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IJCOMA 23,3

EDITORIAL

Rethinking work ethics

Abbas J. Ali
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive meaning of work ethics that encompasses its spirit in a changing world. It also reects on the historical evolution of work ethics in the Western world. Design/methodology/approach The paper briey discusses the concept of work ethics and identies reasons that make it imperative that the paper move beyond simply equating work ethics with hard work. Findings The deepening of the economic crises in current years demands a rethinking of the cultural/national elements that are essential for regaining initiatives that can profoundly change economic directions and reverse economic recessions. In a knowledge economy, work ethics takes on a new meaning of being adaptive to the changing nature of economic activities and the never ending search for improving ones welfare and that of societies. Originality/value The paper offers a genuine reection on the historical evolution of work ethics. It sets the stage for an effective argument that recognizes a new meaning of work ethics, thus offering a hope that espousing the new meaning will profoundly change the way people relate to and engage in work. Keywords Work ethics, Hard work, Religious beliefs, Western views of work, Economic progress, Economic growth Paper type Conceptual paper

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International Journal of Commerce and Management Vol. 23 No. 3, 2013 pp. 180-183 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1056-9219 DOI 10.1108/IJCoMA-06-2013-0053

Introduction In a world that is characterized by a turbulent economic environment, the notion of work ethics assumes economic and social signicance. While it is not a panacea for all economic ills, it does make a difference in differentiating those economic actors who take charge of their future from those who stay behind. In a recent Gallup Poll (2013) survey, it was found that American employees and managers are engaged in their work and view hard work as a necessary ingredient of success (Yu et al., 2013). This may shed light on the forces that enabled the USA to cope with the economic crisis of 2008 with a painful but unshakable determination to confront economic ills directly and collectively. Likewise, Germany, relative to many other European countries, has avoided the trap of being complacent with economic prosperity and has focused on productive engagement and economic renewal. This has enabled it to move forward and sustain an economic prosperity within a continent that is experiencing economic turmoil and meltdown. Certainly, the trappings of economic gratication are a sign of declining work ethics, especially the eclipse of thriftiness, moderation, diligence, and punctuality. Work ethics, however, is not about the success of a particular individual, rather it is about the collective mind set of a nation or a society manifested in the will to be in charge of controlling destiny, the quest for renewal and innovation, and a persistence in looking beyond current possibilities and toward imagined new opportunities. Traditionally, however, neither commitment to renewal nor utilization of the imaginative capacity has been recognized as a facet of work ethics.

From early Greek civilization through to the industrial revolution and up to our current history, the concept of work ethics has evolved and consequently led to qualitative changes culturally and economically. During the Greek civilization, work was viewed as the curse of the gods and its meaning was equated with sorrow. The Romans, too, did not value work and in fact adopted the Greek beliefs (Lipset, 1990). Likewise, earlier Jewish beliefs considered work to be a sinful activity: if man does not nd his food like animals and birds but must earn it [. . .] [this]is due to sin (Lipset, 1990, p. 2). However, centuries later, the Jewish view of work experienced profound change as hard work and the notion that work itself is an essential duty in life was espoused. In the early years of Christianity, the emphasis was primarily placed on worshiping God and work was rarely appreciated up until the fteenth century. The new outlook was credited to the rise of Protestantism in Europe. The emergence of Protestantism and the assertion by Martin Luther (1483-1546) that people could serve God through their work was a turning point in Western thinking. However, Lipset (1990, p. 62) indicates that Luther had contempt for trade, commerce, and nance; those endeavors required no real work. Hence, Luther did not directly pave the way for a rational, prot-oriented economic system. The Wests remarkable progress in the attitude toward work in a broad way and the essentiality of working hard took place when John Calvin (1509-1564) advocated work to be a calling; a compliance with the will of God. Since then, the Western world has witnessed economic and technological developments that have allowed it, in a few decades, to dominate the rest of the world economically and militarily for a few centuries. Commitment to work and engagement in various economic activities have led to a qualitative change in the lives of people across the globe. This has given people a wide range of opportunities to engage in economic activities and thus improve living standards for people in different parts of the World. This has led many communities across the globe to rediscover their work traditions and to rethink their positions in the global marketplace. While there have been groups in China and India that have never ceased to pursue work as an instrument for success and wealth accumulation, other groups have had to look at their history and revisit their conceptualization and understanding of work. In Japan and in countries with Muslim majorities (CMMs), like Malaysia and Indonesia, people have not needed to borrow a conception of work. In these societies, work ethics is underscored either in their tradition, as in the case of Japan, or in their religious beliefs, as in the case of CMMs. In these countries, what has been needed is reorientation of national priorities and teachings with an emphasis on discipline, persistence, optimism, and organization. Unfortunately, for many people, the old Western understanding of work ethics as hard work and with the primary goal to gain money is still prevalent. The Financial Times reported (Hill, 2012) that the primary purpose of work remains unchanged: to earn money. However, the essence of work ethics has a much broader meaning than working hard and earning more money. It is important to move beyond the traditional Western view of work and accentuate the link between economic necessity, personal happiness, and societal interests. Work is not an end but a means to serve ones interests and improve the welfare of society. This perspective emphasizes that economic activities must not be driven by self interest at the expense of that of societys, and stresses the need to meet ever emerging and changing demands of the marketplace.

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As indicated before, work ethics is about a national mindset that underscores the signicance of being a vital social and economic actor, persistency in advancing economic prosperity, engaging in discovery, and imagining new opportunities. While hard work is still an important element of work ethics, in a knowledge economy work ethics takes on a new meaning of being adaptive to the changing nature of economic activities and the never ending search for improving ones welfare and that of the society. That is, work ethics conveys a purposeful engagement in economic and social affairs. Unlike centuries ago, the welfare of self and that of society have become highly interlinked and it is impossible these days to separate them. In new areas in the world, from high tech centers like Silicon Valley to nancial and exotic entertainment hubs such as Dubai, it is easy to recognize the changing nature and purpose of work. In Dubai, for example, manual guest workers come from various countries and work hard to support their families back home. Hard work for these workers is a means to take care of loved ones and to feel satisfaction in being responsible family members. There are, too, local managers who run multimillion corporations and utilize the intuition and feedback they receive from highly skilled subordinates to make decisions that impact business environments at home and abroad. Their work is highly abstract and their purpose is not to save a few dollars to support their immediate families but, rather, they seek to expand their business activities and to have a joyful life that is available to few people. On the other hand, expatriate managers or skilled labor look to taking advantage of emerging professional activities that involve frequent movement from localities and jobs, engaging in socially fullling responsibilities, and seeking to leave an impact on history by being at the center of the global action. While a large segment of todays world still performs physical work, knowledge and creativity are shaping the nature of work. In an era of instant communication, texting, and other forms of electronic connectivity, these thrive in a way that has never been experienced in the history of mankind. How this is going to evolve is left to the imagination. The fact remains, however, that todays work involvement requires different types of discipline, management, and feedback. Furthermore, what makes this type of work signicant is that it generates new ways to organize and carry out physical activities. However, the most signicant aspect of work, and by necessity work ethics, is that commitment and involvement in creative activities are not conned to any particular geographical space or race. This implies that though the meaning of work is personal, it is always socially driven and purposeful. This development eases the transformation of groups and societies. It leads to a rapid evolution of ingenuity and the transformation of what was initially thought of as a personal search or experimentation (e.g. Steve Jobs or Bill Gates tirelessness in the eld of high tech) that is then transformed by large and small rms into visible market opportunities with practical applications that far exceed the imagination of the original creator. The new meaning of work ethics that underlines the creativity and imaginative capacity of individuals and groups reinforces the notion that work ethics is an evolving concept that explicitly and implicitly conveys a deep desire for renewal and progress. While this fact demonstrates the ingenuity of mankind, it ultimately sustains hope and optimism in a world that is driven by contradictory yet powerful forces. Nevertheless, rethinking work ethics as a positive force for change and creative involvement is destined to lead to a more promising future.

References Hill, A. (2012), Work 2.0, Financial Times, September, available at: www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/ 4f5b4b30-02b7-11e2-9e53-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2SkBbnyDa (accessed 7 May 2013). Lipset, S. (1990), The work ethic-then and now, Public Interest, Vol. 98, pp. 61-69. Yu, D., Harter, J. and Agrawal, S. (2013), US managers boast best work engagement: managers also show greatest improvement in engagement, Gallup, April 26, available at: www.gallup.com/poll/162062/managers-boast-best-work-engagement.aspx Corresponding author Abbas J. Ali can be contacted at: aaali@iup.edu

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