The Top 10: 9 - Tavant Technologies: Work Hard, Play Harder

Engaged in providing IT solutions in mortgage and warranty
domains, Tavant is a relatively small company with about 800 employees. It does
not have the big brand of an IBM nor a lush campus with facilities like an
Infosys, but its employees are a satisfied lot. Thats because of the
managements relentless pursuit of the mantra it believes in: a happy employee
will have a happy customer. Tavant owes its success (ranking among the Top 10,
just a notch behind Infoys) to being able to correctly identify the new needs of
IT employees in India. That is, a better quality of life. It is providing this
by two means: making them mix fun with work, and allowing them flexibility to
balance their work and social life.

Taking its tagline work hard, play harder seriously,
Tavant organizes the Tavant Olympics, an annual sports event in which all
employees participate, which has been extremely successful. It also has an
in-house Rock Band, a six-member team that performs at all in-house events.

But it is not all play. In work, the flat structure means that
managers and employees speak freely to each other. Tavant has formed an M-Team
which has the responsibility of owning and driving the organizational change
management initiatives. It comprises all senior managers. A policy area that
requires debating and discussing is thrown open to this team in order to arrive
at a final decision.

Srini Vudumula, global head, HR
High Ratings Industry rank Sense of accomplishment 3 Growth opportunities 4 Adequate pay for work done 4 Low Ratings Leadership is pursuing right growth strategy 7 Standards of corporate governance 9 Fairness in companys business practice 9 Best Showing Organization culture/work climate 2 Training & development opportunity 3 Facilities/resources/support/intranet 3

What makes the difference is also the growth opportunity
provided by Tavant. Employees feel that the work being done by them is crucial
for the companys growth thus enabling the company to score high on parameters
like job contentment. Tavants 1UP program is aimed at attracting and
retaining key talent, and fulfillment of individual career aspirations as well
as organizational goals and long-term capability building for Tavant.

However, the recent organizational restructuring including a
shift in the product portfolio has not got support from employees, resulting in
employee dissatisfaction in most parameters relating to corporate functioning.