1. New Mantras in Creativity & Innovation*
Dr. Subhash Sharma
Dean, Indian Business Academy
Bangalore & Greater Noida
*Keynote presentation at the Oracle Leadership Retreat, Kovalam, Nov 6 & 7, An earlier version was presented at the First International Conference on Igniting the Genius Within, Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, Oct 23-26, 2008.
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

2. New Mantras of Creativity & Innovation
Do you want to win a race?
If your answer is yes, then these new mantras of creativity and innovation presented here are for you.
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

3. Mantra of winning the race
Your competitor is at position A, far far ahead of you. You are at position B. A start up or a new company. You want to win the race. Please suggest your answer to win this race. B A
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

4. Mantra 1: Anti-Benchmarking
Take a different path
Anti-benchmarking
Path of innovation:
Path of leadership/
innovator
Benchmarking
Path of replication: Path of Follower
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, Subhash Sharma, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, 2007, p. 333
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

5. We are used to Benchmarking approach
We are used to benchmarking approach so we don’t think of anti-benchmarking. However there are many examples from the corporate world.
Following are some illustrations of breakthrough innovations from India Inc.
I. AMUL: Milk powder from buffalo milk
II. Nano car from Tata
III. Reva: Electric car …
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

6. Examples from Management Education in India
Establishment of WISDOM: Women’s Institute for Studies in Development Oriented Management at Banasthali University, Banasthali, Rajasthan (Based on wisdom equation W = R + I : Wisdom = Reason + Intuition)
Establishment of Indian Business Academy at Bangalore and Greater Noida with focus on ‘Indian Business’
Msc and M.Phil Programs in ‘Yoga and Management’ with focus on Human Resource by SVYASA (Swami Vivekaknanda Yoga Anusandhan Sansthan), Bangalore, a well known Yoga University
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

7. Mantra 2: Grounded Praxis Approach (GPA)
Converting knowledge into Wisdom & wisdom into new knowledge- Knowledge-Wisdom cycle
Knowledge
Action-reflection
Wisdom
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, Subhash Sharma, 2007, p. 435
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

8. Why Managers are Successful?
Successful managers and leaders use GPA (Grounded Praxis Approach) in their decision making and problem solving
Rate your GPA on 10 point scale 1 10
Low GPA
High GPA
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

9. SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009
High GPA and ViSA
ViSA: Vision-Strategy-Action plan
Three gaps:
Vision-Strategy gap
Vision-Action gap
Strategy-Action gap
Managers with high GPA are able to reduce these gaps
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

10. Corporate Examples of innovations through grounded praxis
Dabbawallah
SEWA
AMUL …
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

11. Illustration of Grounded Praxis Approach (GPA) in Research
Towards a new research tradition (Wisdom research tradition):
Traditional Knowledge (TK)--Scientific-- Meditative tradition
‘Received wisdom’ -- Scientific—Meditative tradition
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

12. Mantra 3: Direct Vision Approach
Three Approaches to Seeing Reality
I. Division approach: Divided vision approach
II. D-vision approach: Rainbow approach
III. Direct vision approach: ‘Beach Visioning: Horizon view’
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, Subhash Sharma, 2007, p
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

13. Illustrations of three Approaches
Division D-Vision Direct Vision
Clash of Dialogue Confluence of
Civilizations among civilizations civilizations
Lines of conflict (loc) Lines of cooperation (loc) Lines of connectivity (loc)
Labor as factor of Labor as co-venturist Labor as co-creator
Production of wealth
Conflict paradigm Cooperation paradigm Harmony paradigm
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

14. For creativity & innovation we need Direct vision approach
Direct Vision and Direct perception (“Darshan”) lead to creativity and innovative decision making
This is DVD (Direct Vision and Darshan) mantra of creativity
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

15. Mantra 4: Rishi Innovation Competency
Rishi innovation competency model: An individual who has ability to see and re-see events, opportunities and threats in new ways is a Rishi (Re-see).
How to improve your Re-see competence: Ignite the genius within
Illustration: Paradigm shift from Business Maharajas to Corporate Rishi -- Corporate Rishis of India (Participants to identify)
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors. Subhash Sharma, 2007, p. 185
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

16. Corporate Rishi Model of Leadership
Corporate Rishi has high re-see competence
Corporate Rishi effectively uses SAW: Science, Art and Wisdom through improvement in skill, values and wisdom
Corporate Rishi is CEO Leader: Creative, Enlightened, Organic Leader (New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, Subhash Sharma, 2007, p. 185)
CEO Leader as Creative, Enlightened, Oracle Leader (This model was suggested by the author during Oracle Leadership Retreat)
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

17. Mantra 5: Mind Liberation – Evolution of New Mind
Mind liberation: Acquiring a ‘New Mind’
Programming ---De-programming ---Liberating state
(Old mind-set) (New mind-set)
When mind is de-programmed, it gets ready for liberation
Illustration: India’s new mind – Is it new or copied? What is the blend?
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

18. Mantra 6: Omega Circle of Creativity
Manager/Leader at the center of the Omega circle synthesizing many perspectives represented by T1, T2, T3, T4 … that also represent many versions of ‘Truth’ (T) / reality
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors, Subhash Sharma, 2007, pp
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

19. Omega Circle and Decision making levels
Strategic Level Omega Circles
Managerial Level Decision Circles
Operational Level Quality Circles
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

20. Mantra 7: SKY Mantra-789 Levels of Consciousness
789 Quantum States of Mind
(Metaphor of Seventh heaven, Eighth ‘Chakra’ and Ninth cloud)
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

21. ESP: Extended Sensory Perception
SKY Mantra
S: Self/ Space for self
K: Kosmic consciousness
Y: Yoke/ Yearning for connectivity/ Yoga
At SKY level of consciousness, mind acquires ‘charismatic creativity’. Illustrations include well known artists, poets, musicians, scientists and visionaries

22. Exercise on Seven Mantras of Creativity and Innovation
Mantra Participants to provide illustrations on
the basis of their experiences
Anti-benchmarking …………………………………………
Grounded praxis ………………………………………….
Direct vision & darshan ………………………………………….
Re-see …………………………………………..
New mind …………………………………………..
Omega circle …………………………………………..
789 quantum states …………………………………………..
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

23. Wisdom Steps: Creativity-Innovation- Wisdom
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

24. Profile of Dr. Subhash Sharma, Key Note Speaker
Known to his research students as ‘MGR’ (Mentor, Guru and Rishi) of ‘ Indian Management Wisdom’ (IMW), Dr. Subhash Sharma is educated in India and USA. He holds Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Ph. D. from University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles.
Prof. Subhash Sharma has made significant contributions to development of Indian Management thought and is author of creative and thought provoking books, Creation from Shunya (1993), Management in New Age: Western Windows Eastern Doors (1996), Quantum Rope: Science, Mysticism and Management (1999), Arrows of Time: From Black holes to Nirvana point (2001) and New Mantras in Corporate Corridors: From Ancient Roots to Global Routes (2007) and Market’s Maya: Lotus Millionaires from New Madhushala (2009). His ‘thought contributions’ have been widely acknowledged in nationally and internationally known academic journals.
Prof. Sharma has also made significant contributions to management education in India through his involvement in well known innovative institution building experiments. He assisted in conceptualization and development of Women’s Institute for Studies in Development Oriented Management (WISDOM), at Banasthali University, Rajasthan. He is Founding Director, Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore and Founding member, Indian Business Academy (IBA), Bangalore and Greater Noida and currently its Dean.
Prof. Sharma has developed and refined a new poetic methodology to develop creative dimension in one’s personality. His inspirational ‘Corporate Rhymes’ have drawn media attention (both print media and TV) as a novel and innovative approach to learning management concepts. He is also a recipient of leadership, excellence and achievement awards.

25. SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009
For further details
For further details please refer following books and website of the author:
Management in New Age: Western Windows Eastern Doors, Subhash Sharma, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, 1996 & 2006.
Quantum Rope: Science, Mysticism and Management, Subhash Sharma, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, 1999
Arrows of Time: From the Black holes to Nirvana Point, Subhash Sharma, New Age international Publishers, New Delhi, 2001
New Mantras in Corporate Corridors: From Ancient Roots to Global Routes, Subhash Sharma, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, 2007.
Market’s Maya: Lotus Millionaires from New Madhushala, IBA Publications, Bangalore, 2009.
author’s website:
Author’s books published by New Age international Publishers, New Delhi, can be ordered from as well as from and other websites
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009

26. SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009
Author’s contact
Dr. Subhash Sharma can be contacted at the following e mail address
SS-IBA-Oracle Leadership Retreat-Kovalam-Nov. 6-7, 2009