FRIEDMAN VS. DRUCKER

Friedman vs. Drucker



Friedman vs. Drucker

Introduction

Both Friedman and Drucker have very interesting and refreshing points of view. Together they look at the inner workings of business and the ethical implications of it, and go on to the outer shell that many in society see, explore, and most importantly unfairly expect the role of social responsibility. When the two subjects are examined closer it puts both topics of conversation into perspective. Both of these authors look at the different aspects and dynamics of the business world meanwhile exploring the situations and scenarios each of them are thrown into.

We learn this in more detail in the articles by both Friedman and Drucker. This is true because of the mere fact that it is difficult to pinpoint accurately what it means to act in such a way. Friedman and Drucker both very explicitly discuss, in their own respects, what business ethics and social responsibilities are, the confusion of the term business ethics, and the unreality of social responsibility through businesses. The discussions on such topics as these are much more comprehendible, and the actions we take in our business environments are more farsighted are of better quality once such theories like these are more closely examined (George, 1999).

Discussion

First, we must look at a business from the inside out, as Drucker (1981) notes, “that individual behavior which is truly appropriate to the specific relationship of mutual dependence because it optimizes benefits for both parties” (p. 30). Now in this Drucker is referring to the individuals within a company and not only the ones interacting with in it necessarily. Drucker (1981) refers to this notion as the “relationship of interdependence” or “Confucian ethics of interdependence” (p. 30). What this boils down to is that in any organization there is a mutual respect and an understanding between people; largely the relationship consists of the management or employer and his or her subordinates. The idea is to (as far as businesses are concerned) to have a relationship result in the greatest benefit for each of the parties involved. Looking at it in a small business scale model this could simply be the boss and his or her employee.

The employee has his or her tasks as well as the boss and the two of them work together to achieve a common goal, such as the success of a business so they both can have long fulfilled careers that would feed their families. Just as, the idea is simple, the philosophy is just as standard in the relationship. And this relationship extends from boss to employee, company to customer, doctor to the patient and so on. Anything more to overstep the boundary would then be dubbed unethical. Drucker goes as far as to explain the overstepping of the boundary which is a very serious issue-sexual harassment. Drucker (1981) states from the Confucian approach that the reason is, “It injects power into a relationship that is based on function,” (p. 30). To step outside of one's professional boundaries to ...