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Islamic Management System Past, Present, Future Ms.FatemehNasri1 and Mr.MohammadNazemi2 Mailing address: Pooya Co.,13th .St., Jahad Blvd., 7619833118, Kerman, Iran. Tel:09133434044 Fax: 00983412726878 About one and half thousands years ago Muslim community started its organizing procedure and introduced a kind of management style called Islamic management. Considering the strong effects of Roman and Persian empires management styles in that era, the importance, effectiveness and capabilities of Islamic management is understood. In this paper, first, a brief history of Islamic management is presented and then the weakness and strength factors of Islamic Management, in comparison with western management pattern, are discussed. It seems that Islamic Management style has to be updated and proportional with requirements and needs of 2lst century if it wants to be an outstanding pattern in the world’s management systems. For meeting this aim, there are some issues that must be solved by scientifically applied modeling, theory making, analyzing and… provided by professional experts both in management field and religion field. Field of Research: Management Introduction: The manhas always needed management methods; from the early days of human life on the earth to the time of flourishing civilizations in ancient age and to the unbelievable developments in recent century. Like other aspects of human science and knowledge, management science and art, has developed a lot. Now, the man is seeing future needs and requirements to equip himself for meeting future challenges. That is why the management and administrative experts are to design new styles of management for the challenges that are faced with in upcoming century. 1 2 -M.A.Student of Islamic Azad University ,Rafsanjan branch([email protected]) -M.A.Student of Islamic Azad University,Rafsanjan branch([email protected]) 1 Although there are many Islamic countries with different levels of development in the world but still there is no worldwide accepted Islamic management system that can be used in Islamic organizations and countries. Checking the principles and elements of western style of management which is used word wide and the management rules and elements in Islamic style of management, one may see they are almost the same. The only difference is ultimate stress on moral and humanity in Islamic management- although this matter has been paid a lot of attention in western stylerecently. Past: The first days of forming Islam community were simultaneous with flourishing empires in Persia, Greek andRome, the empires that, in fact, were presenting a multination organization with a strong and effective style of management in that era. So, it is a kind of simple-mindedness if one assumes that domination of Islamic civilization over these empires and replacing a kind of Islamic management pattern in their territory was just an accident! Whether it was so, it could not be continued. To understand the management situation in that time, consider that Koorosh in Persia had established a kind of federalized organizational system managing the whole organization, the empire, along with handling and managing each province or state as well (SeyedJavadin,2009) When Islamic management overwhelms such arrangement and management, it must have had norms and standards at least around the standards of that style of management. It must be noted that after conquering these empires, Islamic management system used and mixed their managerial methodswith its own one, and this was an advantage for Islamic management. Anyhow, the management system that was initiallyestablished by prophet of Islam enhanced its enrichment, little by little, after its establisher and then many Islamic scientists focused occasionally on management from Islamic point of view in their books-mainly in Arabic. Here are some cases: 2 Abu yusof, who is one of the first scientists of Islamic school, discusses the methods of governing in his book, Al-Kharaj, around 770. He concentrates on public financial policies, taxing system and criminal courts (Steven Ott and Shafritz) Farabi Abu Nasr, about 300 years after beginning of Islam, has some ideas about management and organization. He says humankind needs anideal society in which the relations between its members are on base of justice and an ideal governor rules it. He presents the principles of his ideas in the book "Ahle-Al-MadinatolFaazele"- the word Al-MadinatolFaazele means Utopia in Araic. Then he recommends a deserved leader who has humanity characteristics, to take the responsibility of governing this Utopia. Seemingly, this has been taken from social order recommended by Plato, Utopia, which is the most complete form of society in which individuals are cooperating in different affairs to achieve prosperity (Taghavi, 1989). EbneKhaldune, around 950, discusses the rules of governing and methods of handling and managing different communities from habits, behavior and civilization point of view. He says people in any society need a ruler or sovereignty that prevents them from violation and aggression (Taghavi, 1989). Avesina, 550, is a well-known scientist. Although he had worked as a manager in ministerial positions, but he does not have any books that shows his ideas about management and leadership. There is only an article, KetabolMajmoo, in which he presents the fundamentals of government and styles of management. In his idea, the most important criterion for classification of governments is the pattern of management and the method of selecting or appointing the manager. Then, he identifies four styles of governments including democracy, totalitarian, oligarchy and a kind of government that is governed by thehumblest person (Motahari, 1997). There are many other examples that are not to be discussed here buttwo main points are seen in all of them: first, management, its elements and improvements have been under close attention of almost all Islamic scientists specially those who were interested in social science. This has been done from Islamic point of view although pre-Islam ideas and philosophy have playedan important role in forming Islamic management ideas. Second, as there were only a few organizations in that era, they have all considered country, state and territory as organizations and rulers, governors and army commanders as managers. 3 This procedure of development continues to the time of Industrial Revolution in Europe, or better to say, a little before this event. It seems that from this point of time, the body of research, theorizing, modeling and improving Islamic management system among Muslim experts falls asleep and the clue of actions and studies falls into the hands of western and European scientists. They make a great and fast progress in this field while having the previous possessions mostly presented by Muslim scientists. It seems that the amount of work done in west during one and half century is much more than the work done in about a thousand years in Islam. Regardless of where the foundation and base of this management system was and who established this foundation, it must be said that study, research, theory making and development in management, like other fields of science, during this one and half century is much more than research, theory making and development madein the past, though having much more time- about one thousand years, from Islam introduction to Industrial Revolution. Present: There is no doubt that the dominant tendency in all countries of the world is development and progress. Those that are being developed now tend to reach the state of post development, post industrialization and post modernization; those that are developing tend to be developed and the others tend to start developing. Again there is no doubt that the methods, patterns and systems of organization and society management, both in public and private affairs, determine the level of successfulness of countries. Briefly, the managerial reflection of countries shows the possibility of successfulness. There are also some countries in the world tending to achieve their goals using a kind of management pattern called Islamic management system (IMS). Malaysia is a good example of these countries that achieved a good result under leadership of President Mahathir Mohammad. Also, Iranians attempt to find a kind of managerial pattern which is both Islamic and scientific, is another example. Scientific management style of present world is almost western, or at least it is not Islamic. If we are to know whether IMS is helpful for progress of countries or not, there are some requirements that must be satisfied first: 1- The need to present a worldwide accepted description of Islamic management, it's fundamentals, models, elements, … 2- The need to identify the requirements of present organizations and humankind-at least in Islamic countries or in Islamic countries that tend to use IMS. 4 3- Finally, matching and adopting these requirements inside the frame of IMS. It must be specified that what the term "Islamic management system" means. Does it mean a management system that is based on rules and principles of Islamic religion or a system that is used in Islamic countries to progress better? The purpose of this question is first to know that if there must be a managerial frame that it's limitations and boundaries are limitations of religion and then study and analyze this frame inside the limitations to evaluate its feasibility or there must be a managerial frame that is not necessarily inside religious limitations but inside circumstances and cultural boundaries of Islamic communities. In the second case, a kind of managerial system is designed, ignoring some minor religious principles, for Muslim communities that are matched with thesecommunities' values and attitudes- which are increasingly being adjusted with the values and standards of today's world. Of course, there can be a third approach: whatever we have now of management is the translation and interpretation of management science which has developed a lot in west. It means that if studies and researches have been done in Muslim countries, they have been done on this kind of management. Also, the needs and values of present human race, regardless of some religious or national values, are almost the same. So, the future life style that is desirable for a Muslim in Iran or Malaysia is not differed from the life style that is desired by a person in Washington D.C. or Europe. Here rises another question: can we satisfy the managerial requirements of todayMuslim communities, consider the stress on the word today, by means of an Islamic management pattern? If the elements and principles of present management science are compared with those of Islamic management-although there is still no worldwide accepted description- there won't be any outstanding differences. There is the same emphasis on planning, organizing, controlling, supervising, budgeting … in Islamic management as there is in western management. The note is that there has been a strong emphasis on justice, humanity and human values in Islamic kind of management from the beginningof itsformation. If the Islamic management approach was considered at the starting point of change and transition of management science, the time between1911-1930; about 19 years could be saved! 19 years from presenting scientific management theory by Fredrick W. Taylor to presenting behavioralapproach theory by Elton Mayo in which human values were somehow introduced. Human values are something that has been suggested to be considered strongly in management from the first days of Islam. Nowadays the circumstances are not in favor of revolutionarily shifting of management methods to Islamic ones. The circumstances are the same as a car 5 racing match in which a team or driver decides to change the car or the route, during the race! It has a serious risk for the racer. So, the job is very important, crucial and risky. Understanding the present needs and conditions is of a great value. The least thing that seems to be done now is to start studying, Researching, analyzing and presenting a kind of management on the base of Islamic principles, which are all in line withhuman welfare and perfection, in parallel with using and employing western kind of management. Having a glance on moral principles of modern world, one can judge that they all have been presented in rules, policies and orders of 1300 years ago, in Islam, or at least that they are not in inconsistency with Islamic rules. While we have had them since a thousand years ago, so, why we retreated and entrusted them to the others in west to employ in their management system? Why we remained a watcher during last two centuries? Future: Globalization, worldvillage, Democracy, modernization and growth are the terms and concepts that have attracted and occupied the minds of managers, politicians and even the individuals of all countries. There is no sign of old community- the command and the tradition-any more (Soltani, 2009). Now, everyone speaks about rationality, science-centrism and law- centrism. Everything will rely on creativity and innovation and these are relying on science and knowledge in turn. Whatever the future is going to be, surly, it will have "the change", "the flexibility", "humanity" and "morality" along with its way. The boundaries of countries will probably stay only on maps and they will be practically omitted from the map of world's managerial considerations and relationships. This leads to unificationGlobalization. European Union, African union, Persian-gulf council … are the signs of future unification. The countries that avoid the globalization gain nothing but failure- poverty. The more they try to go toward global commerce and competition, the more flourishing their economy will be (Fried man, 1999). If Islamic management system wants to be successful and effective in future, it must take all this predictions and factors into consideration and try to include them in its description, models and patterns. This kind of environment will never be formed unless the experts both in management and religious field come together and create 6 an atmosphere for more researches, studies, theory making and co apprehensiveness. The good news is that none of above mentioned factors and predictions, related to future of management and administration, has inconsistency with Islamic principles. Here are some more statements that can be helpful for modeling of IMS: If an administrative theory wants to qualify the facts, guide the administrative actions and explain the legal and legitimate administrative objectives, it must be necessarily initiated from cultural values that are guiding social intercourses and dominating the inter-organizational and outer-organizational relationships (Biur and zomorrodian). …They say that cultural values of any countries differ from those of other countries and the values of western secular communities are no longer acceptable in other countries (Heady, 1996). Managers need to improve a kind of global perspective in their minds. Cultural differences surely affect the methods and behavior of managers in planning, organizing, controlling and human resource management (Weihrich and Koontz, 1993). …but there is the possibility of introducing new approaches [rather than development approach] to eliminate the hard and unpleasant conditions in which the majority of people of the world are living. There is also a hope to compile strategies to continue the way toward progress (Mittleman). …Public opinions in developing countries are to welcome a pattern other than adopted pattern from industrialized developed countries. There is the likelihood that developing countries leave the pattern of pioneer countries in development and even figure it as an anti- development pattern! (Heady, 1996). The future administration will be very flexible. Rigidity was a specification of traditional administration to ensure equity and this would lead to dullness and make the organization incapable of being adjusted with variable environment (Soltani, 2007). 7 Well, everybody, even one with little knowledge about Islam, agrees that the above mentioned suggestions have no disagreement with Islamic rules and the kind of management we name Islamic management. There is only a little problem with "flexibility" from some directions. Because some religious experts believe that Islamic rules are rigid, while others believe that in some cases they are flexible. This is a topic that needs more discussion. The word "change" is a puzzle. Some, optimistically, believed that change goes to perfection in future, or they, at least, suppose a hope that change will bring positive development in future. There are some anticipations which are challenge rising and see the future pessimistically. An example of this group is Huntington, 1993, who has brought it in his paper "clash of the civilizations". He believes the main source of conflict in the new world will be the cultural conflict… the clash of the civilizations will affect the world policy. The boundary lines of the civilizations will change to war lines between them in future. Then, he anticipates violent clashes that may lead to a world war. Huntington believes that the main conflict is between the west and many Islamic countries (Huntington, 1993). First, this predication is a pessimistic one. Second, presenting a complied Islamic management system can convert the clash to a competition, an administrative competition, or at least Islamic counties may pick a competition rather than conflict. There are some signs that one source of conflict between Islamic countries and west, if any, may be the copied western management system that they apply in all of their organizations and the cultural conflicts that it brings to the users. Applying IMS in Islamic countries will reduce the conflicts, especially cultural ones. So, the possibility of clash, at least from one side, is reduced. As a result, beside some cultural and ideologicaldifferences, there is no difference between the principles and elements of Islamic and western management systems. Fortunately Islam has put high amount of emphasis on moral and humanity factors in management and this is something which has been considered by almost all administrative experts, all over the world, to be an important factor especially in upcoming century. Also, all researches, studies, developments and up and downs of western management are in access. They will be very helpful for fast and accurate compilation and presentation of an Islamic management system that can satisfy the managerial needs of the world, or at least Islamic countries, in future. Finally, the word "Islamic" in this kind of management system necessitates that religious scientists interact with managerial experts. The holiness of Islamic rules prevents some people to work and theorize a management system on them. It needs 8 a little more tolerance, understanding, braveness and hope. Let's have a little faith! It must be started someday, somewhere, anyhow. Conclusion: Studying the history of Islam makes it obvious that Muslims, at the beginning, had a kind of management system, at least, as effective as the management systems of Greek, Rome and Persia empires and civilizations.TheMuslim scientists have also worked on IMS since the early days of Islam but this work has been almost stoppedbeforeIndustrial Revolution in Europe. Western management style has developed surprisingly during only one century and this style is now used all over the world. Identifying the managerial requirements of up-coming century encourages us to be hopeful about establishing a world-wide accepted style of management on Islamic base. Fortunately, there are some factors, like human values, that seem to be highly influential in future world order and world management systems that have received a lot of stress from the early days of Islam. If world have got them now, Muslims have had them since thirteen centuries ago! Establishing a world wide accepted Islamic management system is not possible in one or some papers. It needs extensive work, study and co-operation of many experts both in management and religion field. Countries are going to be globalized. Islamic countries may also form an Islamic countries union under IMS in a near future, so why not? Reference: 1- Biur and Zomorrodian, Toward Indigenous Theories of Administration, pp: 397-400. 2- Chavoshi, Kazem, 2009, Analyzing Islamic Management Perspectives 3- Friedman T.L., The lexus and the olive tree, NewYork, 1999, pp: 8-9. 4- Foreign Affairs 72, No.3 (summer1993) pp: 22-49. 5- Heady, Ferrel, Public Administration: A comparative perspective, 1996, 5th edition, CRC Press, 3rd section. 6- Huntington,Samuel, the clash of civilization?,1993. 7- Motahari,Mortaza, Islam and Iran Counter Services,1997, 8th. Edition, p: 548. 9 8- Mittleman, out from under development, p: 138. 9- Seyedjavadin, Reza, human resources management, negahedanesh, 5th. Edition, 2008, p.p:52-53 10- Shafritz Jay M. and J Steven Ott, Organization Theory,translated by Parsaeian, Ali, 2002, p: 17. 11- Soltani,Simin, Development Management,2009. Ostadi publishing, p: 24, 5th edition. 12- Taghavi, seyed Reza, A review of Islamic management, 1989, the organization for Islamic propaganda, p: 28. 13- Weihrich and Koontz, a global perspective, NewYork, McGrawHill, 1993. 10