Biblical Value to Ethical Business Leaders - Capstone Project Example

Christian Guidance Christian Guidance: Biblical Value to Ethical Business Leaders YOU ORGANISATION Christian Guidance 2 This project is designed to illustrate the value of Christian moral guidance, as offered by the teachings within the Holy Bible, for contemporary business leaders attempting to balance their roles between traditional organisational success and their acknowledgement as a functional, Christian business leader. Conventional leadership, referencing modern ideals, is often instructed, both academically and by circumstances, to utilise strategic initiatives in order to outmanoeuvre business competitors, misrepresent particular aspects of business negotiations or focus on mass profit-building as the primary target for organisational success. The Bible teaches a different philosophy: A lesson on ethics and morality that can be utilised by modern Christian business leadership to shed a traditionalist corporate mentality and replace that ideology with a business strategy that honours fair-dealing, divinely-inspired leadership and promoting a business environment that sustains ethical relationships. Christian Guidance 3 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and riches" – Matthew 6:24 Introduction The moral compass of business has been shattered for some time, if the excesses and failures of WorldCom, Enron, and Martha Stewart are any legitimate indication1. This particular group of well-publicised corporate disasters met with catastrophic repercussions for their practices in falsifying earnings reports and for passing illegal information about stock purchases from one Chief Executive to another. Christian morals, in contrast, as provided by Scriptural guidance, offer that honour and integrity are the most precious commodities available for Christian business leaders. The Bible clearly indicates a "cause and effect" mentality in that if a person is honest, God will reward him and if one is dishonest, God will punish him. An immoral conduct is the cause of a profound sense of culpability2. Some might argue that the teachings presented by Scriptures were intended for moral and ethical counselling to assist in guiding a Christian individual in primarily personal living, however, solid principles regarding ethics in business are astutely implanted throughout the Bible that offer this punishment versus reward assurance which focuses around strengthening leadership skills for business leaders and how to conduct business affairs with the utmost virtue. These Christian principals, and their effects on the __________ 1 Davenport, Rex. (Dec 2005). Faith at Work. Training and Development. Vol. 59, Iss. 12, p.22. 2 Cory, Jacques. (2005). Activist Business Ethics. Kluwer Academic Publishers: pp. 35-36. Christian Guidance 4 success of contemporary business leaders who have adopted them, will be explored so as to illustrate the genuine value of Christian teachings leading to professional triumphs. Leadership One professional author points out an interesting concept of Christs influence in establishing a structured organisation comparable to modern business with the following commentary: "Jesus Christ set up a rudimentary organisation initially consisting of twelve members. Like many other closely knit organisations, the demise of the inspirational leader wrought havoc and doubt…such indecision was nipped in the bud when Christ unexpectedly returned from the grave; an event which rebuilt confidence in their organisation and its mission".3 One particular aspect noted by both Christians and non-Christians in terms of creating organizational success is to establish strong leadership within the firm that is able to set the example for an ethical organisational culture. The analogy of Christs leadership as comparable to establishing a unified staff which remains focused around a strong, moral vision can best be supported with this reference to Gods teachings regarding leadership: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" 4 __________ 3 Walle, A.H. (1996). Localised marketing strategies and the bible of international business. Management Decision. London: Vol. 34, Iss. 7, p.5. 4 The Living Bible. (1989). Matthew 5:14. Tyndale House Publishers. Christian Guidance 5 Existing professional literature describes moral organisations as a firm with an unwavering dedication to the search for a moral common ground on which all people can fulfil their drams, define their humanity and gain the ultimate in pride and self-respect in spirit and harmony5. Further, business leadership requires setting an example and taking ownership of decisions and actions in order to be visually open and responsive to the needs of the subordinate staff6. Christs analogous representation of leadership as a shining lamp which gives light to others as it remains visibly displayed rather than obscured from view can best be summarised as representative of todays organisational leadership who must shine the proverbial light of morality across the business in order to set a standard of professional ethics. Building confidence in the ethical mission of a Christian-led company begins with sound leadership who must not only utilise faith-related lessons when distributing corporate ethical literature; the leader must become a noticeably symbolic representation of morality if the leader hopes to establish the same value system within the existing staff. The teachings of the New Testament have withstood the passage of 20 centuries as a guiding principle for sound leadership and, with the secular organisations contemporary acknowledgement of the need for ethical leadership, this supports the validity of Christs teachings as a tool available to guide a moral organisation. Business as an Item for Prayer From a theoretical standpoint, economists are accurate in identifying an unseen force that guides the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. __________ 5 Landen, Delmar L. (Nov 1996). The Moral Organization. Executive Excellence. Vol. 13, Iss. 11, p.18. 6 Persaud, Avinash & Plender, John. (Aug 22 2006). When compliance is not enough. Failure of Business Ethics Part I. Financial Times. London: p.8. Christian Guidance 6 Their mistake is in not recognising that the invisible hand is spiritual, not economic; it belongs to Jesus Christ7. Support for this speculative acknowledgement pinpointing God as the guiding force in business (and all worldly matters) lies in the following Old Testament scripture: "We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all Gods…he is my God, and I am trusting him8". Having previously established the concept of reward versus punishment for adherence to or denial of biblical teachings, Christian business leaders regularly decide to offer the business as a prayer item; considering Gods influence in all matters concerning company success. The New Testament supports this ideology with a passage in which Christ responds with a message on receipt of rewards for adopting Christian principles: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you9". It is important to highlight the scope of the overall theme of Christian teachings in order to illustrate that many Christian business leaders adopt ethical and moral principles based on the concept of avoiding punishment in favour of receipt of rewards. However questionable these motives may be, they are substantially driven by a guideline taught in both the New and Old Testaments. Offer the business as a prayer item given over to God and, based on biblical teachings, you will find your needs fulfilled. One such example can be illustrated in a case study conducted using Chinese Christian executives in Hong Kong who uphold a total commitment to Christianity and __________ 7 Sikula, Andrew. (Apr 2003). Invisible Hand. Executive Excellence. Provo: Vol. 20, Iss. 4, p.20. 8 The Living Bible. Psalms 91:2. 9 The Unbound Bible. (2005-2006). Matthew 6:33. www.unbound.biola.edu. Christian Guidance 7 its moral principles. In all situations, the executives put the business up as a prayer item and submit its success potentials to God. In one particular executives case, in ten years his fledgling company became the biggest graphic card company in Hong Kong and one of the largest companies in Asia in that particular industry. This Christian executive is convinced that Gods intervention brought such rapid growth10. The case study found that the promises as offered by the Bible highlighting reward allowed the Christian executives to reflect critically on their ethical and moral behaviours and utilise Christian teachings to develop a sound organisation built on faith values. Modern secular business leaders should be able to analyse situations such as relating to those Christian executives in Hong Kong who have used prayer as a routine aspect of growing a successful business. It is clear, based on Scripture and its rewards-based promises, that sustaining a moral business environment and a value system that upholds Christian principals will meet with due incentives. Fair Wages and Employee Relationships One significantly recurring theme in business today lies in the human relations factor that describes sustaining an organisational environment that is conducive to the needs of the employee. This theme centres on adequate compensation packages, flexibility in work responsibilities and that of creating a fair and equitable working environment for subordinate staff. Pay and benefits in contemporary business must be competitive, which means they must be close to what other employers are providing and what individuals believe to be consistent with their capabilities, experience and __________ 10 Lee, Kam-Hon, McCann, Dennis P. & Ching, Mary Ann. (Mar 2003). Christ and business culture: A Study of Christian Executives in Hong Kong. Journal of Business Ethics. Dordrecht: Vol. 43, Iss. 1/2, p.103. Christian Guidance 8 performance11. From the standpoint of a traditionalist or secular organisation, this is a dominant priority for ensuring the retention of qualified staff. Christian business leaders, in similar respect, should pay adequate attention to this human relations factor as the punishments for unfair labour relations are described as rather harshly administered by an angry God. There are several examples of Christian philosophy regarding the distribution of fair compensation: "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor"12. In similar measure, Gods promise to deal with those who treat subordinate workers unfairly is described in the following Old Testament passage: "Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin"13. As has been established through these two Scriptures, there is a particular emphasis on Gods vengeful retaliation for not adhering to a fair employee/manager business relationship. With Christs acknowledgement indicating that an individual cannot serve two masters, that being God and money, a Christian company leader must determine which is more profitable to his goals as a businessman: Generating massive profits even at the expense of unjust employee compensation or in recognizing Gods proposed ability to elicit retribution for unethical business practices. In most countries, laws have been established that prevent the exploitation of workers and traditional organizations must adhere to these policies, however, adding further potential punishment __________ 11 Mathis, Robert L. & Jackson, John H. (2003). Human Resource Management. 10th ed. Thomson South- Western. United Kingdom: p.84. 12 The Living Bible. Jeremiah 22:13. 13 The Living Bible. Deuteronomy 24:15. Christian Guidance 9 for unethical behaviours in terms of employee relationships can serve to guide a morally-sound business leader who utilises broader emphasis on securing the welfare of his workers. Honesty and Fair Dealings Business ethicists hope to combine the awareness of serious evil in the business world with hope for actual, historical transformation of business life14. This acknowledgement of "evil" refers to scandalous or somewhat immoral business practices which deal with deceptive marketing, unethical contract negotiations or even sabotage against competition; when applicable. The Old Testament, from a Christian point of view, offers further retribution for a business leader who does not conform to a more trustworthy approach to business operations and uses deceptive practices to gain organisational momentum: "A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour and a deadly snare. The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right"15. The message to Christian business leaders, in respect to this stern scriptural warning, is that deception, in any form, will meet with significant failure. The implication can best be categorised using the secular idea of "what comes around, goes around", suggesting that any business-related false representations will eventually hinder the profitable future of the organisation as the business leader joins the ranks of others who deceive and fall into the same proverbial trap of punishment. Under this passage, any built fortune will be short-lived as the deceit will eventually serve to undermine __________ 14 Siker, Louke van Weensveen. (Nov 1989). Christ and Business: A Typology for Christian Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics. Vol. 8, Iss. 11, p.883. 15 The Living Bible. Proverbs 21:6-7. Christian Guidance 10 accumulated riches. Referencing the aforementioned Enron and WorldCom situations in which each had gone from success to bankruptcy virtually overnight due to unethical business practices, Christian guiding philosophy can serve as a template for business leaders to witness the realities of spiritual justice being served for fraudulent organisational habits. It is important to highlight a motivational aspect of Christian spiritual connections to the grounded principles of biblical references to honesty and integrity in business as there is ample evidence throughout the Holy Bible that adds emphasis to a more prosperous future for those who conform to the moral codes laid out by Gods teachings. It would be unreasonable to dismiss that any organisation, either spiritually-led or secular, must sustain a certain amount of revenue in order to consider itself successful and able to function competitively in different markets. The implication, as has been illustrated with reference to Gods promises, is for Christian business leaders to conform to ethical and fair business dealings and the rewards will far outweigh the impending destruction of all that has been accumulated in business; brought on by a lying tongue. Making Competent Judgements Both for the purpose of sustaining positive internal relationships and for upholding a morally-sound organisation that does not succumb to vengeful retaliation for unethical competitors, the Bible offers significant guidance to Christian leadership. Existing literature suggests that superiors should refrain from making a harsh judgement without careful considerations; and leaders and those in power should be the model that Christian Guidance 11 inspires employees to achieve perfection in their work16. Christian methodology which highlights competent judgement can be illustrated in the following passage: "Dont criticise, and then you wont be criticised. For others will treat you as you treat them"17. This passage suggests that a Christian business leader who passes impartial assessments of subordinates is likely to expect a similar retaliatory response to being treated with unjust or incompetent performance analyses and the result might appear in reduced productivity and decreased loyalty to the business. Further supporting wise judgement, Jesus Christ points out that: "And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own…hypocrite! First get rid of the board then you can see to help your brother"18. The implication of this teaching is to instruct Christians to accept their own imperfections primarily to avoid judging others for where they have strayed from acceptable behaviours. This is highly relevant for instructing Christian business leaders to take a more objective view of how they personally perform in a demanding organisational environment without admonishing colleagues or subordinates for minute deviations from corporate expectations. Christ points out the difference between divinely-accepted wisdom and that of foolishness in saying: "All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock"19. This particular statement follows a barrage of teachings which pinpoint equity and __________ 16 Ali, Abbas J., Camp, Robert C. & Gibbs, Manton. (2000). The Ten Commandments perspective on power and authority in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics. Vol. 26, Iss. 4, pp 351-352. 17 The Living Bible. Matthew 7:1-2. 18 The Living Bible. Matthew 7:3-5. 19 The Living Bible. Matthew 7:24. Christian Guidance 12 competent judgement for individuals who decide to follow His teachings and this statement clearly points out that wisdom is borne of adherence to Gods logic and vastness of understanding. To reference this as a guiding principle for Christian organisational leaders, it has been offered that modern business strategists must maintain a level of competency in making decisions that benefit the success of the firm; by engaging the organisation to fulfil a mission built on the foundation of sincerity and an ability to lead the firm with a judgement that clearly assesses the business environment before making impulsive decisions. Leaders need to provide a clear sense of strategic direction, provide a compelling mission, and communicate and enrol people in the strategy and vision20. If the firms mission is to excel as a Christian-based organisation, to dismiss Christs wisdom may well lead to hypocritical leadership and no unified culture which embraces the firms mission to surpass moral expectations, thus driving down subordinate loyalty to the firm. Resisting External Influences Externalities in business, regardless of the competency levels of a firms leadership, often impact a company in such a way that growth and success is either hindered or sustained. These external forces can include competition, contractual partnerships or even employees who do not conform to Christian principles of ethics and morality. The Bible teaches many different lessons on how a Christian should conduct their affairs even in the face of opposition. Christianity points out several alternatives to __________ 20 Lawler, Edward E. III. (Feb 2002). Managing Change. Executive Excellence. Vol. 19, Iss. 2, p.17. Christian Guidance 13 deal with adversity which can be referenced to modern business practices: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"21. Further, the Bible offers, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil"22. Though these statements would seem to be in direct conflict with the human propensity to administer revenge in retaliation for malicious treatment, Christianity principles are based on the concept of two specific promises regarding maltreatment from opponents: First, that the wicked will get their due through Gods intervention and, second, that resisting the urge to exact revenge will meet with reward. As a Christian business leader who is facing a competitor who has breached contractual agreements with rather unethical behaviour, for instance, the most obvious course of action would be to administer similar tactics in order to undermine the competitors position within the market; or create an underhanded method of bad-mouthing the opposing firm in the pursuit of gathering new business opportunities. In a secular, traditionalist organisation, these methods might well be tolerated as a logical course of action for building increased business. Christianity teaches a wholly different set of values in which a Christian business leader is instructed to "bless" the "evil-doer" and virtually take the set of malicious circumstances in stride while still conforming to Christian beliefs and ethical values. Christianity teaches that this opposing firm who has undertaken a mission to injure the firm will be dealt with, by God, according to its actions. The indication is that the business leader should leave vengeance to God and Christ and will therefore be sustained for its restraint at initiating reprisal. It might be argued that the Christian ethics and moral system designed to aid individuals in refraining from offering evil in retaliation of evil has no place in a dog-eat- __________ 21 The Living Bible. Romans 12:21. 22 The Living Bible. Romans 12:17. Christian Guidance 14 dog business world where maintaining a competitive edge and building profit are key attributes to the publics perceptions of a successful organisation. However, believing that justice will be served is part of the faith process for a Christian business leader in trusting that regardless of wickedness against the firm, God will ensure victory for the patient leader who can endure adversity. Ethics in the name of God In todays business world, the guideline of what constitutes a successful organisation is often derived solely on the earnings reports or salaries of the individuals leading the firm. By setting a primary target objective of building enormous profit, a business leader is fulfilling the expectations and obligations to other men who hope to earn their own share by investing in the business. This may be referred to as an excess of greed and a business leader who finds success through upholding Christian principles may find himself pressured to conform to profit expectations while dismissing more ethical practices regarding due employee compensation or any other moral obligation that affects the profit margin. Christianity offers a rather simplistic solution for a Christian business leader who finds themselves in such a dilemma: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."23. As has been previously established, Christianity provides a guideline for leading an acceptable life in the eyes of God where He should be the focus and priority of a good __________ 23 The Living Bible. Collosians 3:23. Christian Guidance 15 Christian. Business leadership is really no different. This passage describes a somewhat elementary method of making decisions when being pressured by external forces to sacrifice business ethics for the sake of a profit: Do what is acceptable to the Lord and dismiss all other avenues for the sake of appeasing men. Some might argue that this is an unrealistic standpoint for Christian leaders to adopt as, logically, as a business becomes more successful, higher expectations for revenues-generation are placed upon it. Jesus Christ sums up the divine expectation to dismiss these allegations against Christian business values with the following relevant passage: "If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other too"24. The implication of this statement is for an individual to endure adversity as long as the objective is to serve God. The result, as with upholding many other Christian principles, is to remain resolved to serve God and sustain the ethical guidelines as laid out by the Bible. The rest, as illustrated by Christian beliefs, will work itself out in Gods due time. Conclusion It has been established that Christian beliefs and the moral guidance offered by the Holy Bible teach lessons that are significantly relevant to modern organisational leaders in terms of remaining true to their values on moral and ethical business practices. It is abundantly transparent that any individual who practices deceit, immoral business __________ 24 The Living Bible. Matthew 5:39. Christian Guidance 16 conduct, unfair treatment of subordinate workers or any other practice defined as wicked in Christianity will find themselves facing divinely-issued reprimand for such activities. A Christian business leader, in contrast, who upholds their commitment to ethical behaviour will find nothing but prosperity and solid working relationships that lead to organisational success and as a firm that stands out in terms of its values system. The end result of adhering to Gods word: A business that is supported by millennia of trustworthy assurances for prosperity and overall sustenance. Christian Guidance 17 Bibliography Ali, Abbas J., Camp, Robert C. & Gibbs, Manton. (2000). The Ten Commandments perspective on power and authority in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics. Vol. 26, Iss. 4, pp. 351-352. Davenport, Rex. (Dec 2005). Faith at Work. Training and Development. Vol. 59, Iss. 12, p.22. Jacques, Cory. (2005). Activist Business Ethics. Kluwer Academic Publishers: pp.35-36. Landen, Delmar L. (Nov 1996). The Moral Organization. Executive Excellence. Vol. 13, Iss. 11, p.18. Lawler, Edward E. III. (Feb 2002). Managing Change. Executive Excellence. Vol. 19, Iss. 2, p.17. Lee, Kam-Hon, McCann, Dennis P. & Ching, Mary Ann. (Mar 2003). Christ and business culture: A Study of Christian Executives in Hong Kong. Journal of Business Ethics. Dordrecht: Vol. 43, Iss. 1/2, p.103. Mathis, Robert L. & Jackson, John H. (2003). Human Resource Management. 10th ed. Thomson South-Western. United Kingdom: p.84. Persaud, Avinash & Plender, John. (Aug 22 2006). When compliance is not enough. Failure of Business Ethics Part I. Financial Times. London: p.8. Siker, Louke van Weensveen. (Nov 1989). Christ and Business: A Typology for Christian Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics. Vol. 8, Iss. 11, p.883. Sikula, Andrew. (Apr 2003). Invisible Hand. Executive Excellence. Provo: Vol. 20, Iss. 4, p.20. The Living Bible. (1989). Tyndale House Publishers. Matthew 5:14. Psalms 91:2. Jeremiah 22:13. Deuteronomy 24:15. Proverbs 21:6-7. Matthew 7:1-2. Matthew 7:3-5. Matthew 7:24. Romans 12:21. Romans 12:17. Collosians 3:23. Matthew 5:39. The Unbound Bible. (2005-2006). Matthew 6:33. w22.unbound.biola.edu. Walle, A.H. (1996). Localised marketing strategies and the bible of international business. Management Decision. London: Vol. 34, Iss. 7, p.5. Read More