Thinking about the future of work: promoting dignity and human flourishing

This paper is the introduction to the Special Issue with a selection of papers presented at the 21st IESE International Symposium on Ethics, Business and Society, held in Barcelona, Spain, in July 2021. The Symposium focused on the future of work and how to promote dignity and human flourishing. This editorial introduction emphasizes how work has been studied over the centuries and how new directions have been considered in recent times. We suggest that dignity and human flourishing are particularly relevant in the current context and for the future of work. Finally, the papers that make up this special issue are introduced and summarized

Moral legitimacy in controversial projects and its relationship with social license to operate: a case study

Moral legitimacy entails intrinsic value and helps executives convince firm’s stakeholders and the general public of the ethical acceptability of an institution or its activities or projects. Social license to operate (SLO) is the social approval of those affected by a certain business activity, and it is receiving increasing attention, especially in the context of controversial projects such as mining and public works. Moral legitimacy provides ethical support to SLO. Drawing from the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition and taking substantive justice and the common good of society as the key references, this paper applies the Triple Font of Morality Theory and proposes four criteria which serve to evaluate moral legitimacy: (1) contribution of the project or activity to the common good in a better way than other alternatives (intended end), (2) morality of the means and procedures employed (means elected), (3) ethical evaluation of the situation including stakeholder concerns and needs (concurrent relevant circumstances), and (4) ethical evaluation of reasonably foreseeable consequences associated with the project and how to minimize possible damage or risks, and balance foreseeable negative consequences and benefits. The application of these criteria is illustrated through a project, presented as a case study, which certainly involved controversy and problems with SLO. The project was the construction of a rail tunnel for a high-speed train near the foundations of the Sagrada Familia, the well-known monumental church in Barcelona, Spain

Organizational factors in the individual ethical behaviour. The notion of the “organizational moral structure”

Various organizational factors reported in the hitherto literature affect individual (mis)behaviour within a company. In this paper, we conduct a literature review thereof, and propose a notion of the “Organizational Moral Structure” defined as a comprehensive framework of interrelated organizational factors that condition, incite or influence good or bad moral behaviour of individuals within the organization. Drawing from a wide bibliographical review and our own reflection on recent business scandals, we identify seven constituents of the “Organizational Moral Structure”: 1) leader’s values and character, 2) vision and exercise of power, 3) corporate control systems, 4) internal network of influence, 5) organizational culture, 6) internal and competitive pressures, and 7) external influences. The “Organizational Moral Structure” is proposed as a reflective framework for humanistic management and as an invitation to further research in this field. We provide recommendations on how a manager oriented towards humanistic management can use the OMS to secure and promote well-being and dignity of company’s employees

Homo Laborem exercens Aproximación a la concepción cristiana del trabajo en el Magisterio de Juan Pablo II

Esta investigación analiza la concepción cristiana del trabajo en las enseñanzas del Papa san Juan Pablo II en la encíclica Laborem excercens (LE) y en otros documentos, particularmente en homilías y discursos pronunciados en sus encuentros con trabajadores y empresarios hasta mayo de 1983. El pensamiento filosófico del futuro Papa, especialmente el expuesto en Persona y acción, se ha tenido en cuenta para analizar ciertas cuestiones. La investigación compara la visión de este Papa sobre el trabajo con la presentada en la doctrina social de la Iglesia anterior a su Magisterio. También se contrasta esta visión con diversas perspectivas filosóficas sobre el trabajo, en particular con la de K. Marx, presente en la Polonia natal de Karol Wojtyla. Los resultados encontrados muestran continuidad entre la enseñanzas de Juan Pablo II con el Magisterio anterior sobre el trabajo, con notable influencia de la Constitución Pastoral Gaudium et spes, del Concilio Vaticano II, pero con aspectos innovadores sustentados en una rica antropología. La idea básica de que el trabajo procede del hombre (homo laborem excerns) y medio de desarrollo personal contrasta fuertemente con la visión marxista, para la cual el trabajo es modificación de la naturaleza para satisfacer sus necesidades vitales.This research analyzes the Christian conception of work in the teachings of Pope St. John Paul II in the encyclical-letter Laborem excercens (LE) and in other documents, particularly in homilies and speeches addressed to workers and businesspeople, and until May 1983. The philosophical thought of the future Pope, particularly the one described in Person and action, has been taken into account to aid in the analysis of certain issues. This research compares the Pope’s vision on work and that of the Church’s social doctrine about work prior to his Magisterium. It also contrasts this view with various philosophical perspectives on work, especially that of K. Marx, quite significant in Karol Wojtyla’s native Poland. The findings show continuity between John Paul II’s teachings and the previous Magisterium on human work, with the noteworthy influence of the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, of the Second Vatican Council, but also innovative aspects based on a rich anthropology. The basic idea that work comes from man (homo laborem exercens) and means of personal development contrasts sharply with the Marxist vision, in which work is modification of nature to satify vital needs

Racionalidad ética en las decisiones empresariales

Tomar una decisión en la empresa implica la voluntad de resolver un problema mediante una elección voluntaria y el compromiso de realizarla. En la decisión concurren juicios de diversa índole, y entre ellos uno de carácter ético. En este artículo se revisan críticamente algunos enfoques actuales en relación con el papel de la ética en la decisión, incluyendo la insuficiencia de los sentimientos, la tesis de separación, que considera que hay decisiones puramente económicas y otras sólo éticas, y la aplicación de éticas de “tercera persona” en la toma de decisiones. Como alternativa se defiende la necesidad de la racionalidad ética en todas las decisiones y la validez de un enfoque neoclásico de la racionalidad humana de raíces aristotélicas

Bienes, normas y virtudes en ética empresarial

Proposals for the foundation of business ethics are abundant and their discernment is often complex. Here the most relevant proposals are reviewed by contrasting them with the presented by Polo, who understands ethics in statu nascente, while considering it as a guide for freedom leading to the development of the human essence. This leads us to a systemic unit of ethics in which three interrelated aspects or dimensions concur: goods, norms and virtues. After discussing the current situation, the article concludes by advocating to the foundation of business ethics, considering ethics, in its integrity of goods, moral norms, and virtues and as a guide for human excellence in the company, and not simply to give a normative base to the market and the company.Las propuestas de fundamentación de la ética empresarial son abundantes y su discernimiento es a menudo complejo. Aquí se revisan las más relevantes contrastándolas con la idea de ética presentada por Polo, quien la entiende in statu nascente, al tiempo que la considera guía para la libertad conducente al desarrollo de la esencia humana. Esto le lleva a una unidad sistémica de la ética en la que concurren tras aspectos o dimensiones interrelacionados: bienes, normas y virtudes. Tras discutir la situación actual, se concluye abogando por una renovación de la fundamentación de la ética empresarial, considerando la ética, en su integridad de bienes, normas y virtudes, como una guía para la excelencia humana en la empresa, y no simplemente para dar una base normativa al mercado y la empresa