Self-interest and Altruism: Pluralism as a Basis for Leadership in Business

The paper outlines the case for pluralism between self-interest (egoism) and altruism in business leadership. Scientific progression demonstrating pluralism is discussed, providing a multidisciplinary view of pluralism from evolutionary biology, psychology, moral philosophy, economic theory and organisational behavior. Findings show that myopic views of self-interest and altruism were once dominant in a number of fields however shifts in contemporary theory have provided a basis for pluralism in business leadership. Pluralism is yet to find grounding in leadership ethics, which still widely views “good leadership” through the lens of altruistic orientations. For leaders in business, the relevance of both self-interest and altruistic orientations are described. The paper seeks to address the divide between self-interest and altruism for business leaders, advocating for a realistic and pragmatic pluralistic approach to guide future research.

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Leadership: A Case Study on the Importance of Ethics and Trust

Journal of Business ◽

10.18533/job.v1i3.22 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 17

Author(s):

Sunday E. Igoni ◽

Eric L. Prentis

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Research ◽

Code Of Conduct ◽

Business Leaders ◽

Future Research ◽

Font Size ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cultural Economic ◽

Leadership Ethics ◽

Quantitative Research Methods

This research is important because it empirically tests why ethical behavior by business and government leaders is essential for good management—which is to earn trust from customers and constituents—thus ensuring organizations are successful, for the greater good, over the long term, especially in the global marketplace. Law and morality are two standards by which business and government leaders are judged, but these norms fail whenever laws are not enforced and morality is disregarded. Five research questions on leadership are statistically tested, using a Likert-scale response measure questionnaire—based on “perceptions of societal corruption” and “trust levels,” using Bandura’s “aggressive behavior modification theory,” as the model for analysis. Nigeria is selected as the location of this case study on leadership ethics and trust, because Nigerian government officials have a long history of unethical and corrupt behavior. Descriptive statistics, along with chi-square quantitative research methods reveals “perceptions of societal corruption” in Nigeria are high and “trust levels” for government leaders are very low. Leaders in Nigeria are only as ethical as the code-of-conduct prevalent in their country—where cultural, economic and legal factors contribute to the nation’s corrupt society—which may cause Nigeria to become a failed state. To change the Nigerian culture of societal corruption—education is necessary—to instruct elected officials, civil servants, business leaders and Nigerian society, at large, on the importance of ethics and trust.Nigerian government and business leaders should institute an ethics policy—and implement five suggested reforms presented in this paper—which will help establish government leader’s ethical integrity and improve citizens’ trust and confidence in their government. Recommendations for future research on government and business leadership ethics and trust are offered.

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What future for school business leadership? Recent change and looming possibilities

Management in Education ◽

10.1177/0892020620969855 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 089202062096985

Author(s):

Karen Starr

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

International Research ◽

Recent Change ◽

Business Leaders ◽

Business Leadership ◽

School Communities ◽

The Cross ◽

School Business ◽

Developed World ◽

Policies And Practices

Fundamental widespread changes affecting education’s purposes, policies and practices have had transformational repercussions for school business across the developed world. Subsequently, school business demands and accountabilities continue to escalate in scope and complexity and governments, education authorities and school communities are acknowledging the primacy and imperative of proficient school business leadership. International research chronicling the subsequent rapid professionalisation of school business leaders demonstrates pervasive policy moves that have re-focused school business priorities. Drawing on research conducted in Australia, USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand this article describes recent widespread changes before discussing issues and trends portending future professional adaptation for school business leaders whose work lies at the cross hairs of macro pressures and micro necessities.

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Purpose in the For-Profit Firm: A Review and Framework for Management Research

Journal of Management ◽

10.1177/01492063211006450 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 014920632110064

Author(s):

Gerard George ◽

Martine R. Haas ◽

Anita M. McGahan ◽

Simon J. D. Schillebeeckx ◽

Paul Tracey

Keyword(s):

Stock Market ◽

Employee Satisfaction ◽

Institutional Context ◽

Organizational Outcomes ◽

Review Literature ◽

Future Research ◽

Management Research ◽

For Profit ◽

Stock Market Performance ◽

Pluralistic Approach

Purpose is a concept often used in managerial communities to signal and define a firm’s benevolent and pluralistic approach to its stakeholders beyond its focus on shareholders. While some evidence has linked purpose to positive organizational outcomes such as growth, employee satisfaction, innovation, and superior stock market performance, the definition and application of purpose in management research has been varied and frequently ambiguous. We review literature streams that invoke purpose in the for-profit firm and propose a unifying definition. Next, we develop a framework to study purpose that decouples its framing and formalization within firms from its realization, thus helping to avoid conflation of the presence of purpose with positive organizational outcomes. The framework also highlights internal and external drivers that shape the framing of purpose as well as the influence of the institutional context on its adoption and effectiveness. Finally, we provide a rich agenda for future research on purpose.

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White Supervisor and Subordinate Beliefs about Black/White Inequality: Implications for Understanding and Reducing Workplace Racial Disparities

Social Problems ◽

10.1093/socpro/spaa014 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ryan A Smith ◽

Matthew O Hunt

Keyword(s):

Racial Inequality ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Intergroup Contact Theory ◽

Racial Stratification ◽

Social Surveys ◽

Group Position ◽

Self Interest ◽

Stratification Beliefs ◽

Levels Of Support

Abstract This study examines the racial stratification beliefs of white Americans who have decision-making power at work (managers and supervisors) and of those (subordinates) who lack such power. We focus on whether these groups vary in overall levels of support for, and in determinants of, beliefs about racial inequality. Pooled cross-sectional analyses of data from the 1977 to 2014 General Social Surveys (GSS) reveal that, among both white supervisors and subordinates, support is greatest for a motivation-based explanation of black disadvantage, followed by (in order) explanations focusing on blacks’ lesser educational chances, discrimination against blacks, and finally, blacks’ supposed lesser ability. In line with Group Position Theory, our multivariate analyses reveal few differences across the supervisory divide in levels of support for, or in the determinants of, whites’ beliefs about black disadvantage. Differences that do exist align with alternative perspectives including Social Dominance Theory, a Group Self-Interest Model, and Intergroup Contact Theory. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and methodological implications of our findings for future research pertaining to what does and does not work to ameliorate racial inequality in the workplace.

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Artificial Intelligence and Business Leadership Development: Applications and Solutions

International Journal of Business and Applied Social Science ◽

10.33642/ijbass.v7n11p2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 7-11

Author(s):

Enoch O. Antwi. EdD.

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Leadership Development ◽

Leadership Practices ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Business Leaders ◽

Development Model ◽

Business Leadership ◽

Modern Business ◽

Marketing Tool ◽

Development Applications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the promise of today and future businesses. Any leadership development model that ignores AI could miss out on modern business tools, technology, and resources. Though evaluations in developing business leaders present a positive relationship between AI and leadership development (Husain, 2017; Reese, 2018; Hosanagar, 2019), not many studies have been conducted in these areas. With Roomba Robots listening to social media and iRobot’s identifying customers and reaching out to them through private channels (Carr, 2011), a question arises: will AI be required to use business leadership practices in solving applicable challenges, or it will just be a marketing tool? Leadem (2017) quoted Colin Angle, iRobot’s founder, and CEO in an Entrepreneur Magazine, “I have been able to remain CEO, not because of the fact I was CEO yesterday, but because I've worked very hard to listen, learn and evolve in the seat." Developing business leaders could be rooted in AI knowledge, applicability, challenges, and solutions while paying attention to the three keywords of listening, learning, and evolving in leadership.

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Molecular Evolution of Calcium Signaling and Transport in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms222212308 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (22) ◽

pp. 12308

Author(s):

Tao Tong ◽

Qi Li ◽

Wei Jiang ◽

Guang Chen ◽

Dawei Xue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Stress ◽

Calcium Signaling ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Evolutionary Biology ◽

Regulatory Networks ◽

Cascade Reactions ◽

Future Research ◽

Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽

Green Plants ◽

Signaling Components

Adaptation to unfavorable abiotic stresses is one of the key processes in the evolution of plants. Calcium (Ca2+) signaling is characterized by the spatiotemporal pattern of Ca2+ distribution and the activities of multi-domain proteins in integrating environmental stimuli and cellular responses, which are crucial early events in abiotic stress responses in plants. However, a comprehensive summary and explanation for evolutionary and functional synergies in Ca2+ signaling remains elusive in green plants. We review mechanisms of Ca2+ membrane transporters and intracellular Ca2+ sensors with evolutionary imprinting and structural clues. These may provide molecular and bioinformatics insights for the functional analysis of some non-model species in the evolutionarily important green plant lineages. We summarize the chronological order, spatial location, and characteristics of Ca2+ functional proteins. Furthermore, we highlight the integral functions of calcium-signaling components in various nodes of the Ca2+ signaling pathway through conserved or variant evolutionary processes. These ultimately bridge the Ca2+ cascade reactions into regulatory networks, particularly in the hormonal signaling pathways. In summary, this review provides new perspectives towards a better understanding of the evolution, interaction and integration of Ca2+ signaling components in green plants, which is likely to benefit future research in agriculture, evolutionary biology, ecology and the environment.

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Sympathy and Social Order

Social Psychology Quarterly ◽

10.1177/019027250807100406 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 379-397 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kyle Irwin ◽

Tucker Mcgrimmon ◽

Brent Simpson

Keyword(s):

Social Order ◽

Social Values ◽

Empirical Work ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Generalized Trust ◽

Individual Level ◽

Self Interest ◽

Greater Good ◽

Vignette Experiment

Social order is possible only if individuals forgo the narrow pursuit of self-interest for the greater good. For over a century, social scientists have argued that sympathy mitigates self-interest and recent empirical work supports this claim. Much less is known about why actors experience sympathy in the first place, particularly in fleeting interactions with strangers, where cooperation is especially uncertain. We argue that perceived interdependence increases sympathy towards strangers. Results from our first study, a vignette experiment, support this claim and suggests a situational solution to social dilemmas. Meanwhile, previous work points to two strong individual-level predictors of cooperation: generalized trust and social values. In Study Two we address the intersection of situational and individual-level explanations to ask: does situational sympathy mediate these individual-level predictors of cooperation? Results from the second study, a laboratory experiment, support our hypotheses that sympathy mediates the generalized trust-cooperation link and the relationship between social values and cooperation. The paper concludes with a discussion of limitations of the present work and directions for future research.

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The Predatory Journal: Victimizer or Victim?

Informing Science The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline ◽

10.28945/4788 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 051-082

Author(s):

Grandon Gill

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Analysis ◽

Open Access Publishing ◽

Future Research ◽

Systematic Research ◽

Illustrative Case ◽

Self Interest ◽

Predatory Journal ◽

The Impact ◽

Great Damage ◽

Initial Classification

Aim/Purpose: Labeling a journal as “predatory” can do great damage to the journal and the individuals that have contributed to it. This paper considers whether the predatory classification has outlived its usefulness and what might replace it. Background: With the advent of open access publishing, the term “predatory” has increasingly been used to identify academic journals, conferences, and publishers whose practices are driven by profit or self-interest rather than the advancement of science. Absent clear standards for determining what is predatory and what is not, concerns have been raised about the misuse of the label. Methodology: Mixed methods: A brief review of the literature, some illustrative case studies, and conceptual analysis. Contribution: The paper provides recommendations for reducing the impact of illegitimate journals. Findings: Current predatory classifications are being assigned with little or no systematic research and virtually no accountability. The predatory/not predatory distinction does not accommodate alternative journal missions. Recommendations for Researchers: The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate journals requires consideration of each journal’s mission. To serve as a useful guide, a process akin to that used for accrediting institutions needs to be put in place. Impact on Society: Avoiding unnecessary damage to the careers of researchers starting out. Future Research: Refining the initial classification scheme proposed in the paper.

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Aristóteles Contra o Bem dos Economistas

Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia ◽

10.17990/rpf/2021_77_1_0217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 217-234

Author(s):

Mário Maximo

Keyword(s):

Economic Theory ◽

Moral Philosophy ◽

Real Function ◽

Capability Approach ◽

Capabilities Approach ◽

Ethical Naturalism ◽

Human Form ◽

The Real ◽

Weak Points ◽

The Capability Approach

Despite its origins within moral philosophy, economists think their science has nothing to do with the good. They appeal to some kind of Hume’s guillotine that divides the descriptive and the normative. With that in hand, they affirm the solely descriptive aspect of their discipline. I argue this is not the case. Economists have, as they need to, an all encompassing notion of the good. I suggest going back to Aristotelian arguments to show the shortcomings of this good of economists. Aristotle is helpful because of his analysis of chrematistics and the real function of money. Hence, the loosely utilitarian good of the economists is confronted with a robust sense of the good and the human form. The capability approach is the first to identify these weak points on economic theory and to propose a sort of Aristotelian comeback. However, I claim the capabilities approach itself doesn’t follow the Aristotelian arguments used to attack economists to its necessary conclusion. Therefore, I suggest that the recent advances in neo-Aristotelian ethical naturalism can be used to reformulate economics by dispossessing economists of their sumo bonnun.

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Evaluating E-Business Leadership and its Links to Firm Performance

Selected Readings on Information Technology and Business Systems Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-086-8.ch025 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 471-480

Author(s):

Jing Quan

Keyword(s):

Firm Performance ◽

New Economy ◽

Business Leaders ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Electronic Business ◽

Business Leadership ◽

Long Run ◽

Short Run ◽

Managerial Implications ◽

Online Exchanges

Electronic business (e-business) has been popularly lauded as “new economy.” As a result, firms are prompted to invest heavily in e-business related activities such as supplier/procurement and online exchanges. Whether the investments have actually paid off for the firms remain largely unknown. Using the data on the top 100 e-business leaders compiled by InternetWeek, the leaders are compared with their comparable counterparts in terms of profitability and cost in both the short-run and long-run. It is found that while the leaders have superior performance based on most of the profitability measurements, such superiority is not observed when cost measurements are used. Based on the findings, managerial implications are offered accordingly.

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