Islamic Management Theory

Flat and Lean Organization * The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used * easily accessible to the Muslim society of the time who would come with a lot of issues and affairs to be resolved by the Prophet (PBUH). * always lead from the front and never shied away from doing his personal chores
Participative Style of Management Based on Consultations and Brainstorming * The Prophet (PBUH) used a consultative form of decision making, in which he would listen to the ideas of others and only then a decision would be taken * Brainstorming was extensively used and encouraged. * During one of the battles, the battle of Khandaq where the Muslim army faced a much bigger foe of ten thousand Meccans, a brainstorming session was held on how to ward off the pagans of Mecca. Many ideas were entertained, but the idea that was implemented came from Salman Farsi, a Persian by ethnicity, who had come all the way to Arabia searching for the True Prophet. He gave the idea of digging a big ditch around the entire city, called the “Khandaq”, which was many meters wide and deep. The Khandaq would make it very hard for the invading army to enter the city, as was the norm for battles in Persia. Even at the time of digging the Khandaq, an arduous task, the Prophet led from the front and performed his due share in excavating it. It is also reported that there was a very hard rock at one place of the Khandaq which the companions of the Prophet were having difficulty breaking. The Holy Prophet(PBUH) helped by striking such a hit on the rock that it broke apart.
Conflict Resolution * before attaining prophet-hood, a conflict arose amongst the four main tribes of Mecca during the building of the Kaaba. The sacred black stone was the center of the conflict when each tribe wanted the honor of placing the stone in the Kaaba. * After much debate and argument, it was decided that the first man to enter the gate the following morning would decide who would have the honor of placing the stone. * It so happened that the Prophet (PBUH) was the first person who entered the gate and the Meccans were jubilant to see the “trustworthy” as he was known in Mecca, have the honor of deciding * . It was decided by the Prophet(PBUH), that the stone would be placed on a cloak, held by the chiefs of the four tribes and taken to the Kaaba. When they reached the place, the Holy Prophet(PBUH) placed the stone himself in the eastern wall of the Kaaba.
Criteria for Promotion * The criteria for promotions was based strictly on merit, ability and talent, rather than that of one based solely on age. * Khalid Bin Walid was selected on many occasions to lead the Muslim army based on his strategic abilities, military prowess and skills on the battle field. He was a force to reckon with * The Holy Prophet (PBUH) on one occasion preferred a very young Muslim called Usama for leading the entire Muslim army. Usama led the army in which there were many valiant and well known companions of the Prophet who were older to him * seventeen year old man Muhammad Bin Qasim was selected by the Muslim Caliph to run the campaign against the pirates of Debal and free the muslim captives held there * Muhammad Bin Qasim ended up spreading message of Islam in what is known as the present day Pakistan and people freely embraced the religion, who were oppressed by a tyrannical cast system that had been a plague to the Hindu society of that time.
Management by Walking Around * concept that was practiced by the early Caliphs of Islam, second Caliph Umar * He used to roam around the city as an ordinary citizen of the Muslim state and addressed the issues of the general populace. * He had an acute sense of responsibility
The concept of equality * was one of the overarching principles of the Muslim state. * Regular prayers would be held in the mosque where there would be no distinction between the rich and the poor or any other preference and all Muslims would stand shoulder to shoulder to each other, which still happens to this day. * Servants would eat the same food as their masters and would be treated with respect
Dress Code for Work * The dress code for work was any dress that was neat and clean and would cover the body in a decent manner. * Nothing was too strict at the time like it is today in many corporations and developing countries as far as the dress code is concerned.
Equality and Fairness and Respect for Humanity * Everybody was treated equitably and with fairness * Tax money was spent on the poor, so much so that at one time it was hard to find anybody who was poor and deserving of the government tax money. The wealth of the overall community had improved so much. * Respect for each and every human being was practiced across the board. It was discouraged to even stand up for a person of authority or anybody for that matter. Equal treatment for all was encouraged.

Western management theories