1. HINDUISM
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

2. The Agenda
 Introduction: India and Hinduism
 The Four Goals of Life
 The Caste System
 Hinduism and Business
 Joint Family Ventures
 The effects of Hinduism on India’s
business
 DO’s and DON’Ts
 Comparison Across Religions
 Mc Donald’s and Hindu culture

3. „ A man in this world without
learning is as a beast of the field.”
Why Learning?
It’s a jungle out there…..
Competition is strong, and the way we present
ourselves is under closer examination more than
ever before.

4. India and Hinduism
 1 Billion people call India home. It is primarily rural, with 80%
of people living in more than 550,000 villages.
 Hindus comprise almost 85 % of the population of India.
 Unlike many religions which are traced to a particular
founder, Hinduism grew out of Indian mythology.
 Hinduism is the religion of experience. It is not based on dogmas
and creeds to be accepted with blind faith, but is based on self-
realization. For a Hindu, God is in daily life.

5. The Four Goals of Life
Concerning the human activity,
Hinduism identifies 4 legitimate goals:
 Dharma ( virtue )
 Artha ( success )
 Kama ( pleasure )
 Moksa ( release )

6. The Caste System
 Hinduism - polytheistic religion that believes in the transmigration of the soul.
 You do good deeds all your life => you will be rewarded by socially moving up
in your next life = Caste System
 Caste System - defines people’s roles, status and social order
 Hindu ideology of rank : humans of the purest caste are not the most powerful.
 Western ideologies of aristocracy : the monarch is both the most powerful of
humans and the closest to God and therefore rules by divine right.
 U.S.A. : “Born to Run” - metaphorical.
 Hindu area : people are to be born to lead, others born to craft gold, others
born to fishsome - non-metaphorically
 If this notion is understood, the international manager can understand Hindu
ideas that restrict individual mobility but specify duties appropriate to castes.

7. Hinduism and
Business
 Business relationships - based on personal relationships.
 With : 14 major languages & 300 minor ones - English has
become a unifying force in India. Generally, you will be able to
conduct business in English.
 Dress code - business casual. For women - pant-suits or long
skirts, which cover the knees.
 Date is written differently. First, day is written, then
month, then year (December 3, 2011 is written 3.12.11).

8. Hinduism and
Business
 Indians- want to know everything at the first meeting -- don't be
offended. It is to find out personal preferences.
 India - a medium tolerance for change and risk.
 Failure - causes a long-term loss of confidence by the individual as
well as by others.
 Manager - makes decisions
 Indians - relaxed attitude towards time.
 "time is money" - alien to most Indians.

9. Joint Family Ventures
A joint family ethos promotes :
 pooling of resources
 collaboration of talent
 training and induction of younger family members.
Business schools - studying Hindu' business culture
- Hindu family ventures as global leaders.
Advantages : Disadvantages :
Ease of formation Confined to Joint Hindu families
Continuity of operations Relatively limited capital
Limited managerial talents
Unlimited liability of the Karta

10. The effects of Hinduism on India’s busines
 Slows growth
 Dampens Ambition
 Promotes Specialization
 Inefficient Implementation
 High Power Distance

11. Do’s and Don’ts
DO wait for a female business DON’T take large or expensive gifts
colleague to initiate the greeting. Indian as this may cause embarrassment. If
men do not generally shake hands with you do take a gift make sure you
women out of respect. present the gift with both hands.
DO to keep in mind that each person DON’T refuse any food or drink
has a very distinct role within the offered to you during business
organization, and maintaining that role meetings as this may cause offence. In
helps to keep order. addition, it is useful to bear in mind
that traditionally, Indians are
vegetarians and do not drink alcohol.
DO propose business
lunches, because they are preferred to DON’T appear over legalistic in
dinners. negotiations; in general, Indians do
not trust the legal system and
someone’s word is sufficient to reach
an agreement.

12. Comparison Across
Religions
Hinduism Buddhism Confucianism
Personal Satisfaction Have what you want, but Selfishness is illness, Focus on important
good sense and not strive for cure collective well being, not
injure self well-
Profit taking Chance to give to society Make money to do more Accept costs to maintain
for others moral values
Business as a career A path to being, Wisdom, morality Authority and power
knowing, joy Integrity and trust based on trust
Ethical leadership Learn, act, think Wisdom, reasoning, Authority and power
Trust and integrity morality based on trust
Integrity and trust
Business in society Source of being, Life is mandala , a circle Jen care for, respect,
knowing and joy mandala, love others –

13. Mc Donald’s and Hindu
culture
 150 - 200 million middle class population attracted McDonald's.
 India's Hindu culture - do not eat the meat of the scared cow.
 McDonald's - created Indian version of burgers (mutton and chicken) .
 All foods - vegetarian and
non-vegetarian, due to many Hindus
are vegetarians.
 McDonald's - "fraudulently concealing the existence of beef in MD’s French
fries.
 McDonald's settled the suit for $10 million and issued an apology.
 Hindu nationalists - vandalized McDonald's restaurant ($45,000 of damage)
, called on India's prime minister to close McDonald's 27 stores in the country.

14. !
Thank You For Your Attention !