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Organizing the Good Death: Ethics and Values-Work in the Sower Hospice

Author

Listed:
  • M. Dolores Rio

    (Universidad Austral
    University of Victoria)

  • Roy Suddaby

    (University of Victoria
    Washington State University
    University of Liverpool
    Universidad Austral)

Abstract

We study the relationship between values-work and virtue ethics in organizations. Drawing from an ethnographic study of a hospice for the poor in Buenos Aires, Argentina, we demonstrate how organizational practices of values-work are used to combat the disenchantment of modern medical treatment of death. We identify three core sets of practices, Humility, Sympathetic Impartiality, and Practical Wisdom, each premised on humanistic virtues used to counteract the totalizing pressures of rationalization and professionalization of modern medicine. We theorize how the Sower Method of organizing a “good death” might be applied to counteract the disenchanting effects of organizing contemporary work.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Dolores Rio & Roy Suddaby, 2025. "Organizing the Good Death: Ethics and Values-Work in the Sower Hospice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 197(4), pages 673-687, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:197:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05737-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05737-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dan Zeltzer & Liran Einav & Amy Finkelstein & Tzvi Shir & Salomon M. Stemmer & Ran D. Balicer, 2023. "Why Is End-of-Life Spending So High? Evidence from Cancer Patients," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 105(3), pages 511-527, May.
    2. Nicola M. Pless & Thomas Maak & Howard Harris, 2017. "Art, Ethics and the Promotion of Human Dignity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 223-232, August.
    3. Naveed Yazdani & Hasan Murad, 2015. "Toward an Ethical Theory of Organizing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 399-417, March.
    4. Michael Pirson, 2019. "A Humanistic Perspective for Management Theory: Protecting Dignity and Promoting Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 39-57, September.
    5. Suddaby, Roy & Ganzin, Max & Minkus, Alison, 2017. "Craft, magic and the re-enchantment of the world," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 285-296.
    6. Nicola M. Pless & Thomas Maak & Howard Harris, 2017. "Erratum to: Art, Ethics and the Promotion of Human Dignity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 233-233, August.
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