University Lecture Series finishes right on the money! – University of Reading
15 February 2008The final University of Reading Public Lecture in the 2007/2008 series is bound to leave the audience hungry for more, as Professor John Hendry presents 'Only human? Greed and corruption in business and government' on Tuesday 26 February.
Power, Lord Acton famously observed, tends to corrupt. So too does money. Without the driving force of financial self-interest, the business enterprise will rarely succeed. With that self-interest there is always a risk that hunger will turn to greed and that individuals will seek profit at the expense of those entitled to it, whether shareholders, employees, pensioners or the public purse. Put business and government together and these risks are compounded.
Professor Hendry, Head of the University's Business School said: "Business-government relationships are pervaded by greed and self-interest. What the public sees as corrupt and morally indefensible, the actors concerned see as quite normal and legitimate."
Focusing on this difference of perspective, this lecture explores the space between the human ideal, that people should always behave morally, and the human reality that sometimes they don't. How far should we tolerate greed and corruption as "necessary evils" of business practice and wealth creation? How should we hold people accountable when things go wrong? And who should we blame?
This lecture follows the exciting recent news of the University of Reading reaching an agreement in principle on a potential merger of the Henley Management College with the University to form a new world-class business school.
"This final lecture is a fitting end to what's been a fascinating series," commented Alison Fabian, organiser of the lecture series. 'It's been wonderful to see the Palmer Lecture Theatre packed to the rafters and audiences genuinely enthralled and entertained by our quality of speakers."
The lecture begins at 8pm on Tuesday 26 February 2008 and will be held in the Palmer Building on the University's Whiteknights campus. It is free to attend and no ticket is required. Large groups should telephone in advance.
For further information, please contact the University's Communications Office on (tel) 0118 378 7110 or email publiclectureseries@reading.ac.uk
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Notes for Editors:
John Hendry is Professor of Management and Head of the Business School at the University of Reading, and a Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. Trained initially as a mathematical physicist his research career has spanned the history and philosophy of science, the history of technology and industrial policy, and social and economic studies in business, management and organisation. Before moving to Reading he served on the faculties of London Business School, Cranfield School of Management and the Judge Business School. His recent work has focused on the history and sociology of business and morality. Between Enterprise and Ethics: Business and Management in a Bimoral Society was published by Oxford University Press in 2004.
On 4 July 2007 work began on a landmark new home for the Business School and a major extension to the existing ICMA Centre. The project, set for completion in 2009, will bring together the Business School's five internationally renowned departments, Economics, Management, Real Estate & Planning, Informatics and the ICMA Centre.
For media enquiries only, please contact James Barr, the University's Press Assistant on: 0118 378 7115 or by email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk