THE TIFFIN CARRIERS OF BOMBAY, INDIA: AN ORGANIZATIONAL AND LOGISTICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article describes the tiffin carriers of Bombay (Mumbai), India, who pick‐up and deliver 200,000 hot lunches within a 3‐hour window. This business demonstrates the influence of culture and geography (urban infrastructure) on organizational structure, employee behavior, and the emergence and success of a logistical system. The organization's relatively uncommon conjoined‐structure logistical system is technologically and communicationally unsophisticated by western standards, but appears to be highly efficient and effective. Organizational structure, and functioning (personnel practices, employee behavior), are traced to national and local Indian ethos and cultural characteristics, particularly power distance and uncertainty avoidance.

Citation

Margulis, S.T., Motwani, J. and Kumar, A. (1997), "THE TIFFIN CARRIERS OF BOMBAY, INDIA: AN ORGANIZATIONAL AND LOGISTICAL ANALYSIS", International Journal of Commerce and Management, Vol. 7 No. 3/4, pp. 120-140. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047359