International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET) Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2018, pp. 22–33, Article ID: IJMET_09_01_003 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=9&Issue=1 ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT THINKING AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF MANAGEMENT’S DISCERNMENT FROM THE PROFILES OF THE SIKH GURUS Kesar Singh Professor, Amity University, Noida Dr Sanjeev Bansal Amity University, Noida ABSTRACT: Sikh history is just 400 years old and has displayed distinguished results following management through spirituality even sacrificed their lives for justice in the period from 1606 until 1708 by Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, his four sons, 43 disciples (forty Muktas and three Pyaras) and 850 Indian soldiers to halt forceful and criminal conversion to Islam by Mughal Emperors Aurangzeb and Jahangir. Sikh Gurus (6) and 15 saints from all religions authored Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which was declared Sikhs Guru forever by Guru Gobind Singh, tenth Guru. Guide lines laid in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are purely based on spirituality and best management practices, namely ‘Kirat Karo’ means earnest earning, ‘Wand Ke Shako’ and Daswandh means 10 percent of the earnest earning through volunteer contribution for running Langar (common and free kitchen) to all, irrespective of religion, caste, colour, race, origin and country is served with zeal, construction and maintenance of worship places called Gurdwaras all over in the world by Kar Sevaks (volunteers religious service), free medical aid, financial help to girls of poor families in marrying them, extending financial support to adversely affected population by natural calamities like earth quake, floods, draught and ‘Naam Japo’ means remain attached to Almighty, through reciting Gurbani, while doing daily chores, to control soul vices namely lust , anger, ego, selfishness and greed, which is being followed religiously and sincerely in Sikh religion, since origination of this brave religion. Not a single beggar in Sikh religion is existing even today in the entire world and Sikhs in- spite of just 2.7 percent in India and 0.39 percent in the world never projected themselves as a minority, since they have a firm belief in their Guru’s teaching. Sincere and hard work with Almighty’s blessings, can achieve success in any profession, which has been proved and is being religiously followed in this religion, even today, in the world dominated by materialism and digitization. There are 30,000 Gurdwaras in India and 922 in other countries abroad. There is no country in the http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 22 [email protected] Kesar Singh and Dr Sanjeev Bansal world which does not have a Gurdwara. Whole world recognizes Sikhs as most brave, daring, trustworthy, helping, sincere, independent, truthful and successful leaders, who followed management through teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Therefore, all requisite qualities of successful managers and leaders namely leading from the front, trustworthiness, loyalty, integrity, hard work, impartial, truthful, straight forwardness, setting examples of bravery, helping attitude, independence, firm belief in Almighty are inherent to Sikhism. Keywords: Management through spirituality, teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, best practices of Sikhism, heroic and bravery milestones of Sikhism, Mantras of success in management. Cite this Article: Kesar Singh and Dr Sanjeev Bansal, Evolution of Management Thinking and Enlightenment of Management’s discernment from the profiles of the Sikh Gurus, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology 9(1), 2018, pp. 22–33. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=9&Issue=1 1. INTRODUCTION Concept of Management: Management is the process of reaching organizational goals by working with and through people and other organizational resources by the best use in terms of human resources, money and material. It is well established fact that no individual can alone make any organization successful which is measured by its growth, satisfaction of the employees, attrition rate, disciplinary cases, contribution to the society and sustainability. Judicially utilization of resources is another major component of success of management, leading to growth and satisfaction of the employees. This is followed in Sikhism as illustrated by distinguished leaders namely Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, followed by disciples namely Banda Bahadur, Baba Deep Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Sardar Hari Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh - awarded Param Vir Chakra, Captain Ishar Singh - first Sikh to receive the Victoria Cross, Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria - awarded Param Vir Chakra, Gian Singh - awarded the Victoria Cross, Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora - supervised the surrender of more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during 1971 India-Pakistan war and many more distinguished leaders who laid their lives for the dignity of the country and humanity. There are four basic functions namely planning, organizing, influencing and controlling in management. In the present world ruled by digitization and hunger for materialist benefits also follows management traits namely satisfaction of the employees, minimum attrition rate, no disciplinary cases, optimum contribution to the society, sustainability and judicial utilization of resources. Management Panorama: Management is a general word which is complete with many components to include success of an organization, potential for growth, operational management, financial management, entrepreneur management, contribution to the social welfare of the society, rapport of the organization, research, getting abreast with the latest information, potential to fight unforeseen eventualities like disaster management, attrition rate of the employees, growth of the each individual and welfare of families of the employees, which shall lead to happiness of the employees. Success of Sikh religion which is growing at its own, never advertised its success but followed best practices namely Langar (free kitchen) for pilgrim irrespective of religion, caste, colour, race, origin and country. Daswandh (volunteer contribution of 10 percent of earnest earning) for the help of the needy people, including free shelter in Gurdwaras, joining Defense services being a noble profession, leading from the front in every organization and educating every pilgrim about the teaching of http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 23 [email protected] Evolution of Management Thinking and Enlightenment of Management’s discernment from the profiles of the Sikh Gurus Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to motivate them to follow right path for the growth of the individual, family and society. In any organization today, free kitchen and volunteer contribution for helping the needy without any discrimination are considered best practices for the satisfaction of employees and growth of the organization. These traits are leading Sikhism to success, growth, happiness and satisfaction. Evolution of Management Thinking: Success of management lays on traits of leadership to motivate subordinates, gain confidence of seniors, utilization of resources available. Motivation comes through watching activities of leaders and understanding their success stories. Sikh religion has a very vast and rich history of such leaders, who not only motivated their disciples to rewrite the history, but laid best practices namely Kirat Karo, Wand Ke Shako, Naam Japo, Langar (free kitchen), Dasbandh, Kar Seva, speak the truth, stand for the right and don’t harm anyone which are derived from the guidelines of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh Gurus and other leaders. Naam Japo means reciting Gurbani as per the time of the day while doing daily chores, which shall keep a leader’s soul free of greed, lust, egos, anger and favouritism. Management in Contemporary world: In the extremely competent, fast moving and digital-oriented world today, gaining confidence of seniors and loyalty of subordinates, is the most important and difficult task. Instability and volatility of the market are bound to inculcate suspicion and self-centred thinking. Many leaders and managers follow zero error syndromes to protect their own skin in all cases of failure. Insincerity and mistrust also bound to creep in, thereby; management becomes more and more difficult. Greed, lust, anger, favouritism and egos are bound to drag every leaders and manager at some point of time. No one has ever been able to control soul vices without the blessing of Almighty, following guidelines of Holy Books namely Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagwat Gita, Quran Sharif and Bible by remaining attached to Almighty through reciting Gurbani or Shalokas. This has been illustrated in many ways in Shalokas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Best practices like Daswandh, Kirat Karo, Wand Ke Shako, Kar Seva and Naam Japo cannot be enforced on anyone but erupts at its own in the heart when anyone starts Nitname regularly, which changes aura and thought process of the individual. This is what is widely advocated in Sikhism, which children watch their parents, brother, sisters and relatives, following these guidelines sincerely. Disciples get magnetized, starts enjoying daily life, success, diluting daily hurdles and can speculate future very clearly. Most of the successful management Gurus accepts this Spiritual