Corporate Dossier

Published on 3rd July, 2015, in The Economic Times. Just as many Indians, especially Non Resident Indians, get upset when they see an American or European claiming to be an expert in Yoga or Vedanta or Tantra, the West finds it hard to accept an Indian, or a Chinese, or a Nigerian as a management guru, unless they reside in the USA, and are affiliated to a college in Europe or America. Even we in India tolerate a professor from Singapore or Japan, but we prefer those from Europe and North America as the real ‘source’. We can find logical and scientific answers to defend ..

Published on 26th June, 2015, in the Economics Times. Some of the most powerful entrepreneurs and heads of industry in India believe in non-violence, which is translated as eating vegetarian food and imposing these practices on their employees, and not supporting industries involved in the production and distribution and sale of non-vegetarian food. This is simplistic, convenient, even romantic view of the doctrine of ahimsa overlooks the reality of violence inherent in business. A more realistic view was explored in the Vedas but was often overlooked by later scholars, many of whom were hermits, uninterested in the worldly path of business. A romantic view of ..

Published on 12th June, 2015, in The Economic Times. In the Vedic system of dharma, every human has to live his life in four phases: the first phase as a student, the next as a married man, the third has a retired man, and the fourth as a hermit. These phases did not begin or end abruptly but phased into each other gently. And so the student gradually learned a skill, then he gradually moved into household life, first as husband and then as father, providing and protecting his family, until his son got married and had a child of his own, after which he ..

Published on 15th May, 2015, in the Economic Times. Designers around the world are interested in appreciating how the human body responds to stimuli. What makes them click on an advertisement, or a ‘like’ button, or a ‘play’ button, and most importantly a ‘buy’ button? For humans are ultimately consumers, potential buyers of a product. If we figure out what makes humans choose some actions and avoid other actions, we will be able to monetize it. Take the simple case of the Facebook ‘like’ icon. Why is there no ‘unlike’ icon? In YouTube we can clearly express a ‘thumbs up’ or a ‘thumbs down’ for ..

Published on 8th May, 2015, in the Economic Times. The Lord rested on the Seventh Day. So say Abrahamic mythology. That was on Friday say the Muslims, Saturday say the Jewish folk, Sunday say the Christians. Unable to agree, the 2-day weekend came into being, satisfying needs of the Jewish and Christian Sabbath. This is now deemed secular. In fact, what is and what is not secular is always codified by the West, because it was in the West that religion and state came to be separated after the rise of the scientific revolution in the 16th century, which also played a key role in ..

Published on 1st May, 2015, in the Economic Times. In the new world order, every Brahmin functions like a trader and every trader functions like a Brahmin. The lines are blurred. Innovation is not its own reward; the money matters. In the Sama Veda, all the hymns of the Rig Veda are given melodies. These melodies are classified into two: the grama-geya-gana, that which must be sung in settlements, and aranya-geya-gana, that which must be sung in forests. The former is more accessible and popular while the latter is complex and distant, considered to be much more powerful. The settlement refers to familiar, predictable, domesticated ..

Published on 24th April, 2015, in The Economic Times. Power is the ability to make something happen, or not. And business is all about power, how to acquire it, how to use it, how to distribute it, how to withdraw it. This is something no one teaches at B-school, yet it forms the cornerstone of leadership. In the plant and animal kingdom there is only physical power, or what is called brute force that plants and animals use to get their way. It is more apparent in animals, than plants. But power in nature is instinctive, not aspirational. No animal ‘wants’ to be dominant. It ..

Published on 17th April, 2015, in The Economic Times. The Bible is one of the most influential books in management. Themes from Abrahamic mythology shape much of modern management, not surprisingly since most modern management theories do come from men of Euro-American descent. Our notion of the CEO is very much like the prophet, who leads his followers to the Promised Land. The prophet is not the master; he is at best the steward. He communicates the word of God, and ensures the word of God is respected. He is also subject to the will of God. He too can be punished by God. And ..

Published on 10th April, 2015, in The Economic Times. It is said that in China they first build the highway and then the city. In India, they first build the city, and then discover there is no highway. We can laugh about it, but it is rather depressing when you live in the city. But it is the reality of India. Why are Indians so? Statements like Indians are bad planners and need to be ‘educated’ reeks of racism, cultural chauvinism and lack of perspective. It stems from the assumption that planning is a good thing for all. But is it? Unless we question fundamental ..