0
0
What if the values we think are human are actually embedded in the tools and systems we create?
The debate around whether organizations can truly possess values has been ongoing for years, often emphasizing the idea that only people hold values. But what if technology itself embeds values, subtly shaping our behaviors and decisions? Consider a tractor: it’s not just a tool—it represents progress, efficiency, and productivity. Someone using basic tools may not feel the need for a tractor, but once they see others using it, they quickly adopt it, changing their entire perspective on work and commerce.
This shift is not just about action but about a deeper change in values. Where survival was once the primary goal, technology, like the tractor, introduces new priorities—productivity, accumulation, and commerce. In this way, tools and artifacts can reshape how we see the world and influence our motivations and ethics. Values are not static; they evolve alongside the technology we use.
Technology also plays a significant role in conflict. Imagine a world where we fought only with rocks and stones—how different would our attitudes toward killing, competition, and compassion be? The distance created by modern technology, whether it’s a button on a machine or the anonymity of a corporation, alters our moral compass. We already acknowledge this with concepts like “corporate manslaughter,” where organizations, not individuals, are held accountable for their actions. Could AI be the next frontier in this shift?
Research by Stanley Milgram and insights from historical figures like Goebbels show that collective values often differ from individual ones. The UK Post Office, for instance, doesn’t need every employee to share identical values for the organization to embody its “corporate values.” It’s possible for good people to work within organizations that do bad things, showing how collective entities take on a life—and values—of their own.
Key Takeaways:
Technology doesn’t just serve a purpose—it reshapes values.
Collective values in organizations often differ from individual values.
Tools and technology can influence our perspectives on conflict, compassion, and competition.
Organizational responsibility is evolving, as seen with concepts like “corporate manslaughter” and the growing influence of AI.
#OrganizationalCulture #TechnologyAndValues #Leadership #AI #ChangeManagement #CorporateResponsibility
