Westgate attack reveals apt business model

The Westgate siege and subsequent losses makes me think about business models that will survive the test of time and those that will not.

Amidst our emerging heroes who saved lives, donated blood, food and money, Kenya is missing an opportunity to recognise and empathise with two business heroes.

One is Atul Shah of the Nakumatt brand.

Am sure his ‘you need it, we’ve got it’ brand is not perfect but inadumu (it lasts).

I have no doubt that the Nakumatt chain has a large footwork, hence balance sheet and probably human resource base.

The business model applied here is also humanitarian to the extent that rather than resort to massive layoffs, there are more attendants at the Highridge and Ukay Center branches than usual.

They could be staff who have been kept in employment as Nakumatt reorganises and comes to terms with the loss at Westgate.

Heart warming stories of shoppers searching for Nakumatt attendants who have been of service to them at Westgate also says a lot about the brand.

WORK LIVES ON

The business community is also mourning Mr Mitul Shah, one of the Directors of Bidco Group, who died during the Westgate tragedy. May he rest in peace.

The terrorist's bullet may have ended his life but his work and spirit live on.

His business models alongside that of Vimal Shah continue to make good case studies of sleeping giants emerging as brand leaders through innovation and technology.

The Westgate attack also reveals time wasting tactics that managers ought not to be engaging in.

Today, some organisations now spend numerous hours checking those who enter their premises including staff.

This of course shows a lack of creativity in management hence the application of apartheid diamond mines methodologies in the name of guarding against terrorists.

I suspect that about 98% of Kenyans are allies in the fight against terrorism.

Treating them as suspects at micro level will do nothing but irritate and raise suspicion.

MAKE TERRORISM RISKY

It will not stop even a half-hearted terrorist – and they are never half-hearted – from attacking.

So what purpose do these serve except waste the nations time and make us even less prepared in case of attack.

One thing for sure is that the government needs to make terrorism a risky business.

Secure our borders and make it very difficult for suspects, to get into the country.

The US has a ‘black list’ of names associated with terrorists.

Any such name applying for a visa from anywhere in the world goes through rigorous security checks that take months before a visa is issued.

People bearing similar names are made to understand that there are no short cuts to immigration and security checks.

I wish I could say the same of our immigration and security systems.

Kenya needs to ensure that all who claim to be Kenyans are Kenyan.

Genuine Kenyans must sacrifice any feelings of discrimination to the ‘we are one’ spirit, when subjected to rigorous questions on origins and intentions.

It is better to respond to a mosquito bite with a gun when it comes to national security than to leave a school of fish to a whale.