Title: Relevance of ancient Indian scriptures - business wisdom drawn from Ramayana, Gita and Thirukkural

Authors: J.K. Sharma

Addresses: Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Limited, T-210J, Shahpur Jat, Behind Panchsheel Club, New Delhi-110049, India

Abstract: Such principles of management, which are beyond further research, are yet to be discovered. The principles discovered so far are both, the cause and effect of further research. However, the case of Indian scriptures is different. Scriptural research has been limited to their interpretation. The interpretation, with regard to the implementation in management practice, may be multi-dimensional. One of the dimensions may be to correlate this knowledge with managerial behaviour, especially in context of reported financial irregularities. The objective of this article is to demonstrate such a correlation. Hence, brief sections of three Indian scriptures have been reviewed. The methodology of hermeneutics, i.e., identification, investigation, interpretation and integration, has been utilised. The correlation between the scriptural knowledge and managerial effectiveness has been proposed in the form of a spiritual framework of managerial effectiveness. The attributes for increased effectiveness in important dimensions of managerial personality, decision making and conduct have been proposed through the framework. Managerial implications have also been mentioned.

Keywords: Indian scriptures; spiritual values; managerial effectiveness; managerial ethics; Valmiki Ramayana for management; Gita for management; Thirukkural for management; nishkam karma; spiritual framework for managerial effectiveness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2017.087309

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2017 Vol.15 No.3, pp.278 - 298

Received: 16 May 2016
Accepted: 29 Sep 2016
Published online: 12 Oct 2017 *

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