Monks' habits back in fashion

A 6th-century monk may offer new and robust frameworks for the advent of enlightenment in the European e-business age.

Angela Rae, senior lecturer in human resource management at the University of Northumbria's Newcastle Business School, believes St Benedict's Rule, which is still used to govern hundreds of Benedictine monks worldwide, could provide lessons on management for modern business.

Ms Rae is setting up a research project to see if the monk's writings have any relevance for the rapidly changing e-business environment.

St Benedict's Rule is a 9,000-word document that gives guidance on how people should live together as a community.

Ms Rae said that the rule covered topics that still have resonances in modern businesses, such as the induction of new people into a community, decision-making and delegation.

"We have gone beyond the glib management phrases of the 1980s and 1990s about 'staff as assets, not liabilities' and so forth. It is true now that many people live and breathe work. The community model, where they feel more relaxed and more 'at home', is key to helping them cope better with stress.

"Many companies are characterised by a great deal of change but without stability underpinning it. Benedictine monks have to take a vow of stability and change that could help employers and staff come to terms with the constant change so typical of business.

"Monks may seem like bizarre role models, but, in fact, they have always been hard-headed businessmen, often running schools and farms and managing property," Ms Rae said.

She hopes her research will result in a greater sense of "emotion and spirituality" in the world of work. "I'd like to think it could lead to a greater sense of common purpose within a workforce and may encourage employers to re-examine issues such as flexible contracts and methods of taking on new staff. St Benedict's Rule covers all these things - it's just a case of finding out if they are applicable to the business world."

Ms Rae would like to hear from any companies interested in helping with her research project. She can be contacted on 0191-384 2600 or by email on anji.rae@unn.ac.uk