Conceptualisation of human dignity: The evolution of the concept and its applicability in business through a humanistic lens Book in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • © 2021 selection and editorial matter, Consuelo A. García-de-la-Torre, Osmar Arandia and Mario Vázquez-Maguirre; individual chapters, the contributors.Dignity is a concept that lacks a precise definition. It has been used in political, philosophical, legal, pragmatic, psychological, behavioural, and cultural perspectives, even as a fundamental idea in the Bible. While there are many writings about the concept of Human Dignity, there is no standard agreement on its conception. Donna Hicks states that, by assuming that all humans have dignity, we are much more likely to solve our conflicts in a positive way. But what about the perception of dignity inside organisations? Is there a universal concept or guide that standardises how to apply dignity in business? This chapter will construct on the concept of dignity from the view of humanistic management and its operationality by searching for practices performed by organisations in northern Mexico that are working to fulfil any of the sustainable development goals. Finally, this chapter will focus on the development and treatment of the construct of human dignity and will provide a guide to achieve dignity through certain practices that will be oriented by a humanistic management model. This chapter will not attempt to apply the term ¿human dignity¿ in all the different cultural contexts existing in Mexico; its only intention is to determine the most important (at this moment in time: 2020) elements that different models (such as the humanistic management model) own about dignity.

publication date

  • January 1, 2021