Need for a Singular Principle[/b]
It all started with a point; which was dense and pulsating. Then disorder struck and the fragments are still moving away from each other into wilderness. Yes, I am talking about the Universe and expanding theory. Similar to that if we come to talk about management theories; it all started when a merchant hired a servant and laid down a doctrine / code of conduct on ‘How-to’, ‘what-to’ , ‘ when-to’ etc. We have come a long way since then and the once simple rule-of-the-thumb has now evolved into complex and never-ending speculative theories.
Management gurus , after hundreds of years after Arthshastra[/b] was penned down ; are still in pursuit of a single principle that covers all the aspects of business enterprises ; tying up financial and social goals.
Europeans and Americans have based their principles on :
· Experiments
· Research
· & Experience (from the above two over passage of time)
They have opined objectively about management whenever given the chance to do so. They view anything and everything related to the skill-set as acquirable on the rat-race where human and sedentary resources either weigh you down or give you a boost.
As time moved on , they realized the essential flaw in their way of doing things which was profit-centric. Once this dawned on them they turned their focus to morph their strategy for:
· Customer satisfaction
· Employee retention
· Community welfare
However as we have seen these developments were as a matter of fact consequential rather than categorical.
Consequential decisions[/b] are the ones which are made considering the possible outcome of the event. For example if a shopkeeper doesn’t cheat his customers because if word got out ; he’d be bankrupt , that is a consequential decision in true sense.
On the other hand if he does the same due to his obligation to humanity and strength of moral fiber ; that will be a Categorical decision[/b].[/b]
[/b]
Presently there are 7 approaches to management theory. Some old and some new. But frankly they are 6 too many. Some of these approaches are merely statistical in nature and project nothing past the figures. The older ones which talked about reducing body movements are clearly of no significance in present day scenario.
To emerge from this rut; requires a fair amount of open mindedness. Our scriptures have time and again asserted some points which may be the key to solving this puzzle.
· The vedas put a lot of time to testify the importance of self-control[/b]. Without self control, how can we expect others to follow us?
· Secondly they put ample time into delving on self-realization[/b]. The cognizance of inner self is more important than exploring the uncharted waters.
If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world.
#Vinoba Bhave