Ancient Indian wisdom for managers: the relevance of Valmiki Ramayana in developing managerial effectiveness

Balakrishnan Muniapan and Biswajit Satpathy

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2010, vol. 3, issue 6, 645-668

Abstract: Valmiki Ramayana is considered as a marvellous epic and the first written literature in the Indian context. Over the centuries, several authors have explored various dimensions of Ramayana ranging from philosophy, spirituality, politics, economics, sociology, culture, literature, language, poetry, technology and others. However, management does not seem to be a popular subject of analysis from the Ramayana, although Valmiki Ramayana is pregnant with several lessons for managers. Therefore, this paper aims to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the relevance of Valmiki Ramayana for development of contemporary managers. By employing hermeneutics, a qualitative methodology, the authors have explored work motivation, dharmic management, principles of control and vigilance, decision making, humanism and equanimity from Valmiki Ramayana which provide lessons for enhancing managerial effectiveness. The prospect of exploring Valmiki Ramayana in other areas of management such as strategic management, people management, and others can be considered in the near future.

Keywords: Valmiki Ramayana; managerial effectiveness; wisdom; literary epics; philosophy; spirituality; politics; economics; sociology; literature; language; poetry; technology; managers; hermeneutics; qualitative methodologies; work motivation; dharmic management; control; vigilance; decision making; humanism; equanimity; strategic management; people management; human resource management; HRM; India; Indian culture; business management. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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