APML drives a culture of ownership and innovation: Open-door policy makes employees feel part of the family

Discusses the key dimensions of organizational culture at Agarwal Packers and Movers Ltd (APML), India.

Describes the role of human resource management (HRM) practices in building an organizational culture which enhances performance through innovation and a strong customer-service orientation.

Discusses how field-level employees in APML are connected with the organization through the owners and top management. Through different HRM practices, APML has been successful in instilling a feeling of ownership among the employees and in harnessing their energy for fostering innovation, superior customer service and profitability.

Highlights the positive aspects of employee involvement in the context of an Indian family business.

Illustrates that emphasizing family values in the organizational culture can enable the organization to develop a sense of gratitude and reciprocity.

Stresses the importance of both the family orientation and related HRM practices of a large Indian organization.