The notion of global responsibility is coming to light as it appears that the control of the economies by nation‐states has proved inefficient. Therefore, solutions are often…
Abstract
The notion of global responsibility is coming to light as it appears that the control of the economies by nation‐states has proved inefficient. Therefore, solutions are often sought by appealing to responsibility (for enterprises, individuals, interest groups …). In particular, global responsibility calls for firms to limit their own activities when it opposes the general interest. But it is generally admitted in the firms that a condition to maximize their profits is all about allowing the laws of economy to express themselves, without any restraint, in order to give their whole potential. In this sense, it refers to “total freedom”. This article tries to re‐examine the very concept of global responsibility versus total freedom. For that it addresses the question through two major issues: (1) responsibility as an external constraint, a source of improvement; (2) the responsibility of corporate governance for financial transparency.
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Pierre Kletz, Granit Almog‐Bareket, André Habisch, Gilbert Lenssen and Cristian Loza Adaui
The purpose of this issue is to provide an overview of the special issue on practical wisdom for management from the Jewish traditions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this issue is to provide an overview of the special issue on practical wisdom for management from the Jewish traditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The guest editorial introduces the papers in this special issue, focusing in practical wisdom for management from the Jewish traditions.
Findings
The question on the relationship between the Jewish tradition and practical wisdom for management is answered in two different ways: first, providing a particular Jewish answer to managerial problems and second, presenting how Judaism can be a field of reflection learning for managerial praxis at both organizational and individual level.
Originality/value
The paper shows that the special issue offers insights into the value of practical wisdom of the Jewish traditions, from two particular points of view, as a guide for action and as an ethical approach to management.
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Granit Almog‐Bareket and Pierre Kletz
The purpose of this paper is to explore how culture influences organizational behavior by connecting elements stemming from individuals’ social habitus with other elements…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how culture influences organizational behavior by connecting elements stemming from individuals’ social habitus with other elements pertaining to the organization itself; rejecting a “new age” approach, the paper studies how references drawn from Judaism can feed an organizational reflection process that impacts management practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper centers on a case study about the Graduate Unit of an academic institution, which trains in the field of educational leadership.
Findings
Developing a common social habitus during the formative years makes it more likely that compatible projects can be implemented within various complementary organizations to achieve significant impact. In this case, the common knowledge of Jewish philosophy, the common “Jewish wisdom,” served as a catalyst. Creating a common organizational culture without such common elements would be impossible.
Research limitations/implications
The research presented here in the non‐profit field suggests that belief in a possible creation and sharing of an organizational culture to further a company's objectives is largely illusory.
Originality/value
The paper studies organizations in the third sector to understand elements in the business sector.
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Perlmutter’s typology distinguishing between ethnocentric, polycentric, and geocentric management is considered classic. It recommends that multinational firms practise a form of…
Abstract
Perlmutter’s typology distinguishing between ethnocentric, polycentric, and geocentric management is considered classic. It recommends that multinational firms practise a form of globally conceived administration, regardless of the country of origin of its managers. However, an analysis of the phase of economic transition that Central and Eastern European countries have known since the end of the 1980s, demonstrates that the work market is a dual structure (dividing expatriate and local managers). This is largely due to the difficulty companies have in evaluating the capacity of their managers to work alongside the company objectives. Thus, even the structuring of the work market weakens the relevance of an approach of voluntary human resources. It also softens differences between ethnocentric, polycentric, and geocentric management.
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Eric Cornuel, André Habisch and Pierre Kletz
This paper aims to focus on business education, which should not exclude strains of religious ethical traditions, e.g. Catholic social thought, and the practical wisdom embodied…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on business education, which should not exclude strains of religious ethical traditions, e.g. Catholic social thought, and the practical wisdom embodied in them.
Design/methodology/approach
Recent traditions of social Catholicism starting from the Papal Social Message Rerum Novarum (1891) are summarized. Consequences for management development are drawn.
Findings
The recent tradition of social Catholicism developed as a result of a broad cultural process of adaptation of Christians to the emerging social context of a modern society. New types of ethical orientation have been developed, sometimes in strong opposition to contemporary ideological concepts such as socialism, materialism, or elitist capitalism. Even in the globalized environment of the twenty‐first century these orientations are of continuing relevance, e.g. in organizational behavior, in business and society relations, and in basic concepts of corporate responsibility.
Practical implications
Religious ethical traditions embody elements of “practical wisdom” that are threatened by extinction in the global practice of management development. The current financial and economic crisis – also addressed in a recent document of Pope Benedict XVI – should also be perceived in that perspective.
Originality/value
A business ethics evaluation of Social Catholicism and its practical wisdom is executed.
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The purpose of this paper is to study the connection between research in social responsibility and management education studied here in the light of the Frankfurt School's…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the connection between research in social responsibility and management education studied here in the light of the Frankfurt School's approach in general, and of Horkheimer and Adorno's works in particular.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on these works, a reading template is designed, which defines the conditions in which research in corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributes to shaping the contents of management education.
Findings
The article then analyzes the major approaches characterizing research in social responsibility. It also analyzes these approaches' ability to further knowledge in that field, as well as their contributing to constitute a type of management education instrumental in improving the implementation of CSR.
Originality/value
The article presents an original approach of the link between theory and practice in CSR that challenges the way this topic is generally taught.
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Hervé Colas and Aziza Laguecir
The purpose of this paper is to study how representation is conceptualized in Jewish culture, and how this relates to management. More specifically, it seeks to discuss the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study how representation is conceptualized in Jewish culture, and how this relates to management. More specifically, it seeks to discuss the banning of images and what can be learned from this in the field of management.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores the meaning of the prohibition of images in the sacred texts. This serves as a starting point to discuss representation of the world and different forms of thought in the management field.
Findings
A major element in the banning of images deals with the involvement of the manager in decision making. The authors argue that organisational images such as accounting numbers are oriented towards economising our attention and thereby allowing the relative absence of the decision maker. The authors suggest that the banning of images reminds us of the importance of the manager's presence and of active participation in decision making and organisational transformation.
Research limitations/implications
The paper contributes to the literature on the roles of managerial representation, notably accounting figures, and supports the idea that accountability should not be limited to reporting (be it numbers or qualitative elements). This paper argues for developing the density of the account, for instance by using narratives. This research echoes recent practice turn in management, as the authors’ findings can inform management teaching by providing students with dense case‐studies of management as actually practised, analysed using sociological or psychological theories. Such dense case‐studies do not aim to give students parsimonious models for analysis, or expose them to best practices: rather they seek to help them develop practical wisdom through a better understanding of management. This paper calls then for an increased presence rather than representation in management teaching classes, which is the main limitation of e‐learning.
Originality/value
Rather than exploring the mechanism of accounting figures in the behaviour of organizational actors or taking a political perspective, this paper focuses on a deep representation of the organization often rooted in magical thought. Relying on the practical wisdom of the Hebraic biblical banning of images, this paper aims to deconstruct organizational thought so as to highlight its contradictions.
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E. Isaac Mostovicz and Nada K. Kakabadse
The purpose of this paper is to introduce three fundamental concepts of Jewish thought that act as the basis of society. The authors use these concepts to examine standard…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce three fundamental concepts of Jewish thought that act as the basis of society. The authors use these concepts to examine standard organisational behaviour in modern society and highlight basic shortcomings of modern organisational thought.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is a conceptual/theoretical one.
Findings
The paper reveals the shortcomings of modern organisation and its members of not accepting the three fundamental concepts that underpin Jewish thought and, in turn, the unwillingness of the organisation's members to resume responsibility.
Originality/value
This paper highlights three fundamental values from Jewish thought that are applicable to all, using a domain of knowledge that scholars usually use in research into management.
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Corporate compliance practices are often “coercively” structured, coined by a legal discourse and derived from individualist normative concepts. Drawing on the “logic of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate compliance practices are often “coercively” structured, coined by a legal discourse and derived from individualist normative concepts. Drawing on the “logic of the Decalogue”, the purpose of this paper is to design an “enabling” approach based on a covenantal logic present within the Decalogue.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach is interdisciplinary analysis summarizing exegetical, social science and business literature.
Findings
Within a covenantal and transcendental perspective, a morally literate community of employees, which have learned to reflect upon their responsibility, form the basis for compliance arrangements. They form a necessary complementary element of functional compliance systems.
Practical implications
The covenantal logic of the Decalogue can orientate the formulation of corporate compliance programs, which intend to follow an “enabling” approach. Normative claims should be rooted in an analysis of responsibilities towards relevant stakeholder groups. The potential of “spiritual capital” should be taken into consideration.
Originality/value
Reflecting one of the oldest ethical documents of human civilisation in the context of the contemporary management discussion on “coercive versus enabling control”, the orientating role of practical wisdom from the Jewish tradition becomes tangible.