Cultivating Altruism in an Egoistic Climate Through an Islamic Model

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.
Methodology: 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.