«The more equal and involved community gave people longer, happier lives» (Erdal, 2011: 242). ‘Beyond the corporation: Humanity working’ is a factual and policy text of our modern economic system, in which David Erdal proposes to extend democracy into organisations, contributing to a better distribution of wealth. As a consequence, this view raises substantial economic, political and social debates. It is essential to indicate that the book was published not long after the financial crisis of 2008, which provides the author with an ideal context for supporting organic growth rather than seeking investment through capital markets. David Erdal has progressively built his credentials in the area of humanity working and Human egalitarianism. Starting from leveraging an employee buyout of his family business and being awarded the Scottish Business Achievement Award in 1989, he has then undertaken considerable procedures in creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Principally, David Erdal challenges the traditional economists’ approaches to organisational ownership structures, aiming at denouncing the immorality of current practices. Contrastingly, he promotes, in an easy and strong language, the benefits of employee ownership structures to society as a whole and the reason why this practice should be developed, which forms the purpose of this book. To support the feasibility of his thesis, Erdal draws upon personal experiences, through his family business, current business examples, such as John Lewis, but also through substantial academic references.
Throughout this review, we will firstly explore the key questions that Erdal raises and their implications into contemporary and policy debates. Secondly, we will perform an integrative analysis of the book structure and assumptions made, and thirdly we will provide a critical assessment of the author’s conclusions.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Employee Ownership as a Remedy for Capitalism's Flaws
- Challenges to Traditional Economic Assumptions
- The Reality of Human Selfishness and Restricted Views
- The Need for a "Social Maturity"
- Implementing Successful Employee Owned Companies
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
David Erdal's "Beyond the corporation: Humanity working" presents a compelling argument for extending democracy into organizations by advocating for employee ownership structures. The book challenges traditional economic assumptions and explores the benefits of employee ownership for both individuals and society as a whole. It aims to provoke critical thinking about the current economic system and its consequences.
- The Moral Imperative of Employee Ownership
- The Relationship Between Employee Ownership and Corporate Performance
- The Role of Human Resources in Employee Owned Companies
- The Need for "Social Maturity" to Enable Successful Employee Ownership
- Challenges to the Implementation of Employee Ownership
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The book begins by exploring the inherent flaws in traditional economic models and their limitations in fostering human flourishing. Erdal contrasts these assumptions with real-world examples of employee-owned companies, highlighting the potential for greater societal benefits and individual fulfillment. He explores the psychological and social realities of traditional workplaces, demonstrating the need for a more inclusive and collaborative approach. The third part of the book delves into the practical aspects of implementing employee ownership, outlining key HR practices and outlining the potential challenges and benefits.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Employee ownership, corporate governance, human resource management, social responsibility, capitalism, democracy, economic inequality, sustainable development, organizational culture, shared value, core job characteristics, employee engagement, performance management.
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- Camille Boelen (Autor), 2013, Critical Book Review of "Humanity working" by David Erdal, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282387
