Traditional Wisdom... LO9236

Dr. Ivan Blanco (BLANCO@BU4090.BARRY.EDU)
Mon, 19 Aug 1996 12:53:19 -0400 (EDT)

Replying to LO9051 --

> From: "John O'Neill" <jao@cook.dsto.gov.au>
> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 96 11:43:29 +1000

<<< I deleted a lot here >>>

> Maybe what we need to start on this thread is a list of societal "norms" and =
> "unnorms" from different societies across the planet. Where people can =
> comment on what is good about their society and what is bad. Somehow we need =
> to surface some of the hidden assumptions that schools are for learning =
> (aren't they?), that people have a responsibility to each other to live in =
> peace and harmony with their neighbours (or at least not worry about being =
> physically attacked every day).
>
[... more deleted by JR]

> [Host's Note: Thanks, John, for replying from the heart. On one hand, the
> discussion of what's good and bad in society is too broad for the LO list.
> On the other hand, many of us feel that our mission in this work is not
> just about organizational performance, but to change the world for the
> better. As a parent of a 19 year old, this larger mission is often on my
> mind. ...Rick]

The "norms and unnorms" are a great importance because organizations exist
in larger systems, social systems. There is no true improvement is the
improvement reached in a particular organization if that improvement does
not have any spillover effect on societty. In the same relationship, there
is no advanced society if important parts or components of that society are
still primitive in some aspects. For instance, I live in a sector of the
Miami area, which is veru safe and peaceful. But I cannot feel too
satisfied by that when there are areas you can't even drive through because
you might get robbed, or worse. There are some public schools in my are
which are great. BUt there are many schools which are not. Then for as
long as there are weak links in the chain, the strength of the whole chain
is dimished by these weak links.

The way I see Rick makes a lot of sense. We cannot just be concerned with
organizational performance as an isolated target. We must always strive to
connect that performance to the wellbeing of society as a whole, and we are
still behind on this task!

-- Ivan,

--

*************************************************************** R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515 Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412 International Business Programs Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________ Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu <<<<< ---------------- >>>>> "Si un hombre fuera necesario para sostener el Estado, este Estado no deberia existir." "If one man were necessary to sustain a Nation, this Nation should not exist." Simon Bolivar ===============================================================

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