from the First International Forum on "Ethics and Spirituality in the Workplace", held at HEC Montreal, the 18th and 19th of September, 1998.
You can click on these photos to access summaries of the chapters of the book.
Forum 1998
.
1998 Forum
An international First Not To Be Missed
The pressures of competition, budget cuts, increasing risks, the need to survive, complex decisions, the search for "bigger and better", professional burnout, an uneasy conscience regarding unemployment, pollution and the distribution of wealth … If you have ever felt that your work lacks meaning, then this Forum is meant for you. It will meet your expectations even more if you have come to understand that any managerial or strategic decision you make in fact masks an ethical position, and that ethics are incomplete, without spiritual outlook.
The goal of this Forum is to bring together people from different backgrounds and disciplines (business, public administration, government, universities, arts, science, humanities, community movements, religious circles, etc.) to think how to integrate ethical and spiritual values into managerial theory and practice, and this in a world increasingly and often exclusively ruled by economic imperatives. In view of the many challenges involved by this integration and of the time it will require to develop and take concrete shape, we are launching this Forum, which will be held this coming fall, in a North-American business school of international scope, guarantor of scientific rigor and practical know-how in management. The Forum is the first in a series which will be held every other year: the following two are scheduled to take place in Europe (Fribourg, Switzerland) and Oceania (Melbourne, Australia).
Theme of the Forum and Guest Audience
The theme of the first Forum is both general and concrete, integrating theory and practice. We will discuss the main challenges raised by the integration of ethical and spiritual values into managerial theory and practice, the notion of spirituality implying no particular appurtenance. We will also analyze actual experiences of this integration, currently occurring in organizations operating in different sectors, such as the banking industry, municipal administration, the advertising and food industries, as well as the education and health sectors. In addition, we will explore strategies to counter the current growth of dogmatic ideologies, such as the frantic rise of neo-liberalism or the enthusiasm for extremist movements and sects.
The Forum will be open to all those who seek to promote human fulfillment and the growth of ethical and spiritual values through work and managerial practice despite many economic, political, social, technological, religious and ecological constraints. In order for this Forum to truly reflect diversity, we will ensure that business circles (managers and leaders in the private, public, governmental and associative sectors) and academic circles (professors, researchers and students from various scientific disciplines) are equally represented.
Format of the Forum
This Forum is neither a congress nor a traditional conference. In order to promote the enrichment of collective reflection through individual expression of multiple experiences, all activities will be plenary, and lunches will make exchanges and informal meetings possible. The number of participants will be limited to 150 so as to preserve the human quality of the Forum and to promote a deeper reflection. Brief artistic periods as well as moments of silence will be interwoven throughout. The role of the speakers, from different backgrounds and countries, will be not only to inform the audience but to stimulate real dialogue; so that conferences and dialogues will be allotted relatively equal time. The conferences and dialogues, simultaneously translated into both French and English during the Forum, will be recorded, edited and published in a book meant for both the general public and the organizational sector. It will also be translated in several languages. Finally, at the end of the first day, you will be invited to participate in the creation of an international association, whose role will be to promote the integration of ethical and spiritual values into managerial theory and practice throughout the world.
Friday, September 18, 1998
7h30 - 9h00 Reception, registration and continental breakfast9 h - 9 h 10
Jean-Marie
Toulouse, director, l'École des Hautes Études Commerciales,
University of Montreal, Canada.With a background in social psychology and business administration, Professor Jean-Marie Toulouse is running his second mandate as director of l'École des Hautes Études Commerciales, one of the most prestigious business schools in Canada. Author of numerous scientific articles and books, his work on entrepreneurship and strategy is particularly well-known. He was recently elected as a member of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada.
9 h 10 - 9 h 15
Outline of the Forum's activities
9 h 15- 10 h 45
Integrating Ethical and Spiritual Values into Managerial Theory and Practice: Needs and Challenges.
Roger
Berthouzoz, professor of ethics and moral theology, Fribourg
University, Switzerland"Economic Efficiency, Ethical Foundation and Spiritual Values in Corporate Management"
Author of several scientific articles and books, Dominican Father Roger Berthouzoz has recently published Economics and Development, a repertory of Episcopal documents released over a century (1891-1991) on the themes of justice, work, economics and spiritual values. Having worked on these topics for many years, he founded the CIDRESOC (Center for Documentation and Research on Christian Social Education) at Fribourg University, Switzerland, where he is the director of the Institute of Moral Theology.
Ian
I. Mitroff, professor, School of Business Administration, University
of Southern California, USA."Spirituality: The Next Major Challenge in Management"
Author of more than 250 scientific articles and of some 20 books, Ian I. Mitroff is the Harold Quinton chair of Business Policy and Strategic Management at the School of Business Administration, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. He is a sought-after consultant for Fortune 500 companies as well as for public and governmental institutions, a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times and a fellow of the Academy of Management. His latest book, based on comprehensive research on American companies, is entitled Spiritual Audit of Corporate America.
Solange
Lefebvre, theology professor, University of Montreal, Canada"Relationships Between Generation in the Work Place: a Revealing Link on the Ethical and Spiritual Levels"
Solange Lefebvre received her B.A. degree in music (concert pianist) from the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec à Montreal, a Ph.D. degree in theology from the University of Montreal and a Ph.D. degree in social anthropology from l'École des Hautes Études Sociales de Paris, France. She is a professor at the Faculty of Theology, University of Montreal. She works on the issues of values and spirituality, as well as on the question of relationships between generations. She is presently the head of a research project dealing with transmission in the work place and contributes to Le Devoir on religious issues.
10h45 - 11h00 Break, coffee, juice and pastries
11h00 - 12h10 Dialogue between speakers and audience
12h10 - 13h30 Lunch shared by all
13 h 30 - 15 h 00
Integrating Ethical and Spiritual Values into Corporate Management: Three Examples
Claude
Béland, President, Desjardins Movement, Quebec, Canada."Spirituality, Ethics and the Cooperative Movement in the Banking Industry"
Called to the Quebec Bar in 1956, Mr. Claude Béland practiced law in a private office before joining the cooperative movement in 1971. In 1987, he was elected president of the Desjardins Movement (which now employs more than 45 000 people and manages more than 72 billion dollars). Mr. Béland plays an active part in Quebec society as administrator of several organizations and institutions, leader of some social and economic forums and through the support he provides to several causes. Moreover, he plays an active role in the international cooperative movement. For example, he assumed the presidency of the International Association of Cooperative Banks in 1995.
Vera
Daniluk, President, Montreal Urban Community, Quebec, Canada" The projection of values in business management "
Mrs. Vera Daniluk is president of the executive committee of the Montreal Urban Community, which represents 29 municipalities and a total population of more than 1,8 million. She was recently re-elected for a second mandate. She is a member of several boards of directors, including the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, and vice-president of the National Strategy for Community Security and Crime Prevention. Former mayor of Ville Mont-Royal, Mrs. Daniluk holds a B.A degree in education and an M.A. degree in the philosophy of moral and spiritual education from McGill University.
Vera
Daniluk, President, Montreal Urban Community, Quebec, Canada" The projection of values in business management "
Mrs. Vera Daniluk is president of the executive committee of the Montreal Urban Community, which represents 29 municipalities and a total population of more than 1,8 million. She was recently re-elected for a second mandate. She is a member of several boards of directors, including the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, and vice-president of the National Strategy for Community Security and Crime Prevention. Former mayor of Ville Mont-Royal, Mrs. Daniluk holds a B.A degree in education and an M.A. degree in the philosophy of moral and spiritual education from McGill University.
15h00 - 15h20 Break, coffee, juice and pastries
15h20 - 16h30 Dialogue between speakers and audience
16h30 - 16h45 Wrap-up and closing of the Forum's first day
19h00 - 21h00 For those interested: creation of the board of directors
of the FIMES association (International Forum on Management, Ethics and
Spirituality)
Saturday, September 19, 1998
8h00 - 9h00 Reception and continental breakfast
9h00 - 10h30
Integrating Ethical and Spiritual Values into Managerial Theory and Practice:
Three Examples
Yves
Benoît, General manager, Charles Lemoyne Hospital, Quebec,
Canada
"The quality/performance challenge of pastoral service: clients'
satisfaction and efficiency of hospital stay"
Mr. Benoit has worked in the health sector for close to 20 years. He received
his B.S. degree in administration and obtained his M.S. degree in health
administration from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal. From
the community health sector, he went on to senior executive and general
manager positions. He is currently assistant-general manager of a hospital
numbering nearly 500 beds. His personal values are demonstrated in his
involvement in pedagogical foundations and associations of as well as
through his numerous professional activities.
Madeleine
Saint-Jacques, President of the board of directors, Saint-Jacques
Vallée, Young and Rubicam inc., Montreal, Quebec
" Ethics, Spirituality, Advertising: a Triangle that is Possible
"
President of the board of directors of one of the most famous advertising
agencies in Canada, Mrs. Saint-Jacques is a member of many boards of directors,
including those of le Groupe TVA, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, la société
d'édition de la revue Forces, la Fondation Palli-Ami (palliative
care unit of Notre-Dame Hospital), the Foundation of Centre Hospitalier
St-Mary, le conseil des gouverneurs associé de l'Université
de Montréal. She received many prizes and honors, including the
gold medal of the Canadian Association of Announcers, the prize of honor
in administration from both Concordia and McGill universities.
J.
-Robert Ouimet, President of the board of directors and General
manager, Ouimet Cordon Bleu Inc, Montreal, Canada
"Experimenting with New Management Tools for 20 years: Contributions
to the Humanization and Spiritualization of Work in a Market Economy,
in a Company Operating in the Food industry"
Single shareholder of a medium-sized company, J. -Robert Ouimet describes
the integration tools he has managed to implement in his company over
the last 20 years, while ensuring its financial profitability and competitivity.
He is a member of the Order of Canada, the Order of Quebec, the Ordre
des Gardiens du Mont-Sion et du Saint-Sépulcre, Jerusalem, and
of several boards of directors. J.-Robert Ouimet holds a B.S. degree from
HEC, a B.S. degree in political science from Fribourg University, an MBA
degree from Columbia, and recently earned his Ph.D. in economic and social
sciences from Fribourg University.
10h30 - 10h50 Break, coffee, juice and pastries
10h50 - 12h00 Dialogue between speakers and audience
12h00 - 13h30 Lunch shared by all
13h30 - 15h00
Integrating Ethical and Spiritual Values into Managerial Theory and Practice:
Propositions for the Future
Maurice
Villet, Professor, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences,
Fribourg University, Switzerland
"Toward an Economy of Well-being: Can We Achieve Sound Economics
with Good Intentions?"
Author of several scientific articles and books (the latest one, Economics
of Well-being , still in publication), Mr. Villet is a professor of macroeconomics
and advanced economic theory, including the dynamics of macroeconomics
and normative theory. He is former Dean of the Faculty of Economics and
Social Sciences, former Vice-Rector, and member of both the National Fund
for Scientific Research and the Engelberg Forum. His research interests
lie in interdisciplinarity, the integration of values into scientific
activities and the contribution of scientific research to well being and
profitability.
Michel
Dion, Professor, Faculty of Theology, Ethics and Philosophy,
Sherbrooke University, Canada
"Business Ethics and Spirituality Among Jews, Christians and Muslims"
Trained as a lawyer and Doctor in Theology, Mr. Dion is a professor of
Ethics. He founded and manages the South East Asia / Canada Consortium
for Commerce and Human Rights, which acts in cooperation with university
institutions and NGO's in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
He also manages the Group for Research in Governmental Ethics (GREG).
Professor Dion has published many scientific articles and books, including
Ethics and Profit, The Company's Ethics, Ethical Investment and Corporate
management and Governmental Ethics.
Thierry
C. Pauchant, Professor of management, École des Hautes Études
Commerciales, Montreal, Canada
"Toward Spiritual Ethics in Work and Economics: a Few Inspirations
from Simone Weil".
Author of more than 100 articles and 6 books, including In Search of Meaning,
and former manager in the tourism and consulting industries, Thierry C.
Pauchant is an associate professor of management at l'École des
Hautes Études Commerciales, University of Montreal, Canada and
associate director of the Group for Education and Research on Management
and Ecology (GERME) as well as vice-president of the Council for the Prevention
and Management of Crisis and of Disasters (CPGCS). His research and board
and educational activities aim at promoting the ethical management of
complex systems, including physiological, economic, social, ecological,
moral and spiritual dimensions.
15h00 - 15h20 Break, coffee, juice and pastries
15h20 - 16h30 Dialogue between speakers and audience
16h30 - 16h45 Wrap-up and closing of the Forum