Quran And Management

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Management today is defined as  "getting things done through  others." Following this  concept,  a Manager is now understood as  the person who works through  others. A good manager, therefore, is a  person who not only knows what is to be  done but exactly how to get it done. 







The Holy Quran confirms:
[43:32]

"...We raise some of  them above others in ranks,  so that some may command  work from others..."



This Ayah (43:32) encompasses the  entire philosophy and wisdom of modern  management. It emphasizes, in essence, the  creation of appropriate hierarchies and the

division of responsibilities subject to  individual capabilities.





Quran and  Modern Management



The Holy Quran has also laid down the  institutional framework for putting this  golden rule into practice:

1.Obedience and Respect for Authority;

2.Principles of Equal Opportunities; and

3.Motivation and Commitment.



OBEDIENCE AND  RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY



Obedience and respect for authority is the basic fundamental requisite for taking work from others and getting it done. Working through people actually presupposes the willingness of people to obey. It is therefore necessary for those people who are given the job to complete a task to obey all legal and reasonable orders and perform it responsibly.





Holy Quran instructs:
[4:59]

"Obey Allah and His  Messenger and those in position  of authority among you."





When this spirit of voluntary obedience is instilled in the mind of an employee, the scope of the hierarchy as envisaged by the Ayat is strengthened [43:32]. Needless to say, without the spirit of voluntary obedience among those who work, the creation of hierarchy will not serve any purpose .





JOINT CONSULTATION &    TEAM WORK



The modern world realized the importance of joint consultation (Shura) and team-work when the Japanese based its management style on it and proved to the world of its effectiveness.


The Holy Quran advocates for this concept: [42:83]"...and those who do  their work  through mutual Consultation"



[3:159] "...pass over (their faults), and ask for (God's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when you have taken a decision put your trust in God, for God loves those who put their trust (in Him)."



PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES



The principle of equal opportunities postulate that all members of an organization shall have equal and fair chances to grow, contribute, and be rewarded accordingly.

The Holy Quran emphasis this golden rule: [49:13]



"O people We created you from a single male and female couple and then divided you in nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Verily the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is most righteous of you."



Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) expounded the verse on the occasion of Hajat-ul-Widaa, in the following words:

"In the light of this Quranic verse no Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab nor does any non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. Neither black is superior to white nor white is superior to black. Of course, if there is any criterion of superiority and respectability in the sight of Allah, it is Taqwa (righteousness)."

In Management, The words mean:

These words suggest that despite the fact that we are all equal, human beings can excel over one another in certain aspects of life. One such aspect could be in terms of righteousness.



In the realm of management, it would mean that the criteria for entitlement to any benefit, reward, position, or status shall be such that any one having requisite qualifications and experience should have equal opportunity to achieve it. This will obviously go a long way towards maintain the requisite degree of harmony in the work environment conducive to the smooth working of the management process.



MOTIVATION & COMMITMENT



Making people what they are supposed to do requires a certain degree of commitment which can only be achieved through motivation. It is an established fact that the way a Manager behaves or deals with the subordinates determines the level and vitality of their motivation and commitment to a great extent.

The Holy Quran too speaks about this golden rule:[3:159]



"(telling the Prophet) If you had been stern and fierce of heart they (the companions and followers) would have disappeared from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the conduct of affairs"



What it Mean to Management?

This beautiful ayat emphasizes upon two aspects: one, that compassionate and sympathetic behavior towards companions and followers, and second, the adoption of participatory approach when dealing with them i.e. consulting them, is the most effective way of management. If this golden rule is not observed then "they will disappear from you" i.e. they won't pay attention nor any interest in you or what your work entails.



Both these golden rules play vital role in the motivation of subordinates and inculcating in them the spirit of commitment and passion for work.



THE CORNERSTONE OF TOYOTA'S SUCCES: ELIMINATION OF WASTE



Wastage - either in terms of material, human capital, energy, machine utilization, or processing time, creates inefficiencies resulting in the increase of costs and consequent decrease in profits.



The Holy Quran says:

[17:26] "And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer. But waste not (your wealth, time, health, talents, opportunities etc) in the manner of a spendthrift."



[17:27] "For the wasteful are the brothers of Satan; and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord."



[7:31] "O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters."



Management as Example:

It was Toyota who first understood and implemented this golden rule in business, not the Muslims. Their success is thus based on two principles:



Complete Elimination of Wastage; and

2. Equal Level of Respect for All.



Continuous and aggressive pursuit of wastage elimination led Toyota to become one of the most efficient manufacturing organizations in the world. The company is now able to produce the best quality of automotive products at the least possible cost while maintaining the highest pay-scale for its employees.









QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A business cannot flourish in the long run if it doesn't give its customer what it promises to. The main focus of a businessman is to make profits and not necessarily to satisfy the customer. It would not be wrong to say that the only time the businessman realizes that customer satisfaction is important is when he understand that this is directly related with his profitability margins.



The Holy Quran commands:

[6:152] "And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he attain the age of full strength; give measure and weight with (full) justice;- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear;- whenever ye speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill the covenant of Allah. Thus doth He command you that ye may remember."



What it means to business?



For a businessman, there is no alternative but to satisfy his customer, even if the market and economic forces are making it difficult for him to do so. It is his obligation to God that he resists these forces and struggle and strive (wage Jihad) to fulfill the above-mentioned commandments, even if he has to compromise on some profit or put up some extra effort (up to his capacity). For him, profit is only a "means" to keep his business alive and to satisfy his customer i.e. the "end."

FULFILLING CONTRACTS, COMMITMENTS, & PROMISES

Whereas promises are verbal commitment, contracts are written. From the ‘Nikah Namah' to a business plan, including any financial agreement, are all different forms of written promises that we make. If we look at it strictly from the business point of-view, commitments and promises are a daily routine affair. To run a business successfully, a businessman should not make promises that he cannot keep nor break any that he has made.

The Holy Quran instructs:

[17:34] "Allah says, ‘Fulfill your contracts. Contracts will be asked about.'"



[16:91] "And the Almighty says, ‘Be true to Allah's contract when you have agreed to it.'



[5:1] "The Almighty says, ‘O you who believe! Fulfill your contracts.'



[61:2-3] "And the Almighty says, ‘O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? It is deeply abhorrent to Allah that you say what you do not do.'"



CONCLUSION

Success and prosperity is the outcome of commitment to certain golden principles of life, and not out of luck and fate-principles that are readily available to us in the Holy Quran. These principles are independent and universal of any particular profession and primarily aims at building a "whole" man capable of achieving his true potential in the purpose of his life-either through some business setup of his own or through as an employee. What remains desired is the practical implementation of these principles in our socio-economic and political lives.