INDIAN ETHOS

FOR
MANAGEMENT
 What is Indian Ethos For Management?

It means application of principles of management

revealed in our ancient wisdom described in
Upanishades and Gita.
The following basic principles of management are
as per ancient Indian Wisdom and Insight :
1. Each Soul is a Potential God
A human being has a soul, a spark of Divine.
The Divide resides in the heart of a person. The
Divine means perfection in knowledge, wisdom
and power. Therefore, a human being has
immense potential power or energy for self-
development. The partnership of God and Man
can bring about extraordinary or miraculous
result.
Indian wisdom indicates that productivity of
human being is more important than plant
capacity. Hence, management is helping
ordinary people to produce extraordinary
results.
2. Holistic Approach
Holistic approach in Management is based on
spiritual principle of unity, oneness, non-dual or
Advaita concept. Under this principle of unity, the
universe is an undivided whole where every particle is
connected with every other particle. Hence, entire
Humanity is ONE. Management must recognise
Oneness of Humanity. Respect the Divine in all beings.
3. Equal Importance to Subjectivity/Objectivity
Indian ethos for management distinguish subject and
object. Subject is subtle and intangible. Object is gross
or concrete, and tangible or invisible. Human and
ethical values or qualities such as courage, vision,
social awareness, fearlessness and clear mind, truth, etc
are subjective, subtle and intangible concept.
 These represents divine wealth. Inner resource of
human being are more powerful than external
resources. Eg- Japan could prosper in industry,
business and trade due to optimum utilisation of
inner resources. Japan does not have coal, mineral
and petrolieum. ‘Creator is subjective. Creation is
objective’. Therefore, manager must develop third
eye, the eye of vision, intuition, foresight and such
other divine qualities or values. This is the essence of
Indian ethos for management.
4. Karma Yoga (selfless work)
It is yoga of moral endeavour, self-less service to
others. It brings about union of human being with
the Divine. Work is done as workship to the Divine
 in human beings who is also all pervading in the
universe(which is just a projection of the Divine).
Gita evolves moral and ethical theory of human
conduct and expounds the art of right living- the
doctrine of duty with discipline and devotion
without attachment to work and agency. Do your
duty without ego and without calculations of gain
or loss.
Let not the fruit of action motivate you. Let not
the fruits divert your concentration on work. Pour
your heart and soul in the performance of your
assigned duty. Concentrate your attention only on
your present job.
 Why do I work?
1. For my own salvation and personal growth.
2. For the good of the world. (Jagat Hitai, Jagat
Sukhai)
‘The joy of action is the inner joy of selfless
service which helps him to rise above his little
individual self by serving and respecting the
Divine in all beings, seeing his own self in all
living souls. The inner joy and the deeper sense
of fulfilment, according to Indian ethos is the
highest bliss and the goal of life as well as the
motivation force.’
 People who work only for money making get
enslaved by the yearning getting more money by
exploiting others (including nature), which also
results in an utter, restlessness, tension, stress
and strain, secret fear and total loss of peace. If
persons work for money, profit and more profit,
quality of work will be totally lost. Management
will not be effective. Society will gain nothing.
 QUALITY OF WORK LIFE
AND
WORK ETHIC
1. Why work? – To purify my mind and heart and
to become wise. To provide public benefit.
2. What is work? – To nurture each other. My
work is a for of yagna, sacrifice. I develop the
spirit of sacrifice. It is a worship of the Divine.
3. How to work? – With the spirit of renunciation,
i.e.. Tyag and to serve others. I must work
without self-interest.
4. Spirits of work : Excellence in work. Perfection
in work and quality of output.
 INSIGHTS INTO INDIAN ETHOS
(MANAGEMENT: A SADHANA)
1. Management Attitude-
Top management must have firm belief
in values-oriented holistic management of
business. The management is called upon
to meet expectations of all stakeholders,
e.g., employees, customers, citizens and
shareholders and fulfill the social
responsibility. Profit is earned through
service and satisfaction of all these
interested parties.
2. Humanising the Organisation-
There are three aspects of humane organisation :
1. Inter-personal relations
2. Man-machine equation and
3. Inner management- mental and spiritual.
An organisation can create best inter-personal
relations based on promotion from within, equality,
autonomy, self-esteem and fraternal affection.
Unity, harmony and effective communication can
assure team spirit and team work in an
organisation.
3. Interiorising Management-
Self management: The manager is first a man
and then a manager. The manager should first learn
to manage and control himself. Without self-
management and control, how can he manage and
control others? The first need is to understand and
know himself. This is a course in the subjective
system of management.
4. Self-introspection-
We have to embark upon self-study, self analysis
and self criticism to locate areas of friction and
disharmony. We should prepare a balance sheet of
our own strengths and weaknesses. our mind and
heart may indicate weak spots.
 By regular introspection we would find out solution
to problem so that the concerned parts of our being can
be persuaded and guided to play the desired role.
5. By-stilling (Decision-making in silence)-
The western management resorts to brain-storming,
i.e., loud thinking by managers for decisions to solve
management problems. The Indian insight advocates a
better alternative in the form of brain-stilling. For
rational and enduring decisions, silent mind is a much
more effective medium to get sound and lasting
solution to all management problems.
By this method the manager and his employees come
into contacts with the inner mind or higher
consciousness for arriving at proper solution to their
problems.
6. Stepping back (for a while)-
The stepping back or drawing back into yourself
is another device of learning to go deep within and
look; you can remain quiet and call on the inner
consciousness force and wait for a while for an
answer. Then you know exactly what to do.
Remember therefore, that you cannot receive the
answer before you are very peaceful.
The stepping back from a situation for a while
enables you to control and even master the
situation. When you have a problem to solve, when
you are caught in a difficulty, try this method.
‘Never decide anything, never speak a word, never
throw yourself into action without stepping-back.’
7. Self-dynamising Meditation-
A dynamic meditation is meditation of
transforming of lower consciousness into higher
consciousness. Hence we call it transforming
meditation. It opens the third eye of wisdom through
insight.
Through meditation, in a silent and calm mind,
you are able to contact this centre or higher
conciousness. This is called consciousness approach
to management, a process of ‘within to without’
management. The management and workers must
have absolute faith or trust on the Supreme’s Infinite
Power. Our inner being has the true knowledge. It
says, “ I know, I cannot give reasons, but I know.”
8. Role of Intuitions in Management-
Intuitions is the act of coming to direct
knowledge or certainty without reasoning or
inferring. It is immediate cognition by inner
mind through inspiration, instant awareness, the
little voice, within you which you hear when
your mind is silent, i.e., thoughtless. Fully
developed intuition is efficient for taking prompt
and sound decisions. It is fast and accurate.
 CONCLUSION

In the scheme of management as per Indian

ethos, the inner mind and the inner aspects of
man are emphasised and the inner being has to
develop for manifestation in the physical. In the
management process consciousness is the
approach, harmony is the tool and perfection is
the aim.
Centralisation of authority is meant to diffuse
and decentralise functions and the power to
perform them.
MANAGEMENT TODAY
AND
TOMORROW
ITEMS Management(Oriented by Science and Management(Oriented by
technology, Western Approach) Values and adopting holistic
approach, Indian and
Eastern)
1.Belief Production, Productivity, profit at any Material gain, with belief in
cost. achieving human and social
welfare also.
2.Guidance Management guided by mind only, led Management by consciousness
away by ego and desire. Soulless , power beyond mind i.e. soul.
management. Interiorised Management

3.Emphasi Worker development. Management of Development of Man

s others , Profit maximisation , Human Intergrated Growth Harmony,
being only lip sympathy Happiness and Health,
Management of self.

4.Tools 5 Ms as Resources- men, money, Men, Machines, Materials and

materials, machines, markets. Science &
Technology. Information for decision
making.
Methods as Conscious
Partners- all having
consciousness whether
manifested or dormant.
Information and intuition for
decisions. Ethics and values
5.Problem- Conflict resolution by Conflicts resolution through
Solving negotiation, comprise, arbitration integration and synthesis on
liquidation of difference only for stressing superordinate common
a temporary period. No goals so that enduring harmony
reference to higher and unity is assured. Self-
consciousness. introspection, stepping back aids
for solution.
6.Decision Brain- storming(Round the table Brain-stilling(Room of silence)
making approach)

7.Development Physical, Vital and Mental only. Integrated Development. Whole

process Soul or Spirit ignored. Material man approach breath control and
development only even at the meditation emphasised. Human
cost of man and nature. Enrichment and Total quality.

8.Approach External Behaviour Mental, Noble Attitudes, Inner guidance,

Material, Selfish only, Soulless. Team spirit, Total harmony, Global
good.