| Dear Friends and Colleagues in AOM Leadership: We have launched the work of the Task Force charged with responsibility for providing the Board of Governors with advice on how to operationalize the newly amended AOM policy on political stands. To support the work of the Task Force, we're asking for your help in disseminating to your members a survey for members that we have launched through this webpage. Of course, your direct input through the survey would also be invaluable. A link to the survey will also be on the AOM FAQ webpage. The material that appears below my signature is designed to explain the nature and purpose of both the task force and the survey. Please disseminate widely to your members. With many thanks and best wishes,
Anita
Anita McGahan
President
Academy of Management
The Academy of Management has constituted a Task Force to deliberate on how the newly amended policy on political stands can be implemented. We are writing to you today with information about the Task Force, and with a link to a survey through which you can provide input to it. The notes below explain the background and next steps.
Q: What was the old AOM policy on taking stands, and how was it amended by the Board of Governors on February 10th, 2017?
The former policy was: "The Academy of Management does not take political stands. Officers and leaders are bound by this policy and may not make publicly stated political views in the name of the AOM or through use of AOM resources." This policy applied to all officers, including those in the Divisions and Interest Groups, Activity Committees, Theme Committees, and Journals. Moral, academic, pragmatic, and other arguments were barred if the subject was also political. Breaches of these policies are ethics violations under the AOM Code of Conduct. AOM Officers and Governors are further bound by the Board Code of Ethics to certain principles of collaboration, process, and adherence to policy and changes in policy. On February 10th, 2017, this policy was amended by the Board of Governors. The new policy seeks to preserve our identity as a member-driven, decentralized organization while, at the same time, allowing a statement in an exceptional situation. Several ideas that reflect our history guided the Executive Committee and the Board in amending the policy. First, we must retain the character of our organization as a scholarly body. Second, in a broad sense, all important political actions engage morality and ethics. Our Ethics Statements -- as well as our statements of values, objectives and goals -- contain and reflect principles that we must adhere to in our policies. The AOM must be able to respond in terms that reflect our principles. Third, the amendment must provide direction on what stand we would take if exceptional circumstances arise. We can take guidance from the fact that, while the AOM's members have differing views on many matters, they collectively endorse the purpose and existence of the AOM as an organization by virtue of their very membership. Fourth, no one, including the AOM President, should unilaterally represent his or her view as the organizational view. The AOM needs a process for developing an organizational stand if exceptional circumstances warrant one. Fifth, the AOM must adhere to legal requirements arising from our §501(c)3 status. Our general counsel has provided us with guidelines that emphasize that any stand taken must be issue-based. Finally, the amended policy cannot be implemented until after a task force advises the Board of Governors on how the policy will be elaborated and implemented. The newly amended policy on political stands is: "The Academy of Management does not take political stands. Officers and leaders are bound by this policy and may not make publicly stated political views in the name of the AOM or through use of AOM resources. However, under exceptional circumstances, and with the consensual support of the Executive Committee and in consultation with the Board of Governors, the President is authorized to issue a statement on behalf of the AOM when a political action threatens the existence, purpose, or functioning of the AOM as an organization." This policy is under embargo for 90 days. Q: What is the charge to the Board Task Force on taking stands?
The Task Force is asked to consider four items: (a) define further when a political action threatens the existence, purpose, or functioning of the AOM as an organization; (b) identify mechanisms for member input; and outline the decision and vetting process for taking any stand, and for developing such a stand; (c) define the implications of the policy for the DIGS, committees, and journals; and (d) determine how such a stand would be taken. The Task Force is also requested to deliberate on any other matters that it sees as important for elaborating and implementing the policy. In support of this work, the task force will be provided with a number of documents, including case studies and our analysis of how other Associations that do take stands operate. The Task Force has been asked to complete its deliberations within the next few months. Q: Who is on the Board Task Force on taking stands?
The Task Force is chaired by Professor Michael Hitt (Texas A&M University and Texas Christian University). Professor Hitt was the 52nd President of the Academy in 1997-1998. The Vice Chair and AOM officer is Professor Mary Ann Glynn (Boston College). Other members of the task force are Professors Tunji Adebesan (Lagos Business School), Gerald Davis (University of Michigan), Sergio Lazzarini (INSPER Brazil), Raza Mir (William Paterson University), and Katherine Xin (CEIBS). Terese Loncar of the Academy of Management headquarters team joins ex officio. Q: How can I provide input to the Task Force?
Please provide input through the following survey for members: http://aom.org/iMIS/Members/Valued-Input.aspx. By providing information through this survey, which will be open through midnight EST on March 10th, 2017, you can be assured that all members of the task force will receive the guidance and advice that you provide, and that your remarks become part of the records associated with the task force's deliberations. Thank you in advance for your ideas. |