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BUSINESS CULTURE

Is business culture human enough for employees and the marketplace?

By our News Team | 2021

Businesses must re-evaluate whether the values of their organisation truly put humanity at the core and reflect the wider values of society.

Most companies claim to have humanity as one of the core corporate values that they espouse to employees, clients and the marketplace in general.

However, in many instances these are little more than empty words in what remains a business structure which is both culturally hierarchical and militaristic.

This alienates many within a workforce, emphasised Itumeleng Merafe, the Head of Sales: Landing at South African financial services company Investec when speaking at a recent working lunch hosted by radio station 702.

“The pandemic has challenged all corporates to step up and live up to their stated values. Companies tend to develop a set of values which they then expect all staff to be shoe-horned into. The focus is on the company processes rather than the humanity of the workforce,” he said.

“A diverse workforce, by its very nature, is going to have different values and goals, and consequently to be in relative conflict. The emphasis therefore has to be on having a corporate value system which facilitates diversity through resolution mechanisms.”

Culture is important in branding and retaining talent
Several bodies of research have found that employees working remotely are pushing themselves as their workloads increase and rewards are reduced. This has, in many cases, tipped their work-life balance out of kilter. But, at the same time, employees have proven they can more than meet objectives out of the office.

“It is vital, especially in these stressful times of remote working, for businesses to evaluate whether the values of their organisation truly put humanity at the centre,” Merafe stressed.“On the one hand, employees have enjoyed freedom from oppressive leadership; but online meetings serve as a continuous reminder of its eventual return. One of the results of Covid-19 is that individuals now know who their organisations really are,” Merafe said.

Post-Covid, distrustful bosses and inhumane companies may struggle to retain their talent – people who may have met all key performance indicators without having to clock in 9-5 – and now expect some recognition of this fact. And, of course, when corporate inhumanity makes the news media and social media, it is bad for the brand, for business and for PR!

Source: Radio station 702

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.