Dr. Samani Shashi Pragya
The first principle for a successful manager is non-absolutist attitude. The viewpoint derived from an absolutist view makes a problem more complicated rather than solving. The manager who looks at a problem from a relativistic standpoint, can make progress in the process of development. One cannot manage others before he manages himself. As popular in anekāntavāda, there are four basic elements, while managing any activity, viz., 'dravya, kṣetra, kāla and bhāva'. Consideration of above mentioned four views, helps the manager to have a deeper and multi-dimensional understanding of others, to manage the people around him, his subordinates, his business competitors, government officials and even his superiors too. The manager who looks at it from a biased angle cannot succeed in his work. A biased person does not see what is rational, but is inclined towards that which is irrational. Manager performs certain important functions like planning, organizing, leadership and control. Unless and until, the managers take into consideration innumerable condition that go into the success of an organization, the planning of an organization is bound to suffer. So wider the approach of a manager, better the chances for the management to succeed and the organization to prosper. In activities relating to industry and business, several persons work together. They do not always have the same views. On account of possible divergent views, an environment of conflict may occur. The mystic Jalaludin Rumi has rightly said that, "Life on this planet is nothing but the harmony of the opposites." The modern business school cannot shut their eyes to realities. They must also reorient and train the students of management science in the way, to find harmony. The anekānta universities like Nalanda and Takshshila were in fact management schools, and the students produced by these institutes proved to be the most successful prime ministers of various princely states. We have to unearth the methodology of the ancient gurukuls and universities in present curriculum of business management. Some modern owner of the business aims only at amassing wealth and being ranked as the richest persons of the world. But they forget that they have a collective responsibility to see that their mad race for wealth doesn't destroy environment, their industries does not release excessive green house gases which inturn widen holes in ozone layers triggering to global warming. While passing any resolution, manager should consider ‘the other’, so that an environment of peaceful co-existence can be created.
Another by product of the modern management tools is the worst form of stress that grips the business executives,who are not able to cope with the demands of their bosses. The rate of stress-related deaths among these executives is alarming. We have to reverse this trend through the anekāntic perspective and redefine the principles of management in the context of global issues that threaten our survival into the third millennium. If a person develops an anekāntic outlook and gives importance to the primary work first and renders secondary importance to other works, will surely succeed in his respective fields.
