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Analyzing decision making

styles through the
characters of Mahabharata.

Harsh Soni (M2013HRM019)

Research Guide: Dr. Sarla

Rao

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Introduction
The concepts around which this research revolves are

Decision making styles

Ethical dilemmas

Decisions which were reason behind the war of

Mahabharata and their consequences

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Background of Study

Business leaders and their decision making problems

Various kind of ethical dilemmas involved in present

work scenarios

Incidents and characters of Mahabharata

Applicability of learning from Mahabharata to present

scenarios

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Literature Review (1/2)
Researcher

Practice/Domain

Findings

Eilon, S. 1969

Prescription in
management
decisions

Decision making is
not limited to make a
choice between
alternative course of
actions

Ofstad, H. 1961

Emotions-EthicsDecision making

To make a decision'
means to make a
judgment regarding
what one ought to do
in a certain situation

Robbins, S. P. 2013

Organisation Behavior Decision making

models

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Literature Review (2/2)
Researcher

Practice/Domain

Findings

Robbins, S. P. 2013

Organisation
Behavior

Different kind of
biases

Robinson, David A.
2003

Dilemmas in
Management

What are are ethical

dilemmas and how
to handle them

Chaturvedi , B. 2006

Indian Epics

Relevance of
Mahabharata to
present scenarios

Ganguli K.M 2008

Mahabharata

Role of Bhishma and

his impact on war

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Decision making process

Problem Statement/Need for

study

The study aims to find that can learning from ancient

Indian epic be applied to present corporate life
scenarios.

Objective

My research objective is to analyze and learn from

various decisions (involving ethical dilemmas) made in
Mahabharata and try to connect them with current
times decision-making difficulties.

Hypothesis

HYPOTHESIS 1: Ethical decision-making can be

combined with legal decision-making.

HYPOTHESIS 2: Good and bad, right and wrong have

different meanings to different people and different
societies.

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Variables
1.

Theoretical decision making approaches - Analyzing

theoretically different decision-making styles.

2.

Practical decision making approaches - Interacting with

business professionals, corporate managers and understanding
their approach in decision-making.

3.

Decision-making crises - Trying to find the problems/difficulties

faced in making decisions during odd situations like- economic
crisis.

4.

Relevant ethical dilemmas in past - Observing various

situations in Mahabharata where decision-making was tough due
to involvement of dilemmas.

5.

Learning from past - Analyzing decisions made by various

characters in such situations.

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RESEARCH DESIGN
i) Methodology: My research would be based on Qualitative
study.
ii) Research Site: research scholars who have contributed in
the field of Mahabharata. I would visiting some corporate
office for interviews of managers.
iii) Sampling Design (Sampling Method & Sample Size):
I would be using Exploratory research method in my research.
iv)Data Collection Methods: TV series Mahabharata,
various books describing Mahabharata war and its characters