Delegation (அதிகார ஒப்படைப்பு)

Identification of the correct person for a chosen  Task

Having covered important aspects of selection, allotment of task , providing training to make him an expert in his field, the great poet stresses the importance of delegation. This involves, clear identification and defining scope of the task, spell out the  process , list out  tools required and not but not the least, select the most suitable person who would be able to complete the task and  delegate the task to him. The important advice given here is “delegation”, without any further interference “there by avoiding micro management”. Many project leaders get frustrated by constant interference by the top management in day to day affairs, which turns out to be counterproductive. The following couplet deals all of the above aspects in precise terms.

இதனை இதனால் இவன் முடிக்கும் என்றாய்ந்து
அதனை அவன்கண் விடல் (517)

   
Ithanai Ithnaal Ivan Mudikkum Enrayandhu
Athanai Avnkan Vidal
   
இத்தொழிலை, இவ்வாறு, இன்னவன் முடிப்பான் என்று ஆராய்ந்து

தெளிந்த  பிறகு அதனை  அவனிடம் விட்டு விடவேண்டும்.

Only After defining  the task, the process and identification of

the individual capable of completing it, the task should be

delegated  to him.

  

Avoiding Favoritism  (ஒருதலை சார்பைத் தவிர்த்தல்)

The sage after providing advice on the need of proper delegation also warns to avoid any bias in doing so. Allotment of task to an individual he says, must be based  only on his knowledge and capability to overcome difficulties and not by any other personal consideration like his closeness to the higher ups. The message is very relevant in the present day context; where in, appointments to various posts are done more by nepotism, bribe and other considerations like political pressures while merit and talent take back seat. This leads to misfits or unfits occupying vital positions and it is no wonder that any organisation indulging in this sort of practice suffers due poor performance and resultant mediocrity affecting its very existance as well. The reputation of the CEO also gets damaged beyond redemption. The couplet is given below.

அறிந்தாற்றி செய்கிற்பாற்கு அல்லால் வினைதான்
சிறந்தானென்று ஏவற்பா றன்று   (515)

Arinthaarri Seikirpaarkku Allaal Vinaithaan
Siranthanendru Yavarpat Randu

ஒரு வேலையை அதில் ஒருவனுக்குள்ள அறிவையும் செயலாற்றலையும் 

பொருத்தே  அவனிடம் ஒப்படைக்க வேண்டுமே அல்லாது, தலைவருடன்  உள்ள

நெருக்கத்தை வைத்து கூடாது.

Task should be assigned to a person who possesses required

knowledge and capability to execute the same rather than

extraneous factors like  his  closeness to the leader.   

Respecting Others’ View Point (மற்றவர் கருத்தை மதித்தல்)

Having delegated the task to an employee, the best way to understand the true status, is to allow transparency and provide freedom for anyone at any level to express his honest opinion without any fear or inhibition. It is also duty of the management to give due respect to any idea  coming from any source irrespective of their level in the hierarchy of the concern and find out the true message in it. The sage, recommends candour in getting the feed back from employees, without any ego, as it geatly helps in efficient management of the company. Some may be highly qualified and some may not but much experienced or some may be fresh who think outside the box providing the most valuable solution or suggest a noval idea. The management should respect everybody and provide freedom and create a free environment for anyone to express his or her opinion openly though it may be embarrassing or even painful sometimes. This culture if developed over time would be most useful for the management to excel in all areas like production, service, marketing, sales, maintenance, and HRD. The Kural is given below.

எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்      

    மெய்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு. 

   

    Epporul Yaryarvai Ketpinum Apporul

    Meiporul Kanpathu Arivu.

     

    யாரிடம் இருந்து வந்த கருத்துக்களானாலும் , அதில் பொதிந்துள்ள  உள்        அர்த்தத்தை உணர்வதே விவேகமாகும்.    

 Irrespective of the source of the message, wisdom lies in finding  the true      meaning. 

Human Resource Development ( contd)

INDUCTION (உய்த்தறிதல்)

Deficiency of Skill at work (பணித் திறன் )

Whatever stringent method is adopted for selection of an employee, there is always a possibility of skill at varience with expectation while the person actually carry out the task. Hence, there is a definitive need for regular on the job review, of the tasks carried out by employee after selection.This is to ensure his mastery over his work and maintenance of high standard during execution. This also helps in ascertaining need for on the job training to eliminate any deficiency of performance when the task is actually carried out by the selected individual. The sage deals with workmanship aspect in the following Kural.

எனைவகையான் தேறியக் கண்ணும் வினைவகையான்

வேறாகும் மாந்தர் பலர்.  (514)

 Enaivakaiyaan Theria Kannum Vinaivagaiyaan
 Veragum Maandar Palar.

எல்லா விதத்திலும் பரிசோதித்து தேர்ந்தெடுத்தாலும் செயலைச்    

செய்யும்   திறமையால் வேறுபடுபவர்கள் உண்டு

Even after rigorous selection process, individual  would differ in

skill  during actual execution of the task assigned to him.

Specialisation (நிபுணத்துவம்)

After ensuring the Employee’s skill set and aptitude, rigorous training has to be given to make him a specialist in his profession. Each task demands a specific skill set which should be imparted through guidance and on the job training. By this, company can maximize the talent and his output for the benefit of the organization. It is not an one time affair but a continuous a process, spanning through out the stay time of the employee.There must be constant updating and retraining of the employee’s skill to suit the rapid change of technology witnessed in all fields. This crucial factor is covered in the following Kural.  

வினைக்குரிமை நாடிய பின்றை அவனை
அதற்குரிய  னாகச் செயல்  [518]  

Vinaikurimai Naadia Pinrai Avanai
Atharkkuriya Naagach Cheyal

ஒரு தொழிலை செய்வதற்கு ஏற்றவன் என்பதை ஆராய்ந்த பிறகு அவனை அத்தொழிலில் வல்லவனாக உயர்த்த வேண்டும்.

Once the right person is chosen for a job after detailed evaluation, he should be made fully accountable for it.

 On the job Training (பணி பயிற்சி)

Tiruvalluvar, also stresses, the importance of imparting training to an employee how ever much he is equipped with theoretical knowledge to ensure hands on experience before assigning a task. It is amazing to note, how deeply the sage had analyzed the human resource from selection, identifying the talent, fitting the task to the person and need for training ,to make individual most useful in any venture. Following Kural highlights this aspect.

 செயற்கை அறிந்தக் கடைத்தும் உலகத்து
 இயற்கை அறிந்து செயல் (637)

 Seyarkkai arinthu kadaiththum ulagaththu
  Iyarkkai arinthu seyal 

 ஓருவன் புத்தக அறிவு நன்கு பெற்றிருந்தாலும் ஒருசெயலைத்
 தொடங்குமுன் அவன்   செய்முறை பயிற்சி அடைவது அவசியம்

 Though, a person had acquired knowledge through education, it is

  imperative   that he acquires pactical skill through training  before

 actually undertaking a task.

Suitability  & Specialization (பொருத்தமும் நிபுணத்துவமும்)

There is a definite need for finding out aptitude and capability before one takes up (or allotted as the case may be) a task. It is also essential to acquire in depth knowledge in the selected profession and continue to remain in it with perseverance to become a specialist. The sage categorically asserts that for any one following the above route, nothing would be impossible to achieve. It is a great wonder, how deeply the sage had dealt with the need for specialized skill set and unwavering commitment and hard work for someone to have mastery over the specialised task. This also reflects the highighly developed status of the Tamil Society, which must have been very much advanced in all walks of life as literatures mirror the society at large. The following Kural highlights the above.

ஒல்வதறிவது அறிந்ததன் கண் தங்கி
செல்வார்க்கு செல்லாதது இல். (472)

Olvathrivathu Arinthathan Kan Thangi
Selvarkku Sellathathu Il

தனக்கு பொருந்திய செயலையும்,அதற்கு தேவையானஅறிய வேண்டியதையும்   அறிந்து அதனிடம் நிலைத்து முயல்வார்க்கு

முடியாதது ஒன்றும்  இல்லை.

 Nothing is impossible to achieve, for one, who selects the job that is suitable to   

 him, enrich himself with required knowledge and stay put in the same

 profession with perseverance.

Evaluation (மதிப்பிடல்)

Appearance (வெளித்தோற்றம்)

Under Rating ( தாழ்வாக மதிப்பிடல்)

The sage advises not to undermine anyone just by his physical appearance, as he could turn out be as vital as the role played by linchpin guarding wheels of the big moving chariot. Personality is different from physical appearance. Qualification, experience and one’s suitability to the job must be overriding factors rather than one’s looks or physical appearance. Neither Mahatma Gandhi nor Abraham Lincoln had good physical appearances, but they turned out to be powerful personalities and have turned out to become everlasting legends in the annals of history by their deeds and virtues.

உருவுகண்டு எள்ளாமை வேண்டாம் உருள்பெருந் தேருக்கு
அச்சாணி அன்னார் உடைத்து (667)

 Uruvukandu Ellamai Vendam Urulperuntherukku
 Achchani Annar Udaiththu.
  
வெளித் தோற்றத்தை வைத்து  யாரையும் குறைவாக மதிப்பிடக் கூடாது; உருண்டு ஓடும் பெறிய தேரின் சிறிய அச்சாணிக்கு நிகராக அவர் அமையக் கூடும்  

Do not under estimate anyone based on physical appearance, as even a big chariot for it’s movement relies upon the small linchpin guarding it’s wheels

Over Rating (அதீத மதிப்பீடு) 

This is extension of the earlier couplet. While warning the danger of belittling people by their physical appearance, the the poet also cautions against the equal danger of getting carried away by the good physical appearance without considering the true worth of an individual. One who seems to be very good in appearance may in fact could turn out to be a most cruel and dangerous scoundrel; where as, another with very rough exterior may prove to be very good in performance and character. While, the earlier couplet advises against belittling someone based on his appearance, this one brings forth the danger of getting carried away by someone’s attractive physical looks, which can be very deceptive.

In life, we come across so many white collar crooks, acting with great outward sophistication in appearance and behavior, while indulging in unlawful and unethical activities. 

      

கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல். [279]

Kanaikodidhu Yazhkodu Sevvithuaang Kanna
Vinaipadu Paalal Kolal.

பார்ப்பதற்கு அழகாக இருக்கும் அம்பு மிகவும் கொடியது; கோணலாக காணும் யாழோ நல்ல இன்னிசை கொடுக்க வல்லது. ஆகையினால், ஒருவரை ,அவரின் செயல் திறனே அல்லாது தோற்றத்தை வைத்து மதிப்பிடக் கூடாது.

An arrow looks beautiful but deadly in action, the string instrument “Yahz” looks crooked but generates beautiful music: Likewise, anyone must be judged not by their looks but by their actions and deeds only.  

Human Resource Development (மனித வள மேன்பாடு)

Recruitment /Selection (வேலைக்கு) ஆட்களைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தல்)

No one can be 100 percent perfect. Hence, One must look in to overall strength after evaluation of a person’s positive and negative attributes. This aspect of merit rating against many vital reference parameters is widely practiced now by all business establishments in selection, induction and placement of employees at all levels. Same criteria are resorted to for differentiation among employees for performance appraisal too. Mr.Jack Welsh retired CEO of General Electric Company, advocates categorisation of all employees through regular performance reviews at all levels in to top 20% for promotion, bottom 10% to be sent away and middle 70% for development in order to maintain high level of meritocracy in the organization.

குணம் நாடி குற்றம் நாடி அவற்றுள்
மிகை நாடி மிக்க கொளள் (504)      

 Kunam Naadi Kutram Naadi Avatrul
 Migai Naadi Mikka Kolal         

ஒருவருடைய நல்ல குணங்களையும், குறைகளையும் ஆராய்ந்து அதில்
 எது அதிகமாக உள்ளதோ அதன்படி அவரை  மதிப்பிட வேண்டும்.

     

 Judge  a person, after evaluating his strong and weak points and

 come to conclusion  based on the overall predominating factors.

Avoiding Misfits (ஒவ்வாதவனைத் தவிர்தல்) 

In this couplet , the sage poet, stresses that no candidate for a job should be selected without  detailed examination and the need for allotting a task according to his caliber to avoid  misfits. In life, greatest tragedy is, there are more misfits than unfits. A company  which posts a very good production engineer as sales engineer will loose two engineers in terms of contribution. It is amazing that the modern managements' stress on one’s aptitude and skill sets as selection criteria of an individual for a job had been in Vogue even twenty centuries back.

 தேறற்க யாரையுந் தேராது தேர்ந்தபின்
 தேறுக தேறும் பொருள் (509)

Therarka Yaaraiyun Therathu Thernthapin
Theruga Therum Porul
  
 ஆராயாமல் யாரையும் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கக் கூடாது; தேர்ந்தெடுத்தபின் 

அவரிடமுள்ள   திறமைக்கு தக்கவாரு செயலில் ஈடு படுத்த பட வேண்டும்.  .  

 No one should be recruited without proper testing process. Once a  person is  chosen, then task must be assigned according to his  capability.                                                                                                   

Confidence Building (நம்பிக்கை)

Faith is the most important component in dealing with an employee at any point in time. It is the basic foundation on which all interactions happen. Hence, it is mandatory to conduct detailed study of the person before reposing faith in him. On the same count, developing suspicion on a person who had already been taken in to confidence would lead to unending miseries to the management. In corporate world, company’s secrets in areas of new design, Products, finance are vital and are zealously guarded. Hence, faith and loyalty of an employee is of paramount importance. That is why in this couplet Tiruvalluvar lays down the fundamentals of Recruitment as well as subsequent confidence building aspects like -

Believing a person without checking his background and suspecting a person after reposing faith and allotment of responsibilities would unsettle smooth functioning and end up in mutual distrust affecting the overall performance of the system as such. This assumes great significance in this highly competitive world, where poaching  industrial espionage and patent infringement have become very common in corporate sectors. Google subject applicants through very rigorous interview and tests before selection.Apple is famous for maintaining at most secrecy in development of products till it’s launch and no employee ventures to discuss his activities even among themselves. The sage provides this message very succinctly in the following couplet.

 தேரான் தெளிவும் தெளிந்தாங்கண் ஐயுறவும்
 தீரா இடும்பைத் தரும் ( 510)
   
 Theran Thelivum Thelinthankan Iuravum
 Theera Idumbaith Tharum
   
 ஆராயாமல் ஒருவரை நம்புவதும், நம்பியவர் மேல் சந்தேகம்  கொள்வதும்  நீங்காத  துன்பத்தைக்  கொடுக்கும்    

                                

 Believing someone without proper checks and suspecting   

 someone after accepting him in good faith will result in

 never ending problems.