Well-crafted objects – well-crafted work: On the ethics and aesthetics of care in the case of Olivetti - 18 Sep 2024

We welcomed Professor Daniel Hjorth (Lund University) and Assistant Professor Vittoria Magrelli (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano) for a research seminar at the House of Innovation.

Start time: 2024-09-18 at 12:00

End time: 2024-09-18 at 13:30

Location: On-site at the Stockholm School of Economics. Registration required.

Paper title and abstract

Well-crafted objects – well-crafted work: On the ethics and aesthetics of care in the case of Olivett

Abstract: This paper explores the intricate relationships between craftsmanship, ethics, and aesthetics within the context of Olivetti, a company renowned for its commitment to producing well-crafted objects invented, developed and manufactured within a well-crafted work environment. The paper frames its analysis within a new materialist perspective, drawing on Foucault's concept of the "government of things" and the notion of assemblages, to understand how Olivetti's unique blend of ethical and aesthetic concerns influenced its organizational practices. The study highlights how Olivetti’s commitment to craft extended beyond the physical production of objects to encompass a holistic approach to work, community, and life. This "Olivetti phenomenon" is characterized by an ethics and aesthetics of care that permeated the company's operations, reflecting a deep commitment to personalism and the well-being of its employees. The paper argues that Olivetti successfully translated the ethics of craft into a large-scale industrial operation, creating a corporate environment where the well-being of workers and the quality of products were inextricably linked. Through a historical analysis, the paper demonstrates how Olivetti maintained this delicate balance between craft and industrialization,achieving what we describe as "social craftopreneurship". Through a reflection on the untimeliness of Adriano Olivetti's philosophy, the paper suggests that his vision remains relevant today as a model for integrating ethical and aesthetic values into more sustainable corporate practices centred on care. The paper contributes to the broader discourse on organizational ethics, craftsmanship, and the role of aesthetics in business, offering insights into how these elements can be harmonized to create the existentially sustainable workplace.

About Daniel Hjorth

Daniel Hjorth is a Professor at Lund University School of Economics and Management. His research interests include the conditions for creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation within established organizations. How organizations are created and how conditions for multidisciplinary, collaborative creativity are organized and led are long-term fascinations for him. Central to his work is the study of the relationship between economy and aesthetics, as well as the ongoing dialogue between philosophy and the humanities, which he nurtures to fuel this creative tension. Daniel also leads the Centre for Aesthetics and Business Creativity (ABC), which supports and advances humanities- and arts-oriented business administration research and education.

About Vittoria Magrelli

Vittoria Magrelli is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Family Business Management, part of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy), since January 2020. Her research interests include intergenerational dynamics, innovation, and temporality in family boundary organizations. She conducts qualitative research including single and multiple case studies adopting ethnographic methods and other data gathering techniques. In 2019, Vittoria obtained her PhD in Management from the Lancaster University Management School in the UK. In 2013, she graduated with a Philosophy of Science MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK). Her work has been published in international scientific journals including Family Business Review and Strategic Organization. Vittoria is a member of IFERA, EGOS, AOM, and EURAM, and serves as peer reviewer for leading journals including the Journal of Management Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Family Business Review, and Technovation.