Amara Raja’s Second HR Case Study listed by Harvard Business School Publishing

Bangalore  September 23, 2024: The Amara Raja Group, a $2 billion global conglomerate, is proud to announce that its latest case study, “Transforming the HR Function for Vision 2025 and Beyond,” has been listed by Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP).

Developed by Prof. Biju Varkkey of IIM Ahmedabad and Dr. Fareen Fathima of XLRI Jamshedpur, the case study reflects Amara Raja Group’s innovative HR transformation efforts and its bold vision for the future. This marks the second time an Amara Raja case study has been published by HBSP, following the 2019 release of “The Amara Raja Group: Building HRM Capabilities.”

The new case study is a product of extensive collaboration between Prof. Biju Varkkey and Amara Raja, offering valuable insights into the Group’s progressive HR strategy and its aim to reshape the HRM landscape. The case has been incorporated into the Harvard Business School case repository under an arrangement with IIM Ahmedabad, ensuring its availability to educators and learners globally.

The first case study, published in 2019, focused on Amara Raja’s HR structure and organisational culture, while this second case explores the Group’s journey toward a future-ready HR framework. Both cases have been utilized in various programs at IIM Ahmedabad and other educational institutions worldwide, benefiting students and practicing managers alike.

 Vikramadithya Gourineni, Executive Director, said, “At Amara Raja, we’ve always believed in empowering ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results. Our commitment to non-migratory employment, upskilling our rural workforce, and establishing processes that enable global-level performance are central to our success. Being featured once again by IIM-Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School Publishing is a testament to the unique model we’ve built, and it is an honour to see our journey recognized globally.”

 Jaikrishna B, President & Group CHRO said, “Our HR transformation is rooted in unwavering leadership and the enthusiastic support of our people. The development of our HR and leadership teams to prioritize people while driving performance has been pivotal to our growth, and I owe it to every Amara Rajaian. I am delighted that the work of Prof. Biju Varkkey and Dr. Fareen Fathima has been recognized once again by Harvard Business School Publishing, making it a valuable learning resource for students and educators globally.”

 Prof. Biju Varkkey, IIM Ahmedabad said, “In classes, learners are especially intrigued by the group’s non-migratory employment model and the transformation of HR from a support function to a strategic contributor. This case offers a deep dive into the vision and leadership that have propelled Amara Raja’s HR function forward.”

Amara Raja Group was one of the earliest adopters (2007) of the famous Dave Ulrich’s model of HR Organisation Structure with HR Business Partners, Centers of Expertise and Shared Services. The group has put in significant time and effort to make this model successful and was one of the key factors in the exponential growth of the Group. The culture of the organisation “The Amara Raja Way®” that has evolved and institutionalised over the years, was another major force in making the Group as a people driven growth organisation.