India's GCC Leaders Seek Greater Decision-Making Power

Global capability centers (GCCs) in India have evolved beyond their initial focus on cost savings. A recent roundtable discussion hosted by Mint and Oliver Wyman brought together senior leaders from various companies to explore how much decision-making power GCCs actually hold.

Sumit Sarawgi, Partner at Oliver Wyman, noted that scale is no longer a distinguishing factor for GCCs, as 83% are considered 'mission critical' by their headquarters. However, he estimates that only a fraction of these centers have budget or product-ownership authority.

The discussion highlighted the importance of talent and leadership in GCCs. Dr Vinoth Venkataraman from Wells Fargo's Consumer Model Development Centre emphasized that most GCCs remain execution-focused, gradually shifting toward outcome-based ownership. Vishal Nair from Smith + Howard stated that it's no longer about ownership but global leadership.

Some companies, like Cisco and Harman International, have already made significant strides in innovation arbitrage, filing patents and building India-first products. Others, such as The Standard, are adopting a 'two-in-a-box' model to co-own strategy with their global counterparts, avoiding the 'service mindset' that held back older GCCs.

The roundtable concluded with a common theme: India's GCCs have proven they can execute but need to be handed the mandate to lead or take it themselves. Leaders emphasized the importance of accountability, strategic ownership, and bold decision-making to drive business outcomes.