each factor should, be made to ensure success. Action plans should also be subjected to expert opinion before implementa­tion.

5       Floating several - "Investment companies _ - as being done by other large MRTP companies such as TATA/BIRLA/RELIANCE/ITC etc. would enable us to invest in small JV companies/take-over bids without much delay for MRTP clearance (where more than 10% equity is to be held by L&T).