Business Doctors (Book Review)

A self-published novel by a first time fiction novelist might not be the best way to create a literary brand, because as a rule, proficiency tends to take a beating in an environment of profusion. Starting a review with a caveat like that may tend to alert readers to what may lie ahead, but I must disarm any such apprehensions by attempting to direct your attention to the novelty that is the essence of the book, “Business Doctors” by Sameer Kamat. As I stated in a different review, juxtaposition of two unrelated systems/people/cultures creates a strong potential energy to unleash a flurry of insightful observations about either in an amusing fashion. Throw in an uncouth lady with a classy gentleman, a South Indian bahu with a North Indian groom, or a Dalit Attendant with a Brahmin Scientist, and sparks are expected to fly as unrelated systems, on their own, are invariably laden with prejudiced opinions of the other. So when savvy consultants meet street hardened criminals, a certain levity is bound to seep into a story or otherwise.

Sameer Kamat, pitted entrepreneurial surgeons on the operating table for treating the ‘bleeding empire’ of the underworld don, ‘Woody’ and led them through Woody’s criminal empire in a journey where ‘Schneider’ and his team diagnosed ‘ills’ that were plaguing Woody’s business. The novelty in this mash-up enthuses the reader till the end to extract the knowledge of ‘consultant’ manna from Schneider and his insights, as he plays out his assessments, diagnoses and treatment plans for reviving the fortunes of the second generation crime-lord. This play-out which promises a window into the workings of the criminal world and how consulting principles and tools could be applied to resolve an unconventional business practice, teases one to maintain acute attention levels till the very end. Schneider also does not disappoint, by gradually revealing his diagnostic tools and unraveling the problems draining Woody’s empire, which he also peppers with insights into behavioural approaches that are considered appropriate for consultants while dealing with clients. Like when Schneider, despite knowing he is offering a proper solution, prefers to maintain an illusion of choice for Woody, when the latter is presented with options for picking up a course of action. Another instance was when, Schneider was careful to not let himself appear as a problem-solver messiah as opposed to the business’ employees who might run into the danger of being impliedly considered inefficient. For any MBA aspirant wishing to enter into management consulting, this is akin to a dummies' guide-book to consulting right here, packed into a novel story-line.

However, the world of consulting, seen from Schneider’s eyes is not shown as the Super-man of all services, or presented with a starry-eyed perspective, considering how the stresses and strains in-built into this sector were bared out. Besides that, several ‘industry ready’ clichés were employed, not unintentioned, but more as an indication of the probable consolidation of ideas in the consulting arena, with its attendant lack of fresh and innovative ones. And therefore pop-lore gems such as, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’ are offered, yet accepted as an industrial cliché by Schneider. Possibility of a higher scrutiny, of Schneider's propositions, by others in the story, was voided as a result of the use of stereotypical dim-witted lackeys.

As hinted earlier, the expected humour was also present, but was not incisive enough or 'consulting' specific and swam more in the realm of general puns. There certainly should have been space for industry-specific jargon-based humor, unheard by those outside either 'consulting' or the 'underworld'. The humour, despite bringing well-timed reliefs, was on occasion not tightly integrated. It was impossible for me to accept Martin, a 10 year associate (in the consulting arena) with Schneider, misinterpreting a basic pun, like ‘smelling fishy’. Humour works best when it emanates from detailed characterizations because it becomes believable as truly coming from a particular character. Puns inserted merely for comic relief, without fashioning an acceptable character, falls flat and appears disjunct from the story. Potshots aimed at consulting clichés hinted at a satirical treatment, but the overall restrained approach, which appeared careful to not throw the consulting business into utter derision, was in my opinion a missed opportunity at evaluating ‘consulting’ as objectively as possible in an otherwise interesting and novel way.

The most crucial short-coming of the book, however, was the lack of an interesting plot-line to go along with the interesting novelty, despite the saving grace of a twist in the end, which I felt, was there more out of a feeling of being required mandatorily than as a logical denouement of the developments in the story, although character motivations were well etched out, even if perfunctorily. It read like a great silent movie, because you know you are going through something creditable and of value, but still missing something.

Image from here.

Author Bio: Sameer Kamat is the founder of MBA Crystal Ball  and Booksoarus