Managers Under Siege: How to Navigate the Culture Wars - Philosophical Reflections on Business Practice
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2024-06
Author(s)
Abstract
Today, managers face more and more cultural and political challenges. This is a result of the culture wars. In this article I am going to address the question of how managers best navigate in such a climate, where there seems to be little space for doing the right thing, but a lot of space to do the wrong thing. With the help of an idea from political philosophy, I argue for a realist approach to business – business realism . Business in market conditions requires, like politics in a democracy, to win over people. The culture wars, so I argue, reinforce these dynamics, and it is thus even more important for managers to account, in their decisions, for the conditions present – the market and the culture wars. I try to show that being on what side in the culture wars is not the primary question to ask for managers (as it however often seems to be). The more important question is how to make things work. This does not imply giving up on one’s principles or morals; it just asks for a shift in perspective and strategy.
Event Title
Philosophy of Management Annual Conference