One would be surprised to know that New Delhi’s Connaught Place is modelled after Royal Crescent’s Georgian architecture in Bath (England). Blueprint plan development was initiated by W.H. Nicholls, then Chief architect of the Government of India. However, Nicholls left India in 1917 & design responsibility eventually fell to Robert Tor Russell, Chief architect to the Public Works Department, Government of India. Infact, New Delhi City (not entire Delhi) itself was planned by British architects- Sir Edwin Lutyens & Herbert Baker. Both of them also designed Indian Parliament (Originally called House of Parliament) in 1912-13 and construction began in 1921 and ended in 1927.

Now, if you compare the architecture of some of India’s modern cities (lets take an example of Gurgaon), it will make you question that how come a 100 year old architecture and city plan could be so much better as compared to modern cities. Just to pick up a few examples of architecture designs, here are maps of both Gurgaon as well as central Delhi.

The answer lies in Master Plan. Yes, a well detailed out master plan after anticipating foreseen constraints is the key. But the real question is what is restraining us to not develop efficient master plans? Are these real constraints & obstacles or is it lack of systems, processes, willingness, determination & Patience?

Now, if you apply the same logic in business, you will realise that what’s true for Architecture is also true for businesses. Some of the biggest global conglomerates were started by western world. For instance, Unilever is a British-Dutch company, Nestle is a Swiss & P&G is American. When Giants like these have to move, they have to depend on efficient advance planning. Each plan is questioned from every angle. Attempt is to identify every loophole in the plan so that chances of success increase. Even after that, if Crises do occur, they would be real unforeseen crises and not foreseeable crises.

If you know where to go, then plan how to go, else you would be only day dreaming!