BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This academic article aims to study Buddhist principles in conjunction with strategies for managing organizational change. It finds that, due to the constantly changing environment as the world has entered the information and technology era, changes occur rapidly, making it difficult to predict and plan ahead. The formulation of change management strategies in organizations, including the management of change, capital, skills, time, manpower, and other resources, is critically important in the modern era. It is a significant challenge because everything is uncertain in human society according to Buddhist principles. All things are impermanent; everything is Anicca and unavoidable. Therefore, for an organization to sustain itself, it must formulate appropriate change management strategies. These strategies will drive and direct operations to achieve the organization's vision and mission according to public administration principles. This requires cooperation from everyone within the organization, and executives must possess skills, thoroughness, flexibility, and the ability to make appropriate decisions when choosing strategies and tactics to manage changes both from external and internal factors of the organization. The article discusses John P. Kotter's 8-step change management strategy, developed by a Western scholar less than 100 years ago, and integrates it with the Seven Sappurisa-dhammas according to Buddhist principles, which were taught by the Buddha over 2,600 years ago.