Management Scholars Academy

PMBoK definition of Risk response planning :

Developing options and actions to enhance opportunities, and to reduce threats to project objectives

The scene from Ramayana:

(Read the following paras with the above definition in mind)

Sugriva segregates his army into four squads and sends them in four directions in search of Sitadevi’s whereabouts. But he sends three fourth of his army in the southern direction knowing that is where Ravana’s country is.

Seeing that Sugriva has great trust in Hanuman to find Sitadevi, SriRama gives his signet ring to Hanuman to give it to Sitadevi, if he meets her.

Hanuman crosses the ocean and lands in Lanka. He takes the size of a cat, enters Lanka after dusk and searches for Sita. He finds her in Ashokavana, the garden palace of Ravana. Though he gets agitated by Ravana’s arrival and jeering comments and threats to Sita, he does not act. He waits for the Rakshasis to go to sleep. By then Sita gets into a desperate mood and ventures to commit suicide. Hanuman does not jump in front of her but narrates the story of Rama from the treetop so that she only can hear. This dissuades Sita from her suicide attempt and she looks at Hanuman. Hanuman talks to her and also asks her questions to makes her talk. Sita still suspects that it is Ravana in a different disguise.

Hanuman narrates all that happened after she was lost and praises Rama and explains how Rama is longing to get her back. After gaining her trust through long conversations he shows Rama’s signet ring and gains her full confidence. He then offers to carry her on his back to Rama. When Sita refuses out of anxiety, Hanuman accepts her decision.

After consoling Sita and giving her hope, he picks a fight with the rakshasas and causes significant damage to the rakshasa army and burns down Lanka and puts fear in the heart of Ravana. But he becomes worried about the safety of Sita from the fire. He meets her again and ensures that she is safe before returning to Rama.

How the scene maps to the process:

The first scene shows how Rama and Sugriva are exploiting an opportunity (positive risk).

The second scene (Hanuman in enemy’s territory) shows how he takes many risks along with steps to mitigate the impact, as he knows that the impact of his getting killed will be irreversible, as he is only soldier who has penetrated Ravana’s island fort, but at the same time he has to achieve many goals.

Related posts:

1. Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 4
2. Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 2
3. Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 8
4. Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 7
5. Project Management in Valmiki Ramayana – 10