Winston Churchill once remarked, “The further backward you look, the further forward you can see.” These words reflect the philosophy of this book. It introduces timeless wisdom from Eastern philosophy that can be used by modern managers to motivate workers and invigorate organisations in the information age.
Modern management has evolved over the years on the basis of problems faced in the industrial age, when enthused by the need to make machines and factories efficient and productive, the ensuing solutions gave scant regard to human capital. Today however, modern managers regard human capital as an asset, their regard is rhetorical in most cases. On the financial statements, human capital ends up as an expense.
The modern information age is advancing at a fast pace, making it difficult to fathom the magnitude and complexity of information which organisations will need and produce in the next five to 10 years and beyond. This evolution is leading to “the age of wisdom” where we, as human beings, will be far more informed and knowledgeable. This will lead to a paradigm shift in the way we view and operate our lives and work. We will need tools and techniques to empasise the fundamental principles that govern us. We can motivate workers, make them creative and competitive and invigorate organisations by looking at the fundamental principles which also constitute the premise of this book.
Written by a native of Nepal settled in Kansas City, USA, the book is especially useful for frustrated, burned out and discouraged persons who are not happy with their work. Some are not happy about their roles and responsibilities. Many are not happy with their assignments and a few are unhappy as they do not find their work challenging enough or meaningful. They find something missing in their lives. Though they may meet their work objectives, they feel they are not making any difference.
In short, this book introduces a new management paradigm away from traditional management thinking and encourages workers and management to find new ways to become creative, competitive and most constantly meaningful and purpose-driven.
(Jaico Publishing House, A-2, Jash Chambers, 7-A Sir Phirozshah Mehta Road, Fort, Mumbai-400 001.)
