Management as a Calling: Leading Business, Serving Society

Business leaders have the power to influence society, but we do not recognize or call out the responsibility that comes with that power. This book challenges future business leaders to think differently about their career, its purpose, and its value as a calling or vocation in service to society. Solutions to environmental and social problems must come from the market and business, which is responsible for producing the buildings, food, clothes, mobility, and energy we need. Without business, the solutions will remain elusive, and without visionary and service-oriented leaders, business will never even try to find them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2021
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Business leaders wield immense power over our society, shaping its operations, fairness, and environmental impact. However, we often overlook the responsibility that accompanies this power. This book aims to challenge future business leaders to reevaluate their careers, purpose, and value as a calling or vocation, serving society. Its message resonates with current and aspiring business students, business leaders reconsidering the role of business in society, and educators who shape these individuals.

As we navigate complex societal challenges, such as climate change, habitat destruction, income inequality, unemployment, inadequate living wages, and limited access to healthcare and education, we recognize the urgent need for market-driven solutions. The market, comprising corporations, government, NGOs, and various stakeholders, holds immense power to address these issues. However, it is business, as the dominant entity within the market, that possesses resources surpassing many nations. Business is responsible for creating the buildings we inhabit, providing our food, clothing, transportation, and energy.

While government plays a crucial role in regulating the market, business has the unique ability to transcend national boundaries and drive innovation. With its unparalleled powers of ideation, production, and distribution, business can lead the way in developing solutions to our societal challenges. It is not to suggest that business alone can solve all problems or that government's role should be diminished. Rather, a collaborative approach is necessary, where business, government, and other stakeholders work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

In conclusion, business leaders have a profound responsibility to leverage their power for the greater good. By reevaluating their careers and purpose, they can contribute to shaping a society that is fair, sustainable, and resilient. This book serves as a call to action for future business leaders to embrace their role as change agents and drive positive change in our world.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503628779