Excerpts from the presentation of Prof. N.S.Ramaswamy at International Conference on ‘Innovation and Strategies‘, Christ University, Bengaluru.
(Prof. N.S.Ramaswamy: Former Director of IIM-B. Padma Bhushan, National Professor in Management, Director, CARTMAN.)
In every human endeavour in every sector and in every field of activity, there is a Management component as an integral part of the activity-though, words, deed, actions, transactions, policies, decisions and relationships. A Management function had existed from the dawn of civilization. But it has been made a subject for studies and practice only during last 100 years, ad that too, in business and industrial sectors during the Industrial Era which developed under the capitalist system.
It is the Management function which determines, or discriminates between what is good and bad for the doer and his/her family, society, community, religion, nation, mankind, animal species and planet. It is lack of ethical and moral component that is afflicting the three entities in the planet, consisting of mankind, animals, and Nature’s endowments. At present, Management, as taught in Business Schools and practiced in every area of activity, is governed by social science disciplines, such as Politics, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Logic, Law, Productivity Techniques, Mathematics, Statistics, Information Technology, Accounting etc. These disciplines do not have a discriminating or humanistic component. Therefore, in order to make Management Science to become an instrument for the welfare of Man, Animal and Nature, it is essential to introduce ethical, moral, philosophical and spiritual values, such as honesty, truth, integrity, non-violence, selflessness, service consciousness, compassion towards animals, respect for Nature, sympathy, empathy, courtesy, politeness, forgiveness, concern for others, culture, aesthetics, art, yoga, meditation, fasting, silence, prayer, surrender to the divine, equanimity, balance,serenity, calmness, quietitude, fairness, justice, etc. Further, Management function should avoid, abjure, eliminate or suppress anger, arrogance,egoism, avarice, jealousy, envy, hatred, prejudice, lust, passion, vindictiveness, boastfulness, cynicism, negative tendencies and instincts which are lying dormant in Man.
Typically, fostering positive virtues and suppressing negative tendencies are part of and are largely common for all religions. Unfortunately, secular education and transactions in public life kept religion away. Therefore, fostering desirable qualities and avoiding negative tendencies ought to be taken over by Management function inherent in every human activity.
This is the only way by which plunder and pillage of Mother Earth, desertification global warming, extinction of forest, cruelty to animals, exploitation of consumers, fraud, scams, criminality, violence, sensuous behavior, break up families, terrorism, inter-religious and international conflicts and confrontation etc. can be avoided. This means that Management Science has to adopt these noble and worthy ideals and virtues into the Education System and practies in organisations in all kinds. The philosophical concept of Hinduism, incorporating theory of karma and reincarnation, law of cause and effect etc. are additional inputs, which would preempt deviant behaviour among mankind. Good begets good and bad results in failure and sorrow in this birth or in subsequent births. The Theology part of all religions, that is concept of God and His relationship with man, theory of creation, heaven and hell, punishment and reward by God etc. can be left out of the new version of Management proposed here. A reorientation of Management in Government, Business, Education and all human endeavours would be the strategy and innovation for materialistic progress, peace and harmony, elimination of conflicts, suppression of violence and passions, elimination of hatred, etc.
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