MM 5001 Business Law and Business Ethics Corporate Spiritualism Business Ethics and Company Growth-

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Haidir Afesina

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG 2012

1. Objective 1. Can the sacred of religion and the mundane of corporations become one or are they separate? 2. How company (Japanese corporations) that is successfully applied the religious ethics to their growth in modern life can be sustain? The aim of those two objectives is to create an organization that growth not only financially but also spiritual. 2. Background 2.1 Buddhism and Management Spirit Corporate spiritualism can be defined as religious spirits that become the company values. The values of shared vision and mission based on harmony and balance in terms of norm, moral and rule. In Buddhism, the value is all about teaching life for a greater community to create a better world. Teaching means train the best practices of morality and mental culture. Japan has a strong culture of Buddhism from their ancestor long time ago. In terms of business, the definition of business itself is not to give up (Akinai) and to continue to pray to God (Inori). Therefore the spirit of the company is applying praying and management (Inorikeie). Buddhism ethical value system is never harms others (both of animal and people). So that being fairness and social responsibilities are the main values in doing business. The fairness means fulfilling duties to employees, stakeholder, customer and social responsibilities means meaningful to society and able to create spiritual communal network. It is believed that the values can harmoniously coexist with business behaviors such as making a profit, business operation and business morality. So that it motivates the people to always do responsible good things. 3. Analysis 3.1 Religion and Corporation Japan, Asian country that has a very strong culture, a need of applying the Buddhism ideology in every business activities is very important. The harmony of religious ethics, social ethics, and business ethics has to be balance so that it will achieve meaningful success in order to develop the community and organization success with personal growth.

However, some argue that to linking religion and corporation is impossible thing. Religion is sacred and business is mundane. In this modern life, the philosophy of life from west has successfully spread to the world i.e. Materialism and Capitalism. The most important of business is the financially growth and profit oriented. In contrast, those who believe based on survey said that religion help the business to create a culture mindset of the company. The mindset of educate, enlighten and empowering the community with system and technology that create meaningful spiritually work life and boost the company performance. It also treat the customer with fair and encourage citizenship. The challenge of the Japanese Corporation is that they slowly forget the Gods and the spiritual values. The science and technology has becoming the new absolute god. Means the focus is in innovation. Thus, it became the most important factor to achieve greatness. However, it is believed that they will become more sustainable only if they refer to Buddhism spirit that focusing in people. The Buddhism teaching or training build the morality, mental culture and wisdom that will motivate the people. The motivation of people at work is important to achieve the goal. Therefore the company has to back to their Buddhism root philosophy i.e. moral principle through teaching and develop spirit. Of course, there is no guarantee that an individual raised in, or a business organization will be successfully growth. The philosophy will build the organization that has social soul with good morality of the employee and god managerial ethics. Therefore through Buddha way (teaching and develop spirit), it is linking to feedback management system. The feedback management systems are, planning, implementation, reflection, information, environment, and strategy. Linked it through evaluation every day on morning briefing by applying the Roku nen. The concept of Roku nen is a six prayers question of evaluating our day and has faith to the Gods before everyday activities. 4. Lessons Learned 4.1 The concepts of Kami or Gods Becoming an expert in a field is likely to be thought of as reaching the stage of Kami (a godlike state). Whatever job people take, if they reach the Kami stage or even if they make a strong effort to it, others will respect them. Therefore it is common those Japanese corporations are competing to reach the Kami and even create their own Kami to be respected, such as Toyota. They created the just in time and kaizen culture in order to be competitive and growth with their innovation (science and technology).

In contrast with Duskin company that reach the Kami stage with religious aspects. Duskin is the example of successful Japanese company that grow successfully both of financially and spiritual. They applied the religious culture to be the core of the company ideology. The company motivates the employee and encourages the happy life through service, positive attitudes toward work, volunteerism and appreciation of God-given life. Thus it benefits their own good and the good of society. In summary, some of the Buddhism spirit in business context can be listed as below;

Personal self satisfaction Profit taking Business as career Ethical leadership Business in society Corporate social responsibility

Sell only what is good for you, me and others Make money to do more good for others Business should have meaning, leave good mark on society Integrity, trust and right livelihood in capitalism Life is cycle, training and educate the employee and people Engages in the circle of society, giving those in needs