A manager is distinguished by his ability to take decisions. One of the basic modern management decision making model talks about the following steps Problem recognition, Information Seach, Generation of Alternatives, Evaluation of Alternatives, Actual Decision, Implementation and Feedback. But, strangely, hardly any input is given as to how to choose amongst the alternatives that lead to the ideal decision being taken.
But our scriptures take care of this.The Kathopanishad is one of the most popular of all Upanishads. It says, "At every stage in a man's life he is confronted by the necessity to choose between two courses of action. One is sreyas and the other is preyas. The wise man chooses sreyas; the average person on the other hand opts for preyas."
The terms `sreyas' and `preyas' are highly technical and have deep metaphysical import.
Simply stated, sreyas is that which seems painful in the beginning but the end result is pleasant. As opposed to this, preyas is pleasant in the beginning but painful in the end. The essential difference between the two is that the pleasure or benefit ensuing from sreyas is permanent while that from preyas is transient.
In managerial terms, sreyas may be regarded as the hard option while preyas is the soft option.
Before making his choice, a manager must ask himself the following questions: Will this option be in conformity with the general norms of justice and fair play? Will it be in the interest of the majority of persons in the organisation? Will the benefits flowing from it be long lasting? Will the solution it provides be a permanent one?
If the answer to these questions is in the affirmative, the proposed course of action is to be taken as sreyas and is to be preferred. Otherwise it has to be regarded as preyas and rejected.
There may be cases where after following all the steps a manager may still be unable to decide which is sreyas and which is preyas. Faced with such an impasse, he is advised to look for a precedent.
The specific guideline offered by the Upanishad is: "Look back to see how your predecessors had acted in a similar situation. Look around to see what action your contemporaries have taken." These precedents can be of help to a manager in taking a decision.
The Taittiriya Upanaishad lays down the qualifications of those who are worthy of being looked up to as precedents. They should be acknowledged masters in their field; should be men of discernment and unimpeachable integrity; and should be known for their objectivity.
Kathopanishad says that the art of living is nothing but the art of choosing wisely. If at the end of the day a person looks back and finds that the number of `good' options chosen by him, that is sreyas, predominates his life is a success. If however preyas predominates, it is a failure.
