Customer Reviews

Managing As If Faith Mattered: Christian Social Principles in the Modern Organization (Catholic Social Tradition)

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I first encountered Michael Naughton when I read "The Integrity of a Catholic Management Education" in the California Management Review. I appreciated his practical insights into how Christian social principles (CSP) enlightens basic problems in general and functional management.

"Managing as if Faith Mattered" by Naughton and Helen Alford is a welcome full-book treatment of CSP-inspired management which can be used for a full course in faith-based management. Complemented by Helen Alford's research in manufacturing engineering, Naughton covers CSP from the inside out, i.e., beginning with an examination of personal integration of faith and work, the purpose of business and the Catholic virtues, the authors then systematically demonstrate the application of CSP to various areas of management -- including marketing, job design, compensation, product development and corporate finance.

The book is written in a readable tone even when it discusses the nuances of natural law and the Papal encyclicals. I have to admit that there are portions in the book which need several reading especially for CSP neophytes. But just when the going gets tough the authors cite real-life examples of business managers who make CSP come to life in their companies.

A big revelation is the case of Reell Precision Manufacturing. The 35-year old company was founded by ex-3M employees based on Christian principles and through its history has achieved remarkable resilience as it met challenges that would have made average companies cave in to easy layoffs or top-down control strategies. Instead, Reell's management creatively "invented" management solutions to slow business and increasing costs which remained faithful to CSP principles of the common good, subsidiarity and the dignity of work.

Teachers planning to use the book as a text will welcome the study questions at the end of each chapter as well as the extensive reference citations. The liberal use of italicization for key phrases is also a big help for the murkier sections.

On the whole, Alford and Naughton have made a significant contribution to management education and development by making available this scholarly, yet eminently practical, volume that Christian managers and management educators will find valuable as a ready reference and a tool for personal and professional reflection, whether on their work desks or on their bedside tables.

I had problems with arranging "work life" with "faith life" and my wife surprised me with this book. This is a heavy bomber as it gives you advice on every possible level of management, from people management to investments and product strategy, with real-life examples. I like that they don't try to sell the Christian management as a joker which will work at least as good as the 'classic' economics principles. They're very realistic.

And special thanks that I got what I read it for: how to be a Christian manager and how to lead people. And even more.

If you need an easy reading, skip this book. It's not that. It's roughly a college textbook in terms of style and structure, but a tad better to read.

This item was shipped quickly and after receiving it, it is in mint condition. It is brand new and is a good book to read. Thanks!

From the back of the book:

How should personal faith and ethical standards influence work practices and decisions made with the workplace? The authors wrestle with this central question. Inspired by concern over the large gap between private and public moralities, they make a compelling argument for integrating the principles and values contained in Christian social teaching with management theory.