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EDITORIAL
The Conflict Between Symbolism and Substance
By Ira Smolowitz, Ph.D.
__________________________________________________________________________
In
my teaching, author-ship of articles, etc., I have espoused the
management principle that ‘the symbolism of management will speak
louder than the substance.’ Frequently, the two concepts are in
conflict. Employees of an organization are astute enough to discern
the difference, a difference that is frequently in conflict. For
example, the CEO of XYZ Corporation admonishes the organization’s
employees to strive to take the ethical high road. At the same time,
many employees know that this CEO is charging personal expenditures
(ex., home repairs to the corporation). He/she is charging what
is essentially personal travel to his/her corporate account, etc.
In my opinion, this symbolic violation of ethics will serve to undermine
and negate the substance of any ethical mandate issued/promulgated
by the corporation. On January 27, 2005…as candles flickered in
the snowy, winter gloom yesterday, world leaders and Auschwitz survivors
remembered the victims of the Holocaust on the 60th anniversary
of the liberation of the Nazi death camp. …Joining in the commemoration
were Vice President Dick Cheney, and Presidents Alexander Kwasniewski
of Poland, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Jacques Chirac of France.
German President Herst Koehler sat on the platform without speaking
in recognition of his country’s responsibility for the genocide,
in which 6 million Jews died during World War II. …Earlier in Krakow,
Cheney noted that the World War II genocide did not happen in some
far-off place, but “in the heart of the civilized world.” He said,
“The story of the camps shows that evil is real, and must be called
by its name and must be confronted.”1
Disconcerting Development
I fully support the commemoration of the liberalization of the above
death camp. However, consider the following:
…Surrounded by world leaders dressed in solemn black,
Cheney looked like a fan at a Green Bay Packers game, clad in
a green snow parka, brown hiking boots, and a knit ski cap that
read “Staff 2001.” Seated between his wife, who wore a black hooded
parka, and Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who donned a black
fur hat and black overcoat, Cheney stood out like a sore thumb
at Thursday’s ceremony in Oswiecm, Poland. The Washington Post
commented that Cheney’s attire was more like what one “wears to
operate a snow blower,” than what a world leader would be expected
to wear while commemorating the liberation of a Nazi death camp.
Although the weather was frigid, Post writer Robin Givhan said
someone in Cheney’s position “must endure a little discomfort”
out of respect for the occasion.” …By contrast, at least week’s
inauguration ceremony in snow-covered Washington, Cheney was eyed
wearing no hat or gloves and wrapped in a traditional, dark-colored
overcoat…2
The above, unfortunate error in judgment serves to bring into focus
the conflict between ‘symbolism’ and ‘substance.’ Whether one is
Vice President of the United States, or vice-president of XYZ Corporation,
there must be a strong, positive correlation between the individual’s
actions and official pronouncements.
A weak alignment between action and policy pronouncement(s) will
serve to undermine the integrity and viability of the associated
pronouncement(s). If an executive’s written/verbal pronouncements
are perceived as not coinciding with his/her actions, the executive
is embarking on the path of non-credibility.
References
1. Gera, Vanessa “Candles Flicker at Auschwitz”, The Republican,
January 28, 2005, p. D5.
2. Alpert, Lukas J. “Veep’s Fashion Fur-pas”, New York Post, January
29, 2005, p. 15
_________________________________________________________________________________
Articles printed with the permission of Dr. Ira Smolowitz,
Professor of Finance and Dean, Bureau of Business Research and Program
Development at American International College, Springfield, MA.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Page updated: May 21, 2007 7:31 AM |