LITERARY STUDIES
Historically, literature was reserved for elite leaders to refine their ethics and logic, but nowadays it is an undervalued subject – especially in a business context. However, reasons NEOMA Business School’s Agathe Mezzadri-Guedj , since corporate success relies on empathising with people, surely the pursuit of literary study is essential for navigating the complexities of modern management
F or much of history, the study of literature has underpinned higher education for the top echelons of society. Engaging with the classics, those foundational works of art and philosophy inherited from Ancient Greece and Rome, was thought to provide a nuanced understanding of politics, ethics and logic, all essential traits for aspiring leaders. Today, an education in the humanities includes a diverse array of texts written since Antiquity, including the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, as well as contemporary literature. The goal is to achieve a greater insight into the human experience through the diversity of perspectives and interpretations that literature offers, but also through its links with the global story of ideas. No single idea today emerges without a foundation prepared by philosophers, historians and writers who unconsciously populate our deepest thoughts. Why, then, is the study of literature not seen as fundamental to business and management education? Organisations are comprised of people, after all. The ability to understand the needs, motivations, complexities and desires of one’s colleagues and contacts is highly valuable in a corporate context. HR managers are responsible for shaping a positive workplace culture that keeps employees motivated, marketing teams plan campaigns based on consumer behaviour and CEOs must navigate relationships with key stakeholders. These are but a few roles that rely on being able to empathise and connect with people. How literature views business with a critical eye Nevertheless, literature’s rich applicability to the world of business often remains a well of untapped potential. This may be due, in part, to the way that many celebrated works of literature criticise the world of business as dehumanising. Not all of them do, though – and even critics may make us think. For instance, the idea that industry exploits workers, akin to how the monsters of classical literature consume their victims, is a common motif. In his 19th-century magnum opus, Germinal , Émile Zola refers to the coal mine as le voreux (the glutton), a malevolent entity that devours the
miners much like Charybdis in The Odyssey . But Zola wrote another novel named Travail (work) that paints a different picture, portraying a version of enterprise that brings health, wealth and contentment. More recently, Amélie Nothomb used similar imagery in Fear and Trembling when the main character, also called Amélie, enters the company lift, as if being swallowed by a monster; the TV series Severance continues to reflect this imagery. These pieces of work help us to think differently about the bond between the individual and the collective goal – they could also stimulate a conversation between managers that would certainly be thought-provoking. Other texts build on analogies with the natural world. Virgil’s The Georgics uses a beehive as a positive example of how work can function based on structure and communication, a line of thinking also adopted by Zola. However, in his seminal work, Capital , Karl Marx argues that the comparison is flawed because bees lack human consciousness. Reflecting on the different ways people interact with each other and organise themselves offers insights into how firms can improve performance and co-operation, while simultaneously creating a positive work environment for employees. That’s why, at NEOMA Business School, we give students the opportunity to study literature written by Zola, Virgil, Victor Hugo and Mary Shelley, among others. Bridging the humanities & management education In September last year, NEOMA introduced a new course called Lessons from Great Literary Texts: Management, Business & Leadership. Designed as a bridge between the world of humanities and management education, the course is mandatory for all first-year entrants on the Grande École programme. The aim is to use major literary works, both ancient and contemporary, to explore core topics such as power, diversity and the different ways people relate to work. Across five sessions, each one covering a distinct theme, students are encouraged to question norms, examine grey areas and ethical dilemmas, along with connecting what they read to real organisational situations they may face as managers in the future.
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