Finding the Right Path: Towards a Buddhist Sense of Corporate Ethics in Bhutan

Abstract

Is there such a thing as a “Buddhist” sense of corporate ethics? In this article, the authors propose a contribution to that question by drawing on their personal experience managing or supporting the development of an innovative new business venture in Bhutan, a small and primarily Buddhist country. The authors propose that one salient feature of a Buddhist business ethic might be a conscious choice by an entrepreneur to encourage and facilitate the full agency of those communities that stand to be impacted the most by a business’ operations. This business ethic intentionally empowers communities to speak on their own behalf, and consciously embraces a consensus-oriented decision-making process, even in situations when the logic of power, status, or wealth would not demand such a commitment. We describe this business model as one of intentional interdependence with affected communities, and describe how this logic is not only ethically the right thing to do, but also valuable from a business perspective, especially during turbulent and unpredictable times such as our own.