Iñaki Vélaz, Alejo José G. Sison and Joan Fontrodona
The purpose of this article is to present how innovations in the social action program of a Spanish savings bank produce strategic changes in the organization.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to present how innovations in the social action program of a Spanish savings bank produce strategic changes in the organization.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper follows a historical approach, first studying Spanish savings banks in general and the Caja de Ahorros de Navarra (CAN) in particular. It then examines the strategic challenges that the CAN faced in 2002 and the organizational response through the “You choose, you decide” initiative. The implementation of the program is chronicled and results evaluated against strategic objectives.
Findings
In embodying the social action program of the CAN, the “You choose, you decide” campaign has successfully differentiated the bank. Customer‐stakeholders have acquired a high degree of identification with the bank since they now decide on the beneficiaries of the social action program as well as their level of prioritization.
Originality/value
This work is of special interest to bank managers who would like to incorporate CSR and increased stakeholder involvement into their strategic and differentiation objectives.
Details
Keywords
Current headlines depicting the billion dollar government bailouts of some of the world's largest business corporations suggest that a new paradigm of management is needed. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Current headlines depicting the billion dollar government bailouts of some of the world's largest business corporations suggest that a new paradigm of management is needed. This paper seeks to propose that the management theory of Peter F. Drucker and certain Aristotelian concepts, expressed in the Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, are applicable to the business community today.
Design/methodology/approach
Drucker's management philosophy is synthesized with the moral philosophy of Aristotle to suggest a practical management framework for contemporary business practitioners. In providing a virtue‐based moral framework for management grounded in a concern for character, communal wellbeing, and ultimate purpose, Drucker's Aristotelian‐style of business management provides a viable, virtue‐based management theory that contemporary managers should be able to embrace.
Findings
Drucker has been regarded as one of the most influential management thinkers of the twentieth century. It is suggested that, given the current level of morality shown in the behaviour of business people today – business leaders in particular, what is needed is a change in managerial perspective. A change from the prevailing concern with one's own wellbeing – how much one has, or can get for oneself – to include a concern for the wellbeing of others. It is proposed that Drucker's management philosophy, which reflects Aristotelian matters of character, community and telos, though formulated many years ago, provides a framework for improving managerial behaviour today.
Research limitations/implications
Drucker's pragmatic business commentary and advice reveal a deep understanding of the complexity of the business world and the realities of business from the perspective of the business person, and yet do not reject the overriding moral principles of integrity, community and achievement that serve as the foundation for society.
Originality/value
The paper offers a business‐relevant, virtue‐based perspective that, in the author's opinion, is more than adequate for a renewed vision of management in the twenty‐first century.
Details
Keywords
Current headlines depicting the billion dollar government bailouts of some of the world's largest business corporations suggest that a new paradigm of management is needed. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Current headlines depicting the billion dollar government bailouts of some of the world's largest business corporations suggest that a new paradigm of management is needed. This paper seeks to propose that the management theory of Peter F. Drucker and certain Aristotelian concepts, expressed in the Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, are applicable to the business community today.
Design/methodology/approach
Drucker's management philosophy is synthesized with the moral philosophy of Aristotle to suggest a practical management framework for contemporary business practitioners. In providing a virtue‐based moral framework for management grounded in a concern for character, communal well‐being, and ultimate purpose, the paper argues that Drucker's Aristotelian style of business management provides a viable, virtue‐based management theory that contemporary managers should be able to embrace.
Findings
Drucker has been regarded as one of the most influential management thinkers of the twentieth century. The author suggests that, given the current level of morality shown in the behaviour of business people today – business leaders in particular – what is needed is a change in managerial perspective. A change from the prevailing concern with one's own well‐being – how much one has, or can get for one's self – to include a concern for the well‐being of others. The author proposes that Drucker's management philosophy, which reflects Aristotelian matters of character, community and telos, though formulated many years ago, provides a framework for improving managerial behaviour today.
Research limitations/implications
Drucker's pragmatic business commentary and advice reveal a deep understanding of the complexity of the business world and the realities of business from the perspective of the business person, and yet does not reject the over‐riding moral principles of integrity, community and achievement that serve as the foundation for society.
Originality/value
The paper offers a business relevant virtue‐based perspective that, in this author's opinion, is more than adequate for a renewed vision of management in the twenty‐first century.
Details
Keywords
Noha M. El-Bassiouny, Wafa El Garah, Hadeer Hammad and Marina Schmitz