Leadership: A new spirituality for business

The Sunland Foundation is supporting research into the spirituality of business. In answering the question ‘How compatible is the welfare of business and of society?’, Professor Parry and his colleagues around the world are examining the language and discourse that represents the way that business is conducted. The subsidiary research question is ‘How can the business world maintain the creation of wealth without compromising the sanctity of the welfare of the individual members of society?’

While we recognise that today’s contemporary society should have a sustainable economy as its foundation, in recent times we have seen the collapse of many societies in the world. Events such as the uprisings in Europe and the Arab Spring and in many African nations have as a common foundation of disagreement between the government, politicians and the people in highlighting injustices in the distribution of wealth.

“We are examining the language of business. Economic rationalism has devalued the humaneness of business,” said Professor Parry.

“We are attempting to find evidence of how a different language for business is a reflection of the interpersonal role of business leadership, without devaluing the important task dimension of business.”

Business has been divorced from the community that gives it life. Recently, business has been understood as a society. However, more is needed. We need to get back to notions of business being just one citizen within a broader community. In this way, people do not feel devalued and disenchanted. Rather, they are happy to be members of a community within which business is another important member.

We have seen examples in history where this noble outcome has been achieved. Cadbury provided a paternalistic environment in which workers are looked after and not considered as just another ‘human resource’. The growth of the co-operative movement is another example of how people have become the owners of the business and not just factors of production.

This research is using discourse analysis to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. It will also generate a new discourse and a new narrative for business that will generate a better meaning for work. Community and political leadership will be enhanced with this research.

Key project team members

Professor Ken Parry, Centre for Leadership Studies
Soheil Abedian, Sunland Trust
Audun Fiskerud, Bond Business School

Funding sources

The Sunland Trust
Bond University

For more information contact

Professor Ken Parry
School of Business