Description
Strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty.
CASE STUDY MAHABHARAT WINNING STRAGETY
(This case study is a part of advent 2013 management funda competition final round) I am really lucky. I belong to an era that had television sets (colored ones) and directors like B R Copra who had the passion to visualize Mahabharata the way it was. At least, I believe, it was the way it was shown on Sunday mornings 9 AM with the opening voice of Harish Bhimani – “Main samay hun” (The story of Mahabharata was a narration by time as a character who witnessed the whole epic of Mahabharata) Mahabharata the great Indian epic can be used as the perfect example for teaching modern corporate affairs. Characters of Mahabharata portray our modern day managers in term of their roles, functions, strengths, weaknesses and consequences. If Mahabharata is considered similar to a modern day market place, there are two corporate houses that were in a state of war. One may be called the Pandava incorporate and the other one Kaurava enterprise. Both of them had a set of Board of director and employees. Kauravas had more members on Board of Directors in comparison to Pandavas. Not to forget, Kauravas’s were currently in power and the Pandavas were trying hard to get the place. And, desire for supremacy position gives birth to war. Both these companies, the Pandavas and the Kauravas had management consultants to advice them. If Kaurava’s had Shakuni, Pandavas had Lord Krishna himself. Who was the CEO? You may ask and I will say it’s an Interesting question? The CEO for the Kaurava’s was Dhridhrashtra. He was more of a dummy because of his physical disability. Therefore, Duryodhan was the Commander in Chief or COO. In Pandava’s camp, Pandav had passed away and his eldest son, Yudhishter was the CEO. However, this man knew his strength and weakness very well. Therefore, he wanted his organization to be in professional hands and selected Lord Krishna as his CEO and himself became the Chairman of the organization. Now, let’s look at other main characters of Mahabharata and their respective roles: Pandava Encorporate 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Lord Krishna – Chief executing officer Yudhister – Who binds values Bhima – Result oriented manager Arjuna – Perfectionist and a learner Nakul – Process owner Sahdev – Purpose driven
Kaurava Enterprise 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Duryodhan – Chief Operating Officer Karna – Legitimacy Dushassan – Executor Shakuni – Manipulator Gandhari – Sacrifice
Other characters included, Bheeshma Pithamah and Dronocharya. Pitamaha was committed to be, with the King of Hastinapur, irrespective of good or bad. Therefore, he had to be with the Kaurava’s for which he paid an enormous price. Dronacharya was the ‘Religious Guru’ and the ‘official teacher’ of all the children of Kaurav and Pandav. As a rule, he also had to be with the ruling party. It will be interesting to know, each of these characters in details in context of management. Therefore, 1. Lord Krishna – is the chief of strategy and planning. A highly intellectual, political person with impeccable communication skill. He is also the universal teacher for all the Pandavas. He tried guiding the Kauravas as well, but they were more interested in his army than him which Krishna actually wanted 2. Yudhister – is a mentor with strong value and belief system. He stands for the truth but blinded by his code of honor 3. Bhima – is an executionist. Outcome is of supreme importance, and bottom-line matters. A very aggressive individual who is easily swayed away by rage which is also his biggest weakness 4. Arjuna – he stands for flawless perfection. A learning manager though beset by doubt and insecurity. Today’s manager is like Arjuna, in search of their own heroism. 5. Nakul – is an enabler. He represents the present service manager 6. Sahadev – is a visionary and with a purpose. For him, his vision is of more importance than action 7. Duryodhan – the chief operating officer and the de-facto king of ‘Hastinapur’. Highly egoistic and blindfolded when comes to making decisions. His mind was controlled by his uncle ‘Shakuni’. He represents a number of modern day managers who suffer from this defect. 8. Karna – his strength is his personal loyalty which also leads to his doom. He suffered from severe ‘inferiority syndrome’, which was natural, looking at his past life. A great philanthropist. 9. Dushassan – an easy going person. A big womanizer who brought lot of dis-fame to Kauravas. A very good executor, but a blind folded manager, with little wits 10. Shakuni – is the manipulator and a psychopath. A great gambler but a man of wits. However, all his knowledge and strengths were used for negative deeds. Typically, a consultant. I do not say that consultants have a harmful orientation.
11. Gandhari – will appear to be an epitome of sacrifice. In actual, she is a person who blinds away from its problem. The first lady of the kingdom of Hastinapur and if compared to a modern day scenario, she was on the board of directors. Finally, does a lady on the board of directors of any help? or otherwise. Pandavas overcome Kauravas to become number one, not because of any marketing or selling skills. They became winners because of their street smart CEO, Krishna who was the master of strategy and consume behavior. The story of Mahabharata has plenty of case-studies, which are similar to scenarios that we come across in our lives or companies. Let’s look at few of those case-studies and its significance till today. The plot of the complete story of Mahabharata revolves around envy, insecurity and hatred between the two arch-rivals i.e. Kauravas and the Pandavas. Kauravas knew that the citizens of Hastinapur wanted Yudhistir to be the king after the untimely demise of his father Pandav. They were not happy with Dhridhrashtra. Though he was a wise man, very little he could do because of his blindness. Unfortunately, the citizens were blatant and loud about this which made Duryodhan feel envy of the Pandavas. Karna and Shakuni were Duryodhan’s evil councilors in planning wily stratagem against the Pandavas.
CASE FACTS: Background Pandavas Exiled for 13 years. Have no kingdom. Strengths: Pancalas, Yadavas, Magadhas and Chedis. Kauravas In power for 13 years. Duryodhan has been a benevolent king. Power of Hastinapur and Indraprastha
TEAM MEMBERS • • • • • • • Kauravas Bhishma Drona Karna Shalya Kripacharya Ashwatthama Duryodhan • • • • • • • Pandavas Arjuna Bhima Dhrshtadyumna Abhimanyu Ghatotkach Shikhandi Satyaki
LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT TEAM Kauravas Pandavas AKSHOUHINI 11 Akshouhini 7 Akshouhini
1 Akshouhini = 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horses and 109,350 foot-soldiers (in a ratio of 1:1:3:5).
RESULTS War Lasted: 18 Days ? 10 Days (Bhisma), ? 3 Days (Drona), ? ½ Day ? 1 Day (No General), (Shalya),
? 1½ Days (Karna) 18th Night of the War: Ashwatthama slaughtered the Pandava camp in sleep.
? 1 Night (Ashwatthama)
Questions: SO HOW DID THE PANDAVAS WIN??(Winning strategy of Pandava’s in Mahabharata)
NOTE: ? Maximum 5 minute will be provided ? No need of presenting case facts ? Refer the strategies and relate the same with brief theory.
doc_355824454.docx
Strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty.
CASE STUDY MAHABHARAT WINNING STRAGETY
(This case study is a part of advent 2013 management funda competition final round) I am really lucky. I belong to an era that had television sets (colored ones) and directors like B R Copra who had the passion to visualize Mahabharata the way it was. At least, I believe, it was the way it was shown on Sunday mornings 9 AM with the opening voice of Harish Bhimani – “Main samay hun” (The story of Mahabharata was a narration by time as a character who witnessed the whole epic of Mahabharata) Mahabharata the great Indian epic can be used as the perfect example for teaching modern corporate affairs. Characters of Mahabharata portray our modern day managers in term of their roles, functions, strengths, weaknesses and consequences. If Mahabharata is considered similar to a modern day market place, there are two corporate houses that were in a state of war. One may be called the Pandava incorporate and the other one Kaurava enterprise. Both of them had a set of Board of director and employees. Kauravas had more members on Board of Directors in comparison to Pandavas. Not to forget, Kauravas’s were currently in power and the Pandavas were trying hard to get the place. And, desire for supremacy position gives birth to war. Both these companies, the Pandavas and the Kauravas had management consultants to advice them. If Kaurava’s had Shakuni, Pandavas had Lord Krishna himself. Who was the CEO? You may ask and I will say it’s an Interesting question? The CEO for the Kaurava’s was Dhridhrashtra. He was more of a dummy because of his physical disability. Therefore, Duryodhan was the Commander in Chief or COO. In Pandava’s camp, Pandav had passed away and his eldest son, Yudhishter was the CEO. However, this man knew his strength and weakness very well. Therefore, he wanted his organization to be in professional hands and selected Lord Krishna as his CEO and himself became the Chairman of the organization. Now, let’s look at other main characters of Mahabharata and their respective roles: Pandava Encorporate 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Lord Krishna – Chief executing officer Yudhister – Who binds values Bhima – Result oriented manager Arjuna – Perfectionist and a learner Nakul – Process owner Sahdev – Purpose driven
Kaurava Enterprise 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Duryodhan – Chief Operating Officer Karna – Legitimacy Dushassan – Executor Shakuni – Manipulator Gandhari – Sacrifice
Other characters included, Bheeshma Pithamah and Dronocharya. Pitamaha was committed to be, with the King of Hastinapur, irrespective of good or bad. Therefore, he had to be with the Kaurava’s for which he paid an enormous price. Dronacharya was the ‘Religious Guru’ and the ‘official teacher’ of all the children of Kaurav and Pandav. As a rule, he also had to be with the ruling party. It will be interesting to know, each of these characters in details in context of management. Therefore, 1. Lord Krishna – is the chief of strategy and planning. A highly intellectual, political person with impeccable communication skill. He is also the universal teacher for all the Pandavas. He tried guiding the Kauravas as well, but they were more interested in his army than him which Krishna actually wanted 2. Yudhister – is a mentor with strong value and belief system. He stands for the truth but blinded by his code of honor 3. Bhima – is an executionist. Outcome is of supreme importance, and bottom-line matters. A very aggressive individual who is easily swayed away by rage which is also his biggest weakness 4. Arjuna – he stands for flawless perfection. A learning manager though beset by doubt and insecurity. Today’s manager is like Arjuna, in search of their own heroism. 5. Nakul – is an enabler. He represents the present service manager 6. Sahadev – is a visionary and with a purpose. For him, his vision is of more importance than action 7. Duryodhan – the chief operating officer and the de-facto king of ‘Hastinapur’. Highly egoistic and blindfolded when comes to making decisions. His mind was controlled by his uncle ‘Shakuni’. He represents a number of modern day managers who suffer from this defect. 8. Karna – his strength is his personal loyalty which also leads to his doom. He suffered from severe ‘inferiority syndrome’, which was natural, looking at his past life. A great philanthropist. 9. Dushassan – an easy going person. A big womanizer who brought lot of dis-fame to Kauravas. A very good executor, but a blind folded manager, with little wits 10. Shakuni – is the manipulator and a psychopath. A great gambler but a man of wits. However, all his knowledge and strengths were used for negative deeds. Typically, a consultant. I do not say that consultants have a harmful orientation.
11. Gandhari – will appear to be an epitome of sacrifice. In actual, she is a person who blinds away from its problem. The first lady of the kingdom of Hastinapur and if compared to a modern day scenario, she was on the board of directors. Finally, does a lady on the board of directors of any help? or otherwise. Pandavas overcome Kauravas to become number one, not because of any marketing or selling skills. They became winners because of their street smart CEO, Krishna who was the master of strategy and consume behavior. The story of Mahabharata has plenty of case-studies, which are similar to scenarios that we come across in our lives or companies. Let’s look at few of those case-studies and its significance till today. The plot of the complete story of Mahabharata revolves around envy, insecurity and hatred between the two arch-rivals i.e. Kauravas and the Pandavas. Kauravas knew that the citizens of Hastinapur wanted Yudhistir to be the king after the untimely demise of his father Pandav. They were not happy with Dhridhrashtra. Though he was a wise man, very little he could do because of his blindness. Unfortunately, the citizens were blatant and loud about this which made Duryodhan feel envy of the Pandavas. Karna and Shakuni were Duryodhan’s evil councilors in planning wily stratagem against the Pandavas.
CASE FACTS: Background Pandavas Exiled for 13 years. Have no kingdom. Strengths: Pancalas, Yadavas, Magadhas and Chedis. Kauravas In power for 13 years. Duryodhan has been a benevolent king. Power of Hastinapur and Indraprastha
TEAM MEMBERS • • • • • • • Kauravas Bhishma Drona Karna Shalya Kripacharya Ashwatthama Duryodhan • • • • • • • Pandavas Arjuna Bhima Dhrshtadyumna Abhimanyu Ghatotkach Shikhandi Satyaki
LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT TEAM Kauravas Pandavas AKSHOUHINI 11 Akshouhini 7 Akshouhini
1 Akshouhini = 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horses and 109,350 foot-soldiers (in a ratio of 1:1:3:5).
RESULTS War Lasted: 18 Days ? 10 Days (Bhisma), ? 3 Days (Drona), ? ½ Day ? 1 Day (No General), (Shalya),
? 1½ Days (Karna) 18th Night of the War: Ashwatthama slaughtered the Pandava camp in sleep.
? 1 Night (Ashwatthama)
Questions: SO HOW DID THE PANDAVAS WIN??(Winning strategy of Pandava’s in Mahabharata)
NOTE: ? Maximum 5 minute will be provided ? No need of presenting case facts ? Refer the strategies and relate the same with brief theory.
doc_355824454.docx