Management Gita: Facing Resource Realities

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् । पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ १-१०॥
aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam 1-10

Spiritual Context

Duryodhana compares his army, led by the experienced Bhishma, to the Pandavas’ army under Bhima, expressing doubt about his own side’s adequacy despite its strength.

Management Context

This highlights resource evaluation, risk assessment, and leadership perception. Duryodhana’s doubt reflects the need for realistic appraisals of organizational capacity and competitor strength.

Insights

Overconfidence or underestimation can derail strategy (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979). This aligns with risk management frameworks (ISO 31000, 2018).

Applications

Managers should use scenario planning and risk audits to prepare for uncertainties, avoiding Duryodhana’s wavering confidence (Hillson & Murray-Webster, 2007).

References

Hillson, D., & Murray-Webster, R. (2007). Understanding and managing risk attitude. Gower Publishing.
ISO 31000. (2018). Risk management – Guidelines. International Organization for Standardization.
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263–291.

This excerpt is taken from Management Gita, authored by Sunil Khandbahale