Corporate culture, organizational change and meaning at work - linking human resources with business ethics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Busse, Ronald^{; *}

Affiliations: School of Management at Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Ronald Busse, School of Management at Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28, West of Xian Ning Road, Zip Code 710049 Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Tel.: +49 1573 6444076; E-mail: ronald.busse@fhdw.de

Abstract: The world synchronizes. Utilitarian thinking has become the globally prevailing doctrine concerning firms' approaches to human resource issues. Corporate morality ideally forms a counterbalance, which effectively mitigates the disadvantageous impacts resulting from companies' mere pursuit of economic interests. This article deduces implications for firms and their employees from current debates in the field of business ethics. First, it challenges corporate culture pragmatists and the unquestioned managerial attempt to shape and create an organization's culture. Second, the article casts doubt on the paradigm of constant organizational change and reveals potential consequences for businesses. Third, it spotlights the significance of employees' perceived meaning at work and clarifies the role of value priorities for endowment with meaning.

Keywords: Business ethics, corporate culture, human resources, meaning at work, organizational change

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-140811

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 33, no. 1-2, pp. 47-50, 2014