Business research, self-fulfilling prophecy, and the inherent responsibility of scholars.

Business research and teaching institutions play an important role in shaping the way businesses perceive their relations to the broader society and its moral expectations. Hence, as ethical scandals recently arose in the business world, questions related to the civic responsibilities of business scholars and to the role business schools play in society have gained wider interest. In this article, I argue that these ethical shortcomings are at least partly resulting from the mainstream business model with its taken-for granted basic assumptions such as specialization or the value-neutrality of business research. Redefining the roles and civic responsibilities of business scholars for business practice implies therefore a thorough analysis of these assumptions if not their redefinition. The takenforgrantedness of the mainstream business model is questioned by the transformation of the societal context in which business activities are embedded. Its value-neutrality in turn is challenged by self-fulfilling prophecy effects, which highlight the normative influence of business schools. In order to critically discuss some basic assumptions of mainstream business theory, I propose to draw parallels with the corporate citizenship concept and the stakeholder theory. Their integrated approach of the relation between business practice and the broader society provides interesting insights for the social reembedding of business research and teaching

Where philosophy and the ideas of democracy and human rights meet: the complex "equation" of the Swiss political system and its international relevance

This article aims to demonstrate the important links that exist between democracy, human rights and philosophy. It presents the Swiss political system, which is constantly subjected to a tension between the respect of human rights and the respect of democracy, due to its semi-direct system of democracy. This article also highlights clearly the international relevance of the Swiss problem. Moreover, this contribution shows how much the question analysed is rooted in Western political philosophy and is, therefore, not ‘purely’ legal

Les routes migratoires par le Sénégal

Les routes migratoires par le Sénéga

La gestion prévisionnelle du personnel dans une bibliothèque universitaire

Ce travail de Master porte sur la gestion prévisionnelle du personnel dans le cadre d’une bibliothèque universitaire en Suisse romande. Les bibliothèques universitaires sont confrontées à une évolution permanente et rapide de leur environnement. Pour y faire face, elles doivent impérativement anticiper l’avenir et développer les compétences de leur personnel. Dans cette optique, une démarche formalisée de gestion prévisionnelle du personnel peut représenter un réel atout. Une première partie théorique évoque les changements et les tendances qui se profilent dans le monde des bibliothèques universitaires. Elle met en évidence la nécessité de faire évoluer les compétences des collaborateurs afin de pouvoir prendre en charge des activités nouvelles. La littérature consacrée à la gestion prévisionnelle du personnel (GPP) est passée en revue et illustrée par des exemples de bibliothèques ayant entrepris des démarches de GPP. Une seconde partie présente une étude de terrain qui vise à dresser un état des lieux de la GPP à la Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire de Lausanne (BCUL). Douze entretiens individuels ont été menés et des documents internes en lien avec la gestion des ressources humaines ont été analysés. La méthodologie adoptée comprend l’élaboration d’un outil d’autodiagnostic, proposé en annexe, qui peut être réutilisé par d’autres bibliothèques. L’état des lieux révèle que la démarche de GPP de la BCUL est peu structurée, informelle et qu’elle relève uniquement de la direction. Des propositions sont formulées pour faire évoluer cette démarche et permettre à la BCUL de développer les compétences nécessaires pour mener à bien ses missions dans les années à venir

Business Research, Self-fulfilling Prophecy, and the Inherent Responsibility of Scholars

Business research and teaching institutions play an important role in shaping the way businesses perceive their relations to the broader society and its moral expectations. Hence, as ethical scandals recently arose in the business world, questions related to the civic responsibilities of business scholars and to the role business schools play in society have gained wider interest. In this article, I argue that these ethical shortcomings are at least partly resulting from the mainstream business model with its taken-for granted basic assumptions such as specialization or the value-neutrality of business research. Redefining the roles and civic responsibilities of business scholars for business practice implies therefore a thorough analysis of these assumptions if not their redefinition. The taken-for-grantedness of the mainstream business model is questioned by the transformation of the societal context in which business activities are embedded. Its value-neutrality in turn is challenged by self-fulfilling prophecy effects, which highlight the normative influence of business schools. In order to critically discuss some basic assumptions of mainstream business theory, I propose to draw parallels with the corporate citizenship concept and the stakeholder theory. Their integrated approach of the relation between business practice and the broader society provides interesting insights for the social reembedding of business research and teachin

Derechos humanos y educación: propuesta microcurricular para docencia universitaria

A partir de la expedición de la Carta Política en el año 1991, en Colombia se instauró una nueva visión constitucional de los ciudadanos y ciudadanas, fundada en el respeto de la dignidad humana, el reconocimiento de la diversidad étnica y cultural existente en nuestro país, y la garantía de la plena vigencia de los derechos humanos como fuente y límite al ejercicio del poder del Estado. Lo anterior evidencia que el aula de clases se concibe ahora como un verdadero escenario político para la vivencia de la democracia y la plena realización de los derechos humanos. Sin embargo, a través del presente ensayo, se sostiene que la universidad no ha logrado alcanzar el ideario democrático y humanístico que le ha trazado la Constitución Nacional, en particular, porque no cuenta, entre otros presupuestos, con docentes especializados en la materia o que por lo menos tengan un mínimo de formación en esta área del conocimiento, lo que ha llevado a que en la práctica se incurra con frecuencia en delicadas afrentas a la dignidad humana y se vulneren derechos de los estudiantes, tales como, educación, igualdad, intimidad y libre desarrollo de la personalidad, entre otros. Se presenta así, una propuesta microcurricular de formación que pudiera incluirse en los programas de especialización o maestría en docencia universitaria como respuesta a las necesidades y demandas en el campo de los derechos humanos, para lo cual se empleó un método de investigación cualitativo de tipo descriptivo y analítico, fundado en documentos de tipo referencial, bibliográfico y jurisprudencial

Managing Social-Business Tensions: A Review and Research Agenda for Social Enterprise

In a world filled with poverty, environmental degradation, and moral injustice, social enterprises offer a ray of hope. These organizations seek to achieve social missions through business ventures. Yet social missions and business ventures are associated with divergent goals, values, norms, and identities. Attending to them simultaneously creates tensions, competing demands, and ethical dilemmas. Effectively understanding social enterprises therefore depends on insight into the nature and management of these tensions. While existing research recognizes tensions between social missions and business ventures, we lack any systematic analysis. Our paper addresses this issue. We first categorize the types of tensions that arise between social missions and business ventures, emphasizing their prevalence and variety. We then explore how four different organizational theories offer insight into these tensions, and we develop an agenda for future research. We end by arguing that a focus on social-business tensions not only expands insight into social enterprises, but also provides an opportunity for research on social enterprises to inform traditional organizational theories. Taken together, our analysis of tensions in social enterprises integrates and seeks to energize research on this expanding phenomeno