Engineering the soul of management in the nano era

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propagate a goal‐driven engineering process – an engine of invention, innovation, and growth – to be the soul of management for organizations to recover from the malaise that arose from illusions of creating capital wealth through deceptive paradigms where individual gains took precedence over the needs of a healthy human enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a result of ideas generated from author's world travels. Moving around in the world exposing oneself to organisms, to danger, one discovers serendipity and learns as much from other cultures as one can. Although some of life's lessons are learned in the carpe diem (e.g. not putting hands in the fire), others become apparent only after the fact (after the fire is put out!). Mind travel is as important as physical travel. Mind travel allows us to pay for an experience once and then have it again and again at no additional charge, learning new lessons with each repetition of physical or mental travel.

Findings

Biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, megacomputing, and nanorobots will dominate the future of human race and hence an anticipated need for effective management of emerging technologies and related human resources. In support of the synthesis of management and engineering, behavioral‐based outcome‐based education in the Washington Accord criteria are shown to integrate development of management and entrepreneurial skills as part of the engineering training.

Originality/value

The paper examines the American and Asian values of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness by integrative process of physical, social/emotional, mind, and above all spiritual upbringings as human life evolves from the cradle to the grave.

Citation

Arora, V.K. (2009), "Engineering the soul of management in the nano era", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 213-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506140910984078