Good Afternoon

BY M.UMESH CHANDRA.

INTRODUCTION

There are number of books, journals and articles available, which talks about various management theories. They focus management as a ‘Science’ and an ‘Art’ of life.

But the way before modern days management gurus gave their theories, principles and concepts of management. The great writers like Tulsidas, Valmiki had explained them in the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.

Now, as management students, can we apply morals of great epic Ramayana to the management….???

The answer would obviously be yes…..

then, lets see how Ramayana helps us in getting things done!!!!!!!

APPLICATION OF RAMAYANA TO MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

Morals to Principles

This is what ‘Management’ is…

• Ascertaining the goals.• Analyzing the desired goal.• Making a right plan.• SWOT Analysis [strength,

weakness, opportunities and threats]

• Leading a team- ‘Leadership’.• Organizing the resources required. • Coordinating with the people.• Controlling : checking things

weather happening as per the plan or not.

Management Planning. Organising. Directing . Controlling.

The scenario in Ramayana

• In Ramayana when Rama, Lakshmana & Sita were banished to forest, unfortunately Sita was kidnapped by Ravana.

• Ravana was a very strong man and had lot of evil powers.• It was a great challenge for Rama to face Ravana and

rescue Sita from Lanka.

QUALITIES POSSESSED BY LORD RAMA.

•Ambitious.•Patience. •Confidence.•Visionary .•Good Organizer.•Compassion.•Smartness. •Positive view.

Traits of a Leader- Lord Sri Rama

Ramayana• Sri Rama was firm and brave

to take all the risk to protect the words of his father (King Dasharatha) gave to Kaikeyi

• The mission of the army led by him was to defeat the demons and rescue Sita.

• The Ravana’s army was a powerful one, which had defeated the formidable devas and vanished powerful kings -Rama led what was essentially a rag-tag army against the sophisticated army of Ravana

Management• Change management.

• Clarity in vision.

• Believe in your abilities. strengthen them as per the objective.

Traits of a Leader- Lord Sri RamaRamayana

• Rama was a prince who interacted freely with the people he developed good relations with people regardless of social status and treat everybody courtesy and respect.

• When Vibhishan was defected, Rama took him under his protection. He then had a talk with the various army chiefs some of whom disagreed with Rama. Instead of punishing them, Rama assuaged their suspicions and got them to accept his decision.

Management• Interaction and building

good relations.

• Consulting subordinates for their opinion.

Traits of a Leader- lord Sri RamaRamayana Management

• Following a code of conduct and ethics.

Ramayana• When Ravana swaggered to

battle on the first day without adequate preparations and was rendered weaponless by Rama, he was allowed to return to his citadel because the code of chivalry followed by Rama stipulated that an unarmed enemy not to be attacked.

The story Ramayana Management

• Planning as per the objective.

Ramayana• To rescue Sita from Lanka

- number of actions were taken such as sending out search parties, building an overseas bridge and issuing a direct challenge to Ravana.

The story Ramayana Management

• Organizing resources which are required.

Ramayana• Lord Sri Rama took the

army of Vanara king Sugriva, taught them the skills of facing the enemy, motivated and inspired them for the mission of war.

The story Ramayana Management

• Coordinating with people to know their abilities & strengths, guiding them to over come the areas of improvement as per the objective.

Ramayana• Lord Sri Rama had good

relations with the people even though he was a king, his actions and thoughts were like a common man, he analyzed the ability of each individual and gave opportunity to all….. Hanuman the best example.

The story Ramayana Management

• Directing as per the plans and policies.

Ramayana• Rama divided Vanaras into

4 groups, to search Sita and one of the group was headed by Jambavanta in which ‘Hanuman’ was a team player. After which Rama directed the ways to become proficient in Gadayudda to strengthen the team- and the group of Jambavanta were successful – Hanuman discovered Sita in Lanka.

The story RAMAYANA• Lord Rama insisted his team

of Vanaras to construct a bridge over the sea to connect the Lanka. This helped Rama & Vanaras to defeat his opponent Ravana & rescue Sita with less life risk of Vanaras.

MANAGEMENT• Management control-

motivation and energizing the team, communication and risk management, planning and scheduling, execution, allocation of the appropriate resources for a particular task, decision-making, out-of-box thinking to solve problems, winning strategy, rewards.

Management Lessons from King Dasharatha

• King Dasharatha was the father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna. He need a teacher for them. On the advise of Vasistha The King selected Vishvamithra as the teacher.

• As per the boons given by him to Kaikeyi to send Rama to forest, he acted as per them even not necessary.

• Responsibility towards others. Respecting the word of superiors or the experienced ones.

• Acting according to the word given.

RAMAYANA Management

Management Lessons from Vasistha Maharishi

• Answering or Communicating to others in a way that doesn't affect the relations between them.

• Act to Forgive and provide a new chance to prove themselves.

• When Vishvamithra asked for the holy cow, Vasistha maharishi politely rejected as to maintain good relation with the king, but it was Vishvamithra who called for a war.

• Though it was He who cursed Vishvamithra, He was the only one to propose the name of Vishvamithra in the court of King Dasharatha as a teacher to Rama and Lakshmana

RAMAYANA Management

Management Lessons from Vishvamithra Maharishi

• When Vasistha Maharishi refused to give the holy cow to him, He tried a lot to achieve it.

• Even after achieving more powers than Vasistha, respecting the word of Vasistha, Vishvamithra accepted to be the teacher to Rama, Lakshmana.

• Hard work to be done in achieving the desired goals.

• Respecting the one who even critises.

RAMAYANA Management

Hanuman- An overview as per management perspective.

• He was very strong physically and also with his moral thoughts.

• When he got an information that Sita was in Lanka, Jambavanta motivated Hanuman to go there. Hanuman took ‘initiative and got ready for the challenge’.

• He might have killed Ravana the day he discovered Lanka. He had all the abilities to kill Ravana, but he waited for the Rama’s directions - ‘abiding for rules and regulations as directed by management’

TEAM WORK:Team work is an important principle in management.Rama with Lakshmana, Hanuman, Vanara sena applied the same in search of Sita and was successful in the mission.

Courage & Compassion: Rama led an inferior and less armed army against the Ravana’s elite army. Ravana’s army was potent, having defeated the formidable devas and vanished powerful kings.Driven by Rama’s inspirational leadership , where courage and compassion were the major virtues his army responded magnificently and carved out victory.

EXAMPLES FROM RAMAYANAMotivation & SWOT Analysis – One of the most obvious incidences, in which management

were used is very clearly visible in that of Hanuman going to Lanka. His mission was to locate Sita there and give her, Lord Rama’s message. When it became clear that Sita was in Lanka, Jambavanta asked Hanuman to go there. He helped him in realising his true potential and motivated him to go to the enemy’s camp.

Once mentally prepared for the job and reached there, first thing which Hanuman did was to completely analyze the situation in Lanka. He did a complete study about the Lankan’s, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, the various threats and opportunities which he had in the enemy’s camp.

As good leaders in future we need to Self

awareness/ Skill

assessment

Skill practice

Define goal/

Definite action plan

Consolidate learning

Evaluate change/ Establish

next phase