22nd EBEN Annual Conference in Athens

• Welcome

 

”Pathos for Ethics; Leadership, Excellence and the Quest for a Sustainable Future”

 

 

According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, the existence of leadership pre-assumes three elements: Ethos for promoting Business Ethics, Logos and Logic for promoting Business Excellence and Pathos for Ethics being vital for the Sustainability of Business Excellence.

The international economic status and its implications to employees

The international economic uncertainty has a direct impact on economic structure affecting everyone’s business life.
At the time of writing this article, the European consumers whether employees, investors or pensioners are very anxious due to the following reasons: increase in unemployment, extreme fluctuations of oil prices & the warning of possible American economic recession with negative impact upon worldwide stock exchanges, banks & investors, at the same time endangering pension fund returns.

According to OECD the number of employees who may become unemployed in the developed countries is expected to increase by 9% by the end of next year amounting to 34,8 million people due to overall credit financing problems causing turbulence on world economy.

On the other hand Greek NPOs keep on making big attempts in protecting the environment & society (NPOs globally through their efforts provide about 1,1 trillion dollars annually) but there seems that governmental institutions & firms worldwide do not give priority or the special attention needed to the above.

This problem was pointed out by the United Nations in the resent international economic forum, where it was stressed that «Corporate Social Engagement must be part of Core Business Strategy”. In addition Yang Yuanging, Chairman of the Board of Levono, the 1st in ranking private firm in Fortune 500 said that «Ιf you want to be a global company, a company that is built to last, not only should you consider how to contribute to your shareholders but you have to consider how to contribute to society».
The environmentally friendly production, the job security sentiment, fair rewards & equality at work, social security cover to all employees and their families and equal opportunities, pre-assume well-planned corporate structures and national self-protected and protective to citizens-employees-consumers policies from corruption, legal inadequacies or ill practices.

A European civilization, the ancient “classical” Greek was centered upon Ethics.

 

There are indications that the 1st land to emerge from the sea 140 million years ago was the Pelagonic mountain range (Olympus) of Greece. Northwest of Salonica, Homo Petraloniensis, Homo Erectus Prosapiens or Homo Erectus Trigliensis (12 million to 700,000, or so, years old) was found by Dr. Aris Poulianos (founder of the Anthropological Association of Greece, the Department of Paleoanthropology-Spelaeology, member of the International Council of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences of UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).
The oldest writing was found in Diaspilo Kastorias by Prof. Dr. George Chourmouziadis (Αristotelian University) dated 5,740 to 5,240 bc. In Fraxthi of Argolida tools carried by sea from the island of Milos, 150 klm away, older than 7,000 bc were discovered. In Salamina an industrial factory of 13th century was found.
Of course there are different opinions like the believers of the Indoeuropean race, of the Australopithecus of Africa (2,8-3,9 mil. years bc), of the Summerian writing 3,500 bc, but it has been accepted by all specialists that ancient Greek, was a European civilization of great significance to the Western culture.

Ancient Greece can be characterized as a philosopher’s country (Pythagoras 570-500 bc was the first philosopher who named himself as “philosopher”, which in Greek means friend of wisdom, when he was asked by Leoda of Filouda) lead by 7 Wise men, 14 major Philosophical sects and hundreds of Lead Philosophers, all referring to an Ethical substance.

The ancient Greek civilization before declining had a major impact mainly via Dorian colonies to the south of Italy (used to be called Magna Grecia) but also to many other areas in Europe (more than 250 colonies). Similarly Asia Minor was mainly influenced via Ionian colonies in the west-coast of Turkey (that was called Ionia) not to mention the spreading of the Greek culture via Alexander the Great and the Greek-Roman, Byzantine Empire to the wider Asia.

Ancient Greek philosophers have spoken about the danger that is hidden in the wealth approach of life. Solon once said that “wealth has no limits”, Aristotle added that “in the Greek philosophically cultured spirit there is no place for materialism” The ancient Greek civilization was based upon moral principles & ideals, and moral crisis was the major cause of its decline.

Today’s Wealth model, focusing upon money being made due to competitive advantage and specialization seems to have prevailed to the ancient Greek model focusing upon philosophy & ideals, much needed in providing ethics in the business world. Of course the ancient Greek spirit is not dead as yet being found in “Democracy” and the “Olympic Games ideal of respective peace treaty” even though they go through continuous hardship.

 

The concepts of Ethos and Morality in modern Greece as a member of the European Union and the global community

 

Greece the country where the concepts of Ethos and Morality were cultivated to a great extent in ancient times (especially at the period of Aristotle), is now facing the world symptoms of morality decadence to both public and private sectors and this decay is that makes the EBEN Conference especially interesting not only for present time but also for the dilemmas and challenges of the future.

According to the annual euro-barometer of Awareness and Social Behavior Index of the Greek public opinion for the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR), 7 out of 10 consumers are positively oriented to firms that try to incorporate CSR in their operations and this reason by itself is sufficient enough as to support companies to develop their social and environmental responsibility. Furthermore 3 out of 10 citizens believe that firms must have an harmonic liaison with the community in which they operate, while 2 out of 10 believe that firms that adopt CSR they do it only under pressure of public opinion for social and environmental issues (source: MEDA Communication)

Analytically the work of companies under the umbrella of CSR in 3 out of 10 citizens, is synonym with tax exemption and personal interests (7,1% increase over 2007) as well as with firm’s Public Relations (3,8% increase over 2007). However 3 out of 10 citizens realize that corporate social responsibility actions may provide significant financial support to weaker social groups (reduction by 8,2% over 2007 and at the lowest level since 2003) and 2 out of 10 interrelate donations and charities with CSR.

We must state here that whether the priority of citizens remains the issue of working conditions and employee’s health & security (almost 6 out of 10), there has been shown an increased sensitivity for environmental protection issues with the majority of this increase to be attributed to the rational environmental resource management (increase by 8,3%) as well as to risk management (4,4% increase)

 

EBEN target in the 22nd annual conference in Athens, Greece

EBEN aims at this 22nd annual conference in Athens, Greece hosted by EBEN GR during 10th – 12th of September 2009 with main subject ”Pathos for Ethics; Business Excellence, Leadership and the Quest for Sustainability” to question issues that may lead to sustainable leadership and further promote the tools and dimensions via a series of scientific papers and researches, as well as practices from business projects, which may allow a steady approach to a sustainable development.

Summarizing, it is understandable that in a continuously changing environment, organizations and businesses try to find ways which will secure a stable business development, while the scientific community tries to reveal the theoretical questioning and challenges of tomorrow. In this context we as EBEN welcome you in our effort to establish a common platform for the composition of academic and business practices in today’s methodologies, as well as to put in place the diversification characteristics among countries for better understanding and elimination of any obstacles to the road for Sustainable Leadership.