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First rule of making appointments is - it will be done late in the day - the European or American idea of putting together an itinerary weeks if not months in advance does not work in India. Appointments will be made only in the week or so before the date - this makes planning difficult but is balanced by flexibility. You will be amazed how easy it is to get into someone’s diary at very short notice and get a reasonable length of time for a meeting.
Yes, work through the office of senior people, but you will also usually get their e-mail and cell phone numbers and almost everyone is approachable (particularly on the cell phone).
Come prepared - business cards are important - putting your ideas and proposals into context is important - bundling relationships is important - being important is important - be patient you will have to work up to business - there is no point in thinking you can ‘get straight down to business’.
Indian doors seem to be perennially open (if you can get through the outer office that is) Whilst you are in a meeting, it will be interrupted by cell phones, other visitors, phone calls, signatures being asked for, approval sought, permission granted, from a whole variety of junior staff who will come into your meeting. This is not rudeness, it is just the way. So many things are passed up the hierarchy, the guy at the top, the one you are probably meeting, is constantly having stuff referred up to him (or her) - whilst he is meeting you and anybody else.
See the other sections on meetings etc.
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