Management lecture by Dabbawala

Almost 85% Dabbawalas are illiterate and the remaining 15% are educated up to 8th grade. This way we are not well qualified to teach anyone or for that matter deliver any lecture. However by working for years with full dedication, time management, no strike and gathering experience in logistics – Dabbawalas have created as place of their own. Due to this reason we are invited for the lecture by reputed organizations in not only Mumbai or India but from foreign nations too. We are thankful to all for inviting us for the lecture and giving us so much respect.

• To learn the “Management Learning’s From Dabbawala” and then to attempt to apply them in the organization.
• To gain insight into the colour coding used by the Dabbawalas to ensure error free delivery.
• To know the organizational hierarchy of Dabbawalas to understand what keeps Dabbawalas self-motivated and get going.
• To share the management lessons that Dabbawalas have gained over 130 years.
• To motivate employees by showing that if uneducated Dabbawalas can work so great then why not our employees.
• As we have never gone on strike for past 130 years, sometimes we are invited to address the employees in sharing the harm of strike.
• Some times Dabbawalas are invited to deliver lecture on annual days and other celebrations of organizations.
• The lecture by us is extremely humorous and everyone enjoys it – its not a lecture rather experience sharing. so organizations just invite us to know as how we work.
• As key note speaker.
• As after dinner or after lunch events.
• At product launches.

• Audience with desire to know about Dabbawalas.
• PC with USB drive .We bring the presentation and film in pen drive
• LCD projector with multimedia.
• Multimedia system with speakers and projector for showing the documentaries.
• One cordless mike for the speaker and one more cordless mike for speaker to interact with the audience.

• The presentation starts with an optional 5 minute documentary film which gives introduction of Dabbawalas.
• First the presentation is started with “The Magic Of Dabbawala Unfolded” which deals with the history, internal working, coding, logistics, organizational set and all other related issues of Dabbawala. This presentation explains everything about Dabbawala. All your questions about Dabbawala is answered. This lecturer takes about 30 minutes to 2 hour depending upon time given to us. If there are two lecturers then the time is divided otherwise in case of one lecturer the entire lecture is taken by one person.
• After this a rather well made audio visual documentary film titled ” Dabbawala – Small People Great Work” is shown which taken 23 minutes. This film is in English.
• The next lecture “Management Learning’s From Dabbawala” which talks about the learning’s from the 130 year experience of Dabbawalas. This lecture is on rather serious side and points by points narrates as what are the majors highlights of the Dabbawala system and how can an organization benefit by applying them in their organization. This lecture my taken anything from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
• If the time permits, then another 20 minute documentary file made by BBC is shown.
• After that the question & Answer session is there ( Sawal Aapke – Javap Dabbawale Ke) where any remaining queries are taken up.
• Few audiences are invited on the stage and they give immediate feedback on lecture and what they have gained from the lecture.
• Vote of thanks by Dabbawalas for inviting uneducated Dabbawalas for the lecture and gifting of Dabba with Gandhi Topi to dignitaries.

As giving lecture is not our main job and we have to work Monday to Saturday 8AM – 6PM, the suitable time of the lecture is as follows:

• Monday to Friday 6PM onwards.
• Any time during Saturday and Sunday.
• Any time during holidays.
• However with prior discussion it is very much possible to arrange the lecture on even week days as well – Monday to Friday anytime.
• After checking with the appointments the date is confirmed.
• For international lectures the request must come as early as possible (preferred is 3 month advance) however we may consider lecture request in one month advance as well.

• Travel arrangements are required for minimum two members.
• Requesting the organizers to arrange for the travel.
• In case of short distances, road or rail transport may be arranged.
• However in case of long distances we request to arrange air travel as we have to get back to Mumbai for work. Normally E-tickets may be send. In the booking our mobile numbers may be given for communication. We carry our photo identity card with us.
• In case the lecture is planned in morning for out of the station locations, it is better to reach the location the previous night and stay.
• Suitable boarding & lodging may be arranged – if required.

• The lecturer feedback may be send to us on your letter head for our record purpose. Please send hard copy to our office address and scanned copy by email.
• If any photo or video is taken during the event, then the same may be emailed or couriered to us.
• In case any article related with the lecture is made ( Word document, press release or web page ) then the same may be send to us to update on our website.

• Suitable fee for the lecture and seminar may be offered to us which is used for the economic empowerment of Dabbawalas