Buddhist-Oriented Organizational Management from Buddhist Principles to Practice in Modern Organizations

Abstract

This academic article aims to study and synthesize the concept of organizational management based on Buddhist principles and to present guidelines for applying Buddhist principles from the principal level to practice in modern organizations. This is within the context of organizations facing increasingly complex economic, social, technological, labor structure, and stakeholder expectations changes. Therefore, organizational management cannot focus solely on efficiency, effectiveness, and economic returns, but must also prioritize morality, ethics, quality of life of personnel, social responsibility, and sustainability. The study is divided into five themes: 1) Concepts and foundations of organizational management based on Buddhist principles; 2) Integrating Buddhist principles with organizational management processes; 3) Leadership and human resource management based on Buddhist principles; 4) Applying Buddhist principles from principle to practice in organizations; and 5) Organizational management based on Buddhist principles in the context of modern organizations. The synthesis reveals that the Buddhist principles with significant potential for organizational management are the Seven Virtues of a Good Person (Saptapuriṣa-dhamma), the Four Bases of Success (Iddhipāda), the Four Sublime States of Mind (Brahmavihāra), the Four Principles of Social Harmony (Saṅgahavatthu), the Four Biases (Akaṭṭhāna), Hiri-Ottappa (shame and fear of wrongdoing), and Yonisomanasikara (wise reflection). These can be systematically integrated into planning, organizing, human resource management, directing, decision-making, controlling, and organizational development. Buddhist management is not about applying principles symbolically, but about creating a management system based on wisdom and virtue, with humans at its center, and aiming to strike a balance between efficiency, quality of life, responsibility, and sustainability. This is a key approach for developing modern organizations that can grow while creating value for individuals, organizations, and society.