The Need to Reconceptualize Humanistic Management in Light of Covid-19

Abstract

This chapter raises the following question: Is there a need to rethink humanistic management based on the lessons from Covid-19? The authors consider two sources of humanistic management dealing with manners of exercising freedom: horizontal and vertical. The horizontal exercise of freedom refers to the individual considering himself or herself as autonomous within the context of law, norms, customs, and general common sense. The individual’s autonomy is only curtailed by such restrictions. The vertical exercise of freedom views the individual not only as law abiding but as someone who takes into consideration human dignity, where the individual’s commitment to principles is a further curbing on freedom. Paradoxically, the vertical exercise of freedom usually ends up expanding and increasing freedom. The horizontal exercise of freedom gives rise to humanistic values where managers face crises usually with exacting decisions that are not always in the best interest of all stakeholders, while the vertical exercise of freedom gives rise to humanistic values, which engulf decisions against the backdrop of human dignity, thus contributing to the growth of all stakeholders involved despite difficult decisions like layoffs and bankruptcy that Covid-19 has brought to light. The authors reckon that Covid-19 appears to have exposed the manifestations of all management styles that could possibly be conceptualized within this threshold.