Siemens pays slush money. Telekom listens in. Käßmann drives a Phaeton.
They do the right thing. They are being efficient.
There is hardly a doubt about the definition of justice and morals. Not for managers. As a general rule, they know pretty well what is expected of them in our democratic society.
The problem for them is more how to behave morally and not feel stupid.
In a world determined by efficiency where those who behave ethically are often at a disadvantage, it gets harder and harder to be ethical.
Siemens acts efficiently (“doing the right thing”), in that such a huge, old enterprise cannot compete on the market without paying slush money.
Telekom acts efficiently, because as a former monopolist, they have to fight heroically against eroding market shares. The managers see the listening in as a chance to maintain market shares.
Frau Käßmann acts efficiently when (probably) accepting the gift of an unsuccessful but valuable car. Otherwise, she would have to call the Protestant inefficient for having to buy her a car.
Old, huge, hopeless.
They all are caught in a moral dilemma. For them, having the moral guillotine at their throats is less detrimental than being called inefficient.
Is there no way out? But certainly.
Replace the efficiency culture by effectiveness ( „doing the right things“). In other words: act autonomously, keep inventing yourself anew, and do not wait until the (old) market situation undermines morals. Instead: constantly find new markets.
The goal is to have new products to distribute all the time.
It is possible for small, director-oriented enterprises. Or huge, director-oriented enterprises like Apple. But management-oriented large concerns cannot do it.
They still exist, the niches of morality.
SIX
(Translated by EG)
Recommended articles:
On efficiency – and efficient culture:
„Ein Lob dem Einheits-Manager“.
On efficient managers:
Radio Philosophy “slave moral” (Sklavenmoral).
On requirements for ethical behaviour:
Radio Philosophy „ethics” Ethik.
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