Revitalizing Modern Management: A Framework for Integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into Corporate Governance and Leadership

Abstract

In today’s fiercely competitive landscape, businesses are grappling with a "crisis of purpose"—burnout rates are soaring, quiet quitting is prevalent, and the emphasis on short-term quarterly gains often undermines long-term viability. Global economies are encountering unusual threats that span the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Classical Indian wisdom, known as Sanaātana Dharma, signifies that its significance transcends spatial and temporal boundaries and is universally applicable. Consequently, the ancient Indian ethos can aid contemporary businesses in crafting sustainable management models. Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) promote harmony between the individual and the group by envisioning well-being for entire communities and ecosystems. The core of the IKS is this integrative vision, which offers a unified, multifaceted approach that is extremely pertinent to today's organizational and management difficulties. Incorporating the Indian Knowledge System provides a framework to address this by viewing the organization as a living entity rather than a mere machine, offering a human-centered model for the industrial era. This study delves into the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)—particularly the principles of Dharma (Ethics), Karmayoga (Selfless Action), and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Universal Interconnectedness)—into modern business practices.

The primary focus of this study is a novel attempt to map Triguna theory to Human Resource Management and the Trusteeship model to Corporate Social Responsibility, thereby proposing a distinct 'Sattvic' leadership paradigm that emphasizes holistic well-being and ethical governance beyond current models and emphasize on “Sarve Jana Sukhinobhavanthu