Joseph’s Egyptian Management (Miketz)

Management is nothing more than motivating other people. — Lee Iacocca

“Egyptian Management” (AI image by author)

Joseph has successfully interpreted Pharaoh’s dream regarding the upcoming years of plenty and years of famine, to the amazement and delight of all those present (see Genesis Chapter 41). Joseph then recommends that Pharaoh appoints and empowers an overseer for the entire operation of organizing and saving the produce from the years of plenty for the years of famine (verse 33).

Pharaoh and all his ministers are so impressed with Joseph that they realize there is no better candidate for the position of organizing all of Egypt’s resources than Joseph himself. Joseph’s subsequent and immediate rise from slave and prisoner to regent of the Egyptian empire is spectacular.

However, before Joseph finished giving his advice, there is a verse where Joseph goes beyond detailing the job of the overseer. In verse 34 Joseph adds that Pharaoh should also hire a second level of management.

Rabbi Ovadia Sforno (1475-1549), wonders at this level of detail that Joseph provides and asks why Pharaoh has to hire the second level of management. Why can’t Pharaoh leave that task to whoever the overseer will be?

Sforno answers that perhaps contrary to modern corporate practice, where managers prefer to bring in “their own people”, it is more advantageous for the organization if the appointments are made from the “top”. Sforno explains that by Pharaoh appointing the people to work under Joseph, they will take both the job and Joseph more seriously and will better function as a cohesive unit. They are beholden to Pharaoh, but answerable to Joseph on the day-to-day business implementation.

This probably goes against many modern-day organizations. However, in the Egyptian culture and business environment, it seemed to have been highly successful. Joseph, together with his Egyptian management, was able to save more produce than they were able to count with their numbering system at the time. This successful management team led to the survival and prosperity of Egypt during a regional famine and may have helped the Egyptian empire become the dominant power of the ancient world.

May we learn from Joseph’s success; may we not be afraid to go against conventional wisdom; may we form strong teams and partnerships, and not only survive but flourish in all our efforts.

Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra which was founded this week in 1936 (as the Palestine Symphony Orchestra). All 73 musicians were Jewish. The inaugural concert was conducted by renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini.