Carlos Largacha-Martinez – författare

This book demonstrates how principles of a Humanistic Management paradigm are practiced in a variety of industries and regions by businesses of different ownership structures and sizes.

What unites these businesses is their commitment to the three stepped approach of Humanistic Management, which is grounded in unconditional respect for the dignity of life, the integration of ethics in management decisions, and active engagement with stakeholders.

These businesses are not labeled social enterprises, but operate within the mainstream of competitive markets. However, they do have a deep sense of responsibility towards the communities in which they operate and act accordingly, knowing that sustaining business success over time depends on a value proposition to society at large.

The cases featured in this book serve to clarify that businesses can thrive not despite but because they are upholding principles of Humanistic Management. It will be valuable reading for academics working in the field of business ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. 

Many workers already report that they are alienated from their jobs and find their workplaces to be stifling or uninviting and expect that the introduction of new technologies, including AI, will only worsen their organizational culture. This book outlines the need for a humane and responsible approach to technology, so that employees are not further disengaged from the workplace. This shift in approach should mean that when AI is introduced into an organization, workers have a central role in the design, implementation, and evaluation of this technology. Computer technology can thus promote human flourishing instead of contributing to alienation and insecurity in workplaces.

This book is a throwback to a time when high theory was an important part of discussions about computer technology. It brings together diverse disciplines to interrogate some important issues facing the development and application of AI, ultimately concluding that this technology is currently being guided by the wrong theory and a humanistic perspective is needed to access its full potential. The ideas presented will be of great interest to scholars and students of AI who focus on the workplace, organizational behavior, and business ethics.