I read a piece by Simon Caulkin that really made me think. Good. I like that. In discussing the influence of Friedman’s Chicago school (economics) he says that any ethical dimension has been driven out of management and that by so doing, we’re actually making life a lot worse for the future. Simon makes a solid argument and one that professionals may wish to ponder:
Even in areas such as corporate social responsibility, all isn’t as it looks. For instance, at a recent international conference celebrating CSR, participants crowed that Friedman’s well-known objection to it as incompatible with capitalism ‘is being overtaken by events’. Yeah, right. It so happens there’s just one instance where Friedman is happy to admit the case for CSR: where it’s used as a PR stunt under cover of which management can get on with its real job of making money for shareholders. Most CSR, alas, is just that.
It’s hard to buck against that. Much of what passes as CSR is gibberish. Or a sop. Sage’s CSR and governance policies don’t mean much to me. Do they to you?
Our operating companies are encouraged and supported to undertake positive corporate social responsibility activities within a common policy framework regarding employment, community and environmental matters provided by the Group.
We currently do not set specific targets for our operating companies in this regard but it is a matter that the Board continues to consider. At present the Board does not consider it appropriate to link the management of social, environmental and ethical issues to remuneration incentives, given the difficulties in objectively measuring risk management and performance in this area.
I’m sure there are readers out there who can educate the Board. But in concluding that management has become the ‘dismal science’ I believe Simon is way too pessimistic. I believe we’re on the cusp of witnessing real change that will force many in the profession to think again about this aspect of our lives.
If you accept that social computing in the form of blogs, wikis, podcasts, video blogging and whatever else comes down the track, is with us to stay, then it is not much of a stretch to see that engaging with others requires an ethical component. You can’t expect to be treated seriously if you’re not civil. Civility demands respect for others. Respect is always earned and can never be bought. Respect comes from not insisting you’re right 100% of the time but accepting there are other concerns in play worthy of consideration.
There’s a world of a difference between a client saying you do a good job and a client who says he or she respects you for what you stand for. I wonder if it has occurred to some practitioners that a reason they may be struggling is because ‘they’re good at what they do.’
Without this technology we might not know these distinctions exist. We do today. That’s why I’m not as pessimistic as Simon.
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