Creative Restructuring

In the context of liberalization of globalization of economy, the changes required in the functioning of corporates need to be vast. Corporate restructuring has become an important means for achieving such changes in India and elsewhere. The restructuring paradigm of western international management consultants (WIMCs) has come into vogue among large Indian public and private corporates. One major restructuring choice is between the WIMC paradigm and a creative, participatory, largely self-help mode of corporate restructuring. Creative restructuring is illustrated by three case studies. Another major restructuring choice is between creative and non-creative modes. Based on a study of 120 turnarounds from a number of countries, 42 creative restructurings for turnaround are contrasted with 47 non-creative restructurings for turnaround along 14 categories of turnaround action. The necessity of creative, participatively improvised restructuring to institutionalize adaptive capabilities and achieve quantum leap in corporate excellence in a hyper-competitive environment is highlighted. Several steps are suggested for practitioners seeking effective creative restructuring.