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The fourth key differentiation is Quality. Quality encompasses all aspects of an organization's maturity and successful ones will be those who have a holistic, or all encompassing view of Quality.

The fifth key differentiation is Innovation.
Leading edge companies of the future will have to manage the process of innovation. It cannot be left to chance or happenstance. In the 20^th century, innovation was witchcraft. In the century ahead, we feel, it has to be a "managed process".

Last but not the least, we will have to differentiate ourselves by building our Brand. A brand is the perceived and potential value in the mind of the customer. It is an assurance, it builds trust. In the past, people considered branding as something only product companies need to think about. In the future, as we see it, Branding will be an important aspect of building a service-focused business.

On the morning of December 31^st, we pulled out our cars from the Park Hotel, taking with us some of the most beautiful memories we will ever have and headed for Hyderabad.

At Hyderabad, JRK Rao, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) who was the Executive Director of Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure Development Corporation was willing to listen to our plans and see how his state could help. The drive to Hyderabad was a torture. Often, we were stuck for hours in serpentine traffic on the national highway. It was a grim reminder of how infrastructure poor, countries like India continue to be. We suffered in silence as the heat, dust, flies and fatigue continued. As software industry professionals, we often become comfortably cocooned in an unreal world where most things work, most of the time. It was close to midnight when we reached Hyderabad.

Next morning, Mr. JRK Rao met us. After listening to the first ever presentation we made to anyone, he immediately agreed to help. Insisting that we make Andhra Pradesh the home for our company, he pledged all government assistance. Later, we debated the pros and cons and finally settled that we will bootstrap the organization from Bangalore. But as long as we live, we will remember Mr. Rao and his encouragement. Greatness lies, not in backing the known, the capable and the established. It takes greatness to extend support to an unborn dream.

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Subroto Bagchi is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for MindTree Consulting (P) Ltd. The "Making of the MindTree" is told in the first person by Subroto Bagchi. In condensed form, it was published by Business World, filmed by InfiniTV, and aired on CNBC, IT Hour. Websites: www.mindtree.com & www.mindtree.com/subrotobagchi