Management Gita: Protecting Key Assets

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ १-११॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi 1-11

Spiritual Context

Duryodhana instructs his army, positioned in their respective divisions, to focus on protecting Bhishma, their key leader, emphasizing his critical role in the battle.

Management Context

This reflects role clarity, strategic prioritization, and leadership protection. Duryodhana’s directive highlights the need to safeguard key assets (human or otherwise) for organizational success.

Insights

Prioritizing key leaders ensures stability and direction (Northouse, 2019). This aligns with resource dependency theory, where critical resources drive outcomes (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978).

Applications

Managers can apply this by identifying and supporting key talent or core assets through training or risk mitigation strategies (Kaplan & Norton, 2004).

References

Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (2004). Strategy maps: Converting intangible assets into tangible outcomes. Harvard Business Review Press.
Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. R. (1978). The external control of organizations: A resource dependence perspective. Harper & Row.

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