Selflessness in Business

The book deals with a controversial and seemingly paradoxical relationship between selflessness and business. It depicts the primary and lasting controversy between the selfish (egoistic, competitive) and selfless (pro-social, co-operative) behavior in view of social, organizational and individual benefits. Therefore, it takes a step towards finding a solution to some of the challenges of the twenty-first century, particularly sustainable growth. The miscellaneous and transatlantic background of the Authors origins (USA, Colombia, Germany, Poland, UK, Spain) and their various perspectives (psychological, economic or philosophical) guarantee multi-voiced argumentation for strong relationships between selflessness and business.
Selflessness is understood from a social perspective as related to self-transcendence and connectedness to others. This perspective can be helpful in providing a deeper understanding of pro-social behavior in organizations and its implications for productivity and effectiveness. The manifestations of this approach can be found in acts such as organizational altruism, loyalty, quantum leadership, or pro-social vocational interests.

One can make an in-depth analysis of selflessness’s manifestations on a social, organizational and individual level. The ensuing question is how to achieve self-regulation in order to maintain sustainable growth, and selflessness turns out to be the answer. This book offers strong evidence for high organizational and individual benefits stemming from selfless behavior. Therefore, it is not selfish behavior that enables and encourages productivity and effectiveness but rather selfless behavior. The book also tackles gender issues in business, especially regarding the social female role as being traditionally related to selflessness.

The authors aim to reveal possible solutions to present and future challenges and enhance the meaning of positive outcomes of selfless behavior in business and work environments, which seems to be crucial and indispensable for future growth. The book will be useful not only for academic and business specialists but also for everyone interested in a broader perspective at contemporary challenges of business and organizational psychology.

Preface
Dominika Ochnik, University of Opole, Poland

Part I: Aspects of Selflessness in Business in the XXI century

Chapter 1
Finding an Equilibrium between seeking-profit and Work-Life-Balance: The Challenge of Entrepreneurs within their SMEs
Claudia Nelly Berrones-Flemmig,
Leipzig University, Germany
Francoise Contreras,
Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
Utz Dornberger, Leipzig University, Germany
Yonni Angel Cuero Acosta, Leipzig University, Germany

Chapter 2
Social Entrepreneurship: Blending prosocial Motivation and Self-interests in Business
Andreana Drencheva,
University of Sheffield Management School, UK

Chapter 3
Personalistic Economics: Caring, Justice, and Christian Charity
Edward J. O’Boyle, Mayo Research Institute, USA

Part II: Dimensions of Selflessness at Work Environment

Chapter 4
Dimensions of selflessness at work: A closer look at organizational altruism
Joanna M. Szulc,
Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, UK

Chapter 5
Quantum Leadership: Toward ethical Selflessness
Michael A. Piel, IceBridge Research Institute, USA
Karen Putnam, University of Phoenix, USA
Karen K. Johnson, University of Phoenix, USA

Chapter 6
Type of Obligation to the Company and the Loyalty of an Employee
Renata Rosmus, Katowice School of Economics, Poland

Part III: Dimensions of Selflessness and Gender

Chapter 7
Selfless Women in Capitalism?
Luka Boršić,
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Croatia
Ivana Skuhala Karasman,
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Croatia

Chapter 8
Prosocial Vocational Interests and Gender in the Labor Market
Dominika Ochnik, University of Opole, Poland

Part IV: Selflessness in Practice

Chapter 9
Selflessness in Business – Theory vs. Practice
Monika Jakubiak, Maria Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland

Chapter 10
Donations from Ecuadorian Firms: A quantitative Analysis
Hector Alberto Botello Peñaloza,
Industrial University of Santander, Colombia

Chapter 11
Prosocial Motivation and Selflessness in Cultural Institutions. A Case Study of CAC Málaga
Lucía Pérez-Pérez,
International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
Miquel Banstons Prat,
International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

Contributors

Index

Dominika Ochnik, PhD is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Opole, Poland. She is a doctor of social science, a psychologist and a trainer. Ochnik is also a certified coach (Centre for Coaching, ILM, London) and an experienced consultant in Talent Management. She has published chapters in several books on entrepreneurship, and she co-edited a book on psychology in business. Ochnik has also organized several conferences. She is a Member of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

organizational altruism, sustainable development, Corporate Social Responsibility, personalistic economics, blokchain, open source innovation, ethics in business, integral human development