Search

Business and religion are not usually mixed, but this is gradually changing with the emergence of a new breed of religious business people who feel that the evils of capitalism can best be dealt with from within the business world itself. Several organizations have already been established to support adherents of different religions who operate in the business sector. These organizations include the International Christian Chamber of Commerce and London's Nichiren Shoshu City Business Group. The Crescent investment plan has been established to guide Muslims in saving according to the Koran. The Jewish business community has a highly developed code of business ethics. Religious fundamentalists may yet succeed in keeping capitalist greed in check.

The International Enterprise Foundation of Geneva sponsored a visit of 15 managers of Soviet corporations to western Europe so that they would be able to access western management expertise. The managers attended a roundtable discussion at The International Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. Most of the managers are undaunted by the resurgence of the power of the conservatives in the USSR and still support Mikhail Gorbachev. The Soviet managers were seeking pragmatic and realistic solutions for the problems they faced in bringing about a market economy in the USSR. Soviet managers are anxious for western investment and are dismayed that many western firms are disinclined to enter the USSR due to the recent political turmoil. Soviet managers expressed interest in employee training programs and solutions to environmental problems.

The latest trend in management development courses is to involve participants in imaginary quests in order to develop the spiritual side of managers. These development courses go under such names as 'New Age' training and 'transformational business seminars', each of which claims to take participants on a journey of self-discovery. The management development courses claim to aid the personal development of managers, thus making them more effective on the job. Major organizations participating in New Age training and transformational business seminars include American Express, Shell, and IBM, and the UK Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence. Daily fees for the training run up to 1,000 pounds sterling per employee.