India, Jan. 14 -- Transformation is one of those words we have flattened through overuse-invoked for everything from a new interface to a fresh logo and a leadership town hall. But as I read Designed to Win: The Tata Elxsi Story, Tata Elxsi's journey reminded me what transformation looks like when it is earned: not a makeover, but an evolutionary trajectory built on difficult choices, operating discipline, and a clear view of where the company could win.

What struck me early is how the book refuses the easy myth of overnight success. The narrative keeps returning to the fundamentals of a turnaround: stabilising the business, re-establishing confidence inside the organisation, and making focus a habit rather than a slogan. Devarajan's len...