Dabbawalla

Learning Business Lessons from ‘MUMBAI DABBAWALAS’

One day field assignment for NITIE students

NITIE students numbering around 250 will accompany the Mumbai Dabbawallas on their daily mission to learn the logistics driving their business. This is planned as a part of the mainstream curriculum of management programme at NITIE. Further, at the end of the programme NITIE students not only learn the nuances of their business from them but also will be instrumental in suggesting improvements in their work methods from the Logistics learnt as a part of classroom pedagogy. This symbiotic programme gives the Mumbai Dabbawalas professional consulting by NITIE students and the latter a practical case study of a successful logistics network thus streamlining their theoretical knowledge.

Student Participation:

Careful observation and engagement in the following activities under the overall guidance of the Dabbawalas.

•  Understanding the coding imprinted in the dabbas

• Carrying, sorting, delivering and collection of dabbas from and to the customers

Learning for the Students :

 
•  Logistics management: Coding, collection and distribution

•  Quality management: Six Sigma, Delivering reliability, Customer satisfaction

•  Business Leadership: Low cost delivery, Value creation and Innovation

•  Personal leadership: Time Management and Commitment

•  Organization and Management: Flat organization, Networking and Decentralization
•  Human Resource Management:

    o  Collaboration, teamwork, trust, equity

    o  No hire and fire rule

    o  Community based Recruitment

    o  Sharing common beliefs, values, ethics

    o  Following of strict dress code

    o  Loyalty & trust is their monopoly

    o  Training provided to the new joiners

    o  Owner + Employee is the designation of each

    o  Quarterly Meetings to discuss issues

1. Why this programme? How is this programme different from traditional learning in a class room?

We @ NITIE work towards making a difference and making use of the best method of learning the subject: Traditional to Natural way of learning – ‘ Learning Business by Doing ’

2. What are the learning objectives of this programme?
•  Become World Class Business Leaders

• Bridging the divide between theoretical learning and industry realities
•  Value creation is learnt by being ‘street smart’
•  The event draws its conceptualization from the “Institute – Industry –Market” paradigm of learning here at NITIE

 3. What are the unique things about this programme?

•    Learning needs to involve the following – Head, Hand, Heart and Soul
•    ‘A lot of things are easier said than done. So we decided to do it.’
•    A lot has been said and spoken about the Dabbawalas, we decided to go through their daily routine
•    ‘Execution’ as a focal point
•    Respect for Work
•    Realizing the importance of ‘Tacit’ Knowledge in creating Excellence
•    To Shed and overcome the personal inhibitions like Shame and Fear