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page 131 chapter III
Values must be exemplified
The family is the elementary community of shared values,
and it makes the most important contribution to
the communication of values. Klaus-Peter Müller
stressed this point not only in his speech, but also in
the subsequent discussion: “Our main problem is that
fundamental values, such as tolerance, honesty or
politeness, are hardly communicated at all today in
many families. Values begin in the family, and it is
there that they must be exemplified. And every one of
us can contribute to that.” It was consequently fatal if
parents gave a bad example: “What effect does it have
on a child if, for example, its parents quite openly
swindle their insurance company by reporting a broken
camera as having been stolen?”
Klaus-Peter Müller was of the opinion that, if families
contribute less to communicating values, then more
must be done in public – through the media, for example.
He said other important authorities included kindergartens,
schools and universities. Speaking from
the audience, André Habisch, professor at the University
of Eichstätt, also advocated universities accepting
responsibility in this respect. He suggested that managers
give students talks about ethical conduct and
ethical conflicts in their day-to-day professional life,
since “students of economics model themselves
on successful managers”. A good approach, said
Klaus-Peter Müller, and one that he already practised
regularly at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
“Particularly now, in times of crisis, top
management has the duty not to shy away, but to engage
in a dialogue and demonstrate the seriousness of
their efforts to change things.”