Dr Balakrishnan Muniapan
Dr Bala is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow in Human Resource Management (HRM) at the College of Business, Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, UK. He has more than three decades of experience in academia, research, training, consultancy and in management. He has previously held professorial and senior faculty positions in Malaysia and in China with WOU in Penang, Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University (Sarawak Campus), and BIMC in Beijing, China. He has also worked in production and operation management with a large Japanese multinational company in his hometown in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia.
Dr Bala is a HRM specialist was conferred the “Best Professor in HRM” awards at the World Education Congress, Asia’s Education Excellence Award 2014 in Singapore, and at the World HRD Congress 2017 in Mumbai. He has also been a Visiting Professor and Adjunct Professor in HRM and has served as an external examiner for DBA/PhD thesis for several universities within Asia, Africa, Australia, USA and in Europe. Dr Bala has published over seventy research papers and articles in several international journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters; and was the recipient of the Best Research Paper award at the 3rd National (Malaysia) HRM Conference in 2006.
Dr Balakrishnan is frequently honoured as an invited speaker in HRM at numerous conferences and has delivered talks in several countries within Asia, the Middle East, Australia, South Pacific, Africa, Europe and USA. As a HRM trainer and consultant, Dr Bala has vast experience in conducting training and consultancy programs in HRM and has contributed tremendously towards HRM effectiveness for hundreds of organizations worldwide. His trainings are interactive, thought provoking, engaging and with practical insights, that helps to transform participant’s strategic and critical thinking skills.
Areas of Expertise
- Human Resource Management
- Human Resource Development
- Organisational Behaviour
- Industrial Relations
- Employment Law (Malaysia)
- Vedanta in Leadership and Management
Qualifications
- Doctor of Business Administration in Human Resource Development (Philippines), 2011
- Master of Science in Human Resource Management (UK),1999
- Bachelor of Economics (Malaysia),1993
- Certificate IV in Workplace Training (Australia), 1997
- Certificate in Personnel Management (Malaysia), 1996
- Certified Trainer, Speaker and Coach with the John Maxwell Team (USA), 2018
- Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (USA), 2019
- HRDCorp Accredited Trainer (TTT via Exemption, 2011) (Malaysia), 2023
Memberships
- Malaysian Institute of Management
- Malaysian Association of Business and Management Scholars
- External Examiner for PhD Thesis for several universities within Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Australia, in Africa and Europe
- Adjunct Professor in Human Resource Management for Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation in Switzerland
- Adjunct Professor in Management for Skopje Metropolitan College in Macedonia
- Adjunct Faculty in Ramayana (Valmiki) for Management and Leadership for Hindu University of America in USA
- Academic Advisor (Business and Management Programmes), New Era University College, Malaysia
Teaching
- Human Resource Management
- Performance and Reward Management
- International Human Resource Management
- Adding Value Through HR
Research
HRM, HRD, Organisational Behaviour, Industrial Relations and Employment Law (Malaysia).
His current research is in uncovering the relevance of ancient wisdom focusing on Valmiki Ramayana and Vyasa Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad Gita) in the context of management, leadership and human resource management. His other research area includes management (HRM) education and employment law issues such as termination, dismissal and constructive dismissal.
Postgraduate Supervision
DBA and PhD Supervision
- K. Prasad A/L S. Krishnapillai (2021 to 2024), DBA dissertation main Supervisor (with Dr Brahmanthan Thambusamy) - An Empirical Study on User Behavioural Patterns and Adoption of Security Measures for Mobile Devices in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (WOU, Malaysia - Completed).
- Jayakumar Raj (2021 to 2023), DBA dissertation main Supervisor - A study on the effectiveness of training need analysis (TNA) in selected manufacturing companies in Johor Bahru during the pandemic (WOU, Malaysia - Completed).
- Jimmy Chow Kong Fatt (2021 to 2023), DBA dissertation main Supervisor (with Dr Arivalan Ramaiyah) - An Empirical Study of 5-Star Hotels on Hospitality Sustainable Performance (WOU, Malaysia - Completed).
- Vinod Pragash Shanmuganathen (2021 to 2023), DBA dissertation main Supervisor (with Dr Arivalan Ramaiyah) - A study on the relationship of Industry 4.0 and business sustainability of SMEs in Penang, Malaysia (WOU, Malaysia - Completed).
- Saravanan Sivan Shummugam (2021 to 2023), DBA dissertation main Supervisor (with Dr Logaiswari Indiran) - Factors Influencing Business to Business E-commerce Adoption Among SMEs In Malaysia. (WOU, Malaysia - Completed).
- Benjamin Chan Kia Guan (2019 to 2023), PhD thesis, main Supervisor (with Dr Chong Siew Pyng) Leadership wisdom: Exploring its implicit constructivist characteristics and its applications in management. (WOU, Malaysia - Expected to complete in December 2024).
Publications
Book
Ramasamy, N, Parasuraman, B, Muniapan, B and Senasi, V (2024), Dynamics of Malaysian Industrial Relations, Sweet & Maxwell Asia, Singapore.
Book Chapters
Muniapan, B. (2021). “Philosophy and Management: The Relevance of Vedanta in Management” in Research Anthology on Religious Impact on Society, IGI Global, Pennsylvania, Chapter 3, pp.42-60.
Muniapan and Satpathy (2018). The philosophical dimensions of social responsibilities from the Bhagavad-Gita in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Practices, Issues and Global Perspectives, Nova Science Publishers, Chapter 2, pp. 37 to 68.
Muniapan, B, Gregory, ML. and Ling, L.A. (2018). Marketing Education in Sarawak: Looking at It from the Employers' Perspective in Business Education and Ethics: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Application, IGI Global, Pennsylvania, Chapter 36, pp.688-706.
Muniapan, B. (2017). “Philosophy and Management: The Relevance of Vedanta in Management” in Managerial Strategies and Solutions for Business Success in Asia, IGI Global, Pennsylvania, Chapter 7, pp.124-139. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-1886-0.ch007
Muniapan, B and Dass, M (2016). “Expanding the Vedantic virtues into business ethics: A leadership perspective” in Indian Culture and Work Organisations in Transition (edited by Malik. A and Pereira. V), Routledge, New York.
Satpathy, B and Muniapan, B (2016), Ancient Wisdom for Transformational Leadership and Its Insights from the Bhagavad-Gita in Managerial Strategies and Practice in the Asian Business Sector, IGI Global, Pennsylvania, Chapter 1, pp.1-10. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9758-4.ch001
Muniapan, B. (2015). Labour Relations and International Business: The Doctrine of Constructive Dismissal and Labour Relations in Malaysia, in Liam Leonard, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez (ed.) Beyond the UN Global Compact: Institutions and Regulations (Advances in Sustainability and Environmental Justice, Volume 17) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.291 – 315.
Muniapan, B. (2015). The Bhagavad-Gita and business ethics: a leadership perspective, in Dasho Karma Ura & Patricia Ordonez de Pablos (ed.), Asian business and management practices: trends and global considerations. IGI Global, Pennsylvania, Chapter 18, pp. 227-246.
Muniapan, B., and Jalarajan, S.R. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility Communication from the Vedantic, Dharmic and Karmic Perspectives, in Ralph Tench, William Sun, Brian Jones (ed.) Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspectives and Practice (Critical Studies on Corporate Responsibility, Governance and Sustainability, Volume 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, London, pp.337-354.
Muniapan, B. (2014). “The Roots of Indian Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Practice from a Vedantic Perspective” in KCP Low, SO Idowu and SL Ang in Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, pp.19-34.
Muniapan, B., (2010). “Perplexity, Management and Business in India” in “Managing in a Changing Times: A Guide to Perplexed Manager” edited by Sid Lowe (Kingston University, UK), Sage Publication, pp. 317-346.
Muniapan, B., (2009). “The Bhagavad-Gita and Transformational “Leaders” Development”, in Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership, Edited by Sengupta, Sunita Singh (FMS, Delhi) in Macmillan Advanced Research Series, Delhi. Pp.153-164.
Muniapan, B., (2008). “Kautilyan and Confucian Perspectives on Leadership Values” in Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership, edited by Anitha Arunsimha, ICFAI, Hyderabad, pp. 115-127.
Muniapan, B., (2007). “Exploring Spirituality, Religion and Work (SRW) with Reference to the Bhagavad-Gita and Human Resource Management (HRM)”, in Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership, Edited by Sengupta, Sunita Singh and Dail Field, Macmillan Advanced Research Series, Delhi, 2007, pp. 623-634.
Muniapan, B., (2005). HRM Education: The Role of Malaysian Universities and Institution of Higher Learning in Alex Yong, K.B, Strategic HR: Invent and Innovate, Genuine Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 344- 346.
Journal Articles
Bhadeshiya, H.B., Shukla, P. and Muniapan, B. (2024) ‘Demystifying Samyak Agraga from the women characters of the Mahabharata: a holistic leadership perspective’, Int. J. Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. pp 37-57.
Shenoy, U.R., Muniapan, B. and Putty, S. (2024) ‘The relevance of Mahabharata for the development of a spiritual model of good governance within the Indian context’, Int. J. Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. pp 310-321.
Bhadeshiya, H.B., Shukla, P. and Muniapan, B. (2023) ‘The relevance of Satvik management model from the Bhagavad Gita for business sustainability’, Int. J. Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp.245–263
ZL Wisker, B Muniapan, V Rosinaite (2020). Religiosity and Sustainable Practices in Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: A Mixed-Method Analysis, Malaysian Journal of Business and Economics (MJBE), 2020/3/17, pp. 147-168.
ZL Wisker, V Rosinaite, B Muniapan (2019). “The Effect of Religiosity, Spirituality and Family Power Influence on Family Business Sustainable Values” Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Vol XV, Iss 1, June 2019, Rossi Smith Academic Publications, Oxford/London UK, pp. 172-211
Muniapan, B and Satpathy, B. (2013). The “dharma” and “karma” of CSR from the Bhagavad-Gita, Journal of Human Values, Vol. 19, No 2 October, pp. 173-188.
Satpathy, B., Muniapan, B. and Dass, M. (2013). ‘UNESCAP’s characteristics of good governance from the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita and its contemporary relevance in the Indian context’, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp.192–212.
Muniapan, B. (2013). Industrial Law and the Right to Retrench in Malaysia from a Human Resource Management Perspective, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, Vol 4 (2), pp. 1-15.
Muniapan. B. and Low, Patrick (2011). Asian Leadership Wisdom: The Relevance of Kautilyan and Confucian Values for Leadership Development, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, Volume2, Number 4, October-December 2011, pp. 10-19.
Low, Patrick and Muniapan. B. (2011). The Essential Leadership Wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, Volume 2Number 4, October-December 2011, pp. 1-9.
Muniapan. B. and Rajantheran, M (2011). Ethics (business ethics) from Thirukurral and its Relevance for Contemporary Business Leadership in the Indian Context, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp.453–471.
Low, Patrick and Muniapan. B. (2011). Organisational Development and the Hindu Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva on Leadership, Culture and Change, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp.491–505.
Lee, M.H., Ling, L.A., Muniapan, B., and Gregory, M.L. (2011). General enterprising tendency (GET) and recommendations to boost entrepreneurship education in Sarawak, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp.32-47.
Muniapan, B. (2010). “The laws on retrenchment and its implication to human resource management in Malaysia”, Industrial Law Journal, Volume 2, 2010, pp. liv-lxxv.
Muniapan, B. (2010). “The law of constructive dismissal and the emerging patterns of employment relations in Malaysia”, Industrial Law Journal, Volume 1, 2010, pp. csc-ccxii.
Muniapan, B. and Ee, Y.S., (2010). Confucianism values for transformational leadership development in the Chinese context, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2010, pp.10-22.
Muniapan, B., Parasuraman, B., Satrya, A., and Rathakrishnan., (2010). Individual Employment Contract in Malaysia, Industrial Law Report, Issue 2, Volume 4, pp v-xx.
Parasuraman, B; Muniapan, B; Rathakrishnan, B. and Abdullah M.M, (2010). The Rights and Status of Probationers in the Context of Malaysian Employment Law”. Industrial Law Reports, Volume 3 ILR 1, pp. xlv-lxiv
Muniapan. B. and Satpathy, B, (2010). Ancient Indian Wisdom for Managers: The Relevance of Valmiki Ramayana in Developing Managerial Effectiveness, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Volume 3, No 6, 2010, pp. 645-668.
Ling, L.A., Gregory, M.L. and Muniapan, B. (2010., ‘Marketing education in Sarawak: some issues and challenges from the employers’ perspectives’, International Journal of Education Economics and Development, Volume 1, Number 3, pp. 227-242.
Parasuraman, B., Satrya, A., Abdullah, MM. Hamid, F., Muniapan, B., and Rathakrishnan, B., (2009). Analyzing the Relationship between Unions and Joint Consultation Committee: case studies of Malaysian and Indonesian Postal Industries, International Journal of Business and Society, Volume 10, No 1, July 2009, pp. 41-58.
Muniapan, B., and Dass, M (2009). An Indian Leadership Perspective from Literature Works of Poet Kannadasan, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol 2, Number 4, 2009, pp. 326-340.
Abdullah, M.M., Korean, S., Parasuraman, B., Muniapan, B., Jones, M., and Afshari, M. (2008). Motivating Factors Associated with Adult Participation in Distance Learning Programmes: “International Education Studies”, Volume. 1, Number 4, pp. 104-109.
Abdullah, M.M., Korean, S., Muniapan, B., Rathakrishnan, B., and Parasuraman, B. (2008). “Adult participation in self-directed learning programmes”, International Education Studies”, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 66-72.
Muniapan, B., and Dass, M (2008). “Corporate Social Responsibility: A Philosophical Approach from an Ancient Indian Perspective” International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Volume 1, Number 4, 2008, pp. 408- 420.
Muniapan, B. (2008). “Perspectives and Reflections on Management Education in Malaysia”, International Journal of Management in Education, Volume 2, Number 1, 2008, pp. 77-87.
Muniapan, B. and Parasuraman, B (2007). “Misconduct, Domestic Inquiry and Rules of Natural Justice in the Context of Malaysian Employment Relations”, Malayan Law Journal, Number 6, pp. cxlix – clxviii.
Muniapan, B. (2007). “Transformational Leadership Style Demonstrated by Sri Rama in Valmiki Ramayana”, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Volume 1, Number 1, 2007 pp. 104-115.
Muniapan, B., and Shaikh, J., (2007). “Lessons in Corporate Governance from Kautilya’s Arthashastra in Ancient India”, World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Special Issue on: “Accounting Standards Convergence, Corporate Governance and Sustainability Practices in East Asia”, Volume 3, Number 1, 2007 pp. 50 -61.
Krishnan, A., Muniapan, B., Lew T.Y., and Kong E.E.F., (2005). “Exploring the Extent of Transformational Leadership in the Context of Miri Entrepreneurs”, Sarawak Development Journal, Volume 7, Number 1, 2005 pp. 48-63.
Conference Proceedings
ZL Wisker, V Rosinaite, B Muniapan (2019). Religiosity and Sustainable Practices in Small to Medium-sized Businesses: A Mixed- Method Analysis, International Conference of Business Studies 2019, At Universiti of Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 24-25 July 2019, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Muniapan, B (2013). Incorporating the Bhagavad-Gita into Business Ethics: A Leadership Perspective, 5th International Conference on Rhetoric and Narratives in Management Research, a collaboration between ESADE and RSM, Erasmus University, 25-27 March, 2013, ESADE, Barcelona, Spain.
Muniapan, B (2011). The concept of individual social responsibility, corporate social responsibility and global social responsibility from the Bhagavad-Gita, ADERSE 9th International Congress 2012 on CSR, Globalisation, Normalisation: New Issues Induced by Crisis, 29-30 March, 2012, Nice, France.
Muniapan, B. (2011). The duty and action of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the perspectives of Vedanta, 2nd African International Business and Management (AIBUMA) Conference, "Building Synergies for Better Performance”, Nairobi, Kenya, 24-26 August 2011.
Muniapan, B. (2010). “Vedanta Philosophy and it Relevance to Corporate Social Responsibility”, 2010 Academy of International Business Southeast Asia Regional Conference: Trends in International Business: Change and Competition Issues, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2-4.
Muniapan, B. (2010). “The law of constructive dismissal and the emerging patterns of employment relations in Malaysia”, 11th International Human Resource Management Conference, Emergence of New Economic Powers: Management of Human Resources in the Challenging Global Context, Aston Business School, Birmingham UK, 9th -12th June 2010.
Muniapan, B., (2009). “The Bhagavad-Gita on Leadership for Good Governance and Sustainable Development”, 15th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference, "Taking up the Global Challenge: Analyzing the Implementation of Innovations and Governance for Sustainable Development", University of Utrecht, Utrecht, 5-8 July 2009.
Muniapan, B., and Rajantheran, M., (2008). “Transformational leadership from the Bhagavad-Gita and its significance for human capital development”, 4th National Human Resource Management Conference: Enhancing Organisational Effectiveness through Human Capital, organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia, Tiara Beach Resort, Port Dickson, 17-19 August 2008.
Muniapan, B., (2007). “The Employer’s Right to Dismiss a Workman in the Context of Malaysian Employment Relations”, NITEN International Business Management Conference 2007, Human Capital Optimisation: Strategies, Challenges & Sustainability, Hotel Equatorial Melaka, 16-18 December 2007.
Muniapan, B. (2006). “Can the Bhagavad-Gita be used as a Manual for Management Development of Indian Managers Worldwide?”5th Asia Academy of Management Conference, Asian Management: Convergence and Divergence, Tokyo, Japan, 19- 21 December 2006
Muniapan, B. (2006). “Malaysian Industrial Relations: Domestic Inquiry and the Rules of Natural Justice in the Management of Employment Misconduct”, UTCC International Conference in Business 2006, Revolution for the New Era Competition, School of Business, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand 7- 8 December 2006.
Muniapan, B. (2006). “Work and Employee Relations: An Overview of Constructive Dismissal in Malaysian Employment Relations”, 3rd National Human Resource Management Conference: Emerging Challenges of the Century, organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia, City Bayview Hotel Langkawi, Kedah, 26 – 28 November 2006 – Received the Best Research Paper Award.
Lew, T.Y., Muniapan, B., Boniface Ancheh, K.S., Kong, E., and Yong, S.T., (2004). "Entrepreneurship: Personality Profile of Chinese Entrepreneurs who are members of the Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sarawak, Malaysia", 18th Annual Conference of Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 8–11 December.
Muniapan, B., (2009). “The Bhagavad-Gita and Good Governance: A Leadership Perspective”, 3rd South and Southeast Asian Association of Study of Culture and Religion (SSEASR) Conference: Waters in South and Southeast Asia: Interaction of Culture and Religion, Institut Seni Indonesia & Universitas Hindu Indonesia, Denpasar, Bali, 3-6 June 2009.
Muniapan, B., (2007). “Exploring Spirituality, Religion and Work (SRW) with Reference to the Bhagavad-Gita and Human Resource Management (HRM)”, 1stInternational Conference on Integrating Spirituality and Organisational Leadership, University of Delhi, India, 8-10 February 2007.
Muniapan, B. (2006). “Malaysian Industrial Relations: Dispute Settlement and the Creation of Cooperative and Harmonious Employer-Employee Relations”, Asia Pacific Coop. Conference, “Putting a Human Face to Globalisation– the Cooperative Model”, Bayview Hotel, Manila, 6-7 July 2006.
Muniapan, B. (2006). “Rethinking Management Education in Malaysian Universities and Institution of Higher Learning”, Quality in Education: Teaching and Leadership in Challenging Times, An International Conference, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, 21 – 23 February.
Muniapan, B., Krishnan, A., and Ramaiyah, A., (2006). “The Role of Tamil Film Song for the Development of Human Values: An Analysis of Aandavan Kattalai (1964) of Kavinyar (Poet) Kannadasan (1927-1981)”, Media-Asia Research Group Conference: Media & Identity in Asia, Miri, 15-16 February.
Muniapan, B., (2004). “Pendidikan Pengurusan Antarabangsa: Pengajaran Pengurusan Sumber Manusia di Republik Rakyat China” - ASEAN Symposium on Educational Management and Leadership 4 (ASEMAL), Managing the Democratization of Education: Priorities of the Future, organised by Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Education, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Grand Plaza Park Royal, Penang, Malaysia, 13 – 15 December 2004.
Muniapan, B., (2004). “The Challenges of Teaching Human Resource Management in People’s Republic of China”, Teaching and Learning Forum 2004, Seeking Educational Excellence, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia, 9 – 10 February.
Work With Industry
Dr Bala has worked in production and operation management with a large Japanese multinational company in Kedah, Malaysia. As a HR Consultant and Trainer, he has contributed tremendously towards HRM effectiveness for hundreds of organisations within Malaysia and worldwide.
For more than three decades he has been a consultant and HRM. Leadership and Management trainer and facilitator for several organisations such as CF Learning Sdn Bhd, Praxis Synergy Training and Consultancy, Quantamac Management Sdn Bhd, My Seminars Sdn Bhd, Curtin Consultancy Services, Xcel Dot Consultancy, Prima Link Training and Consultancy, Disted Sowers, EDS Business School, and TIMES Global Education.
He has successfully conducted hundreds of HRM public training and in house training programmes within the area of HRM, leadership development, employment law (Malaysia), emotional intelligence, transformational leadership and performance management.