Dignitas Infinita and Filipino management

The call to put human dignity as one of the primary outcomes of business, management, and society grows stronger, especially with the recent declaration "Dignitas Infinita" from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith from the Catholic Church. This serves as a poignant reminder of the intrinsic and inalienable dignity of every human person. As we reflect on this call, we must also consider how our own Filipino cultural values and management practices can contribute to a more humane and dignified approach to business.

The Dignitas Infinita declaration emphasizes that human dignity is not contingent upon one's abilities, social status, or circumstances, but is inherent in every person by virtue of being created in the image of God. This means that businesses have a moral obligation to treat their employees, customers, and stakeholders not merely as means to an end, but as ends in themselves, worthy of respect and care.

Too often, however, the pressures of the market and the drive for competitiveness lead companies to prioritize productivity and efficiency over the well-being of their people. The dominant Western paradigm tends to view employees as resources to be optimized rather than persons to be valued. Customers are reduced to target markets and revenue streams rather than individuals with real needs and aspirations. This narrow focus on the bottom line not only dehumanizes people but also undermines the long-term sustainability and social legitimacy of businesses.

Thus, how can we concretize Dignitas Infinita within the context of our country?

I argue that our Filipino culture, as expounded upon and articulated by Filipino philosophers, anthropologists, and psychologists, have something to offer the management and organization field. If we develop and articulate a theory and practice of Filipino management or Pamamahalang Pilipino (Filipino Management) that puts human dignity (karangalan) and pakikipagkapwa-tao (building shared identity through deep relationships) at the forefront, we can have a framework that can decolonize us from the classic management theories, promotes adapting and re-synthesis of what works from other cultures (something we can call “pag-aangkop”), and guides us towards a striving to be authentic Filipino managers.

In other words, we no longer have to water down our culture and values towards servicing only productivity, efficiency, and profit maximization. Rather, we can be proud and put at the forefront Pamamahalang Pilipino's focus on the tao, families, communities, society, and the nation. We have something that already supports the Dignitas Infinita declaration

Of course, developing our own Pamamahalang Pilipino approach does not mean neglecting the importance of productivity and efficiency. Rather, it recognizes that these are best achieved through the holistic development and engagement of people, not their diminishment. When employees feel valued, empowered, and connected to a higher purpose, they are more likely to be motivated, innovative, and committed to their work. When customers and communities see businesses as partners in their flourishing, they are more likely to be loyal and supportive.

As Filipino business leaders, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to model a more humane and sustainable approach to management that is true to our cultural values and responsive to the challenges of our time. By putting human dignity at the center of our organizations and strategies, we can not only help our businesses succeed but also contribute to building a more just, compassionate, and flourishing society for all.

What the Dignitas Infinita declaration advocates is something that our Filipino culture and values already have in its fullest essence. It is a timely invitation for us to re-examine our assumptions and practices as managers, and to strive for a higher purpose beyond just the pursuit of profit. May I dare say that if we commit to developing and practicing an authentic Pamamahalang Pilipino, we can even take the lead and let other regions learn from us. Our values and culture offers us a path forward in furthering the scholarship and practice of management - one that honors the inherent dignity and potential of every person, and seeks to promote the greater good through the responsible stewardship of business. Let us heed this call and work together to build a better future for our people and our nation.