YOU have probably heard more about Vatsyayana's Kamasutras and Patanjali's Yogasutras. Here are sutras for executives in Canakya on Management, by Ashok R. Garde, from Jaico Books (www.jaicobooks.com). "A sutra is a short, pithy statement or an aphorism about a concept; it is easy to memorise, and to recall whenever required in practice," explains the author.

Almost half of the over 450 sutras of Canakya (or Chanakya a.k.a. Kautilya and Visugupta) are on `the principles of management' appropriate for rulers and administrators; and the rest are for the common man.

Though the western schools have compared Canakya to Machiavelli, the 16th century Italian statesman-advisor to kings, who is "well-known for advocating unscrupulous methods to retain/gain power," none of Canakya's sutras indicate "any crooked or unethical advice," points out Garde.

The book is divided into about a score chapters, on topics as varied as work and human relations, alliances and character. "Sukhasya moolam dharmah," begins chapter 1, and the sutra means `basis of happiness is ethics'. Note the emphasis on happiness, and not on pleasure, says Garde. "Ethical behaviour is universal, while moral behaviour is often defined by the particular culture of the society."

The second sutra reads, "Dharmasya mulam arthah," meaning that the basis of ethics is resources. "Even the crooked amongst the Indian traders know that subha (good/auspicious) comes first, and labha (gain/profit) comes afterwards," writes Garde. That the basis of resources is enterprise, you learn from a subsequent aphorism.

`Not having a chief is preferable to having a chief without humility/morality,' counsels a diktat. "Keep friendship and consultation separate," is another practical advice. "Do not confide with a friend about your plans simply because he is a friend," explains Garde's commentary.

"Make him a minister who is learned and who has passed the integrity tests," states Canakya, and one wished the suggestion were followed in government.

An important management lesson is that for the work-blind, policy/strategy is the lantern. "When in doubt about whether to take one action or the other, or when quite foggy about what to do next, the policy guidelines help the manager to decide wisely," elaborates the author.

On laziness, Canakya says that the lazy one does not deploy employees. "A lazy person lets things happen to him, or for him."

Four elements that define management excellence are: "gaining possession of non-possessed; protecting that which is gained; making the protected grow; and deployment of employees." Enterprise management forms the basis of the science of ethics, as one learns in a chapter on rajya-niti.

Alliances will become important when the political battle-scene hots up. Remember Canakya's advice that taboos collaboration with the weak.

Useful analogies are: "A clash with stronger is like the fight between warriors elephant-mounted and on-foot," and "an earthen pot gets destroyed when it hits another earthen pot."

Learning about competing enterprises is essential not only for collaborating, but also for `standing alone', reminds Canakya. To those who ask if materialistic pursuits deviate from virtue, a sutra clarifies that coveting wealth/resources is not counted amongst vices. A corollary is that wealth leaves those who are satisfied with resources they possess. "The principle is of `growth', not of `maintenance' at the given level," writes Garde. "Without working for growth, even maintaining the given level of performance becomes difficult to achieve."

Another sutra reminds that in law enforcement lies one's own protection. "Employment is sustained through enforcement," is a helpful clue to the HR department. Simple tip on working reads thus: `Upayapurvam na duskaram syat,' meaning `attended with right means any work does not become difficult to do'.

Also, avoid `antara', that is; `no procrastination ought to be done between works'. When you fail to act and allow too much time to lapse, it can cause the work to perish!

`A-prayatnat karya-vipattih bhavati,' is a straightforward message that `lack of effort turns into difficulties in work'. Also, "No work accomplishment for those who consider that fate alone decides."

And the golden rule, that today's management gurus would also vouch for, is: "When the number of tasks are many, priority should be given to that work which is most fruitful."

Priority read!

ManageMentor@TheHindu.co.in

More Stories on : Management | Manage Mentor

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page