Business Management Essentials from Modern and Buddhist Perspectives presents a holistic approach to management by combining contemporary business functions with Buddhist teachings that have sustained the Buddhist community for over 2,500 years. The book uniquely covers 17 business functions through both modern and Buddhist perspectives, featuring 112 citations from the original Pali canon and 30 verses from the Dhammapada. Unlike other works on business and Buddhism, it specifically draws from the Theravada tradition that originated during Buddha's time, avoiding inaccuracies found in other texts while using illustrative stories to demonstrate how poor management decisions can lead to failures.
This distinctive work stands apart from previous books on business and Buddhism by providing in-depth analysis of individual business functions rather than general principles, offering organisations a path to develop management systems based on ethical and moral principles. Each chapter methodically demonstrates how Buddhist practices can enhance business effectiveness, creating mutual benefits for businesses and all stakeholders - including employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, communities and governments - ultimately promoting organisational systems that contribute positively to humanity while ensuring business survival in today's competitive environment.
Dr Titus De Silva gained his pharmacy degree (Hons) from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. In addition, he has a BSc degree in chemistry, a postgraduate diploma in computer science (NZ) and an MBA and PhD in management science (USA). He is a Chartered Chemist (CChem) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) (UK), a Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (MRPharmS) and a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (MPS).
For over 50 years, he held senior management positions in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, Kuwait and Sri Lanka in many sectors, including manufacturing, research, cosmetics, beverages and hospital and community pharmacy.
In his role as Corporate Quality Assurance Manager in the food, beverage and cosmetic industries in New Zealand, he was responsible for developing and implementing management systems to comply with international standards. He coached and trained staff for management positions. Dr De Silva gained competency as a lead auditor and was a registered auditor in quality management and occupational safety and hygiene in Australia and New Zealand. He worked closely with pharmaceutical, food, beverage and cosmetic manufacturers, auditing their management systems and providing encouragement and guidance. His auditing experience enabled him to gain a broad knowledge of many disciplines encountered in the business and industrial environment.
He had his early education in two premier Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka (Rahula College, Matara, and Mahinda College, Galle, started by Colonel Olcott). While at school, he regularly attended the Sunday Dhamma School conducted by the local Buddhist temple at Matara, where he completed the Dhamma Examination Certificates conducted by the Young Men's Buddhist Association of Ceylon (YMBA), reaching the teacher's examination level. He was thrilled when he received the junior school prize for Buddhism at Rahula College.
Dr De Silva continued his work on Buddhist activities while attending the University of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Colombo, where he became the president of the Buddhist Brotherhood and the All-Ceylon Buddhist Students Federation. During this time, he organised many religious activities in various parts of Ceylon.
In New Zealand, Titus and his wife, Anoma, were fortunate to have been involved in Auckland Theravada Buddhist Association (ATBA) activities as founding members, establishing the Auckland Vihara library and presenting the Radio Dhamma Programme sponsored by the ATBA for several years on Auckland Community Access Radio.
He actively participated in community activities, and in 2003, the New Zealand government conferred on him the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for his voluntary services to the communities in New Zealand.
