Understanding the concept of care in cross‐cultural settings: Toward a resource definition of care in work organizations

Abstract

Purpose

The purposes of this conceptual paper are fivefold: first, to present a resource definition of care in work organizations that allows business and its managers to reconnect human wealth with social progress and economic wealth in order to create a responsible, sustainable, and healthy world; second, to examine the sociological and feminist origins of care; third, to discuss identifiable qualities of care; also, to compare and contrast care with the knowledge resource; and then, to identify future research directions for care.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory development and literature review were carried out to present a conceptual definition of care.

Findings

A definition of care is proposed: care is a universal construct and is inherent in all human beings; care is the core foundation, the core energy, of all human activity, work, and interaction; care may be seen as a socioeconomic resource that acts similar to the knowledge resource and may be built into organizational strategy, management, and leadership and serves as a measurable and trainable managerial capability; and care comprises identifiable qualities in individual, relational, and managerial decision‐making categories. This definition has important cross‐cultural implications and is valid for any culture, team, and organization.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is conceptual in nature and lays the foundation for further research, which is outlined in the discussion. Follow‐on work should include case studies and other qualitative research methods as well as quantitative research methods to substantiate the definition with evidence.

Practical implications

In this paper, the author proposes that care lies at the core of being human. Care energizes all human work activity and may be employed by leaders, managers, and strategists across all organizations and cultures to maximize human potential, integrate care with the wealth creation process, and create healthy, sustainable organizations. Care is proposed as a driver for economic success and human well‐being that can give rise to the next major transformation in business and thinking. The proposed care definition, and especially, its comparison to the knowledge resource, offers scholars and practitioners a new orientation to apply to the value creation process in organizations. Care can be seen as an essential aspect of management practice, organizational strategy, and socioeconomic transformation.

Originality/value

This paper offers a unique and profound definition of care. Care has never been studied or examined in terms of energy or socioeconomic resource before. It leverages the definition of care associated with ethics of care research and provides a broader and deeper means to energize and transform work environments, management practice, and organizational strategy.

Citation

Marin Kawamura, K. (2013), "Understanding the concept of care in cross‐cultural settings: Toward a resource definition of care in work organizations", Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 100-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527601311313373