OUR FUTURE A REAL TIME LEARNING EXPERIENCE
KHURANA GROUP* 28-30 NOV. 1996

We are doing fine. Times are clinging, so is business. There are good times, when everything is OK. There are also turbulent times - when somebody "out there" thinks that we should no longer be in this business, because he (or she) thinks that we are selling dreams to the poor man. Well, we have talked and debated 'about this over the years and have come out with t clear conscience. But we have to prepare ourselves for the changing times - by diversifying. Strategic diversification plans, company mission, higher purpose, employee development activities... they all exist. So what is missing? We need to discox,er it together.

After several months of discussions, we came up with, the concept of "Real Time Learning" for our workshop. Real Time because we are implementing what we are talking about simultaneously.

Learning because this is a beginning of a journey for us. Our objective is not just to create action plans with specific deadlines or to talk about our past and our glory. We want to listen and understand. We want to experience "togetherness" emotionally and spiritually. We want to share our highs and lows, our joys and frustrations. And most of all, we want to celebrate our time
To experience all this in three days and by the entire staff (i.e. more than 200 people) was a challenge for the design team, who brainstormed and designed the workshop. It took us about half a day to come up with one that all of us were happy with:
To create a shared vision for Khurana Group and to bring about a sence of ownership and a commitment, among all stakeholder, to work as an interdependent, creative community, togetherness and working with a spirit of celebration . The design team met several times to discuss the intricacies of design, constantly validating it with the purpose. We used tested ideas - by opening our doors to people we value - our customers, competitors, suppliers, and others closely associated with us for direct, authentic feedback on what they feel about us and how they think we can improve. We opened the Pandora's box in 'Employees' View' by encouraging people to talk about issues they find motivating and frustrating in our Group. We generated information which people shared, initially with some reluctance, but soon very openly.

Mrs. Kiran Bedi was invited to share her views on 'Continuous Improvement'. She emphasized the importance of duty in our lives. She shared her personal experiences of hard work and dedication, fulfilling her duties in her life. Dr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Resident Commissioner, Sikkim Govt., gave a very enlightening talk on environmental consciousness. He said that we are facing the third and the most disastrous environmental crisis in the history of mankind and how each one of us can do small things which would help avert this, otherwise fatal crisis."Our purpose" talks about generating ownership and commitment - which starts from the self, and then extends to the Organization. The exercise on Personal Mission" helped people focus on their own larger purpose in life, and how these could guide their life and work. After having thought on our personal commitments we were ready for organisational mission. Where do we want Khurana Group to be, say in 1999? In the exercise "Shared Vision" a question was asked - imagine today to be the last day of 1999 - you open the morning newspaper and see the picture of Kburana Group on the front page - what does this picture look like? Here we all went rampant on our imagination, but with our feet grounded. And the vision which emerged could be any organization',, envy (or glory for that matter!).
A forum was conducted where the leadership team answered questions on issues, which concerned everyone. This was the first time when the policies, mission, and vision were discussed and shared with the entire group as one.
Organisational change require a shift in our personal patterns. The exercises helped to focus on the facilitators and barriers to our journey of personal change, and extend and include our environment and organization into this journey. And the moment we reach this point we realize the power of "oneness" and togetherness. To celebrate this realization of "oneness" we spend few moments appreciating each other.

That was a special moment for each of us, something that warmly touched our hearts and will keep it glowing for a long time.
We concluded the workshop with a small ritual - an offering to the sacred fire of 'something we wished to give up.' That enhanced our overall experience of those three days of connectedness and sharing.
The atmosphere throughout the workshop was that of celebration and joy. In the end everyone joined the spontaneous dance programme. The purpose of the seminar was more than achieved.