59.1 gathering Intelligence Information

 59.1 Gathering Intelligence Information

 

Question:

              What is one of the critical duties of a king (leader)?

Answer:

It is the duty of a king to know quickly everything that

happens to everybody in his kingdom at all times.                        (Couplet – 582)

எல்லார்க்கும் எல்லாம் நிகழ்பவை எஞ்ஞான்றும்

வல்லறிதல் வேந்தன் தொழில்.                                               (குறள் – 582)

Explanation:

              Among the many duties of a king, collecting information about what is happening in his country is also essential. To govern effectively, the king (leader) should be aware of what happens in his country. A king may collect intelligence information through a network of spies. Although no spies are available for a business or project leader, it is equally important for a business leader or project leader to gather information regarding the activities in his domain. For example, to assess the progress of a project, the project leader should know the project's current status, including the progress and the lack of progress in various tasks. Once the leader has the necessary information, he can then take the needed corrective action, if any. So, the idea in couplet 582 is applicable to a king as well as leaders in other areas.