NABET, NABET 2015 Faculty Conference

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Business as the good life
Matt Fuss

Last modified: 2015-09-17

Abstract


In the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) Aristotle talks about what he calls the good life and goes into great detail explaining the reasons, or goods, that compel a person to act or not act.  The idea is that one engages in certain activities with the expressed purpose of attaining some good.  It is to the elucidation of eudaimonia as applied to the marketplace, specifically organizations and organizational communication, that I focus.  I take the position that organizational culture and organizational communication are interdependent.  Each is informed by and informs the other.  Part of this discussion need to be an exploration of the areas of psychological contract theory, professional civility/virtue ethics including internal and external goods (Fritz 2013) and positive organizing (Fredrickson & Dutton 2008).  I will look at branding, from a purposely internal perspective, as the policies, procedures, and marketing activities a business utilizes to create an atmosphere that values people.  Schultz & Schultz (2004) add texture to the marketing discussion; companies brand themselves through coordinated communication efforts.  By being informed by Aristotle’s concept of a “good lifeâ€, businesses can better understand how to position themselves as an integral element of a person’s living the said good life.


Keywords


human resources