Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-29-2007 12:43

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?

     

    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson's history of employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?

     

    Fitz

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html

     

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm

     

    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html

     

    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm

     

    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)

     

    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html

    (scroll a bit)

     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace

     

    Hello,

         How are you?  Hope eveything is fine with you.

         I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.

     

    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith, spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.

    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university



  • 2.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-29-2007 15:53
    Dale and all,

    History gnaws while the future calls; isn't that the simpliest notion of a praxis way of being?

    Amongst the thousands of Tyson workers, there must be a mustard seed somewhere. I can't fathom otherwise how such a job position could have been conceived and created. Dale, I read all your links, and then took a peek at Tyson's Press Releases for August. The last three press releases highlight acts of goodwill.

    In 1995 when my research was essentially done, I was invited by a dear friend and staunch supporter who also happened to be a corporate vp to meet with the corporate OD vp at a Fortune 25 company whose name I will not mention. I was saddened that when the "S-word" was mentioned "spirituality" we encountered tremendous fear borne from heavy assumptive thinking and we were gently held in a corner of the company's cafeteria like we were infectious. During the ensuing chat, the OD vp even said that if a job-applicant ever even mentioned "God" he/she would not be hired. After our lunch, my friend and I just chuckled a little, rolled our eyes and he gave me a tour of that particular job-site. Well, lo and behold, in the belly-of-beast were folks in the Corporate Wellness Office who were just beginning to tune into the spiritual dimension of high-level wellness. They even had a large bulletin-board reflecting some of Halbert Dunn's conceptualization from the late 1950's. I left that day feeling good; in my own expression "all was good in God's Hands - not my own" (my concept of God is quite welcoming) and worried little. I told my friend that such will always be the case; I felt and still do that I must always honor an individual's free-will to self-select to listen and/or be open to what I have explored regarding spirituality and work.

    Guess what, 10 years later I was contacted by the corporate OD person and asked to come to the organization to conduct a workshop for managers/supervisors regarding "spirituality in the workplace." I did not recount the experience to the newbie OD person. When I arrived and walked through the same cafeteria and hallways, I was filled with happiness.

    Worry, sure we can, I do at times. Worry that morphs into cynicism is choc-o-bloc full of critical thinking. But, if I have the energy to worry, that same energy can be used to do something about it, and what better place than on the field of play instead of on the sidelines?

    Thanks for prompting these thoughts.

    Always.

    David


    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Dale Edward Fitzgibbons" <defitz@ILSTU.EDU>
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 11:43:05 AM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago
    Subject: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute
    money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to
    universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton
    School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example,
    what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of
    MSR to create more compliant employees?



    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson's history of
    employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?



    Fitz



    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html



    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html



    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.
    html



    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm



    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption
    .html



    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm



    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated
    bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)



    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html

    (scroll a bit)



    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu]
    On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace



    Hello,

    How are you? Hope eveything is fine with you.

    I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement
    website.



    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at
    the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new
    faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations
    for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and
    Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in
    the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's
    mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and
    professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full
    Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and
    teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith,
    spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a
    relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars
    in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace
    justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of
    theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in
    active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of
    faith and spirituality in management and organizations.

    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory
    development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to
    the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities
    of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching,
    the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students
    understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity
    in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair
    will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on
    activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond
    the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or
    in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal
    candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience
    commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research
    university



    --
    David C. Trott Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Human Resource Development
    St. Edward's University
    Austin, TX 78749
    Tel. (512) 448-8736
    Fax (512) 448-8767


  • 3.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-29-2007 17:42

      Hello, MSR friends,
     
         If someone holds the chair, he or she would positively transform Tyson's history of employment/organizational practices as well as make the Sam M. Walton College of Business  a beautiful place full of academic freedom. 
     
         Please take care
         Best wishes for your life
     
         Caroline, PhD candidate at USC  
     


  • 4.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-29-2007 19:59
    Hi Dale,

    We are about to make a public announcement shortly that Tyson Foods is
    one the 2007 recipients of the International Spirit at Work Award.
    Specifically, the award is for their chaplaincy program. Our committee
    had prolonged discussions about their history of employment and
    organizational practices, and we asked many questions of the
    organization. We found them very open to providing information, to being
    in dialogue, and to sharing that they are not perfect (no huge
    organization is) but that they are working hard to create an environment
    that provides respect and dignity for all employees, as well as for the
    animals. We believe that the award is an opportunity to reinforce what
    they are doing well as well as to be in conversation with them about
    more difficult issues. We only give the award to organizations that can
    demonstrate institutionalized commitment to respect for people of
    diverse faith and spiritual traditions. Our international committee came
    to the conclusion that Tyson is working hard to do this.

    Warmly, Judi

    Judi Neal, Ph.D.
    President & CEO, Association for Spirit at Work
    www.spiritatwork.org
    President, Judi Neal & Associates
    www.judineal.com
    Author of /Edgewalkers: People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build
    Bridges, and Break New Ground/ (Praeger 2006)
    www.edgewalkers.org <http://www.edgewalkers.org/>
    +1 203-467-9084 office
    +1 203-804-6160 mobile

    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
    change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead



    Fitzgibbons, Dale Edward wrote:
    >
    > It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute
    > money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to
    > universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton
    > School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For
    > example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine
    > the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?
    >
    > On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson’s history of
    > employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?
    >
    > Fitz
    >
    > http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html
    >
    > http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html
    >
    > http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html
    >
    > http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html
    >
    > http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm
    >
    > http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html
    >
    > http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm
    >
    > http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated
    > bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)
    >
    > http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html
    >
    > (scroll a bit)
    >
    > *From:* Management, Spirituality & Religion
    > [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] *On Behalf Of *Caroline at USC
    > *Sent:* Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    > *To:* MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    > *Subject:* job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace
    >
    > Hello,
    >
    > How are you? Hope eveything is fine with you.
    >
    > I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.
    >
    > *Endowed Chair*
    >
    > The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business
    > at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new
    > faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations
    > for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and
    > Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D.
    > in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the
    > Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research
    > and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or
    > Full Professor at a research university.
    >
    > The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and
    > teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith,
    > spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a
    > relatively new area of study, we also will consider established
    > scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility,
    > workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the
    > impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have
    > engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the
    > relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.
    >
    > We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory
    > development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing
    > to the management discipline. In addition to research, the
    > responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In
    > regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop
    > courses that help students understand the challenges of managing
    > spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In
    > regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and
    > opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the
    > discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g.,
    > through a visiting speaker series).
    >
    > *Requirements:*
    > Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline
    > (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal
    > candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience
    > commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a
    > research university
    >
    > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    >
    > No virus found in this incoming message.
    > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
    > Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.10/977 - Release Date: 8/28/2007 4:29 PM
    >


  • 5.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-29-2007 20:00
    Many years ago, I interviewed for an ethics chair endowed by
    money from tobacco. The President of the University asked me
    how I felt about a Chair being endowed by tobacco money. I
    told him that I didn't think it was for me to judge what
    person did with his/her money and what motivated them to
    donate it--that was between him/her and God. I remember him
    looking at me puzzled. Then I told him that I didn't think
    that's what he wanted to know. I was very clear that I
    thought what he wanted to know was how I felt about tobacco.
    I told him that I detested the product and everything it
    stood for, but that I had absolutely no intention to make
    that an issue of my research. However, I told him, if I'm
    asked what I think publicly or by my students, I'll tell
    them exactly what I think. I wasn't selling my soul for a
    job.

    I didn't get that job.

    The point of the story is that the intention of a donor or a
    University to manipulate anyone is only possible with the
    holder of a chair that is complicitous and/or isn't smart
    enough (or have the integrity) to deal with the issue up
    front in the interview.

    For the record, I've spoken to the people at Arkansas about
    the chair in my capacity as MSR-Chair (not as an
    applicant). For what it's worth, I don't get the idea that
    they want to take the money and whitewash anything.

    Bob

    Robert A. Giacalone, Ph.D.
    Department of Human Resource Management
    313 Speakman Hall, FSBM
    Temple University
    1810 N. 13th St.
    Philadelphia, PA 19122
    e-mail: ragiacal@temple.edu
    Work phone: (215) 204-7038
    Fax: (215) 204-8362


    I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

    Thomas Jefferson

    One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.

    Bertrand Russell

    Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.

    Raymond Lindquist


  • 6.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-30-2007 09:53

               I presented the following paper at this year's AOM conference (co-authored with Emma Bell, Queen Mary, <u1:place w:st="on"><u1:placetype w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place></u1:placetype> of <u1:placename w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">London</st1:placename></u1:placename></u1:place>). Anyone interested in the full paper

            can contact me at cathy.driscoll@smu.ca.

    Regards,

    Cathy Driscoll, Saint Mary's University

            SOULFUL WORK OR SOULWASHING IN THE WORKPLACE?: THE CASE OF TYSON FOODS AND ASDA SUPERMARKETS
    This paper draws a parallel between organizational greenwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as being socially or environmentally responsible in order to shift attention away from their business practices, and organizational soulwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as leaders in workplace spirituality while engaging in business practices that fundamentally undermine this stance. Using a definition of workplace spirituality as a holistic, humane enterprise, we explore the potential for soulwashing through comparative case study analysis of a large US and a similar UK company, which have both sought to develop spiritual practice while also being widely criticized for their environmental and global business practices, labor relations, animal welfare and corporate governance. We conclude that greater awareness of organizational soulwashing is needed and further research is required into its frequency and effects.

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Fitzgibbons, Dale Edward
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 1:43 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?

     

    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson's history of employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?

     

    Fitz

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html

     

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html

     

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm

     

    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html

     

    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm

     

    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)

     

    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html

    (scroll a bit)

     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace

     

    Hello,

         How are you?  Hope eveything is fine with you.

         I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.

     

    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith, spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.

    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university



  • 7.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-30-2007 12:11
    Hello,
     
    Was it Groucho Marx who suggested that if one can fake sincerity then one has it made?
     
    Avi Kay
    ----- Original Message -----
    Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 1:48 AM
    Subject: Re: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Hi all,
    It’s interesting that one of the concepts of the very spiritually oriented 12 Step Fellowships which I studied is “Fake it, ‘til you make it.”; the idea is that the behavior helps beget the reality.  Though corporations and wealthy philanthropists often set up phony ethical and spiritual endeavors, it is, I think, fairly common that over time the structure begets the reality to some significant degree.

    For example a corporation sets up a unit to “increase diversity” because of social pressure even though the top leaders are actually only interested in profit and feathering their own nest.  Lo and behold the folks in that diversity unit start playing the role defined in their job description including training and persuading the next generation of leaders, pressing to revise the evaluation/reward system, doing good PR for the CEO whenever he (sic) does something supporting diversity etc.  The effect is often to execute at least part of the defined role even though no one really cared about it.  Other examples include philanthropies set up by rapacious and right wing monopolists (e.g., Rockefeller, perhaps Gates) who after a period of time end up supporting good social causes.

    So while we need to perform a watchdog function on such things as the Tyson Management & Spirituality Chair, I am hopeful it will be an (imperfect) step in a positive direction.
    Lee
    Dr. Lee Robbins
    Professor of Management
    Golden Gate University School of Business
    536 Mission St.
    San Francisco, CA. 94105

    cell: 415-713-1341
    415-552-9800, 415-442-7027
    work FAX: 415-442-6579
    <LeeRobbins@post.Harvard.edu>
    <LRobbins@ggu.edu>


    From: Cathy Driscoll <cathy.driscoll@SMU.CA>
    Reply-To: "Management, Spirituality & Religion" <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:53:28 -0300
    To: <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Subject: Re: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

              I presented the following paper at this year's AOM conference (co-authored with Emma Bell, Queen Mary, University of London). Anyone interested in the full paper
            can contact me at cathy.driscoll@smu.ca <mailto:cathy.driscoll@smu.ca> .
    Regards,
    Cathy Driscoll, Saint Mary's University
           SOULFUL WORK OR SOULWASHING IN THE WORKPLACE?: THE CASE OF TYSON FOODS AND ASDA SUPERMARKETS
    This paper draws a parallel between organizational greenwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as being socially or environmentally responsible in order to shift attention away from their business practices, and organizational soulwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as leaders in workplace spirituality while engaging in business practices that fundamentally undermine this stance. Using a definition of workplace spirituality as a holistic, humane enterprise, we explore the potential for soulwashing through comparative case study analysis of a large US and a similar UK company, which have both sought to develop spiritual practice while also being widely criticized for their environmental and global business practices, labor relations, animal welfare and corporate governance. We conclude that greater awareness of organizational soulwashing is needed and further research is required into its frequency and effects.

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Fitzgibbons, Dale Edward
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 1:43 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?
     
    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson’s history of employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?
     
    Fitz

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm

    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html
     
    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm
     
    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)

    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html
    (scroll a bit)
     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace


    Hello,

         How are you?  Hope eveything is fine with you.

         I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.

     

    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith, spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.
    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university

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  • 8.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-30-2007 15:19
    Hi all,
    It's interesting that one of the concepts of the very spiritually oriented 12 Step Fellowships which I studied is "Fake it, 'til you make it."; the idea is that the behavior helps beget the reality.  Though corporations and wealthy philanthropists often set up phony ethical and spiritual endeavors, it is, I think, fairly common that over time the structure begets the reality to some significant degree.

    For example a corporation sets up a unit to "increase diversity" because of social pressure even though the top leaders are actually only interested in profit and feathering their own nest.  Lo and behold the folks in that diversity unit start playing the role defined in their job description including training and persuading the next generation of leaders, pressing to revise the evaluation/reward system, doing good PR for the CEO whenever he (sic) does something supporting diversity etc.  The effect is often to execute at least part of the defined role even though no one really cared about it.  Other examples include philanthropies set up by rapacious and right wing monopolists (e.g., Rockefeller, perhaps Gates) who after a period of time end up supporting good social causes.

    So while we need to perform a watchdog function on such things as the Tyson Management & Spirituality Chair, I am hopeful it will be an (imperfect) step in a positive direction.
    Lee
    Dr. Lee Robbins
    Professor of Management
    Golden Gate University School of Business
    536 Mission St.
    San Francisco, CA. 94105

    cell: 415-713-1341
    415-552-9800, 415-442-7027
    work FAX: 415-442-6579
    <LeeRobbins@post.Harvard.edu>
    <LRobbins@ggu.edu>


    From: Cathy Driscoll <cathy.driscoll@SMU.CA>
    Reply-To: "Management, Spirituality & Religion" <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:53:28 -0300
    To: <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Subject: Re: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

               I presented the following paper at this year's AOM conference (co-authored with Emma Bell, Queen Mary, University of London). Anyone interested in the full paper
            can contact me at cathy.driscoll@smu.ca <mailto:cathy.driscoll@smu.ca> .
    Regards,
    Cathy Driscoll, Saint Mary's University
            SOULFUL WORK OR SOULWASHING IN THE WORKPLACE?: THE CASE OF TYSON FOODS AND ASDA SUPERMARKETS
    This paper draws a parallel between organizational greenwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as being socially or environmentally responsible in order to shift attention away from their business practices, and organizational soulwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as leaders in workplace spirituality while engaging in business practices that fundamentally undermine this stance. Using a definition of workplace spirituality as a holistic, humane enterprise, we explore the potential for soulwashing through comparative case study analysis of a large US and a similar UK company, which have both sought to develop spiritual practice while also being widely criticized for their environmental and global business practices, labor relations, animal welfare and corporate governance. We conclude that greater awareness of organizational soulwashing is needed and further research is required into its frequency and effects.

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Fitzgibbons, Dale Edward
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 1:43 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?
     
    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson's history of employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?
     
    Fitz

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm

    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html
     
    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm
     
    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)

    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html
    (scroll a bit)
     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace


    Hello,

         How are you?  Hope eveything is fine with you.

         I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.

     

    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith, spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.
    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university



  • 9.  Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    Posted 08-30-2007 15:36

    Here's hoping your right, Lee, but the encroachment and potential for cooptation demands our diligence.

     

    Fitz

     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Lee Robbins
    Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 2:19 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: Re: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

     

    Hi all,
    It's interesting that one of the concepts of the very spiritually oriented 12 Step Fellowships which I studied is "Fake it, 'til you make it."; the idea is that the behavior helps beget the reality.  Though corporations and wealthy philanthropists often set up phony ethical and spiritual endeavors, it is, I think, fairly common that over time the structure begets the reality to some significant degree.

    For example a corporation sets up a unit to "increase diversity" because of social pressure even though the top leaders are actually only interested in profit and feathering their own nest.  Lo and behold the folks in that diversity unit start playing the role defined in their job description including training and persuading the next generation of leaders, pressing to revise the evaluation/reward system, doing good PR for the CEO whenever he (sic) does something supporting diversity etc.  The effect is often to execute at least part of the defined role even though no one really cared about it.  Other examples include philanthropies set up by rapacious and right wing monopolists (e.g., Rockefeller, perhaps Gates) who after a period of time end up supporting good social causes.

    So while we need to perform a watchdog function on such things as the Tyson Management & Spirituality Chair, I am hopeful it will be an (imperfect) step in a positive direction.
    Lee
    Dr. Lee Robbins
    Professor of Management
    Golden Gate University School of Business
    536 Mission St.
    San Francisco, CA. 94105

    cell: 415-713-1341
    415-552-9800, 415-442-7027
    work FAX: 415-442-6579
    <LeeRobbins@post.Harvard.edu>
    <LRobbins@ggu.edu>

    From: Cathy Driscoll <cathy.driscoll@SMU.CA>
    Reply-To: "Management, Spirituality & Religion" <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:53:28 -0300
    To: <MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>
    Subject: Re: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

              I presented the following paper at this year's AOM conference (co-authored with Emma Bell, Queen Mary, University of London). Anyone interested in the full paper
            can contact me at cathy.driscoll@smu.ca <mailto:cathy.driscoll@smu.ca> .
    Regards,
    Cathy Driscoll, Saint Mary's University
           SOULFUL WORK OR SOULWASHING IN THE WORKPLACE?: THE CASE OF TYSON FOODS AND ASDA SUPERMARKETS
    This paper draws a parallel between organizational greenwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as being socially or environmentally responsible in order to shift attention away from their business practices, and organizational soulwashing, involving companies that identify themselves as leaders in workplace spirituality while engaging in business practices that fundamentally undermine this stance. Using a definition of workplace spirituality as a holistic, humane enterprise, we explore the potential for soulwashing through comparative case study analysis of a large US and a similar UK company, which have both sought to develop spiritual practice while also being widely criticized for their environmental and global business practices, labor relations, animal welfare and corporate governance. We conclude that greater awareness of organizational soulwashing is needed and further research is required into its frequency and effects.

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Fitzgibbons, Dale Edward
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 1:43 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: Chair , spirituality in the workplace

    It always worries me when corporations like Tyson want to contribute money (chairs, naming their business school, grants, etc.) to universities. Given that this one is being established at the Walton School how many academic freedom strings will be attached? For example, what if you wanted to use a Critical Theory lens to examine the use of MSR to create more compliant employees?
     
    On a related note, if you held this chair would Tyson's history of employment/organizational practices gnaw at you?
     
    Fitz

    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm1999/mm9912.05.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02jan-feb/jan-feb02names.html
     
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04march/march04front.html
    http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2001/01july-august/julyaug01front.html

    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267771.htm

    http://www.vegetablekillers.net/forums/ethics/13341-usdatyson-corruption.html
     
    http://www.vdare.com/fulford/lawsuit.htm
     
    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/09/13/932/66611 (segregated bathrooms??? In 2005, are you kidding?)

    http://law.jrank.org/pages/11971/Environmental-Crime.html
    (scroll a bit)
     

    From: Management, Spirituality & Religion [mailto:MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Caroline at USC
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 4:31 PM
    To: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: job announcement, Chair , spirituality in the workplace


    Hello,

         How are you?  Hope eveything is fine with you.

         I found this job posting on 2007 AOM conference job placement website.

     

    Endowed Chair

    The Department of Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is pleased to announce an exciting new faculty position. The Department invites applications and nominations for the inaugural chair holder of the John H. Tyson Chair in Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university.

    The Department seeks a leading scholar who has a primary research and teaching interest in the management and inclusion of faith, spirituality, and religion in the workplace. Because this is a relatively new area of study, we also will consider established scholars in other areas such as corporate social responsibility, workplace justice, business ethics, the management of diversity, the impact of theology on work, and leadership who more recently have engaged in active teaching and research programs which examine the relevance of faith and spirituality in management and organizations.
    We seek a scholar whose approach to research includes both theory development and empirical investigations as avenues for contributing to the management discipline. In addition to research, the responsibilities of the Tyson Chair include teaching and outreach. In regard to teaching, the chair holder will be invited to develop courses that help students understand the challenges of managing spiritual and religious diversity in tolerant and ethical ways. In regard to outreach, the Tyson Chair will have the funding and opportunity to provide leadership on activities that extend the discussion of spirituality and work beyond the classroom ( e.g., through a visiting speaker series).

    Requirements:
    Preferred candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Management discipline (or in a field closely related to the Chair's mission) and the ideal candidate will have teaching, research and professional experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor at a research university