A GOOD PLAN AND WELL EXECUTION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

In management jargons, it is said that a good plan and its well execution is the basic key to success. The management gurus have discovered the philosophy for success in the PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) which is termed as a very useful tool to achieve desired changes. The PDCA cycle is repeated again and again in a process to achieve continuous quality improvement. The PDCA cycle is also called Deming cycle (named after Dr. W. Edward Deming who is termed as father of modern quality control).

PDCA Cycle is used to achieve continuous improvement in a process or product and to develop a new process or product or implement any change. It is important to recognize the opportunity at a proper time, evaluate various alternatives, implement the changes and take corrective actions wherever needed.

I see a simile of the above PDCA cycle in the recent development in Indian political arena about change of guards in Bihar politics. Yesterday, Mr. Nitish Kumar has resigned as Chief Minister of the Mahagathbandhan formed before Bihar state elections mainly by Janta Dal (United) lead by Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) lead by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress lead by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Nitish Kumar has also joined NDA coalition and forms government in Bihar installing himself as Chief Minister again with Bhartiya Janta Party’s (BJP) Sushil Kumar Modi as his deputy sending the mahagathbandhan into total disarrays.  The developments turned so fast with the precision of a well planned script implemented by well oiled machinery, simultaneously synchronizing acts at Delhi and Patna. As a result, within less than twenty four hours, the Bihar state has a new government lead by NDA. The turn of events was so shocking for the Congress that it has failed to offer any quick reactions to the development. The enfoldment of events has also turned turtle the scope of any grand alliance of mahagathbandhan for 2019 parliamentary election. The united opposition, the mahagathbandhan had a plan to go to the people with Nitish kumar, who enjoys a clean image, as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2019 parliament elections. Now, as the captain of the ship is out, the rest of the riders are in totally confused and scratching their heads.

The BJP lead by Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw an opportunity when Lalu Prasad Yadav had sent his emissaries secretly to the central ministers with a offer to topple Nitish Kumar lead government in Bihar provided that the central government goes easy on Lalu and his family in corruption charges. The opportunity gave impetus to the plan to draw Nitish Kumar closure and Modi-Shah combine penned a script for his return to NDA camp. The plan must have been on the drawing boards for at least six months. Simultaneously, the central governments strict actions on benami property deals of Lalu’s sons and its wide media exposure made it difficult for the sushasan babu, Nitish Kumar to continue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the son of Lalu as Deputy Chief Minister. The drama ends yesterday with headlines like; Nitish resigns, leaves mahagathbandhan, joins NDA, to be sworn in as NDA CM of Bihar in less than twenty four hours. Lalu left fuming, Congress silent.

It is said that a well written script is more important for a drama to succeed; the actors in the drama may or may not be that great. The script is a well thought plan whereas the enactment is mere execution. If the actors are also great, the plan is never bound to fail. This is what exactly has happened in Bihar yesterday. The successful execution of the plan in Bihar is the result of a brilliant script written in Delhi by Amit Shah and PM Modi combine and was played by the best actors, Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi in Bihar.  The result is we have a NDA lead government in Bihar in less than twenty four hours. The planners had a great success in the drama whereas the fence sitters have been turned into mere spectators. 

One should also give due credit to the villains in the drama. Without their brilliant acting, the drama could not have been so succeeded. The arrogance of Lalu and refusal of his son to resign on charges of corruption coupled with Rahul Gandhi’s failure to act & extend continued blind support for the corrupt has helped the planners to write the script and execute it brilliantly.

This offers a very good case study on PDCA cycle for the students of management.