Shakiba Akhbari: 218122069
ADMS 3660
Assignment 1
Part 1:
Charles Handy (2002) asks a big question: “Whom and what is a business for?” After
reading his article, I think business should not only be about making profit for owners or
shareholders. Yes, profit is important because a company needs money to survive, pay
employees, and grow. But I believe the main purpose of business is to also create value
for people and society.
Handy says that when businesses focus only on profit, they can lose trust and damage
their relationship with the public. He argues that companies should be seen as
communities made up of people, not just money-making machines. I agree with that
because when people feel respected and supported at work, they do better and care
more about what they produce.
From my own experience working part-time in retail, I noticed that when managers only
cared about sales numbers, everyone was stressed and not happy. But when they
cared about how we felt and appreciated our effort, sales went up. That showed me that
caring for people can still lead to good results.
So, I think the purpose of business should be to balance profit with responsibility.
Businesses should help their employees, customers, and communities grow — not just
the bank account.
Part 2:
I replied to Alexander Gouvis Post:
(My background as a Kinesiologist lends to a unique perspective since I am bound to a code of
ethics for my services and goods sold. From braces to tapes, I must discuss possible
substitutes/alternatives found outside the practice, as healthcare is about people, not profits. I
can’t say that the purpose of business is to only make money when I have seen the other side.
The business's purpose is simply to serve wants/needs. Aravind Eye Care provides services at
the going rate to those who can afford it and uses the proceeds to help the less fortunate. On
the other side, Foxconn has been accused of atrocities to boost their bottom line. Both
companies are serving wants/needs; it’s their values and morals that set them apart. Some
businesses mistake the means for the end, which is evident with the current Foxconn iPhone 17
scandal, a focal point in Handy’s article. As Desjardins describes, Wells Fargo transitioned from
a fiduciary model to a consumerist model. Again, lending to this idea that businesses aren’t
inherently anything, but their culture and values shift their ethics and morals.
Martin Parker suggests the corruption of businesses begins with education. He mentions that
bankers and deans refused to take responsibility for the 2007 financial crisis. If professionals
who caused the crisis can't take responsibility and neither can the schools that taught them,
then where do students learn the values they need to make a difference? Charles Handy also
lends to this idea of culture and values shaping the priorities of a business. He discusses
Shakiba Akhbari: 218122069
ADMS 3660
America’s focus on profits and shareholders, while Europe focuses on 40-hour workweeks,
distribution of profits, and more employees being on the board. These qualities need to be
adopted and will still allow for productivity, creativity, and efficiency while prioritizing
employees.)
I replied :
I really enjoyed reading your post because it made me think about how much values
and ethics matter in business. The example you gave about Aravind Eye Care really
stood out to me — it’s a great reminder that a company can make profit and still care
about people. I had never heard of that before, and it really shows how different
business models can work when the focus is on helping others.
I also liked how you connected Foxconn and the idea that profit can sometimes lead
companies to lose their moral direction. It reminded me of what Handy (2002) said
about businesses needing trust to survive. Once a company loses that trust, it’s hard to
get it back.
The point about education from Parker (2018) was also interesting. I never thought
about how business schools might be part of the problem. I agree that learning about
ethics early can shape better leaders. Overall, your post helped me see that business
isn’t just about what we sell, but about how we do it.
Part 3:(Final Reflective Op-Ed)
After writing my first post and reading my classmates’ ideas, my understanding of what
business is for has grown a lot. In the beginning, I believed businesses should focus on
both profit and people. I still agree with that, but now I understand that it’s not always
simple.
Charles Handy (2002) makes it clear that businesses need to earn profit, but he also
says they must keep the trust of society. If a company loses that trust, it loses its
“license to operate.” I now realize that trust is like invisible capital — once it’s gone,
even money can’t fix it right away.
Some classmates argued that business should mainly focus on shareholders and that
social issues belong to government. I see their point, but I think real life isn’t that clearcut. Businesses are part of society, not separate from it. If they cause harm or treat
people badly, it eventually affects their profits too.
Thinking back to my own part-time job, I’ve seen both good and bad sides of business.
When the company only cared about hitting targets, employees quit more often, and
customers noticed. But when they started giving recognition and small rewards, things
Shakiba Akhbari: 218122069
ADMS 3660
improved. That showed me that human motivation and fairness are not just moral
choices, they’re also smart business strategies.
After reading Handy’s article and discussing with peers, my thinking has evolved. I still
think profit is necessary, but now I see it because of doing the right things, not the
purpose itself. Businesses exist to create products and services that improve lives,
while treating people and the planet responsibly.
To me, a successful business is one that people trust, that creates opportunities, and
that makes a fair profit without exploiting others. It’s not about choosing between money
and morals, it’s about understanding that one supports the other.
References:
DesJardins, J. R. (2023). An introduction to business ethics (7th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Handy, C. (2002). What’s a business for? Harvard Business Review, December.
https://hbr.org/2002/12/whats-a-business-for