Northumbria University, Newcastle, is calling on North East
companies to take part in an international research project exploring links
between business ethics and high performance.
The initiative is part of a collaboration between Newcastle
Business School and Ritsumeikan University in Japan, but also involves
academics from around the world. In particular, the research is examining the “Inamori Business Philosophy”. Created
by Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist Kazuo Inamori, the philosophy has demonstrated
how businesses can improve performance by aligning ethical values with
individual and collective behaviour of staff.
Newcastle Business School already collaborates with
companies and organisations in a number of ways including via the Business
Clinic, knowledge exchange partnerships, leadership training, staff and
professional development programmes. This latest research builds on these
relationships to see how successful North East businesses embed ethics and
values within their organisations, and how it affects performance.
Doctor Nicholas Wong, Senior Research Assistant at Newcastle
Business School, said: “The Inamori Philosophy is almost completely unknown in the UK, but we can see examples of businesses
here in the North East using similar principles to leverage significant
improvements in their performance. Through the research we are conducting with
colleagues in Japan, we want to explore this further by working with local firms
and making international comparisons.
“There is clear evidence that local businesses are committed
to their company values, but what we really want to know is how successful
businesses implement these values across the workforce - from the Board Room to
the shop floor. By looking into causality between values, behaviour and
performance we can examine not only how firms create and implement their values
but subsequently we will measure the success of these values and evaluate the
impact on performance.”
The research will include a mix of recorded interviews with senior
management and business leadership teams and questionnaires with frontline staff.
Professor John Wilson, principal investigator of the project
and Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria
University, added: “There is considerable evidence to show that businesses
which create a culture of responsible behaviour throughout their organisation
are successful and build sustainable futures. This research is therefore highly
relevant and I would urge any North East business with a strategic focus in its
values to participate.”
To find out more and to take part please contact Doctor
Nicholas Wong on nicholas.d.wong@northumbria.ac.uk
