ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores a series of case studies, identifying the pitfalls and the potential of bringing values into the heart of an organisation, from a bank that responds to an ethical crisis through to a fast-growing worker co-operative founded on the values of equality. Business can be a way to change the world around us, for better or worse, and, if people accept that, then values can be seen as a natural part of commercial life. Shared values evolved as an effective strategy for group survival, creating a willingness to act for the benefit of others, even at a personal cost. Human values over time, including the deeper framing of faith and religion, are fabulously diverse. Football hooligans have values. The best teams, the most agile businesses, move at the speed of the values they share, rather than the clauses of their contracts.
