Set-Up & Growth Phases
Also known as: Set-up and scale phases, Maturity phases
Set-up and growth phases describe how a Global Capability Centre evolves over its lifecycle, from a standing start to a mature, strategically important operation. Understanding which phase a centre is in matters because the priorities, risks, and hiring needs change sharply from one stage to the next.
In the set-up phase, the focus is on foundations: incorporating the legal entity, meeting compliance obligations, securing premises, and — most decisively — hiring the first leader and the founding team who will define the centre’s culture and credibility. The growth or scale phase is about building critical mass: expanding teams quickly, broadening the range of functions the centre performs, and establishing the processes and management layers that let it operate at size. The mature phase is where the centre owns end-to-end work, holds global roles, runs Centres of Excellence, and is treated by the parent as a strategic capability rather than a cost centre.
For an Indian GCC, each phase places different demands on talent. Set-up hinges on senior leadership and a small group of high-trust early hires. Growth calls for volume recruitment done without diluting quality, often across specialist and hard-to-fill roles at once. Maturity shifts the challenge towards retaining leaders, deepening niche expertise, and succession planning. Getting the sequence right — the right people at the right phase — is what allows a centre to move up the maturity curve rather than stall at delivery.
Frequently asked questions
What are the set-up and growth phases of a GCC?
They are the stages a Global Capability Centre passes through as it matures: a set-up phase covering entity formation and first hires, a growth phase focused on scaling teams and scope, and a mature phase where the centre owns strategic, global work.
Why do the phases of a GCC matter for hiring?
Each phase needs different talent. Set-up depends on senior leaders and a few founding hires, growth needs high-quality volume recruitment across many roles, and maturity shifts the focus to retaining leaders, deepening niche skills, and succession planning.
What happens in the set-up phase of a GCC?
In the set-up phase a company incorporates the legal entity, meets compliance requirements, secures premises, and hires the founding leadership and early team who establish the centre’s culture and credibility.
What defines a mature GCC?
A mature GCC owns end-to-end work, holds global roles, often runs Centres of Excellence, and is treated by the parent company as a strategic capability rather than simply a cost-saving location.