‘Mediocre People Hold Important Roles, Workforce Lacks Technical Skills’: IIM Ahmedabad Report On BSNL Revival 

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, in a report on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) revival, has come down heavily on the state of the affairs of Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). The report also listed some of the challenges faced by BSNL ranging from policy to organisational, Deccan Chronicle has reported.

The report states that BSNL severely lacks technological and market evolution when it comes to technologies like 5G and Internet of Things (IoT).

"These include the rapid evolution of technology (5G, IOT), fast evolving consumer needs of data consumption, changing demographics patterns and increasing role of content in driving businesses. Such a combination of technology/market characteristics requires organisations to have agility, build partnerships, reduce costs, and be innovative. On all these dimensions BSNL has significant challenges", the interim report said.

The report observes that BSNL has a large legacy workforce of 1.71 lakh, 70 per cent of which came from Department of Telecom at the time of its formation in 2000. The average age of BSNL workforce is 55 years and they lack interest in service improvement besides lacking the technical knowledge.

The report notes that since BSNL is 100 per cent government owned, it is often subject to delays over decisions made by the government. While the government has transferred its workforce to the PSU, land and building assets are yet to be transferred, elaborated the report.

“Even after about 19 years of existence, BSNL does not have well thought policy. The performance management system in BSNL is quite superficial. The promotion happens in a time bound manner and there is no recognition of merit in the system. There is lack of professional leadership in the organisation. Today mediocre people are holding important leadership in the organisation”, reads the report quoting the study.

BSNL was also slammed in the report for its lethargic approach for utilising its available 4G spectrum. It also attacks BSNL’s performance management and promotion policy and said that mediocre people are holding important leadership in the organisation.