| Currently modern business practice, not working out of praxis , often denies the possibility of putting ethical concerns first and of succeeding economically or being competitive in the market place. The French Laundry, a restaurant in Napa Valley in California, seemed to honor in principle and in action ethical foundations as a way of providing a method of management and protocol to support its standards. The author observed for a year and interviewed 24 members of the staff of 90, using critical hermeneutic themes to see if this restaurant did indeed have an ethical foundation, how it was manifested, and how it could contribute to its success. Results indicated the restaurant is indeed not only informed by ethical components, but that it is precisely because of these ethical components, that the restaurant reaches its specific goals, creating a standard of excellence which manifests itself in disciplined staff, highly successful economic returns, and a worldwide gastronomic reputation. It is hoped this study of relationship of ethics and practice in a small business model will be seen as a template for others who hope to combine ethical sense and business sense. |
