Asian Paints: Towards a Lustrous HR Future

Abstract The case narrates the story of Asian Paints, an Indian organization operating in the paint industry. Although best practices were an integral part of Asian Paints from its inception, a shared language for all people decisions and processes was felt necessitated. The objective of this case is to highlight Asian Paints management’s need to professionalize the human resource (HR) processes and practices and strategize towards building the leadership pipeline. The case describes Asian Paints’ leadership competency framework (LCF) and examines its purpose of becoming a common language across all HR processes in the organization. This LCF not only addressed the existing business exigencies but also imbibed the culture on which Asian Paints was fabricated, thus, providing shared principles for all employee-related processes. Key people practices at Asian Paints are encapsulated in the competency framework which not only guides its own leaders but also serves as a benchmark for other organizations.