Most of the successful corporates have their stated shared values and beliefs. Shared values define – who they are, how they work, what sort of behaviour is acceptable or non-acceptable, who should be rewarded or punished. Regular practice of these values over time becomes the culture of the company and implicit rules by which they live their values. These shared values are continuously talked and practiced to keep the focus and understanding of the rules alive by the top management.
Do we have defined shared values and beliefs for our society and the nation? Do we value honesty and integrity or we value wealth creation by any means? Do we practice values in the society? One of the biggest failure of leadership post-independence with absolute power and resources was to define, practice and institutionalise values at national level (like head of the family is credited or discredited for building a good or bad culture and values in the family).
Corruption and dishonesty is a deep rooted chronic disease in our society today. Many of us in the society are corrupt as our wrongdoings have been accepted and even encouraged. If not, then why an inspector in tax department, an officer in transport, PWD, Municipality or other Government departments with wealth beyond their normal means get respect in the society and quoted as example? Are we not setting wrong values for our next generation who are the only hopes for a better and corruption-free Country?
EcoFin Blogger (Bikash Prasad) 