Normal Compassion: A Framework for Compassionate Decision Making

Ace Simpson (), Stewart Clegg () and Tyrone Pitsis ()

Journal of Business Ethics, 2014, vol. 119, issue 4, 473-491

Abstract: In this empirical paper, we present a model of the dynamic legitimizing processes involved in the receiving and giving of compassion. We focus on the idea of being ‘worthy of compassion’ and show how ideas on giving and receiving compassion are highly contestable. Recognition of a worthy recipient or giver of compassion constitutes a socially recognized claim to privilege, which has ethical managerial and organizational implications. We offer a model that assists managers in fostering ethical strength in their performance by encouraging reflection on the ethical complexity involved in compassion relations. The model emphasizes the dynamics of both the givers and receivers of compassion and so can also be used by organizations to both assess how others may view the legitimacy of their compassion relations and also to develop a positive organizational ethic of compassionate conduct. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Keywords: Compassion; Legitimacy; Positive organizational ethics; Positive organizational scholarship; Power (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:119:y:2014:i:4:p:473-491

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1831-y

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