UNIT – 1

CHAPTER – 1
An introduction to Indian
ethos

MEANING: -

• “Ethos” is a Greek word meaning

“Character”.
• Ethos results from the lessons, beliefs.

Q1) Explain meaning, definition, features,

need or relevance of Indian ethos?
Meaning of Indian ethos: -
• Indian ethos refers to values, beliefs or ideals that
are drawn from Indians customs and traditions.

Features of Indian ethos: -

1. Divinity of all souls:
Every human being reflects the divine. Instead you
are the spirit going through a human experience.
“Paraspar Devo Bhava” it means regard the others
as a divine being.
2. Dignity of work:
Each work whether it is a peon’s job or general
manager’s job is of equal importance.
3. Ananda or bliss:
 Ananda means happiness or bliss. Literally, “aa”
means ‘from all sides’ and ‘nanda’ means ‘joy’ or
‘happiness’.
Moksha can be achieved by fulfilling purusharthas or
four chief goals on human life. They are
a) Dharma (righteousness)
b)Artha (wealth)
c) Kama (desire)
d)Moksha (salvation)
4. Equanimity:
Equanimity is a state of mental or emotional
stability wherein people accept pleasure and pain, joy
and sorrows as a part of life.
Everything in life comes in duality, whether it is day
and night, summer and winter, mind and matter
created by god, or the pleasure and pain.
5. Know yourself: (who am I?):
Before you start to manage resources and others,
what is very important according to the Indian ethos
is to manage yourself. Be aware of your strengths and
weaknesses and your reactions to your environment.
6. Unique work culture:
Work is considered as worship. Yoga
karmashu kaushalam.
7. Vasudhaiva kutumbakam:
It is a Sanskrit phase meaning that the whole
world is one single family.
Let the entire world be happy.
8. Holistic approach to management:
We should follow the golden rule which states that
‘Do unto other as you want others to unto you’ which
means you treat others as you would like to be treated
by them.
9. Work results and detachment / concept of nishkama
karma:
Nishkama karma or selfless or desireless action is
an action performed without any expectation of fruits
or results.
10. Co-operation and collaboration / work with team
spirit:
By co-operation, respect and feeling of fellowship.
Thus the idea is to inculcate team spirit and work as a
TEAM.
T – Together.
E – Everyone.
A – Achieves.
M – More.

 NEED/RELEVANCE/REQUISITES:-

1. Development of a value-based management

system:
The time has come for the corporate companies to
develop leaders who display ethical values and
beliefs and adopt a value – based approach towards
corporate management.
2.Self development and self management:
Managers must first understand how to manage
themselves and then learn to manage others. It
helps to improve efficiency.
3.Stress management:
By following the principles of Indian ethos, people
can learn to work in the spirit of nishkama karma.
This will reduce stress of the expected results of
work.
4.Social sensitivity:
Indian concepts makes humans have a more
sensitive approach to social responsibilities, values
and governance.
 5.Humanising the organisation:
It leads to improvements in three aspects of
human organisation. That is:
a. It leads to improvement in interpersonal
relations.
b. It leads to improvement in man – machine
equation where man is the prime concern.
c. It leads to spiritual and mental growth of
individual.

6. Self introspection:
An in-depth study of Indians ethos helps in self
examination of one’s own thoughts, feelings,
sensations and passions.
7. Brain stilling / meditation:
Brain stilling or meditative silence is the most
reliable method to discover solutions to problems.
8. Intuition:
Intuition skills enables one to cope with
confidence the fluctuating environment and rapid
changes.

Q2) Explain the principles practised by Indian

companies?
 PRINCIPLES PRACTICED BY INDIAN COMPANIES:
1. Honesty:
Indian companies follow the principle of honesty
in business dealings.
2. Transparency:
Indian companies follow the principle of
transparency in business dealings.

3. Accountability and responsibility:

Indians companies follow the principle of
accountability and responsibility.
4. Equitable treatment of all stakeholders:
 Indians companies believe in equitable treatment of
all stakeholders such as customers.
5. Harmony:
Indian companies follows the principle of harmony in
work culture.
6. Fairness and integrity:
Indians companies follows the principle of fairness
in their business dealings.
7. Dignity of work:
Dignity of work is much important as far as Indians
ethos is concerned.
8. Holistic approach:
Holistic approach to management is based on the
principle that we all are one and we all are
interconnected with each other. Thus, we should
follow the golden rule which states that ‘Do unto
others as you want other to unto you’ which means
you should treat others as you would like to be
treated by them.
9. Co-operation and collaboration / work with team
spirit:
Accepting the divinity in all creation, humans must
nurture one another.

Q3) Explain history and elements of Indian ethos?

 Elements of Indian ethos:-
1. Ego – sublimation rather than ego assertion:
Controlling one’s ego is the prime teaching of Indian
ethos. Thus, this principle teaches us to control our
ego and focus on ‘WE’ aspect rather than ‘I’ aspect
in the organization.
2. Sacrificing spirit rather than fighting spirit:
One should believe in following the principle of
sacrificing. Sacrificing means working for the
benefits of others rather than for one’s own self.
 3. Team achievement rather than individual
achievement:
T – Together
E – Everyone
A – Achieves
M – More
4. Spiritual attainment rather than materialistic
prosperity:
Happiness attained through materialistic prosperity
is only for short term and will not last forever.
5. Self-control rather than outer control:
This principle advocates to bring changes in yourself
than changing the world.
6. Concept of duties rather than concept of rights:
Duty refers to responsibilities and obligations that a
person owes to something or someone.
7. Yielding rather than dominating:
The manager should never try to dominate his
employee. Thus, the manager must be humble in
their behaviour. They must respect all the employees
and work with co-operation.
8. Concern for this age world and improvement:
An organisation should continuously try to make
improvements in its products, process, technologies,
etc. and work as per latest trend.
9. Respect for and search for all truth whatever be
its source:
Indians believes in humility and respect for all.
Indians are humble in their behaviour. They have
respect for every individual, caste or religion.
Dignity of work is much important as far as Indian
ethos is concerned.
Q4) Write a note on role of Indian ethos in
managerial practices?
ROLE OF INDIAN ETHOS IN MANGERIAL
PRACTICES:
 1. Planning:
Application of Indian ethos can help in planning the
vision, mission, goals and objectives of the
organisation.
2. Recruitment and selection of employees:
In most of the organisations, recruitment and
selection of employees is done on the basis of
recommendations, references of the current
employee without giving due importance to the
performance.
3. Responsibility and accountability:
In most of the organisations employees have a very
casual approach towards their work.
4. Improvement of employer-employee relationship:
In most of the organisations, relationship between
employer and employee are not very cordial and
comfortable.
5. Training and development:
In most of the organisation, training and
development is not given due importance. Even
expense allowance for training is very less.
6. Performance appraisal:
It means evaluation of performance of an employee.
Application of Indian ethos will help in conducting
proper performance appraisal thereby resulting in
fair promotions and transfers.
7. Workers participation in management:
Traditionally, workers were not involved in the
decision making process of the organisation. This
also motivates the workers to work more efficiently
in the organisation.
8. Grievance redressal systems:
Most of the times high level managers do not attend
to the problems of employees/customers.

Q5) Write a note on Indian heritage in business,

management, production and consumption?
 INDIAN HERITAGE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT,
PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION.

We all know that india has a very rich cultural

heritage, Indian was a well-developed country in terms
of its economy and business.
According to Indian heritage, the principle followed
was “Simple living and high thinking”.
 Indian heritage in business management:
Indian heritage emphasis that the essence of
civilization lies not in multiplication of wants but in the
purification of human character. Thus, Indian heritage
plays a major role in business.
Some lessons which can be drawn from the Indian
heritage are as follows: -
1. Impact of spiritual consideration:
The central point of human existence was striking a
proper balance between the amount of efforts and
the amount of remuneration attached to it.
2. The role of gurus:
One principle of ‘more of giving and less of
grabbing’. Thus the prime focus of Indian heritage
was on spiritual growth rather than increase in per
capita income.

3. Use of resources:
It prefers optimum use of resources and
conservation of natural resources because they are
available in limited quantity.
4. Work is considered as worship:
Work must be offered to the supreme power of god,
because the energy that enables us to perform work
is given by that power of god. Hence, work is
considered as worship.
 Indian heritage in production and
consumption

In the early days Indian economy was totally based

on agriculture. People used to produce whatever
they required for their self-consumption. They were
able to produce surplus items with increase in their
efficiency.
It is normally understood that India has progressed a
great deal in the modern time, especially after
independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru used to
refer to factories and industries as “temples of
modern India”. India has also contributed to the
world of trade and business in a number of ways.
The modern technique of customer focused business
has been an integral part of Indian business since
long. Thus, we can say that Indian has a rich
heritage in trade and commerce which has
contributed to their growth all over the world.
 Q6) ETHICS V/S ETHOS

ETHICS ETHOS

1. Ethics is a set of 1. Ethos is a character or

principles that guides the fundamental value of a
behaviour of an individual person, people, culture or
as regards to what is right movement.
and wrong, good and bad,
etc.
2. It differentiates between 2. It is based on customs
right and wrong, good and and traditions.
bad, moral and immoral,
etc.
3. Ethics are derived from 3. Ethos is derived from
shastras. culture.

4. Ethics are universal in 4. Ethos are culture –

nature. specific in nature i.e it is
based on culture of a
particular country /
religion.

5. Ethics determines 5. It determines cultural

functions such as paap, behaviour or culture.
punya, swarg, narak,
conduct or misconduct.
 6. Examples: truth, non- 6. Examples: welcome,
violence, donation, pranam, respect to elders,
kindness. love to youngsters.

Q7) Distinguish between Indian

management v/s western management.

 INDIAN MANAGEMENT V/S WESTERN

MANAGEMENT.
PARAMETERS INDIAN (EASTERN) WESTERN MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT

Concept of Helping ordinary people to Getting things done from others.

management produce extraordinary results.

Motive Profit along with human, social Profit at any cost.

and environmental welfare.

Guidance Management guidance by Management guided by mind

consciousness, power beyond only.
mind. i.e. soul.

Decision Brain stilling Brain storming

making

Rights and Duties given great importance Right become primary. Duties
duties and rights becomes secondary. are considered as secondary.

Approach Holistic approach-sees an Sees an employee as a resource.

employee in totality.

Development Integrated development. Whole Physical, vital and mental only.

process man approach. Breadth control Soul or spirit ignored.
and meditation are emphasized.
Man–machine Man behind the machine is Machine dominates man
equation given due regards.

Major emphasis Major emphasis is on mind Major emphasis on job

enrichment. enrichment.

Core values Spiritually, tolerance, co- Achievement, individuality,

operation, respect, patience, ambition, hard worker, etc
harmony.

CHAPTER – 2
MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM
SCRIPTURES

Q8) Explain in detail management lessons

learnt from different scriptures?
 Management lessons from Mahabharata
1) Work on your weaknesses and convert it into
your strengths:
One of the main lessons to be learnt from
Mahabharata is identify your weaknesses, work on
your weaknesses and convert it into strengths. Their
time to acquire new skills and tried to convert their
weaknesses into strengths. In the same manner, an
individual should continuously try to learn new skills
and try to convert their weaknesses into strengths.
2)Share responsibility:
Efficiently sharing responsibilities among the
workers is vital for the success of the
organisation. In Mahabharata, the kauravas had a
centralised leadership with entire responsibility on
one person. Management structure with proper
sharing of responsibility and authority among
different individuals.
3) Team work leads to success:
We can learn that teamwork succeeds where
individual fails, but the team formed must have the
same version, goals and passion
4) Commitment is more important than competence:
When selecting a team it is always better to have
people who are passionate and committed rather
than people who excel individually.

5) Women empowerment:
Mahabharata is probably the oldest and the only
one to recognize the importance of women. Women
always bring in a holistic view at the situation. It is
only a team that is able to sustain in the long term.
6) Know every member’s potential:
For a manager, it is very important to know what
role suits the best to which employee. The manager
should be smart enough to use his team’s ability and
potential to the maximum.

 MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM BIBLE:

1) Be humble:
Bible teaches that an individual should always be
humble and avoid any kind of ego or pride.
2) Build a reputation for integrity and honesty:
Bible teaches that an individual should conduct
business with utmost integrity and honesty.
3) Treat your employees fairly:
Bible teaches that you should always treat
employees equally and fairly.
4) Charity:
As per bible, charity means “love”. It is all about
loving and caring for the poor and needy by means of
charity. This is also applied to business organisations.
5) Sowing and reaping:
‘As you sow, so shall you reap’ – the bible teaches
this is various places and ways. The principle applies
in day to day business activities. If you put more
efforts in your business, you will earn better returns.
6) Conflict management:
The bible teaches us to live peacefully with those
around us.
7) Work hard:
“He who works his land will have abundant food”.
8) Have the highest level of customer service:
Put yourself in the shoes of the customer and treat
them as you want to be treated.
9) Be honest with customers:
An organisation should always be honest with the
customers and do not cheat them in any manner.
10) Always act as if you are being watched:
 “Know what is above you: an eye that sees”. When
you realize that someone above you is always watching
you, the answer is easy.

 MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM QURAN:

There are several Aayahs in the holy Quran

which declare the “Usool” or principles in doing
business transactions.
1) obedience and respect for authority:
Obedience and respect for authority is essential
in any corporate organisation.
2) Mutual consultation and team work:
The holy Quran advocates the concept of mutual
consultation and team work for better results. The
Japanese management has proved the benefits of team
work to the world. There is almost where team work
does not work. Thus, we can say that team work is
essential for success of organisation as:
T – together
E – everyone
A – achieves
M – more
3) Equal opportunities to everyone:
The concept of equal opportunities basically states
that all the employees should have an equal right to
grow, contribute and be rewarded.
4) Fulfilling contracts, commitments and promises:
For any business to survive, fulfilling its contracts,
commitments, promises is extremely important.
5) Optimum capacity utilisation:
It basically indicates not to over-burden any
resource, whether it is a machine or an employee, or
not to under-load any machine or employee and to
have a balance in the workload.
6) Elimination of wastages:
Wastage elimination is one of the modern concepts
implemented by the organisations all over the world.
7) Just in time:
Time is a concept pioneered by Toyota. It means
keeping as much inventory as needed. It reduces cost
and wastage.
8) Kaizen:
Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning continuous
improvement.
9) Customer satisfaction:
Customer satisfaction is a sure business model
and it has proved its effectiveness for more than one
big company.
 MANAGEMENT LESSON FROM KAUTILYA’S
ARTHASHASHTRA:

1) Business management principles:

Kautilya’s arthashashtra has given many principles
that helps in day to day management of the
organisation.
2) Adequate distribution of profits / earnings:
Kautilya’s explains the importance of making a balance
among the various uses of profit/income simply and
beautifully.
3) Examination and auditing:
Some of these frauds relevant in today’s corporate
environment are as follows-
  Falsification with a motive of personal profit.
4) Focus on sustainable economic growth and people
welfare:
Kautilya literature is aimed at fulfilling the welfare of
the people.
5) Avoid misuse of power:
Kautilya had laid down the rules and regulations that
needs to be implemented by the bureaucrats and the
statesmen to avoid any kind of misuse of power.
6) Ethical conduct of business activities.
Kautilya arthashastra believed that application of
ethics in business activities will help to distinguish
between good and bad, moral and immoral, etc.

 MANAGEMENT LESSONS FROM VEDAS:

1) Divinity of all souls:

Every human being reflects the divine. “paraspar devo
bhava”- it means regard the others as a divine being.
2) Aham brahmasmi:
Aham brahmasmi basically means I have immense
potential. I make the impossible possible. The principle
will help you to perform your work-related tasks with
confidence.
3) Why to work?
The vedas give answers to basic question as to why
you need to work? There are two basic reasons to
work:
a) For your personal growth
b)For the welfare of the world.
4) How to work?
Vedic principles help us to understand how to work in
an organisation. The principle of seva tyag helps us to
understand how to work in an organization.
5) Yoga karmashu kaushalam (work is worship):
Yoga means excellence at work. Kaushalam means
doing work with devotion and without any attachment.
One must keep in mind that one is a mere instrument
of god performing the task and he must do it with
complete devotion and dedication. Work must be
offered to the supreme power of god, because the
energy which enables us to perform work is given by
that power of god. Hence, work is considered as
worship.
6) Parasparam bhavayanath (Nurture each other):
That each employee should help each other in an
organisation for conducting day to day business
activities.
7) Fostering team spirit:
By co-operation, respect and feeling of fellowship, all
of us can enjoy the highest good.
T – together
E – everyone
A – achieves
M – more
8) detachment from results (Nish Kama karma):
Nishakama karma or selfless or desireless action is an
action performed without any expectation of fruits or
results.