Crises, business decisions and virtue: A managerial reading of biblical famine narratives

Titolo Rivista CONTABILITÀ E CULTURA AZIENDALE
Autori/Curatori Giorgio Mion, Angela Broglia
Anno di pubblicazione 2024 Fascicolo 2023/2 Lingua Inglese
Numero pagine 28 P. 35-62 Dimensione file 170 KB
DOI 10.3280/CCA2023-002003
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

Introduction: Management is a complex issue that necessitates an ethical approach, especially in times of crisis. Indeed, precisely when the decisions to be made are placed in a highly disrupted context, the importance of a managerial class emerges that is not only technically trained but morally cultivated and, therefore, capable of grasping the various social and ethical implications of the decisions made. Aim of the work: This paper, adopting the theoretical framework of virtue eth- ics, aims to analyze biblical famine narratives to identify the moral characters of corporate decision-makers. Methodological approach: The research adopts textual analysis applied to selected biblical texts as an investigative tool. Main findings: This analysis makes it possible to highlight the virtues of the “good decision-maker” who makes wise decisions for himself and for the community; from the results of the analysis follow some practical implications in the managerial sphere, contributing to the debate on the virtuousness of organizations. Originality: The paper is characterized by its exploratory nature, analyzing an- cient texts in an original way on the basis of the theoretical framework of virtue ethics in order to draw some considerations relevant to the current business context.

Keywords:virtues, management, crisis, moral character

  1. Alzola M. (2015). Virtuous Persons and Virtuous Actions in Business Ethics and Organizational Research. Business Ethics Quarterly, 25(3): 287-318.
  2. Anscombe G.E.M. (1958). Modern moral philosophy, Philosophy, 33(124): 1-19.
  3. Arjoon S., Turriago-Hoyos A., Thoene U. (2018). Virtuousness and the Common Good as a Conceptual Framework for Harmonizing the Goals of the Individual. Organizations, and the Economy. Journal of Business Ethics, 147: 143-163.
  4. Bachmann C., Sasse L., Habisch A. (2018). Applying the Practical Wisdom Lenses in Decision-Making: An Integrative Approach to Humanistic Management. Humanistic Management Journal, 2(2): 125-150.
  5. Beabout G. (2012). Management as a Domain-Relative Practice that Requires and Develops Practical Wisdom. Business Ethics Quarterly, 22(2): 405-432.
  6. Beekun R.I. (2012). Character centered leadership: Muhammad (p) as an ethical role model for CEOs. Journal of Management Development, 31(10): 1003-1020. DOI: 10.1108/02621711211281799
  7. Ben-Hur S., Jonsen K. (2012). Ethical leadership: lessons from Moses. Journal of Management Development, 31(9): 962-973. DOI: 10.1108/02621711211259901
  8. Bentham J. (1998). Introduzione ai principi della morale e della legislazione (a cura di E. Lecaldano – trad. S. Di Pietro). Torino: Utet.
  9. Bright D.S., Cameron K.S., Caza A. (2006). The amplifying and buffering effects of virtuousness in downsized organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 64(3): 249-269.
  10. Budsaratragoon P., Jitmaneeroj B. (2019). Measuring casual relations and identifying critical drivers for corporate sustainability: the quadruple bottom line approach. Measuring Business Excellence, 23(3): 292-316. DOI: 10.1108/MBE-10-2017-0080
  11. Cameron K.S., Mora C., Leutscher T., Calarco M. (2011). Effects of positive practices on organizational effectiveness. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 47(3): 266-308. DOI: 10.1177/0002764203260209
  12. Carley K. (1994). Extracting culture through textual analysis. Poetics, 22: 291-312. DOI: 10.1016/0304-422X(94)90011-6
  13. Catturi G. (1995) Intervento. In: Riccaboni A. (a cura di). Etica ed obiettivi d’impresa. Padova: Cedam.
  14. Caza A., Barker B.A., Cameron K.S. (2004). Ethics and ethos: The buffering and amplifying effects of ethical behavior and virtuousness. Journal of Business Ethics, 52(2): 169-178. DOI: 10.1177/0002764203260209
  15. Chakrabarty S., Bass A.E. (2015). Comparing Virtue, Consequentialist, and Deontological Ethics-Based Corporate Social Responsibility: Mitigating Mi-
  16. crofinance Risk in Institutional Voids. Journal of Business Ethics, 126: 487512.
  17. Coda V. (2021). Il buongoverno dell’impresa fra stabilità e dinamismo, Milano: Egea.
  18. Coda V. (1995). Intervento. In: Riccaboni A. (a cura di). Etica ed obiettivi d’impresa. Padova: Cedam.
  19. Coda V. (1995). L’orientamento strategico dell’impresa. Torino: UTET.
  20. Cohen M.A. (2010). The Narrow Application of Rawls in Business Ethics: A Political Conception of Both Stakeholder Theory and the Morality of Markets. Journal of Business Ethics, 97: 563-579.
  21. Corticelli R. (1995). L’azienda: economia e socialità. Rivista Italiana di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale, 1-2: 24-47.
  22. Dierksmeier C. (2022). Drop Rawls?. Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, 31(1): 281-292.
  23. Donaldson T., Preston L.E. (1995). The Stakeholder Theory of the Corporation: Concepts, Evidence, and Implications. The Academy of Management Review, 20(1): 65-91. DOI: 10.2307/258887
  24. Eisenhardt K.M. (1989). Agency Theory: An Assessment and Review. The Academy of Management Review, 14(1): 57-74. DOI: 10.2307/258191
  25. Fernando M., Moore G. (2015). MacIntyrean virtue ethics in business: A crosscultural comparison. Journal of Business Ethics, 132(1): 185-202.
  26. Fontrodona J., Sisòn A.J.G. (2006). The Nature of the Firm, Agency Theory and Shareholder Theory: A Critique from Philosophical Anthropology. Journal of Business Ethics, 66(1): 33-42.
  27. Foot P. (1978). Virtues and vices and other essays in moral philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  28. Freeman R.E. (2008). Ending the so-called “Friedman-Freeman” debate. In: Agle B., Donaldson T., Freeman E., Jensen M., Mitchell R. and Wood D., Dialogue: “Toward a Superior Stakeholder Theory”. Business Ethics Quarterly, 18(2): 153-190.
  29. Freeman R.E. (1994). The Politics of Stakeholder Theory: Some Future Directions. Business Ethics Quarterly, 4(4): 409-421. DOI: 10.2307/3857340
  30. Freeman R.E., Evan W. (1990). Corporate Governance: A Stakeholder Interpretation. Journal of Behavioral Economics, 19: 337-359. DOI: 10.1016/0090-5720(90)90022-Y
  31. Freeman R.E., Harrison J.S., Wicks A.C., Parmar B.L., and de Colle S. (2010). Stakeholder Theory. The State of the Art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511815768
  32. Freeman R.E., Rusconi G., Signori S., and Strudler A. (2012). Stakeholder Theory(ies): Ethical Ideas and Managerial Action. Journal of Business Ethics, 109(1): 1-2.
  33. Friedman M. (1970). The Social Responsibility Of Business Is to Increase Its Profits. The New York Times, 13th September.
  34. Gonin M. (2015). Adam Smith’s Contribution to Business Ethics, Then and Now. Journal of Business Ethics, 129: 221-236.
  35. Gottlieb E. (2012). Mosaic leadership: charisma and bureaucracy in Exodus
  36. 18. Journal of Management Development, 31(9): 974-983. DOI: 10.1108/02621711211259910
  37. Heath J. (2009). The Uses and Abuses of Agency Theory. Business Ethics Quarterly, 19(4): 497-528.
  38. Intezari A., Pauleen D.J. (2014). Management wisdom in perspective: Are you virtuous enough to succeed in volatile times?. Journal of Business Ethics, 120(3): 393-404.
  39. Jensen M.C., Meckling W.H. (1994). The nature of man. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 7(2): 4-19.
  40. Kant I. (1989). Critica della ragion pratica (trad. di F. Capra). Bari-Roma: Laterza.
  41. Kant I. (1985). Fondazione della metafisica del costume (trad. di P. Chiodi). Bari-Roma: Laterza.
  42. Kaptein M. (2017). The Battle for Business Ethics: A Struggle Theory. Journal of Business Ethics, 144: 343-361.
  43. Kaptein M. (2017). When organizations are too good: Applying Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean to the corporate ethical virtues model. Business Ethics: a European Review, 26(3): 300-311.
  44. Knauf E.A. (2007). Gli ambienti che hanno prodotto la bibbia ebraica. In: Römer T., Macchi J.-D., Nihan C., Guida di lettura dell’Antico Testamento. Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane, 41-51.
  45. Koenig H.G., Lewis G. (2000). The healing connection: a world-renowned medical scientist discovers the powerful link between Christian faith and health. Nashville: Word Pub.
  46. Locke J. (1695). An essay concerning humane understanding in four books. London: Awnsham and John Churchil [-retrieved in https://www.proquest.com/].
  47. MacIntyre A. (1985). After virtue. A study in moral theory (Vol. 96). Notre Dame (IN):University of Notre Dame Press.
  48. Maggioni B. (2009). Impara a conoscere il volto di Dio nelle parole di Dio. Padova: Edizioni Messaggero.
  49. Manicardi L. (2009). Guida alla conoscenza della Bibbia. Magnano: Qiqajon McKee A. (2001). A beginner’s guide to textual analysis. Metro Magazine, 138149.
  50. Melé D. (2005). Ethical education in accounting: Integrating rules, values and virtues. Journal of Business Ethics, 57: 97-109.
  51. Melè D. (2010). The Challenge of Humanistic Management. Journal of Business Ethics, 44: 77-88. DOI: 10.1023/A:1023298710412
  52. Mill J.S. (1999). La libertà. L’utilitarismo. L’asservimento delle donne (trad. di E. Mistretta), Vol. I. Milano: Rizzoli.
  53. Mion G., Tessari R. The Good Community: Practical Wisdom, Organizational Purpose, and the Rule of St. Benedict. International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 10(3): 1-11.
  54. Moore G. (2005). Corporate character, corporate virtues. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24(S2): S99-S114.
  55. Moore G. (2012). Virtue in business: Alliance boots and an empirical exploration of MacIntyre’s conceptual framework. Organization Studies, 33(3): 363-387. DOI: 10.1177/0170840611435599
  56. Morales-Sánchez R., Cabello-Medina C. (2015). Integrating character in management: Virtues, character strengths, and competencies. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24(S2): S156-S174.
  57. Onida P. (1954). L’azienda. Primi principi di gestione e di organizzazione. Milano: Giuffrè.
  58. Onida P. (1956). La responsabilità morale nella gestione delle imprese pubbliche. Rivista dei dottori commercialisti, 689-714.
  59. Onida P. (1961) Economicità, socialità ed efficienza nell’amministrazione d’impresa. Rivista italiana di ragioneria, 3-4: 57-68.
  60. Onida P. (1968). Economia d’azienda. Torino: Utet.
  61. Rawls J. (1997). Una teoria della giustizia (trad. it. S. Maffettone). Milano: Feltrinelli.
  62. Roca E. (2007). Introducing practical wisdom in business schools. Journal of Business Ethics, 82(3): 607-620.
  63. Roos J. (2017). Practical wisdom: making and teaching the governance case for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140: 117-124.
  64. Roszkowska P., Melè D. (2020). Organizational Factors in the Individual Ethical Behaviour. The Notion of the ‘Organizational Moral Structure’. Humanist Management Review, 6(2): 187-209.
  65. Rusconi G. (2019). Ethical Firm System and Stakeholder Management Theories: A Possible Convergence. European Management Review, 16(1): 147-166.
  66. Russo R. (2016). An Herculean Mind: il problematico ruolo di Locke come precursore dell’utilitarismo. Ethics & Politics, XIX(2): 197-214.
  67. Schwartz B. (2011). Practical wisdom and organizations. Research in Organizational Behavior, 31: 3-31.
  68. Signori S., Rusconi G. (2009). Ethical Thinking in Traditional Italian Economia Aziendale and the Stakeholder Management Theory: The Search for Possible Interactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 89: 303-318.
  69. Sison A., Ferrero I., Guitián G. (eds.) (2018). Business Ethics. A Virtue Ethics and Common Good Approach. London-New York: Routledge.
  70. Solomon R.C. (1992). Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelean Approach to Business Ethics. Business Ethics Quarterly, 2(3): 317-339. DOI: 10.2307/3857536
  71. Solomon R.C. (1993). Ethics and Excellence: Cooperation and Integrity in Business. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  72. Vriens D., Achterbergh J., Gulpers L. (2018). Virtuous Structure. Journal of Business Ethics, 150(3): 671-690.
  73. Weber M. (1997). Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus (trad. It. L’etica protestante e lo spirito del capitalismo) [prima edizione 1904-1905]. Milano: Rizzoli.
  74. Wortham R.A., Wortham C.B. (2007). Spiritual Capital and a Good Life. Sociological Spectrum, 27(4): 439-452. DOI: 10.1080/02732170701335053
  75. Yearly L.H. (1990). Mencius and Aquinas: Theories of Virtue and Conceptions of Courage. Albany (NY): SUNY Press.
  76. Zamagni S. (2009). L’etica cattolica e lo spirito del capitalismo. Working Paper n. 49, Bologna: AICCON.
  77. Zappa G. (1927). Tendenze nuove negli studi di ragioneria. Milano: Istituto Editoriale Scientifico.
  78. Zappa G. (1957). Le produzioni nell’economia delle imprese, Vol. I. Milano: Giuffrè.
  79. Zappa G. (1962). L’economia delle aziende di consumo. Milano: Giuffrè. Zohar D., Marshall I. N. (2004). Spiritual Capital: Wealth We Can Live by. Oa-kland (CA): Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Giorgio Mion, Angela Broglia, Crises, business decisions and virtue: A managerial reading of biblical famine narratives in "CONTABILITÀ E CULTURA AZIENDALE" 2/2023, pp 35-62, DOI: 10.3280/CCA2023-002003