Revista da ESPM JAN-FEV_2007

Orivaldo O. Gallasso M A I O / J U N H O D E 2 0 0 6 – REVISTA DA ESPM ES PM without soul. Empty rituals and vague rhetoric take the place of the real things, for display purposes only. True spirituality, however, can be the basis and inspiration of organizational culture. A company that actually lives its spirituality does not have to be an utopia – remote frommarket realities and prone to failure. On the contrary, only by acting spiritually will a business find the true path to renewed profits. A company with soul may be defined as an institution which pursues results by considering people first, and judges them by their competence and spiritu- ality.To be competent is essential, as incompetence – by demolishing faith and creating barrenness – is the axis of all social injustice.To be competent is to live the real life. A competent enterprise is conscious of its soul, which is made up of a cultural identity stemming from existential values. This gives it the power to convey a public image of an organization of quality. In the author’s experience, there are clear indicators of organizations which have lost their souls, as well as to pin- point the ones that preserve and nurture their own. Dead Executives Society PEDRO ERNESTO FERNANDES page 76 If there is life after death, will that occur in some remote place where executives of companies that failed their businesses meet? On the basis of such quasi metaphysical speculations, the author conveys a message which is amazing: more than their obligations toward stockholders, company managers may have to account for their deeds before the tribunal of eternity... Spirituality in organi- zations: New Age and business LIVIA BARBOSA page 80 Esoteric doctrines, such as numerology, astrological maps, crystals, pyramids, incense and self- help programs are some of the new companions of business organizations since the mid-80’s. Where, before, there were only dry numbers, tables and graphs as guides for the deci- sion-making process, now there are mantras to enhance these methods, by transforming reality through statements such as “I can...”, “I free myself...” – all the way, maybe, to walking on burning coal?! Can really such practices be related to the modern business organization? Are they contextualized in contemporary society? These are some of the questions dealt with in this article. The marketing of complexity: why the gods must be mad? VALÉRIA RAVIER page 86 The article proposes a new reading of the myth of Sysiphe, whose intelligence and subterfuges represented an unequivocal sign of man’s rebelliousness before divine determinations. For his audacity, Zeus condemned him, for all eternity, to push a stone uphill, which always rolled down the other side of the mountain. The courage with which Sysiphe faced his punishment is a permanent reason for amazement, to this very day and age. Spirituality in the work environ- ment: beyond fad- management ANSELMO FERREIRA VASCONCELOS page 110 Taboos are being broken in the work environment. Some of them for the better, but some are still cause for perplexity… This article deals with the idea of spirituality in the work environment, and tries to investigate whether it is for real or if there is a risk that we are faced with yet another form of fad- management, as it happened so often in the past. On the basis of substantial bibliographical reference, the author admits that the change from the clear cut materialism involved in straight profit-making to proposals for a framework of spiritual considera- tions, in the business arena, is a task of gigantic proportions. However, if the difficulties are considerable, so are – apparently – the rewards. The article’s conclusion is that – both for people and their organizations – the spiritual approach may represent a qualitative move, and a breach of pattern, never considered before. 145 JANEIRO / FEVEREIRO DE 2 07 – R V I S T A D A E S P M