Abstract

Purpose:

This article presents a study on interventions by an international management consulting firm centred around an altruistic management model rooted in the Sufi tradition of Islam. The study focuses on the factors that play a role in the propagation of altruism.

Method:

The method comprises a qualitative case study based on interviews of 55 participants from 25 organizations in Pakistan and South Africa. The altruism of participants was considered from their interviews and perceptions of consultants and coworkers.

Findings:

The findings suggest that belief in a benevolent God or universe, belief in spirituality, and a quest for truth or meaning in life contribute towards an altruistic outlook. Contemporary business education and the corporate environment, on the other hand, appeared to be largely counteracting these altruistic influences through various mechanisms, and contributing towards the promotion of egoism. Childhood experiences, age, and factors relating to life situations, such as level of authority, maturity, and independence, were also found to have significant roles to play in the cultivation of altruism.

Significance:

The contributions of this work to management literature include adding to the scarce work on management interventions to increase altruism in the workforce and the factors that play a role in this process.

Practical and Social Implication:

The findings have implications for multiple aspects of the organization, including hiring, training, mentoring, and organizational culture. They also highlight the need for changing contemporary trends in business education for the betterment of society.

Keywords

Altruism, Business Education, Egoism, Islamic Management, Sufism