More case studies wanted!
We want the website to be a valuable resource where people at work who are facing dilemmas or finding their values challenged, can go for advice and ideas. So we need your stories – situations you have faced and how you dealt with them, how sticking to your principles and values has helped or hindered… We don’t need to know the specific names or companies involved but we do want to know what you learned and what others can learn from your successes and mistakes.
Below is a case study from a volunteer in an HIV/AIDS charity who drew on courage, resourcefulness and maintaining personal integrity to help him withstand attacks on his character by the team.
Living the Principles: [meant to be a document here to download]
At a recent seminar in Ridley Hall entitled Principles in Small Companies, partners/directors/managers of SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) shared some valuable experiences highlighting how the Principles apply to small businesses, where tensions may exist and how those tensions might be or have been resolved. One of the common themes which emerged was the challenge faced when selling a business especially where conflicts arise with the principles/values of the business being sold and the legal process, or indeed with the values of the acquiring organisation. Some extracts from the talks can be found below.
Principle 25 – Openness and Honesty
“Tension arose when discussions began when a third party was interested in taking over our business. The business had been built up on the basis of openness, trust, disclosure, sharing. The legal framework surrounding the takeover included non-disclosure documents and rules on confidentiality. We were prevented from living out our core value in everything we were doing. This led to a breakdown in trust in the company which, even after we later withdrew from the deal, took a long time to rebuild.” Comment: There appears to be no way to resolve this conflict – bound by the law to confidentiality whilst striving to faithfully live out the principles and values on which the company had been established. If you have any suggestions/experiences please contact us.
Principles 29 – Prayerfulness
“As a Christian partner in an IT support business I have faced many dilemmas, including some regarding client practices, hiring new people and managing poor staff performance. My starting point to resolve tensions between and with individuals and their interpretation or views, has been to take them to God in prayer. I meet with a group of Christians in Cambridge from different businesses and we pray for each other, for our colleagues at work, the challenges and the successes.”
Principles 7 & 13 – Trust and Customer Relationships
Trust has to be a core value although still you still need to check the stock! As Mohammed said “Trust in God; but tie up your camel.” The MD is challenged to keep up morale by talking to employees about their work, consulting them on new projects, recognising their experience in certain aspects of their work. Trust people and bring them closer to you. There may be a conflict here with No 8 of the Principles ‘customer relationships are of primary significance for any business’ rather assumes that every customer is always important. Not if they don’t pay you they’re not!