Week 12: Becoming a Change-Maker

The two articles I enjoyed the most from the study material this week were the What's a Business For? article, and the microlending talk.  I enjoyed Handy's conclusion that the true purpose of a business, is not to make a profit, the end, it's to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better.  "That "something" becomes the real justification for the business."   I found it interesting to compare and contrast the American style of business with the European model of business.  I also really agreed with the author's conviction that employees should be seen as assets instead of "costs", although the vast majority of businesses treat their employees as exactly the opposite.  I can attest to this first hand, as James's company recently laid off 10% of its employees, not to stay afloat financially, but according to one senior executive, it was to be sure that the company stayed on track to make a 40 million dollar profit.  Yes, it was simply so that they could continue to make more money.  One of the employees who had been let go, went home and killed himself.  It rocked the Salt Lake office, as it should have, and I can't help but wonder if the 40 million dollars will comfort the decision-makers in the company when they think of this man and his family.  This company really enjoys its hollow image as a company that treats its employees really well.  They pay lots of lip service to the employees being "like family". 

What would a company have done differently if they truly valued their people as human beings and assets; as "family"?  





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