Title: The relevance of Satvik management model from the Bhagavad Gita for business sustainability

Authors: Hardik B. Bhadeshiya; Parag Shukla; Balakrishnan Muniapan

Addresses: Department of Commerce and Management, Faculty of Commerce, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Pratapgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India ' Department of Commerce and Management, Faculty of Commerce, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Pratapgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India ' School of Business and Administration, Wawasan Open University, 54, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang, Malaysia

Abstract: Satvik management is a consciousness-based management approach, which presents a spiritual perspective of management that can shape managerial ethical values and moral decision-making, which is critical for business sustainability during the current pandemic and in a world full of uncertainty. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Great Mahabharata, and it presents the essence of Vedic (Indian) spirituality. This is a first paper written on Satvik management in the management literature, and the authors employed hermeneutics, a qualitative methodology for interpreting texts. This paper contributes to the theory of personality (Satvik) and the organisational implication of Satvik management. The Bhagavad Gita suggests a Satvik spiritual management model with an intrinsic perspective or inside-out rather than an outside-in management practice. This paper is expected to provide a spiritual and philosophical perspective of management thought and wisdom in confronting and dealing with current management challenges for business sustainability in a turbulent business environment.

Keywords: Satvik management; Bhagavad Gita; management philosophy; spirituality in management; business sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2023.129009

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2023 Vol.28 No.2, pp.245 - 263

Received: 24 Aug 2021
Accepted: 16 Oct 2021
Published online: 14 Feb 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article