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Meaningful Work and the Purpose of the Firm

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  • David Silver

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

This paper argues in favor of the end user thesis, which holds that the fundamental goal of the firm is to create products and services that provide a benefit to the people who ultimately use them. The argument turns on the interest that employees have in work that is meaningful, in the sense that it is an activity worth spending time doing. I argue that a person’s life is diminished to the extent that work constitutes a central feature, but is not meaningful in this way. I argue further that an employee’s work is fully worth doing only if her fundamental aim is to provide a benefit to the people who ultimately use what she produces, and that this is not possible within an organization that aims to maximize profits. The paper concludes by considering arguments that the efficiency gains generated by assigning the firm the goal of profit-maximization justify structuring the firm in a way that does not enable employees to have work that is fully worth doing.

Suggested Citation

  • David Silver, 2023. "Meaningful Work and the Purpose of the Firm," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(4), pages 825-834, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:185:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05342-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05342-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth Goodpaster, 2011. "Goods That are Truly Good and Services that Truly Serve: Reflections on “Caritas in Veritate”," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 9-16, March.
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    4. Ruth Yeoman, 2014. "Conceptualising Meaningful Work as a Fundamental Human Need," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Meaningful Work and Workplace Democracy, chapter 1, pages 8-38, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    6. Christopher Michaelson & Michael Pratt & Adam Grant & Craig Dunn, 2014. "Meaningful Work: Connecting Business Ethics and Organization Studies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 77-90, April.
    7. Smith, Adam, 2008. "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations: A Selected Edition," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199535927 edited by Sutherland, Kathryn.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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