Gita is a book of wisdom and spirituality. It represents Grand Integration of Thought & Action. Essence of Management and Leadership is rooted in Thought & Action. Gita suggests that Human Thought & Action should be rooted in higher consciousness. This is the new vision for management & leadership rooted in HOPE: Higher Order Purpose of Existence.

1. Gita and Management:
Relevance of Gita in
Management & Leadership*
Dr. Subhash Sharma
Director
Indus Business Academy (IBA), Bangalore
*Talk at the Department of Business Administration, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur,
July 14, 2017
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

2. Why Gita in Management ?
A New Vision for Management and Leadership
Gita as Foundation for HOPE:
Higher Order Purpose of Existence
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

3. Corporate Gita
Management Lessons from Gita for the Corporate World
(Corporate Gita: Lessons for Management, Administration and
Leadership, Subhash Sharma, Journal of Human Values, July-Dec. 1999,
2:5, pp. 103-123)
(Journal of Human Values is published by Management Center for
Human Values, IIM Calcutta, Kolkata)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

4. Relevance of Gita in Modern Society
Visions and Models for Human Society and Human Existence
• Understanding Human Society through SO-SO (Self Other – Self Other)
Window/ SO-SO Windows
• SO-SO Window asks a simple question –
Who is Other? …………
How do we define Other? …………
Answer to this question leads to five broad answers
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

5. Who Is Other? Who Are Others?
Enemy Competitor Friend/ Partner Brothers My Own reflection
& sister
(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V)
Self is Other
& Other is Self
My Brothers &
sisters
My Friend/
partner
My Competitor
My Enemy
(New Ideas in Strategic Thinking & Management, Subhash Sharma, 2016, p. 44)(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

6. Five Models of Human Existence
• Five Models of Human Existence and Mindsets (T-A: Thought –
Action) in Consonance with SO-SO Window
Violence & Conflict Competition Cooperation Connectivity Oneness
(Cosmic Connectivity)
(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

7. Key Aspects of Enemy/Conflict Model/
Violence Model
Model I
Life is a war and full of violence
Other person is my enemy
Other is in perpetual conflict
Other is responsible for my present condition
Violence and Hate are only solutions for social change
Illustration of This Type of Worldview and Mindset
Terrorism, Marxism and other such imperialistic and intolerant ideologies
rooted in ‘Binary Thinking’: Black and White
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

8. Key Aspects of Competition Model
Model II
Life is competition
Other person is my competitor
I must defeat Others and Win at any cost
Life is Win-Lose Game
Keynote: Survival of the Fittest and Leave behind the Rest
Inspirational Thinker/Hero: Darwin
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

9. Key Aspects of Cooperation Model
Model III
Life is interdependence
Nature is full of reciprocal cooperation
Human nature is to cooperate
Key Note: Paraspar Bhavyanta (Mutual cooperation)
Gandhi’s Trusteeship Model
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

10. Key Aspects of Connectivity Model
Model IV
Life is Celebration of Connections (Jai Ho)
Everything is interconnected like Neurons
Life is an evolutionary journey towards Higher Consciousness
Others are co-travelers (Musafir)
Inspirational Thinkers:
Spiritual Thinkers like Vivekananda, Aurobindo & Others
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

11. Key Aspects of Oneness/Theory O Model*
Model V
Life has cosmic connectivity with cosmic consciousness
Through ‘Viswarup darshan’, you realize this connection
Realize this connection with Divine and perform your tasks:
Your mundane tasks have a higher purpose
Keynote: Arrival of the best to lead the rest
(Yada yada hi dharmasaya …..)
Inspirational Source: Gita
*Theory O (Oneness) of Management and Leadership (Sharma 2013)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

12. A Comparative Picture of Five Models and
Corresponding Thinkers
Violence Competition Cooperation Connectivity Oneness
(Cosmic Connectivity)
Theory O
(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V)
Illustrations:
Marx & Others Darwin .. Gandhi … Vivekananda …
Ideologies Darwinism ……. Indian Ethos …..
e.g. Terrorism, ……. Indian Thought….
Naxalism etc. etc. ------Indian Thinkers ….
Survival of the fittest,
leave behind the rest Arrival of the best to lead the rest
Reflections in Higher Education and Institutions of Higher Education and Higher Education Curriculum in
India: (C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

13. Implications of Five Models for Higher
Education in Social Sciences and Management
From B School to C School
C School: C represents Consciousness
C School implies doing Business with Higher Consciousness
In Social Sciences it implies Infusion of Higher Consciousness
(Cooperation, Connectivity and Oneness) among Students
Higher Education should be linked with Higher Consciousness:
‘Arrival of the Best to Lead the Rest’
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

14. Some Experiments in Infusing Higher
Consciousness in Higher Education
Management Center for Human Values (MCHV), IIM Calcutta
WISDOM: Women’s Institute for Studies in Development Oriented Management
(WISDOM), Banasthali University, Rajasthan
Indus Business Academy (IBA), Bangalore
Department of Business Administration, Rajasthan University, Jaipur
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusamdhana Samsthana (SVYASA Yoga University),
Bangalore
…..
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

15. Managerial Implications of Five Models
Violence Competition Cooperation Connectivity Oneness
(Cosmic Connectivity)
Theory O
(I) (II) (III) (IV) & (V)
Authoritarian and Darwinian model of Trusteeship model Divine & Democratic
Colonial model of Management & Leadership: Style of Management &
Management & Use Authority & Democracy Leadership
Leadership to Dominate & Colonize others
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

16. Towards New Corporate Model With Roots in
Indian Ethos
• Some Key Indian Ideas inspired by Higher Consciousness/ Indian Ethos
Trusteeship Integral Sabka Saath New Corporate
model Humanism Sabka vikas model
(I) (II) (III)
(Gandhi) (Deen Dayal Modi A New Integration
Upadhyay) (I+II+III)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

17. Towards Corporate HOPE with Foundations in
Gita
Shubh-labh:
Dharmik
Profit
Loksangraha
Karmayoga
Market
Society
Self/ Leadership
HOPE: Higher Order Purpose of Existence
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

18. Paradigm Shift for New Corporate Model
Western Windows Eastern Doors
Adam Smith to Artha (Shubh labh)
Darwin to Dharma
Maslow to Moksha
For Social Transformation:
Marx to Mahatma
(Marxist model of violence to Mahatma model of non-violence)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

19. New Foundations for New Corporate Model
• Three DKS Principles for the New Corporate Model
• I. Demand Supply and Dharma
• II. Thought-Action and Karma
(Thought and Actions driven by Positive and Balanced approach i.e.
Positive Karma and Nishkam Karma)
• III. Work Ethos and Swadharma (Work Activities- Role, driven by
Self-Responsibility:
Managers and Workers as SRI: Self Responsible Individual)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

20. Social Vision of Gita
• Towards Sacro-Civic Society (Sharma 1998)
Sacro-civic society:
Human Activities performed with
Higher Consciousness - HOPE
Secular activities
Sacro approach:
Higher Consciousness
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

21. Concluding Comment
GITA:
Grand Integration of Thought and Action
(Sharma, 1999)
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017

22. Further Readings
• Suhash Sharma (1996, 2006, 2017), Management in New Age: Western
Windows Eastern Doors, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi
• Subhash Sharma (1999), Corporate Gita: Lessons for Management,
Administration and Leadership, Journal of Human Values, 5(2), pp. 103-
123
• Subhash Sharma (2007), New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, New Age
International Publishers, New Delhi
• Subhash Sharma (2012), New Earth Sastra: Towards Holistic Development
& Management (HDM), IBA Publications, Bangalore
• Subhash Sharma (2016), New Ideas in Strategic Thinking & Management,
New Age International Publishers, New Delhi
(C) SS_IBA_Department of Business Administration_Rajasthan
University_Jaipir_14_07_2017