Kevin Morrell

The Nichomachean Ethics

This chapter introduces Aristotle’s work on ethics, focusing on the Nicomachean Ethics, though it makes some reference to the Eudemian Ethics and to Magna Moralia — a work traditionally attributed to Aristotle but whose authorship is questioned (Brewer, 2005). My intention is not to draw on the latter two texts to surface differences in nuance or even inconsistencies across these three texts, which might be a fruitful activity for other purposes. Instead, it is to make reference to instances where there may be something additional that can help to consolidate or emphasize important points in the Nicomachean Ethics. This reflects the established view that it is in the Nicomachean Ethics that we find Aristotle’s most complete and considered view of ethics and important themes such as friendship, happiness, the good life and virtue; as well as the grounds for compassion and mercy (Gallagher, 2009; Nussbaum, 2001b). The chapter begins by situating the Nicomachean Ethics in relation to other ideas within Aristotle’s work, before summarizing and then reviewing some of the main arguments in the text, focusing in particular on his account of intellectual virtues and the notion of phronēsis (Reeve, 2006). It concludes with a consideration of the continuing relevance of the Nicomachean Ethics from a contemporary perspective on organizations, society and politics.

Unweaving leaving: the use of models in the management of employee turnover

This paper offers a review of the literature on labour turnover in organizations. Initially, the importance of the subject area is established, as analyses of turnover are outlined and critiqued. This leads to a discussion of the various ways in which turnover and its consequences are measured. The potentially critical impact of turnover behaviour on organizational effectiveness is presented as justification for the need to model turnover, as a precursor to prediction and prevention. Key models from the literature of labour turnover are presented and critiqued.

A model of political leadership

In this article we develop a model of political leadership. In doing so, we analyse the challenges facing political leaders in local government in England and Wales. We use this analysis as a basis for broader theorizing: about leadership at other levels of government, and in other countries. The scope for applying extant accounts of leadership in these domains can be enhanced by considering the relational complexities that characterize the environment within which political leaders act; by doing so we offer an agenda for research. We describe the context for political leaders in terms of figurational sociology, where figurations denote interdependent networks of social relations. These take shape in different arenas of action, and are partly influenced by the different roles that political leaders undertake. These figurations are also constituted differently given the diversity inherent in the context for enacting political leadership. We propose a conceptual model that serves both as a heuristic framework to organize conceptualization of this understudied area, and to orient future research.

Look after they leap : illustrating the value of retrospective reports in employee turnover

The prevailing methodology for studying employee turnover is limited because it emphasizes prediction rather than understanding. This paper critiques this methodology and draws out the implications of an alternative: retrospective self-reporting, by actual leavers. Retrospective self-reporting has three main advantages. First, it allows direct assessment of actual incidents of turnover, so interventions can be informed by accounts of real events, instead of being based on inference. Second, it offers insight into the dynamic character of decisions to quit, which are often unpredictable or precipitated by sudden events. Third, it allows for assessment of the role of non-work factors. This makes a methodological contribution, allowing greater insight into the decision to quit, which is ontologically, socially and dynamically complex. It has implications for how we construe and manage turnover. The argument is illustrated by a recent study of 352 UK National Health Service nurse leavers but has wider implications for turnover in the public sector.

The ethical business

This text provides an up-to-date, critical analysis of contemporary issues in business ethics. The authors begin with an overview of the major, broad themes in business ethics, then move to a more practical discussion of ethics in key management functions. The second edition of The Ethical Business has been updated to address current thinking and new problems faced, with new chapters focusing on the symbiotic relationship between business and the environment and new case studies. An essential core text for todays business students, bringing ethical dilemmas into context to provide the foundation of good management practice. Key Features: An up to date look at contemporary issues in business ethics, an area of huge importance in todays business world Critical analysis of contemporary issues in business ethics Case studies demonstrate the practical application of ethical themes Pedagogical features such as boxed vignettes on current ethical dilemmas aid understanding and learning A companion website with topical and interactive features

Fair trade, ethical decision making and the narrative of gender difference.

Fair trade (FT) is of growing interest to those carrying out research into ethical decision making. In this paper, we report findings from a recent survey of FT purchasing among 688 retail shoppers in the United Kingdom. We examined the relationship between individual differences, in terms of gender and age, and three outcome measures: purchasing, word of mouth (WOM) recommendation and social advocacy. Though age appeared to have no significant effects, we found evidence of gender difference in each outcome measure. Females in our sample were more likely to purchase FT goods, to recommend them by WOM, and to advocate FT purchasing to friends and family. We discuss the implications of these findings in terms of the literature on ethical decision making and gender difference.

Ethics in leadership: The case of local politicians

Abstract The mainstream literature on leadership has little to say about the role of ethics. Equally, much of this literature is concerned with the private sector and with managerial leadership. This paper addresses both these gaps, by reporting on the development of a scale for measuring ethical values in local political leadership, the public service values scale. This is one section of a larger instrument for assessing the skills of local political leaders: the Warwick Political Leadership Questionnaire. The paper reports on the use of this instrument in a 360 degree format, following piloting of a self assessment version. The responses of 19 elected members and 241 feedback givers are analysed. These data offer support for the validity and reliability of the public service values scale. The paper concludes with a research agenda, offering suggestions for how this scale can be applied to researching ethics in leadership.

Leadership in crisis: ‘Events, my dear boy, events’

In this paper we discuss the theme for the 2009 8th International Conference on Studying Leadership (ICSL): Leadership in Crisis, which was hosted by the Centre for Leadership at the University of Birmingham (CLUB). We introduce five papers chosen from the conference which make up this special issue and that engage with different facets or manifestations of crisis — in context, method and theory. Prior to introducing the papers we offer our own reflections on the theme of crisis and its implications for new theorizing in leadership. In our necessarily brief review of the topic we suggest there is cause for optimism and opportunity to move forward — as is exemplified in the contributions we chose for this issue. We suggest crisis is inevitable, as summed up by the phrase ‘events, my dear boy’ — Harold MacMillan’s tongue-in-cheek answer when asked what was the biggest challenge facing him as a leader. At the same time, we identify three challenges in relation to current leadership studies. First, how to elevate the collective and the contextual dimensions of leadership without losing sight of the individual. Second, how to conduct ontologically diverse research which nevertheless promotes dialogue with less favoured and familiar discourses. Third, given the local and time-bound prism through which we access social phenomena, how to make the most of glimpses at crisis through occasional slivers of light.

Enhancing effective careers thinking: scripts and Socrates

This paper outlines a technique for enhancing the effectiveness of careers thinking by identifying and challenging tacit beliefs about career success. These beliefs can be understood as social scripts, i.e. cognitive structures that simplify common decision scenarios. An important contribution of careers counselling is to enable clients to recognise tacit beliefs and assumptions that limit the effectiveness of their careers thinking. In the process, this often involves finding problems. This paper outlines how an archetypal problem finding technique—Socratic inquiry—can be adapted and applied in this particular context. Socratic inquiry can enable identification of social scripts which are a source of limiting assumptions. It can also enable cross-examination of these assumptions, and enhance the facility for internal dialogue.

Rhetoric in policy texts: the role of enthymeme in Darzi's review of the NHS

Political administrations try to present their policies in the best light to justify the ownership of power, and in doing so rely on rhetoric. The documents through which they communicate policy (policy texts) use rhetorical devices to do so. Through these, administrations need to create the impression that they have chosen the best possible course of action, and they also need to create the impression that they are doing something innovative. Both are aspects of entailment, and both are necessary to appeal to multiple constituencies. We illustrate this theoretical argument with analysis of a recent review of NHS policy.