Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-12-2009 20:23

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 2.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-13-2009 16:45

    On Behalf of Jessica Ullrich!

     

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·        "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·        "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    _______________________________________________________________________ To send a message to the MSR Listserv, please send your email to: MSR@AOMLISTS.pace.edu To visit the Academy's MSR Web site, please visit: http://group.aomonline.org/msr/ To manage you MSR Listserv subscription, please visit: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MSR&A=1

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 3.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-22-2009 05:14
    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, business is the raison d'etre of civilization.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:

    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 4.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-23-2009 05:01
    WOW! "Profit is the raison d'etre of business, <http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/raison_d%27etre> business is the raison d'etre of civilization." This is a belief. Not everyone shares this belief. Just because communism as an economic system failed first does not mean that "market driven economy" won't ultimately fail. My personal opinion is that ideologies not subject to period examination are very dangerous to the ultimate survival of mankind.

    I do hope the submissions to this project are publicly available.


    ________________________________
    From: Entrepreneurship Division Listserv [ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Romie Littrell [littrellaom@YAHOO.CO.NZ]
    Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:14 AM
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project

    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, <http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/raison_d%27etre> business is the raison d'etre of civilization.


    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:

    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php
    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit. During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010. SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000. The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.
    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as:

    * Are markets moral?
    * Is profit a means, or an end?
    * What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    * Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    * What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    * What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits. These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues. We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published “In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty” (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com<http://www.intherivertheyswim.com>).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    • “The Backbone of a New Rwanda,” by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    • “A Mind for the Poor,” by Andreas Widmer, for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    * “Locomotives, Needles, and Aid,” by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    * “That’s my Duck: The Case for Integration,” by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    * “Leadership, in Context,” by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    * an engaging hook or premise;
    * a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    * emotional appeal;
    * compelling data;
    * well-crafted arguments;
    * robust discussion; and
    * a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author’s life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.
    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!

    **************************************
    This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management.

    Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list.

    You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here:
    http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1

    If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu.

    Ventures HO!


  • 5.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-25-2009 02:28



    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Fri, 23/10/09, Athar Osama <athar.osama@gmail.com> wrote:

    From: Athar Osama <athar.osama@gmail.com>
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: "Romie Littrell" <littrellaom@yahoo.co.nz>
    Date: Friday, 23 October, 2009, 5:57 PM

    Rommie:

    What about the collosal failure of profit and greed that virtually brought the world to a standstill and for which we - ordinary people - will pay for generations now?

    Best,
    Athar

    On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:14 AM, Romie Littrell <littrellaom@yahoo.co.nz">littrellaom@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:
    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, business is the raison d'etre of civilization.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz">romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG">jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:

    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG">jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU">ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu">jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu">jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!



    --
    --
    Athar Osama, PhD (Public Policy, RAND)
    London, United Kingdom
    Email: athar.osama@gmail.com">athar.osama@gmail.com
    Internet: http://www.atharosama.com
    ----
    * Understanding Pakistan Project-- A Project for Collaborative Reading and Writing of Pakistan's History: http://www.understandingpakistan.com
    * Pakistan Inc. -- High Tech. Industry Edition: http://pakistanincorporated.com
    * Muslim Science -- The Muslim Scientists, Technologists, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs Network: http://www.muslim-science.com


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 6.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-25-2009 12:20

    I totally agree with Romie. For an excellent analysis on the topic, I highly recommend "Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse" by Thomas Woods, Jr. 


    On Oct 25, 2009, at 2:27 AM, Romie Littrell wrote:



    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Fri, 23/10/09, Athar Osama <athar.osama@gmail.com> wrote:

    From: Athar Osama <athar.osama@gmail.com>
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: "Romie Littrell" <littrellaom@yahoo.co.nz>
    Date: Friday, 23 October, 2009, 5:57 PM

    Rommie:

    What about the collosal failure of profit and greed that virtually brought the world to a standstill and for which we - ordinary people - will pay for generations now?

    Best,
    Athar

    On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:14 AM, Romie Littrell <littrellaom@yahoo.co.nz> wrote:
    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, business is the raison d'etre of civilization.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:

    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!



    --
    --
    Athar Osama, PhD (Public Policy, RAND)
    London, United Kingdom
    Email: athar.osama@gmail.com
    Internet: http://www.atharosama.com
    ----
    * Understanding Pakistan Project-- A Project for Collaborative Reading and Writing of Pakistan's History: http://www.understandingpakistan.com
    * Pakistan Inc. -- High Tech. Industry Edition: http://pakistanincorporated.com
    * Muslim Science -- The Muslim Scientists, Technologists, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs Network: http://www.muslim-science.com


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 7.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-26-2009 04:20

    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles and the colossal failures of Enron, Madoff, and WorldCom do we still have to beat the dead horse of "greed is (always) good"? Profit is a means for organizations to exist morally and responsibly, morality and responsibility are the raison d'être of civilization.

     

    «To be an entrepreneur requires moral qualities, good judgement, persistence, and a great knowledge of mankind and of things. » J.B. Say, 1803, Treatise on Political Economy

     

    _______________________________________________

    Kai Hockerts, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School (CBS)

    Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (cbsCSR)

    Porcelaenshaven 18, Office 0.113, DK-2000 Frederiksberg

    kho.ikl@cbs.dk; www.cbs.dk/staff/kho

     

    New: "International Perspectives on Social Entrepreneurship,"

    Eds Mair, Robinson, Hockerts, Palgrave, New York, 2009.

     

     

    From: Entrepreneurship Division Listserv [mailto:ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Romie Littrell
    Sent: 22. oktober 2009 11:14
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project

     

    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, business is the raison d'etre of civilization.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.

    -Samuel Johnson

    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:


    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!



  • 8.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-26-2009 10:49

    I have only made this letter rather long because I have not had time to make it shorter." Pascal

    The Morality of Profit:

    I am assuming from the conversation that the morality we are discussing a specific belief system that everyone 'knows' and no one is spelling out.  Defining morality from a business perspective can be done several ways, which is what seems to be going on here. 

    If our definition of morality is 'the greatest good for the greatest number' then profit seems to be part of the equation.

    If our definition of morality is 'we all deserve equal outcomes' then profit is detrimental, as it accumulates instead of distributes.

    If our definition is 'those who participate deserve the rewards' then profit is central.

    Framing somewhat narrowly, profit is a big pile of money, returned to risk takers for use of their capital.  So, is the question that we are debating whether or not this accumulation of money is 'moral'?  It would seem that a pile of anything is neither moral nor amoral, it is the use we put it to.  A pile of nuclear weapons can deter violence, or blow up the earth.  It stuns me that we would ask the question 'can we make the pile'.  Assuming that those making the profits are not forcing their customers to purchase, no one is being harmed by creating the pile.

    It has always seemed to me that a big pile of money was more effective at solving problems than a bunch of little piles.  (See the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among many others)  It has also seemed to me that, in most cases, problems were better solved my individuals taking massive action, as opposed to the more incremental governmental approach.

    A more engaging question might be how is it moral to use profit.  Profit builds churches, creates AIDS medication, and brings water to the needy.  Of course profit also buys gold-plated automobiles.

    With the possibility of profit comes the possibility of amassing the aforementioned big piles of money.  Some will use them to buy 37 houses and their own personal DC9's.  Others will blanket the country in lending libraries.  If we judge the source of both immoral we stand to lose much more than the freedom to profit from our labors.  Are we ready to denounce profit, and the good it provides, because a few commit evil acts? 

    Kai's examples are good examples of criminal activity, which I think most people would differentiate from the pursuit of profit.  Just as I'm not willing to live my life in a bomb shelter because some criminal thugs attacked my country, I'm not willing to give up on the concept of laissez faire capitalism and its attendant profit because some corporate thugs (Madoff, Skilling, etc.) hijacked it.  I hope I'm not alone in that belief.



    --
    ***********************************************
    Thomas E. Nelson
    University of Louisville Entrepreneurship PhD Candidate
    Office:  502.852.4874
    Home:  812.944.8380
    Cell:  765.212.1012
    ***********************************************
    My greatest hope is to be a man of unborrowed vision

    ***********************************************
    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


  • 9.  The Morality of Profit Project

    Posted 10-26-2009 13:09
    Making a profit is not being greedy.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.
    -Samuel Johnson
    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Mon, 26/10/09, Kai Hockerts <kho.ikl@CBS.DK> wrote:

    From: Kai Hockerts <kho.ikl@CBS.DK>
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Monday, 26 October, 2009, 9:19 PM

    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles and the colossal failures of Enron, Madoff, and WorldCom do we still have to beat the dead horse of "greed is (always) good"? Profit is a means for organizations to exist morally and responsibly, morality and responsibility are the raison d'être of civilization.

     

    «To be an entrepreneur requires moral qualities, good judgement, persistence, and a great knowledge of mankind and of things. » J.B. Say, 1803, Treatise on Political Economy

     

    _______________________________________________

    Kai Hockerts, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School (CBS)

    Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (cbsCSR)

    Porcelaenshaven 18, Office 0.113, DK-2000 Frederiksberg

    kho.ikl@cbs.dk">kho.ikl@cbs.dk; www.cbs.dk/staff/kho

     

    New: "International Perspectives on Social Entrepreneurship,"

    Eds Mair, Robinson, Hockerts, Palgrave, New York, 2009.

     

     

    From: Entrepreneurship Division Listserv ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU]">[mailto:ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Romie Littrell
    Sent: 22. oktober 2009 11:14
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU">ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project

     

    Great gracious goodness. After the debacles of the colossal failures of Marxism in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc., do we still have to beat this long dead horse of the "morality of profit". Profit is the raison d'etre of business, business is the raison d'etre of civilization.

    Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.

    -Samuel Johnson

    Romie F. Littrell, BA, MBA,PhD, FIAIR, An fánaí fiáin
    AUT Business School N.Z., romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz">romie.littrell@aut.ac.nz
    http://www.romielittrellpubs.homestead.com/
    http://www.crossculturalcentre.homestead.com/
    Facilitator, Leadership & Management in Sub-Sahara Africa Conferences
    Contents copyright Romie F. Littrell

    --- On Tue, 13/10/09, Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG">jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG> wrote:


    From: Ullrich, Jessica <jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG">jullrich@SEVENFUND.ORG>
    Subject: [ENTREP] The Morality of Profit Project
    To: ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU">ENTREP@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 1:22 PM

    The Morality of Profit Project
    http://sevenfund.org/morality-of-profit/index.php

    The SEVEN Fund is sponsoring a global competition inviting discourse on the morality of profit.  During this yearlong program, we seek to assemble the definitive collection of essays on this topic. Writers are asked to submit essays of up to 3,000 words. Initial submissions will be accepted through February 28, 2010.  SEVEN will award top honors to three essays, with a grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000.  The best pieces will be collected into a manuscript, which is intended for publication, and the program will culminate with an international conference in 2010.  

    Background
    A discussion of the morality of profit is timely. In the current global economic crisis, some critics have identified greed camouflaged as profit as the central culprit. This raises important questions such as: 

    • Are markets moral?
    • Is profit a means, or an end?
    • What is the relationship between greed and profit?
    • Can the pursuit of profit be understood as a good in itself or a necessary evil?
    • What are our core ethical responsibilities as we seek profits?
    • What are the implications of the morality of profit to the cause of international development, and enterprise solutions to poverty?

    The debate on profit is polarized along a spectrum, ranging from the pursuit of profit as the root of societal problems, to suggesting that profit is the only responsible measure of how to deploy resources and solve problems. In practical terms, we know that economic transformation requires invigorated markets that generate substantial profits.  These tensions drive us to invite considered reflection on these issues.  We are looking for submissions that examine all questions surrounding the morality of profit; that elevate the discussion; and that illuminate inflection points in the broader debate by exploring how this tension informs the key issues of our time (e.g. understanding the economic crisis, solving global poverty, stimulating entrepreneurship in poor countries, the environment, etc.).

    SEVEN welcomes the submission of essays that explore the morality of profit through the lens of diverse cultural, religious, philosophical, and academic traditions.

    What are we looking for?
    SEVEN is seeking essays on the topic of the morality of profit. The model for these essays is the recently published "In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty" (Templeton Press, May 2009, www.intherivertheyswim.com).

    Aspiring contributors to The Morality of Profit project are encouraged to review In the River They Swim, and in particular, the following essays:

    ·         "The Backbone of a New Rwanda," by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for its moral authority;

    ·         "A Mind for the Poor," by Andreas Widmer,  for its structure, and ability to move gracefully between narratives;

    • "Locomotives, Needles, and Aid," by Malik Fal, for its passion and intimacy;
    • "That's my Duck: The Case for Integration," by Michael Fairbanks, for its integrative thinking;
    • "Leadership, in Context," by Ashraf Ghani, former minister of Finance of Afghanistan, for its paradigm flipping approach.

    These essays are not meant to provide an exhaustive range of models. Rather, they display the kind of insight that we are seeking, and, together, they show the diversity that we are looking for in a similar collection on The Morality of Profit. We fully expect that some submissions to the project will be paradigmatic in fresh and unanticipated ways.

    Submissions will be evaluated by an expert jury, in relation to the following criteria:

    • an engaging hook or premise;
    • a clearly defined agenda or thesis;
    • emotional appeal;
    • compelling data;
    • well-crafted arguments;
    • robust discussion; and
    • a powerful close.

    Pieces should be innovative and thoughtful in their approach; we are not looking for dry academic treatments of the topic, but rather engaging pieces that allow the author's life and learning to unfold on the page as he or she explores key themes. For additional guidance and background on the essay form, aspiring contributors are encouraged to review the introduction of In the River They Swim, which is available online at: http://www.intherivertheyswim.com/sample-intro.html.

    About SEVEN
    S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites; supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations; and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu">jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu">jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!


    ************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!