Development Revisited: A Sociological and Managerial Analysis–Part 7

“A people that values privileges above its principles soon loses both.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34^th President of the United States.

It is a cliché in management that business does not operate in a vacuum. For that reason, business has to put back what it takes out of society. This is the mantra of corporate social responsibility (CSR). How far-reaching is this statement in economic development?

Usually, in the quest for economic development, managers of the economy and their partners in corporate management tend to forget about the most important things that hold society together, especially, societal values. Their focus is rather entirely on meeting material needs. In the process, social values are destroyed. And which CSR programme can restore it?

Values– the “principles or standards of behaviour” in society utterly lose their value as economies ‘develop’. (Concise Oxford Dictionary) For example, the natural principle of altruism gives way to the ‘me first’ and ‘each one for himself, God for us all’ attitude. Mutual enforcement of good behaviour is replaced with ‘Judge no one. Nothing’s wrong and nothing’s right”, and the like—all in the name of ‘civilization’ or ‘development’, largely promoted by democracy (or rather is it ‘democrazy’? After all, ‘demos’ means people and since crazy things are done by people under that system isn’t the rendition apt?)

In much of the ‘developed’ world, if not all, society is in despair. Parents are lost as to how to raise their children; governments are frustrated with the fight against drugs, child delinquency and crimes; religious leaders, in helpless quandary, no longer see their beliefs as relevant in the present dispensation hence they tend to reform or misinterpret them to suit the doldrums society is sinking into; the educational system is not able to produce principled, resourceful citizens; economic disaster is staring at policy-makers and citizens alike; the family has virtually crumbled.

‘Developing’ economies are not left out of the loop. Following Western hegemony, their societies are also facing these same grim circumstances with ominous prospects ahead. How has all this come about?

                                   Fig.1.The Value Pyramid of Management (VPM)

The Over-emphasis on Figures

In the societies of today, virtues such as morality, respectfulness, loyalty and the like are virtually obsolete. One’s value in society depends on his/her pay cheque, bank balance, where he lives and what he drives. To a large extent, these have been and are promoted by economic planners and corporate leaders alike.

In evaluating a country’s level of development, it is only figures that matter. Good societal values and neighbourliness are hardly considered, if ever! Thus while the per capita income increases, the gap between neighbours increase exponentially; parents spend less time with their children as daycare centres/crèches keep springing up; and values are replaced with ‘alternative lifestyles’. Yet, such countries are said to have quality life provided the GDP is high!

On the other hand, corporate organizations pride themselves with their balance sheet and asset base. But who cares about the impact of work on the family, on morality and on respect for the elderly? In fact, it is some corporate organizations that perpetuate such crimes as prostitution by offering sex-workers (as they prefer to be referred to in ‘democrazy’) as ‘escorts’ for their officials when on business treks!

Also, through their business activities and advertisements, some of these large organisations teach society that arrogance, greed and deception are desirable qualities for ‘success’. Hence, such attitudes have become widespread.

Seeking to develop, three main values thus hold sway: wealth, prestige and power. And as people scramble for these blindly, they leave in their trail immorality, dishonesty, crime, heartaches, child delinquency, strained relationships, inordinate pride, and many other negative consequences.

Grave Consequences

All that is happening in ‘developed’ economies, which ‘developing’ economies are copying is simply the proverbial “digging a hole to fill another hole”. And so nothing is being solved; absolutely nothing! It is all a charade! In order to fill the previous hole, the present one is dug even deeper; and the next one, mega deeper and it goes on and on. No wonder society’s problems rather become graver instead of being resolved. We simply don’t deal with the real issues.

The youth have now become more enlightened and aggressive than ever before. They are edgy and daring. We now have children as young as age 13 years engaging in armed robbery! “Where has the world come to?” you might ask. But ask first “Who caused it?” It is the political system; it is religion, it is faulty economic foundations and selfish business practices; it is lax marital commitment and parenting, it is dysfunctional educational systems—in short blame the world’s clueless leaders and managers, not the youth!

All the fanciful ideals that have been promoted over the centuries have now become ripe; the chickens have come home to roost. Should we be shocked? Is it too late to change the situation? Who is capable of leading the world to do so?

The economy needs the youth as its most important human resource to develop. Which ‘developed’ or ‘developing’ country has leaders who implant good social values in the youth? Haven’t our educational systems even ‘killed’ God, even with the connivance of some religious leaders that claim to teach God? So where would the leaders and managers find credible direction for themselves first and then to impart to the youth? Should we then be surprised that finding quality human resources has become an insurmountable mountain?

People go to school now, no, not because they want to help society, but to make money. And education counselors do not mince words in promoting such faulty reasoning. We go on the job not because we want to help transform the business of our employer, no, but for selfish reasons. We set up businesses not because we want to help solve some problems in society, but for purposes of self-aggrandizement.

What the 34^th President of the United States of AmericaDwight D. Eisenhower said as quoted at the outset has now engulfed the whole world: The managers and peoples of the world, motivated by economic development, have pursued privileges instead of principles. The result is that human society has lost both; we have lost our privileges as we see our ailing world economy crumbling, and lost our principles as society continues its speedy and steep descent into a state of no moral bearing.

How management has failed to meet human needs! Indeed, it is true that “This is all that I have learned: God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 (Good News Bible). We reap the fruits!

Suggested Solutions

Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) must extend beyond philanthropy and environmental sustainability to encompass the preservation of societal values. Companies should integrate ethical business practices, promote family-friendly work policies, and support community development beyond financial gains. Organizations should adopt value-based leadership, ensuring that corporate culture upholds honesty, integrity, and real social responsibility.

Educational Reform for Values and Purpose-Driven Learning: Schools should reintroduce moral education alongside academic and technical skills. Curricula should emphasize integrity, service, and community contribution, rather than financial success alone. Career counseling should focus on helping students identify their purpose and societal contributions, rather than merely encouraging lucrative career choices.

Strengthening Family and Community Values: Work-life balance policies should be encouraged to ensure that parents spend quality time raising children with strong ethical values. Community-driven initiatives should be revived to promote collective responsibility, mentorship, and youth engagement in constructive societal activities.

Media and Cultural Reorientation: The media should take responsibility for shaping positive social norms by promoting content that reinforces respect, integrity, and selflessness. Entertainment industries should create content that uplifts rather than degrades moral values, counteracting the trend of glorifying materialism and reckless behavior.

Re-evaluating Development Metrics: Instead of solely focusing on GDP and per capita income, nations should adopt alternative measures such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and Happiness Index, which consider quality of life, ethical business practices, and community welfare.

The relentless pursuit of economic growth and corporate profits has led to the erosion of societal values, prioritizing material gain over human well-being. To address this pressing concern, a fundamental shift in focus is necessary, one that balances economic growth with the preservation and promotion of strong social values.

Reforming Business and Economic Practices: Businesses should promote ethical consumerism, ensuring that the pursuit of profit does not exploit vulnerable populations or degrade societal values. Organizations should invest in employee well-being, offering fair wages, ethical work environments, and growth opportunities that align with societal progress.

A Collective Reawakening

To address the issues outlined, a collective reawakening is necessary – a shift in mindset at all levels of society. Governments, businesses, educators, religious leaders, and individuals must recognize that true development is not just economic but moral and ethical as well. By restoring social values, promoting ethical leadership, and fostering a sense of responsibility, we can create a society where development is both sustainable and meaningful – one that meets human needs without compromising integrity and collective well-being.

The author Jules Nartey-Tokoli is Founder and Group CEO at Groupe Soleil Vision, comprising Soleil Consults, LLC, NubianBiz dot Com and Soleil Publications. He has lived and worked in both Ghana and the United States, having extensive experience in Strategy, Management, Entrepreneurship, Premium Audit Advisory and Web consulting. He has also published several articles on Strategy and Management among others.