From Battlefield to Boardroom: The Gita’s Guide to Effective Management

Abstract

The contemporary management theory increasingly borrows from ancient wisdom to address the current complexity and moral dilemmas in organizations. This study systematically examines the Bhagavad Gita's contribution to management practice in present-day scenarios, fostering a holistic management theory integrating ancient wisdom with modern organizational necessity. The study uses a hermeneutical research method to uncover nine interrelated management principles articulated in the philosophical discourse of the Gita: Karma Philosophy (process-oriented action devoid of attachment to outcome), Leadership by Service (servant leadership), Decision-Making by Wisdom (buddhi-yoga enabling ethical decision-making), Emotional Intelligence and Mental Toughness (sthitaprajna enabling balanced leadership), Organizational Behaviour and Team Management (swadharma role alignment), ethics and Corporate Governance (integrity through dharma), Strategic Thinking and Vision (equanimous long-term planning), Change Management (acceptance of impermanence), and Conflict Resolution and Communication (dialogue and mediation through principled approaches). Comprehensively breaking the barriers of disciplines, Krishna guided Arjuna so as to provide teachings relevant to a modern manager facing predicaments of leadership, motivation, and ethics. In stark contrast with traditional management models that rely on quantitative measures and short-term benefits, the Gita provides a holistic framework that emphasizes inner transformation, emotional intelligence, and value-based leadership. The study observes that this ancient philosophy, where organizations not only create structures that are effective but justice-driven cultures that endure through time.