What do you think?
Rate this book
Management as a Calling: Leading Business, Serving Society
Business leaders have tremendous power to influence our society, how it operates, whether it is fair, and the extent to which it impacts the environment. And yet, we do not recognize or call out the responsibility that comes with that power. This book is meant to challenge future business leaders to think differently about their career, its purpose, and its value as a calling or vocation, one that is in service to society. Its message is for current and prospective business students, business leaders thinking anew about the role of business in society, and the business educators that train all these people.
We face great challenges as a society today, from environmental problems like climate change and habitat destruction, to social problems like income inequality, unemployment, lack of a living wage, and poor access to affordable health care and education. Solutions to these challenges must come from the market (as comprised of corporations, the government, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as the many stakeholders in market transaction, such as the consumers, suppliers, buyers, insurance companies, and banks), the most powerful institution on earth, and from business, which is the most powerful entity within it. Though government is an important and vital arbiter of the market, business is the force that transcends national boundaries, possessing resources that exceed those of many nations. Business is responsible for producing the buildings that we live and work in, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the forms of mobility we employ, and the energy that propels us. This does not mean that only business can generate solutions or that there is no role for government, but with its unmatched powers of ideation, production, and distribution, business is positioned to bring the change we need at the scale we need it. Without business, the solutions will remain elusive. Indeed, if there are no solutions coming from the market, there will be no solutions. And without visionary and service-oriented leaders, business will never even try to find them.
We face great challenges as a society today, from environmental problems like climate change and habitat destruction, to social problems like income inequality, unemployment, lack of a living wage, and poor access to affordable health care and education. Solutions to these challenges must come from the market (as comprised of corporations, the government, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as the many stakeholders in market transaction, such as the consumers, suppliers, buyers, insurance companies, and banks), the most powerful institution on earth, and from business, which is the most powerful entity within it. Though government is an important and vital arbiter of the market, business is the force that transcends national boundaries, possessing resources that exceed those of many nations. Business is responsible for producing the buildings that we live and work in, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the forms of mobility we employ, and the energy that propels us. This does not mean that only business can generate solutions or that there is no role for government, but with its unmatched powers of ideation, production, and distribution, business is positioned to bring the change we need at the scale we need it. Without business, the solutions will remain elusive. Indeed, if there are no solutions coming from the market, there will be no solutions. And without visionary and service-oriented leaders, business will never even try to find them.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2021
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 21, 2022
As Stevo’s Novel Ideas, I am a long-time book reviewer, member of the media, an Influencer, and a content provider. I received this book as a free review copy from either the publisher, a publicist, or the author, and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it.
This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 3/20, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. This book challenges future business leaders to think differently about their career, its purpose, and its value as a calling or vocation in service to society.
Hoffman believes that the market, and the businesses that drive it, is a the best vehicle for influencing social change at a scale that government cannot duplicate and he criticizes business school curriculums that teach the accumulation of wealth and capital over ethics and sustainability. What is taught in the classroom is carried to the boardroom, he says, and the idea of managers as agents of shareholders must give way to a new training model, one that fosters the professional and moral ethics needed to address (and solve) social issues.
Hoffman's recommendations, as well as those of cited thought leaders such as David Brooks, are well thought out and "Management as a Calling," is an admirable effort which left me cautiously encouraged. Unfortunately, businesses and business schools remain focused on short-term gains and throwing money at the current crisis instead of on re-evaluating the fundamentals.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 3/20, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. This book challenges future business leaders to think differently about their career, its purpose, and its value as a calling or vocation in service to society.
Hoffman believes that the market, and the businesses that drive it, is a the best vehicle for influencing social change at a scale that government cannot duplicate and he criticizes business school curriculums that teach the accumulation of wealth and capital over ethics and sustainability. What is taught in the classroom is carried to the boardroom, he says, and the idea of managers as agents of shareholders must give way to a new training model, one that fosters the professional and moral ethics needed to address (and solve) social issues.
Hoffman's recommendations, as well as those of cited thought leaders such as David Brooks, are well thought out and "Management as a Calling," is an admirable effort which left me cautiously encouraged. Unfortunately, businesses and business schools remain focused on short-term gains and throwing money at the current crisis instead of on re-evaluating the fundamentals.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
August 24, 2021
Dr. Hoffman sets the stage about the failings of our current systems and business school structure and goes on to empower the reader to be the change needed in the system. He clearly addresses the key issue of our time of an old economic system with leaders who refuse to touch the radical change needed and youth mentally screaming for this change to occur now. And he does so by balancing the internal struggle that we all feel of never doing enough on climate change and environmental damage.
Dr. Hoffman's book covers the role of business, government, communication, and authenticity in great technical and thoughtful detail. His experience in industry, conversations with thought leaders in this space, and his experience mentoring MBA students help provide a well-rounded perspective to the role companies and governments play in changing global systems and cultures.
A few key quotes that have resonated with me include "..making the 'business case' to address climate change is as absurd as making the business case to not commit suicide."
"… the great work for today's generation lies in correcting the flaws in capitalism that lead to the systemic breakdowns that issues like climate change and income inequality expose."
Since the issues presented against our current economic system and methods of working within companies are battles I fight daily, I will definitely come back to this book to reach those handy quotes when needed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his book as I traveled around this summer (came with me to a few countries!) and I have recommended it to several members of my community already!
Dr. Hoffman's book covers the role of business, government, communication, and authenticity in great technical and thoughtful detail. His experience in industry, conversations with thought leaders in this space, and his experience mentoring MBA students help provide a well-rounded perspective to the role companies and governments play in changing global systems and cultures.
A few key quotes that have resonated with me include "..making the 'business case' to address climate change is as absurd as making the business case to not commit suicide."
"… the great work for today's generation lies in correcting the flaws in capitalism that lead to the systemic breakdowns that issues like climate change and income inequality expose."
Since the issues presented against our current economic system and methods of working within companies are battles I fight daily, I will definitely come back to this book to reach those handy quotes when needed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his book as I traveled around this summer (came with me to a few countries!) and I have recommended it to several members of my community already!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews