Economic Fodder

During anti-Napoleonic debates the French writer Chateaubriand (1814) criticized the cynical attitude of the times where conscripts were treated as “the raw material” or “cannon fodder”.

Similar concepts dated to the 16th century, including those in Shakespeare’s play Henry IV.

Many corporate publications proclaim that “Our people are our greatest asset”.

Regrettably, few organisations follow that through into reality. Too often, organisations try to follow short-cut methods to improve productivity and find that in the longer-term they have not been successful because it’s not an holistic effort.

So, every time I see Human Resources or Human Capital referenced, I think of the Economic Fodder Department.

Unfortunately, that’s what it often becomes when organisations categorize their allegedly greatest asset!

But, even those “HR” or Personnel or “People and Culture” departments still have people in them; and one needs to try to connect with them.

How do you think of people who work in your business or organisation; in its various business units?

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