MANAGEMENT ETHOS

Dr Aarushi Jain

ETHOS AND BUSINESS ETHICS

Oxford defines ethos as “The characteristic Spirit and Beliefs of community/people” which distinguishes one culture from the other.

An ethic, by definition, is a set of moral principles. Business ethics is the branch of ethics that

examines ethical rules and principles within a commercial context; the various moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business setting; and any special duties or obligations that apply to persons who are engaged in commerce.

SOURCES OF BUSINESS ETHICS

Religion

Cultural experience

The legal system

Ethics management Ethics management is a new science in the field of management.

With the rapid evolution in the field of management, the role of ethics has been recognized, by and large, by the management experts. By ethics, it refers to the principles of conduct governing an individual or group in a society is known as ethics management.

Morality as it pertains to the business management world is commonly known as management ethics. The main goal of management ethics is to treat all employees and customers justly and fairly. When a management team adheres to management ethics, employees become motivated and a workplace environment becomes motivational.

WORK ETHICS

Work Ethic is a set of values based on the moral qualities of hard work and attentiveness. It is also a belief in moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. A work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative or maintaining social skills.

GENERAL ETHICAL ISSUES

Employee responsibilityCash and incentive plansPerformance appraisalRace and disabilityJob discriminationPrivacy issuesSafety and healthRestructuring and layoffs

Business ethos principles practiced by Indian Companies Indian companies are guided by certain rules of conduct in the form of ethical and moral

standards. Some of the business ethos principles, practiced by Indian companies are listed below:

1. Principle of `sacrifice’ An individual is trained by the principle of `sacrifice’ through the process of `give and take’

policy. 2. Principle of `harmony’ An individual is trained in such a way that to avoid conflicts and friction one should be

guided by certain set of moral conducts and principles. 3. Principle of `non-violence’ This principle protects an organization from strikes and lockouts and unnecessary

avoidable conflicts. 4. Principle of `reward’ The activities of individuals need to be monitored and encouragement in the form of

‘rewards’ may cultivate the spirit of higher productivity among groups. 5. Principle of `justice’ The one who works hard is ‘rewarded’ and the one who fails to do so is ‘punished’. This is

essence the principle of justice. 6. Principle of `taxation’ The one who is taxed more is encouraged to stay fit for a longer period by proper

appreciation and encouragement. 7. Principle of `Integrity’ An integrated mind is more productive. Groups are encouraged to stay united in order to

reap the benefits of division of labour.

The general principles of effective management can be applied in every field, the differences being more in application than in principle. The Manager's functions can be summed up as:

✔ Forming a vision ✔ Planning the strategy to realize the vision. ✔ Cultivating the art of leadership. ✔ Establishing institutional excellence. ✔ Building an innovative organization. ✔ Developing human resources. ✔ Building teams and teamwork. ✔ Delegation, motivation, and communication. ✔ Reviewing performance and taking corrective steps when called for. Thus, management is a process of aligning people and getting them

committed to work for a common goal to the maximum social benefit – in search of excellence.

INDIAN MANAGEMENT

Indian management concept based on Bhagwad Gita, Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, which deals with universal truth of life. E.g teamwork is an important principle in management, and Rama applied the same in search of Sita and was successful in the

mission. Management principles such as encouraging lower

employees, rewards for good work, self-motivation, decision-making, recognition, market survey, market exploitation, time management and the art of communication are aligned with instances in the epic.

INDIAN ETHOS The Vedantic View Of Karma All work/Karma to manifest divinity, hence these must be pure,

good, honest and sincere. Indian philosophy also teaches to perform every work without having any attachment to result, because results do not fall under the jurisdiction of a doer.

The Self (Atman) As The Source Of All Power: Considering motivations as internal every human being has the

same divine atman with immense potentialities within Vedanta brings infinite expansion of mind, breaks down all the barriers and brings out the God in man. Motivation is to be internal and not external.

INDIAN ETHOS

Welfare Of All Unique Work Culture: Work is considered

as duty or SADHANA Means Are Equally Important As The

Ends. Integrated human personality of self-developed manager can assure best and competent management of any enterprise, involving collective works and efforts.

PRINCIPLES OF INDIAN ETHOS Know Yourself Humility & Respect For Others Individual development Self Management & Self Development Holistic Approach To Life Service Attitude Team Spirit: T- Together E- Everyone, A- Achieves, M- More. Perfection In Work Happiness of Soul Dignity of Work Co-operation Fine Blending Between Spiritualism & Materialism-Business should

be managed ethically fulfilling the responsibilities to all the stakeholders who are directly or indirectly associated with business & who are part of the society.

Hanuman going to Lanka, we learn the following management principles:

Ascertaining the goals, or job to be done. Getting mentally prepared for it. Having a right plan. Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the competitor and what

threats and opportunities are there in the business. A good example of getting into strategic alliance with others to

achieve your desired goal.- sugriv etc Moreover during a crisis, a company needs its best of the

managers to bail it out of the same. A good manager listens to what his subordinates has to say and tries to keep them together especially when the organization needs them the most.

LESSONS FROM RAMAYAN

Lessons from Bhagwat Gita The Bhagavad Gita, written thousands of years ago, enlightens

us on all managerial techniques leading us towards a harmonious and blissful state of affairs in place of the conflict, tensions, poor productivity, and absence of motivation and so on, common in most of Indian enterprises today – and probably in enterprises in many other countries.

The modern (Western) management concepts of vision, leadership, motivation, excellence in work, achieving goals, giving work meaning, decision making and planning, are all discussed in the Bhagavad Gita.

Management guidelines from the Bhagavad Gita

There is an important distinction between effectiveness and efficiency in managing. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Efficiency is doing things right. Forming a vision Planning the strategy to realize the vision. Cultivating the art of leadership. Establishing institutional excellence. Building an innovative organization. Developing human resources. Building teams and teamwork. Delegation, motivation, and communication. Reviewing performance and taking corrective steps when called

for.Thus, management is a process of aligning people and getting them committed to work for a common goal to the maximum social benefit in search of excellence.

BENEFITS OF MANAGING ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

1. Attention to business ethics has substantially improved society. 2. Ethics programs help maintain a moral course in turbulent times. 3. Ethics programs cultivate strong teamwork and productivity. 4. Ethics programs support employee growth and meaning. 5. Ethics programs are like an insurance policy -- they help ensure that

policies are legal. 6. Ethics programs help avoid criminal acts “of omission” and can lower

fines. 7. Ethics programs help manage values associated with quality

management, strategic planning and diversity management -- this benefit needs far more

attention. 8. Ethics programs promote a strong public image.

THANKS