"The Mahabharata and its Relevance to Modern Management"

The Mahabharata, a Hindu epic, teaches several important lessons that can be applied to management.

1. Improvement in skills and overcoming weaknesses: The Pandavas, one of the main groups in the Mahabharata, spent their 13 years of exile actively working to improve their skills and overcome their weaknesses. In modern times, it is important for individuals and organizations to constantly strive for improvement and address any weaknesses in order to succeed.

2. Delegation of responsibilities: The Kauravas, the other main group in the Mahabharata, had a centralized leadership structure and delegated responsibilities to their commanders one after the other. This led to clashes due to conflicting egos. In contrast, the Pandavas had a modern management structure with a chief commander, Arjun, and his counselor Lord Krishna, and a commander in chief, Dhristadyumna. This more democratic management style reduces risks as responsibilities are shared with others.

3. Power of teamwork: The Pandavas were able to defeat the Kauravas, who had a larger army, due to their strong teamwork and a shared vision. The Kauravas, on the other hand, had commanders who fought for individual reasons and this led to ego clashes. A team with a common goal and vision is more likely to succeed.

4. Commitment with competency: The Kauravas had competent individuals, but they were not fully committed to their cause. The Pandavas, on the other hand, had highly competent and committed individuals, such as Abhimanyu, who sacrificed his life for the team's goal. In management, it is important to have both competence and commitment in order to achieve success.

5. Quality over quantity: When given the choice between his army and his own expertise, Krishna chose to align with the Pandavas, who valued his expertise over the quantity of soldiers. In management, it is often more beneficial to focus on quality rather than quantity.

6. Picking up on hidden messages: In the Mahabharata, Vidura, the uncle of the Kauravas, was able to decode a hidden message and warn the Pandavas of a plot to kill them. In management, it is important to be attuned to what customers or clients may be trying to communicate indirectly and take appropriate action.