PROJECT REPORT ON

MR. ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA

LEADER: - Aditya Vikram Birla

BIRTH: - 14th Nov 1944

DEATH: - 1st Oct 1995

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:-

Aditya Birla completed his formal education, graduating in science from St Xavier's College, Calcutta, and then earning a degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston.

FAMILY BACKGROUND:-

Aditya Vikram Birla was an Indian industrialist. Born into one of the largest business families of India. His grandfather Ghanshyam Das Birla was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi and had built his fortune on aluminium prospecting and as the manufacturer of the Ambassador car.

He was married to Rajashri and had a daughter Vasavadatta and a son Kumar Mangalam.

His father B.K Birla.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS:-

He was one of the first Indian industrialists to expand abroad, setting up plants in South east Asia, Philippines and Egypt, among other places.

Aditya Vikram Birla, the chairman of the $2.3-billion Birla Group and an advocate of expanding Indian economic activity abroad.

After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in textiles. His Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a success, putting the group's sinking rayon and textile business back on track. He was then placed in charge of the corporation's expansion into the oil sector.

In 1969, Birla set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd, the group's first overseas company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant Textiles to manufacture spun yarn. It marked the group's first venture in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975 The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commenced production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was incorporated in Malaysia, going on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black company was incorporated in Thailand. In 1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first producer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia

Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer of Viscose staple fibre and refiner of palm oil.

With Aditya Vikram Birla as the chairman, the Birla group of companies saw success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the sick company Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a liquidity crisis and poor management, into a blue-chip company.

Mr. Aditya Birla was conferred the "Management Man of the Year Award" in 1992, by the Bombay Management Association, the premier management association in the country. In a hard-hitting forward-looking speech, he identified the challenges which corporate India and the government needed to grapple with. Even today, his words ring true.

Aditya Birla expanded the Birla Empire making it one of India's largest business conglomerates and himself becoming one of India's foremost businessmen.

His overseas joint industrial ventures in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia reaped immense gains, being the largest multinational company set up by a resident Indian industrialist. He has even held the post of director of the Central Bank of India and Air India.

With its dominion spreading across India and south-east Asia, Aditya Birla's industries were involved in manufacturing of textiles, chemicals, engineering goods, fertilisers, and palm oil. Amongst his manufacturing houses in India, Hindalco (being amongst the largest low-cost producers of aluminium in the world) and Grasim (the largest producer of viscose staple fibre), shine greatly, reflecting the sheer brilliance of this industrial wizard. A thoroughbred businessman and industrialist, Aditya Birla's determination and innovative theories carved a niche for India, putting her on the world map amongst the world's largest companies. He has also been instrumental with his advice on market reform policies to the Indian Government and is well known for his inspirational speeches that not only motivated but proved effective as well.

Beginning with the Hindalco gas 1964, which father B.K Birla gave to 21 years Aditya to run, to his first new venture, eastern spinning mills and industries Limited. He brought his own indelible stamp to bear on these operations, even at young age he displayed exemplary qualities of leadership, hard work and innovation.

Mr. Aditya Birla, globalization meant more than just geographic reach. He believed that a business could be global even whilst being based in India.

He executed mega project well within a stipulated budget and timeframe, can be attributed to sharp focus on system and processes an aspect that is given prime importance even today, the parta system introduced by Birla and followed by the group.

Business Leaders across the spectrum were impressed by Aditya Birla’s acumen. Still only in his late 40s he was inducted into the board of prestigious institution and corporated such as IL&FS, Bajaj Auto and ICICI.

He was honorary consult general of the republic of Philippines in Mumbai and was on the board of governor of the Asian institute of management.

He spread the lesson” We are not afraid of competition, let competition be afraid of us”.

GROUP ACHIEVEMENTS

The Aditya Birla Group is a US$ 28 billion conglomerate in the League of Fortune 500. With operations in 20 countries, across 17 businesses and a workforce of 100,000 employees.

Aditya Biral Group is India’s first truly multinational corporation. The group has an annual turnover of US$24 billion, market capitalization of US$23 billion, and has over 1,00,000 employees belonging to over 25 different nationalities on its rolls. Aditya Birla Group has presence in 20 countries.

Aditya Birla Group has been recognized for consistency in its people practices and declared India's Best Employer in 2007 by Hewitt Associates

Under his stewardship, his companies rose to be the world's largest producer of viscose staple fibre, the largest refiner of palm oil, the third largest producer of insulators and the sixth largest producer of carbon black. In India, they attained the status of the largest single producer of viscose filament yarn, apart from being a producer of cement, grey cement and rayon grade pulp.

The Group is also the largest producer of aluminium in the private sector, the lowest first cost producers in the world and the only producer of linen in the textile industry in India.

At the time of his untimely demise, the Group's revenues crossed Rs.8,000 crore globally, with assets of over Rs.9,000 crore, comprising of 55 benchmark quality plants, an employee strength of 75,000 and a shareholder community of 600,000.

Most importantly, his companies earned respect and admiration of the people, as one of India's finest business houses, and the first Indian International Group globally. Through this outstanding record of enterprise, he helped create enormous wealth for the nation, and respect for Indian entrepreneurship in South East Asia. In his time, his success was unmatched by any other industrialist in India.

The Group has sustained and established a leadership position in its key businesses through continuous value-creation. Spearheaded by Grasim, Hindalco, Aditya Birla Nuvo, Indo Gulf Fertilisers and companies in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Egypt, the Aditya Birla Group is a leader in a swathe of products — viscose staple fibre, aluminium, cement, copper, carbon black, palm oil, insulators, garments. The Group is today one of Asia's most diversified business groups.

AWARDS

Outstanding young person award by the Bombay metropolitan jaycess in 1978.

Outstanding citizen award by the north Bombay jaycess in 1984

Man of the year by the Amravati chamber of commerce and industry in 1985

Giants’ international award in the field of business and industry in 1986

A function organised by the Madras Management Association to confer upon Mr. Aditya Birla "The Business Leadership Award for 1990", he voiced his views, lacing them with his experiences of Indian management and the present business environment.

Mr. Aditya Birla was conferred the "Management Man of the Year Award" in 1992, by the Bombay Management Association, the premier management association in the country.

Rashtra bhushan award by FIE foundation in 1992

Aditya was himself an accomplished artist, in memor of him, the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikar Puraskar is awarded to painters and sculptors.

Platinum jubilee rotary award for contribution to industry by rotary club of Calcutta 1994

Vocational excellence award by the rotary international (district 3140) in January 1995

Lifetime achievement award posthumously by the all India association of industries in January 1996

Award for the outstanding contribution to the phenomenal growth of the Indian industry posthumously at the 23rd national management convention on 13th September 1996 at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai by the all India management association.

Melvin Jones fellow award for dedicated humanitarian services by the lion club international foundation.

Paul Harris fellow award by the rotary foundation of rotary international

ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATION :-

After earning the degree in chemical engineering from Massachusetts institute of technology, USA Mr. Birla return to India, barely 21 year old even as he was given a Birla company to run, he had an all embracing vision: to strike out on his own and grow new line of business in India and overseas. He dreamt of setting up a global business empire-the first Indian to do so.

Not surprisingly, under his dynamic leadership, the group intensified its presence in the core sectors, by the 1980s his companies forged ahead in the key sector of textile, cement, aluminum, chemicals, fertilizers, fibre, financial services, sponge iron, software and petrorefinery. he was instrumental for building up much of the nations commodity business.

Even as his companies, Grasim, hindalco, Indian rayon, and indo gulf fertilizers, grew manifold, he helped spawn countless ancillary industries. While his companies employed over 70,000 people, he generated indirect employment for more than 2 lakh people. His companies contributed significantly to the nation’s prosperity, refurbishing the foreign exchange reserve and earning respect for the “Made-in-India” quality stamp.

LIST OF PRODUCTS UNDER ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA GROUP:-

HINDALCO PRODUCTS

Everlast aluminium roofing sheets

Freshwrapp aluminium foil

Freshpakk semi-rigid containers

Permashield waterproofing

Aluminium foil

Aura alloy wheels

Hindalco extrusions

Birla Copper

Birla Gold

Birla Silver

CEMENT PRODUCT

Birla Super

UltraTech Cement (formerly Birla Plus)

Birla Ready Mix

Birla White

UltraTech cement

TEXTILES

Grasim

It has a presence in textiles and retail distribution. A pure play in cement- its presence is now spread across Grasim, UltraTech Cement, Shri Digvijay Cement and Narmada Cement- that could attract greater investor interest is likely to be the trigger. Grasim also has a presence in sponge iron, viscose staple fibre and chemicals businesses that will dovetail well with the cash generators of Aditya Birla Nuvo they share attributes such as robust cash flows that are far in excess of what is required to bankroll growth, and limited opportunitites.

Ice Touch Uncrushables Purista Clean Fab

Thai Acrylic Fibre

Texlan

TELECOM

Idea

INSURANCE

Birla sun life Mutual appears to be getting its act togther after a wobbly period pos the 2000 meltdown in equities. In distribution of financial products and insurance advisory services, Birla Sun Life has a profitable business with significant room for expansion

BIRLA NGK INSULATORS PVT. LTIMITED

Aditya Birla Insulators

CHEMICALS

Aditya Birla Chemicals Limited.

HIS FAMOUS QUOTE:-

“The real race for excellence is the one where you sprint against yourself, endeavor to outperform, raise the bar time after time, excellence is an ever moving target”

HIS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

"Leaders are truly transformational when they increase awareness of what is right, good, important and beautiful, when they help to elevate followers' needs for achievement and self-actualisation, when they foster in followers high moral maturity, and when they move followers to go beyond their self-interests for the good of their group, organisation or society."

Clear vision :- As a Leader he has a clear vision towards his goals. Because of this vision he put Indian business on the globe, 22 years before economic liberalization.

Motivator:- He believed in empowerment, delegation and calculated risk taking, his ongoing endeavor is to create and organizational ambience where talent can boom. To do so, he strives to make the workplace a source of creativity, innovation and one that makes work meaningful.

Commitment:- He is commitment to his work and vision.

Ambitious: - He was very ambitious about his new projects.

Speed:- He had a ability to take decisions quickly.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla was an exceptional leader. His global vision and ability to spot an opportunity and build on it set him apart from other industrialists. His contribution to the globalization was tremendous. He discovered new areas of investments where the group can become a lead player, portfolio decisions, target setting, tracking the competitive environment. He ensure that all of his policies and goals are fully communicated to all employees and that they understand. He was committed to his person, which is reflected in the sense of belonging and pride.

He was a legendary leader, was a man of tremendous foresight and vision, one who look beyond the borders of India when none had ventured out of country. He proved his entrepreneurial skills and acumen early by crossing the international borders to set up industrial units in Thailand way back in 1969. Mr. Birla‘s vision was to build a conglomerate of companies within the country and take it into the 21st century.