Dear ONE Members,
Since November, the ONE Executive has been discussing the implications of the U.S. election and the policies of the new U.S. administration as they relate to ONE's goals and operations. As part of that discussion, we consulted with the Academy of Management leadership. It was pointed out to us that the Academy's charter currently does not allow us to take overt political stands. Still, like last fall, we think that it is important to communicate with our division members about our purposes and views with regard to current unfolding political events, such as those around the U.S. Executive Order regarding immigration. We feel that our constitution offers some useful points of engagement. As stated in Article II:
The Organizations and the Natural Environment Division is dedicated to the advancement of research, teaching, and service in the area of relationships between organizations and the natural environment. We believe that these interactions may be among the most significant components in the continued existence, development, and management of human organizations and societies. The pollution of air, water, and land, and the depletion of both renewable and non-renewable resources as a result of actions of formal organizations are the most obvious manifestations of these interactions and relationships. This Division focuses its scholarly attention on the status, causes, and effects of these and other opportunities and problems that human organizations and societies encounter in co-existing with the natural environment, whether that environment is the workplace, the local community, or the global ecosystem.
The objectives of the Organizations and the Natural Environment Division are: 1) to promote scholarship on the topics above among its members and to provide a channel for such scholarship via Academy paper sessions and symposia; 2) to develop a network of scholars interested in these topics through electronic media and social gatherings at the Academy annual meetings; 3) to promote environmental management practices for the Academy itself by educating other Academy members as appropriate; and, 4) to encourage scholars and students in related business disciplines and in related non-business disciplines (e.g., environmental sciences, environmental engineering, environmental law, and environmental ethics) to participate in the Academy and to work with practitioners in these fields to promote environmentally-sensitive policies and practices worldwide.
The bolded areas show a number of domains where ONE members can clearly serve without any conflict-of-interest or violation of AoM rules. In addition, in our new Five Year Plan (which is under review by AoM Board), we have proposed greater advocacy for ONE research and practice inside and outside of the Academy. As part of that advocacy, the ONE Exec has expressed to the Academy and other bodies its concern with what we perceive as unwarranted political restrictions on some U.S.-based data collection and data interpretation, along with unfair, political treatment of ONE researchers who are from countries targeted by recent immigration legislation. Along these lines, we agree with our colleagues in SIM and elsewhere in the Academy that it is important for us to recall and follow the AoM Code of Ethics:
"....AOM members are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and they consider these factors when working with all people. AOM members try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on these factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices. ....."
The Academy leadership has said that in Atlanta it would be interested in seeing sessions debating the role of science and social science in combating climate change and how political shifts might be influencing our research. We look forward to PDW and symposia that do so. We will also be discussing some of these strategic issues and specific initiatives over the coming months, including in the ONE Business Meeting, in order to identify additional positive actions we can take.
The ONE Executive