About the Book: Bridging the Values Gap: How Authentic Organizations Bring
Values to Life
Business has a values problem. Its not just spectacular public scandals like
Enron (which, incidentally, had a great corporate values statement). Many
companies fail to live up to the standards they set for themselves, alienating
the public and leaving employees cynical and disengaged- resulting in lower
productivity, less innovation, and sometimes outright corruption. The reason,
argue top scholars and consultants Edward Freeman and Ellen Auster, is that all
too often values are handed down from on high, with little employee input,
discussion, or connection to the challenges and opportunities facing the
organization. Although the words