The document discusses management lessons that can be learned from the Mahabharata epic. It analyzes strategies and approaches used by both the Kauravas and Pandavas in preparing for and fighting the Great War. Key points include the importance of strong leadership, effective strategy, mentorship, team spirit, empowering all roles, and maintaining commitment to the overall goal. Examples are given of how different characters demonstrated or lacked these qualities in their actions leading up to the war.

1. ESHAN COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT LESSON FROM
MAHABHARATA
Submitted to :
Ms.Pratima sharma
Presentation topic :
Submitted by :
Brahmdutt upraity

2. MAHABHARATA AS MANAGEMENT

3. MAHABHARATA
Mahabharata is considered the largest epic in the
world. It's said that whatever is not there in the
Mahabharata, cannot be found anywhere else. So,
we will try to find out some intricate management
messages that are relevant even today. Our main
focus would be the Great War that changed the
course of the Third Age of Man.

4. OBJECTIVES
The war is a kind of target that you have to
achieve. So there are so many things that
will need planning. You need to plan the
execution process, limitation, team member
and leaders etc.

5. PREPARING FOR THE TARGET
Karna want to subdue other things so that he
could get their wealth, on the other hand,
arjun, bheem and yudhishthra set out to
acquire divyastras,strength and strategic
wisdom.

6. ALLIES
Kauravas had a few allies; while pandavas worked
to garner more allies so that they could gain more
support.
Make power full allies : “Build up strong
relations or contact”
Even if you are lacking resources be good with your
networking which will help you to have an upper
hand at the time of crisis.

7. 1.LEADERSHIP
KAURAVAS: Centralized leadership (Autocratic)
PANDAVAS: Distributed leadership (democratic)
share your responsibilities
Distributed work : The more people you have, working
towards the different goals, the
more efficient output is going to
be.

8. CONTI….
Leadership is not only about power but on ability to
empower others.
Arjun had skills but he was lost his
will but in this situation krishna
guide and support him to make him
will

9. CONTI…
 Every organisation needs a leader like
krishna of mahabharat.

10. 2. STRATEGY
 Its not having the best:
People, Material, System, Process.
 Its about using them:

11. CONTI…
Strategy means utilizing the right tools
(or person) at the right time.

12. 3. A GOOD MENTOR IS WORTH AN
ENTIRE ARMY
Lord krishna to
arjun & duryodhan
1. Either
have my
larger
narayani
sena
2. Or have me
on your side
(but I will not
pick arms in
the wear)

13. CONTI…
Duryodhan choose:
Large narayan sena
Arjun
choose :
Lord krishna
- Guide , Mentor , Friend philosopher

14. CONTI…
Arjun choose lord krishna because he know
both team has good warrior who can change
the result alone.

15. CONTI…
Supreme army
without an
efficient leader
O
R
A mentor or
leader who could
guide you
through all kinds
of problems

16. 4. NEGLECT NONE
Nakula was known
for his expertise in
medicine
They treated all injured soldiers and
healed their wounds
Sahadeva was
known for his
expertise in
astrology
Because of their continous support,their army was able to
sustain on the battlefield against huge kaurava sena.

17. CONTI…
HR
FINANCE
R&D
Each department has their
own role to play in building
a healthy and & growing
organisation and in the
market.
Company should give equal
importance to all their
departments.

18. 5. TEAMSPIRIT
KAURAVAS: No team spirit. They all fought
their individual wars.
PANDAVADS: One team,One goal. As men,
they all had huge respect for krishna and
yudhisthira. While as warriors they were in
complete awe of bhima and arjuna. Most of
them were close relatives- cousins, brother-in-
laws, father-in-laws. More than that they all
were part of the decision making process.

19. CONTI…
“Teamwork succeeds where individuals efforts
fails”

20. 6.WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
KAURAVAS : Patriarchal structure.
Bhisma , drona, kripa , vidur,shakuni,duryodhan, karna,
duhsasana.
No women in the decision-making process.
Gandhari retreated to the inner chambers.
Nobody listen to
her

21. CONTI…
PANDAVAS : Matriarchal structure.
 Kunti was the authority supreme for the pandavas
“whatever my mother says is dharma to me” :
yudhisthira
 Draupadi was a companion in whatever the pandavas
did. She had s big role in all the decision- making.
Without her the pandavas would have most
probability reclined to the forests.
 Even the younger pandavas : ghatotkach ,
abhimanyu , and iravan were brought up by their
mothers. So the female influence was huge.

22. CONTI…
WOMEN- Better half. Any team which
doesn’t have women is unbalanced, for the
masculine traits of aggression and
dominance should be balance by the
faminine traits of harmony and sustenances.

23. 7.MOTIVATION
KAURAVAS- “Without war,will concede not
a needle prick of earth”- Duryodhan
PANDAVAS- “We fight over a kingdom, as
dogs over a piece of meat”

24. 8.COMMITMENT
KEEP IT STRONG
The interest of the individuals should never exceed the team
interest.
The best man for a job is not the one with the best
capabilities but one with the greatest commitment.
once you’re up for a challenge, do not back out.

25. 9.INDIVIDUAL MOTIVES
kauravas : Except for duryodhan nobody wanted the war
. All the 4 main genarals had strong ties with pandavas
 Bhisma(grandchildren) : wont kill the pandavas. will kill a
thousand soldier each day.
 Drona (students) : wont kill the pandavas. Will capture
them only.
 Shalya(nakula-sahdev maternal uncle) : loved the
pandavas and covertly help them by humilating karna.
 Karna(brother to the pandavas) : Promised not to kill any
of the other pandavas save arjuna. A team of traitors.

26. CONTI…
Pandavas : Commom goal. But the individual
had their individual targets. Their own agenda,
which just become one with teams agenda.
 Arjuna : karna
 Bhima : Duryodhan and his brothers.
 Nakula : Karna ’s sons
 Sahadeva : Shakuni and his sons
 Shikhandi : Bhisma