The Situation

You work for a growing company, which thus far has operated only in the United States and Canada. Its board has just approve a plan to expand operations in two locations in the world whose local populations are overwhelmingly Hindu. The company management knows nothing about Hinduism, except perhaps for a few stereotypes. The company plans to hire most of its staff locally, so it needs basic information about Hinduism so that it can conduct advertising, human resources, and other aspects of its operations without offending cultural sensibilities.

Your Task

You work in the accounting department, but because you have a degree in religious studies, the company's management has asked you to prepare a brief report on certain aspects of Hinduism. It will use your report as the basis for determining a plan for further study. Your report, therefore, should be clear and specific about religion However, it need not and should not concern itself with details about how the company will implement the cultural knowledge you provide. There is much that you can say but only a short space in which to say it. So think about which points are of the most importance in this situation.

Specifically, in no more than 400 words, find and explain 5 aspects of Hinduism that address the following topics for your report:

1. Is Hinduism compatible with capitalism and typical business practices and teamwork? Why or why not?

2. What specific company practices might be adopted to make the workplace more appealing to those who practice Hinduism?