Posted by John Bardos on August 21, 1998 at 15:15:13:

Business has become the only enduring social institution. Marriage, religion, communities, even nation states are eroding.

Philosophers have long pondered the great questions. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is knowledge?

I think much can be learned from framing these questions in a business, or more specifically, knowledge management perspective.

Creating a compelling purpose for employees and providing direction and vision is extremely important to successful companies. People work eighty-hour weeks when they feel they are part of something big. How many software millionaires are there that toil endless hours in anonymity for the opportunity to be part of something great?

From a knowledge management perspective maybe it is worth considering important philosophical questions.
What is business?
What is the purpose of business? Profits? Employee development? Innovation?
What responsibilities do businesses have to society at large.
How involved should businesses be in the lives of employees? Daycare? Education? Housing?
What is knowledge? (a philosophical not business definition)
What is truth?
What is the ideal society? The ideal corporation.

I believe that the vast majority of people never really seriously contemplate the issues that some great minds have devoted their lives to. These are important questions.

Please tell me how foolish my ideas are.

Thank you,
John

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Follow Ups:

• The Fundamental Bases of a 'Living Company' Yogesh Malhotra, Ph.D. 19:42:15 8/21/98 (1)
  • Re: The Fundamental Bases of a 'Living Company' juan carrasquilla 17:52:45 10/29/98 (0)

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