Research On Xunzi's Thought Of Management

Research into the history of management thought is on the rise in China. The traditional Chinese thought of management played an important role in the long history of development of China, of which the intelligence of management, the ways of thinking and the culture of management have descended from generation to generation. Most of them have been integrated into our national habits and mental qualities. Since the reform and opening up, studies of management in China witnesses a trend, which is to study and introduce western management theories and research methods. When the Western management thought and theory can not reach the desired results, researchers find that countries have different national conditions, and the effects of management though can not be the same. Therefore, we can not have a better understanding of management thought unless we take into account the traditional Chinese management thought. We need more original academic achievements in the process of inheriting and introducing Western management thought.Based on the above research background, this dissertation aims at systematically studying the management thought of Xunzi. Xunzi is an extremely important representative in the history of the Chinese management thought. Xunzi is representative of Confucian thought, but his idea is not limited to the Confucian thought. Academically speaking, Xunzi integrated the management thought of Confucianism, Mohism and Legalism, in particular enriching Legalists into the Confucian thought, with its profound knowledge, inclusive abilities and a positive attitude towards life, establishing a system of rich management thought. Xunzi's idea of later generations has had enormous influence in the thought of management. In terms of management thought, Xunzi's inheritance and innovation of management thought makes the management strategies of Confucianism more realistic ones for running the country. Xunzi is the first thinker to have a complete system of management thought for the centralized feudal system. His thought of management is used not only in the Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty unified feudal autocratic regime but also in the actual society management where the monarchy has been the ruling class. Xunzi's management thought has been very of great importance to the management, the consolidation and the development of the feudal society. Therefore, the study of Xunzi's management though will no doubt enable our country to learn modern management research. It is an important reference to our country's management practices. Mr. Tan Sitong thought highly of Xunzi and said that the best governor in China was Qin Zheng while the best thinker of management was Xunzi. Although what he said is a little exaggerated, but it does reflect the far-reaching implications of Xunzi's management thought. It is of great significance to study Xunzi's management thought and the implications thereof.Around the content of research, the dissertation mainly uses several research methods. One is literature research. Through the collection, collation, analysis of the literature on historical data involved this dissertation has compared the different opinions upon Xunzi's management thought in order to get a more comprehensive and objective understanding of Xunzi's management thought. Another one is qualitative analysis. In view of the traditional Chinese language with the simplicity, high degree of generality and the complexity of the expression of thought, the dissertation has analyzed the modern thought management in terms of the basic principles of Xunzi's management thought. Another method is that of interdisciplinary research. In view of the interdisciplinary nature of management, the dissertation makes used of methods in economics, sociology, psychology, philosophy, etc. to help analyze the basic principles of conduct, in order to comprehensively shed lights on the management thought of Xunzi. Another method is the method of comparative study. The dissertation compared the opinions of a lot of researchers, which in the process of comparative analysis shows that the management thought of Xunzi attained a high degree. This dissertation, through the above-mentioned research methods, seeks to indicate that the management thought of Xunzi has a realistic application for modern management studies.This dissertation is divided into four parts and structurally into seven chapters. The first chapter is introduction, making the first part. It is an introduction to literature review and forms the basis of this study. The purpose of this study is to learn about the overall Xunzi's management thought according the framework of modern management research. The dissertation argues that Xunzi has guiding significance for the general management theories, principles and methods, and our country's modern management.Chapter two makes the second part of this dissertation, introducing in a comprehensive way the well-known ancient Chinese thinker Xunzi. This chapter describes the life of Xunzi profiles and evaluates Xunzi and his writing. Based on that, the dissertation argues that to establish and consolidate a unified feudal system of rich and powerful country is Xunzi's centralized management objectives, laying foundation for the full text of the study.Chapters from three to six make the third part of this study, which is the main content of the management thought of Xunzi, and analyzes comprehensively and systematically Xunzi's management thought.Chapter three is an analysis of Xunzi's thought of organization, which is the most basic part of Xunzi's thought of management. The core of the thought of organizational management is "courtesy", and he established a system of organizational management around the concepts of "courtesy", "justice", "division", and "legality". Xunzi believes that people within a group will fight without division of individual benefits. "Division" is the basic method of organizational management which can achieve the promotion of social wealth to meet the needs of members required and rationalize the distribution relationship. Xunzi considers that "division" is better than Li, the specific form of organization in a feudal society. Xunzi argues that the levels of management and rights in organization should be specified clearly. At the level of organizational culture, Xunzi's idea of "responsibility goes first" is the core of organizational spirit in order to maintain social harmony and stability.Chapter four deals with Xunzi's thought of leadership. Due to the effects of time, the realization of Xunzi's social ideals and objectives of management is by means of the leaders of centralized feudal system. Xunzi's ideas related to leadership are diverse. The essence of leadership is influence. Based on the quality of leadership, Xunzi explored individual leaders about the sources of influence, and put forward a loyal, fair, tolerant, wise leader and so on to ensure that members of organization win the trust and respect and receive the endorsement and support of the basic quality. Xunzi inherited the Confucian tradition that the real leaders love the people, and Kings must be benevolent. Xunzi emphasized life-long learning and self-cultivation, and stressed the importance of diligent attention and self-cultivation method.Chapter five gives an analysis of decision-making and human resource management of Xunzi's thought. Personnel management is the most important decision-making activity of leadership. Xunzi's thought of the decision-making and personnel touched on the core of leadership. Xunzi thought of decision-making, including goal setting for decision-making and rational understanding of the law for things to master as a decision-making premise, relate to theoretical focus of modern decision-making. Xunzi believes that personnel management is the most important part of decision making of leadership. Leaders can influence people to do right for other members of organization and can inspire and mobilize members of the working enthusiasm. Xunzi put forward five principles in the use of talents:moral standard, the principle of ability and political integrity; the use of talents according to their capability; good at delegating power; the courage to use talents; attention to cultivate talents and the basic quality of human resources.Chapter six discusses the incentive theory of Xunzi. The study of incentives is an indispensable part of Xiuzi's thought of management. Xunzi thinks that incentives can make organizations united and meet the individual needs of the possible role. Xunzi put forward institutional incentives, appropriate incentives, positive incentives as the main tools of incentives, etc, taking into account the spiritual motivation, which reflects the depth of his theory of incentives.Chapter seven is conclusion and makes the fourth part of the dissertation. It reiterates the purpose of this dissertation. The conclusion is drawn on the basis of comparing the management thought of Xunzi and that of modern western thinkers. Xunzi has very clear management objectives. In a framework of clear management objectives, Xunzi explored the functions of organization, leadership, decision making, personnel management, incentives and communications of management. This shows that the management thought of Xunzi touches the heart of modern management, reflecting the general management principles.This dissertation is designed to study Xunzi's management thought in the perspective of modern management, and to summarize the general principles of management from Xunzi's rich but relatively scattered management idea to build a relatively complete system of management thought. As one of the pre-Qin Confucian thinkers, and philosophers, Xunzi absorbed and integrated the thought of many thinkers and philosophers. He set up a comparatively complete system of management thought, which can be summed up into some of the basic principles of management and are of general applicability. Because of the author's capacity constraints, the dissertation has certain limits concerning the perspective of historical understanding; the depth of study is to be further strengthened.