BE Session 10 – International Perspective and Indian Ethos

Western Management Concepts and Concepts based on Indian Ethos

A comparison of the Western management concepts and parallel concepts based on Indian ethos would be useful at this juncture.

Managerial Effectiveness under IEM (Indian Ethos in Management)

The main job of management is not producing results. Workers are to produce results; managers produce performers.
Top management is visionary. They plan 5 to 10 years ahead from now. Manager has two duties:
1. To translate the vision or dream in terms of projects accomplished.
2. To produce performers who are self motivated. Worker’s job is to produce results by executing the projects.

Item Western Management Management Based on Indian Ethos

1. Belief Production, productivity, profit at any cost. Material gain, with belief in achieving human
and social welfare also.

2. Guidance Management guided by mind only, led away by Management by consciousness, power beyond
ego and desire. Soulless management. mind, i.e., soul. Interiorized management.

3. Emphasis Worker development, management of others, Development of man, Integrated growth,

profit maximization. Human being given only lip Harmony, happiness and health. Management
sympathy. of self.

4. Tools 5 Ms as resources – men, money, materials,
machines, markets, science and technology.
Information for decision making.
Men, machines, materials and methods as
conscious partners – all having consciousness
whether manifested or dormant. Information
and intuition for decisions. Ethics and values
combined with skills.

Conflict resolution by negotiation, compromise, Conflict resolution through integration and

5. Problem solving
arbitration, liquidation of differences only for a synthesis on stressing super-ordinate common

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 BE Session 10 – International Perspective and Indian Ethos

temporary period. No reference to higher goals so that enduring harmony and unity is
consciousness. assured. Self introspection, stepping back aids
the search for solution.

6. Decision making Brain –storming (round table approach). Brain-stilling (Entering the room of eternal
silence.)

7. Development Physical, vital and mental only. Soul or spirit Integrated development, whole-man approach,
Process ignored. Material development only, even at breath control and meditation emphasized.
the cost of man and nature. Human enrichment and total quality.

External behavior. Mental, material, selfish only Noble attitudes. Inner guidance, team spirit,
8. Approach
soulless. total harmony, global good.

MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS

Item Current Definition Definition as per Indian Ethos in Management

1. Management Getting things done. Helping other people to produce extraordinary

results.

2. Productivity Related to plant capacity. Related to men’s capability.

3. Planning Management by results. Management by strategy.

4. Effective supervision Concern for task and not for people. Produce performers. Help the subordinates to

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 BE Session 10 – International Perspective and Indian Ethos

develop leadership qualities.

5. Motivation of people Maslow’s theory of needs (sometimes with Emphasis on self-motivation by subordinates to
some modifications). develop leadership qualities.

6. Resources Reliance almost on external resources. Reliance almost on internal resources.

7. Health of the company Balance sheet and P/L account. Money oriented. People oriented performance, environment
friendly. Private as well as public benefit.

8. Profitability In terms of money. Social costs not included in In terms of good public image. Social costs
balance sheet. internalized.

9. Hygiene factor Attention only on job enrichment. Primary emphasis on mind enrichment.

10. Rights and duties Emphasis on taking, not on giving. Rights Emphasis on giving, not on taking. Duties given
become primary. Duties become subsidiary. great importance and rights assume secondary
values.

11. Marketing Keen competition to capture and retain Through cooperation by playing
demand; market driven economy. complementary role. Social awareness in
marketing.

12. System Set of interrelated elements working as a whole. Pattern of particular response expressed
Hardware aspect. More emphasis on quantity through organizational functioning. Software
and objective criteria. aspect. Equal emphasis on quality/quantity
with emphasis on subject aspect.

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 BE Session 10 – International Perspective and Indian Ethos

13. Structure Hierarchical. Organic, autonomous, evolutionary.

14. Growth Ultimately dependent on turnover of goods. Coordinating private and public benefit.

15. Job Satisfaction Hygiene factor. Creativity ignored. Through innovation, uniqueness, extraordinary
results, troubleshooting.

16. Training Functional skills; not value oriented, or holistic. Value oriented, holistic approach and equal
emphasis on both (value/skills)

17. Man-machine equation Machine dominates man as human beings Man behind the machine given due regard.
receive lip sympathy. Healthy philosophy of life. Emotional stability.

18. Man placement As per qualifications and experiences. More stress on natural indication and
character.

19. Quality Products by ISO, TQM, Q.C. Human value, Human quality; values, character, mind-
quality plays minor role. We have crises of enrichment, wholeman approach. Mind and
values. Adulteration widespread. matter are given equal importance.

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 BE Session 10 – International Perspective and Indian Ethos

THE MIND-SET OF A MANAGER

According to Current Management Practices According to Indian Ethos in Management

1. Produce results. 1. Produce performers.

2. Organize men, materials, machines and money. 2. Mobilize men and sound out the readiness.

3. Plan, set goals, prepare schedules checklists. 3. Obtain agreement and commitment on means and ends.

4. Motivate, praise, reprimand, punish, push people. 4. Inspire, empower, celebrate success, mourn failure, draw
people.

5. Check, control, report at command post. 5. Set personal example, visible, accessible on the move.

6. Coordinate, requisition, convene meetings. 6. Facilitate, show ways to overcome.

7. Instruct, issue notices, order demand compliance. 7. Make queries, sound out ideas, encourage suggestions.

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