Shareholder Theory
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Southern New Hampshire University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
730
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by fmalik89
Every Good Endeavor Reflection
1
Shareholder Theory & Biblical Perspectives of Generosity Assignment
Faizan Malik
Liberty University
November 7
th
, 2021
Every Good Endeavor Reflection
2
There is a general assumption in many religions, including Christianity, that the more giving or charitable a person is, the better person (or Christian) he is. However, it is my personal belief that one’s character or “religiousness” cannot be measured in a monetary form. There are many who donate millions who partake in sins, while there are many who are unable to donate much but do their best to serve God. Ultimately, I believe intention will also be a stronger assessment of one’s character than any dollar amount.
Keller states that “the way to serve God at work is to make as much money as you can, so
that you can be as generous as you can.” Although this can certainly hold true for many, it is broad and does not account for several factors. For example, it does not consider if the source of income/profit pure. Proverbs 28:20 states that “a faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” If the extra money that is being earned comes from illegal or unethical means, no amount of donations will truly serve God. The statement by Keller also does not account for those with expenses, such as those related to health, or other issue with personal finances. In terms of the shareholder vs stakeholders, coming from a family business background, I
tend to side towards the stakeholders as their focus is on the success of the organization rather than just a return on their investment. As stated by Smith, “stakeholder theory asserts that managers have a duty to both the corporation’s shareholders and individuals and constituencies that contribute, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to [a company’s] wealth-creating capacity and activities, and who are therefore potential beneficiaries and/or risk bearers.” I am not Christian myself, but I believe the stakeholder theory more closely aligns with Christian values. In a study performed at Brigham Young University, researchers found “the shareholder perspective encourages a narrow application of Christian principles, while the stakeholder perspective
Every Good Endeavor Reflection
3
encourages a broad application. For example, a shareholder-manager sees himself as a steward of
only shareholders, an agent of only shareholders, accountable only to them. Stakeholder-
managers, on the other hand, see their place in the “big picture”, viewing profit as a means to an end, and therefore respecting objectives such as job stability for employees, safety for customers,
or clean environments for communities.” Essentially, the stakeholder’s focus is on all aspects and wellbeing of the busines, including resources and employees, rather than just profits. “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4)
Works Cited
Agle, B. and Nielsen, J. 2015, May 15
th
. “Religious Principles and the Stakeholder Perspective: A Natural Union.” Brigham Young University. Retrieved from http://jur.byu.edu/?
p=18486
Keller, T. 2012. “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work.” Viking.
Smith, H. J. 2003. “The Shareholders vs. Stakeholders Debate.” MIT Sloan Management
Review, 44(4), 85-90.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help