My recent post on Good Change: Bad Change included a chart on organisational justice (reproduced below for convenience) which suggested only some of the aspects of justice that we need to consider as nonprofit leaders. This post picks up on that theme and uses another collection of charts to broaden our consideration of the many ways in which justice, and its close relative fairness, might arise in our work.
As suggested in the header chart above, fairness can be considered an aspect of justice. Fairness focuses mainly on equitable treatment at an individual level, while justice addresses broader societal concerns and systemic inequalities. For example, procedural fairness ensures fairness in decision-making processes, while procedural justice extends to societal implications and equity in resource distribution. Both are crucial for fostering a just and equitable society.
Justice
Various typologies of justice describe its forms in different terms – some more narrowly than others. The two charts that follow illustrate this, with the first offering six main types, which may be expressed at four main levels from personal to societal. The second is a more granular approach, expanding on most of the broad types captured in the first chart to include additional ones related to certain fields or functions, like economics, research, or the environment.
Fairness
The purposes, essence, ideals, and application of fairness are highlighted in the next chart, which characterises it as a universal principle related to the equitable and bias-free treatment of people.
Reflecting on organisational values
Most nonprofit organisations would list values like ‘fairness’ and ‘respect’ in the set of corporate values that inform their approach to achieving their worthy purpose. To the extent that your organisation identifies with these values, you may find it useful to reflect on which of the many different expressions of fairness need to be addressed in your operations.
The very dense chart below describes 18 types of fairness, along with brief explanatory notes for each.
For those wishing to download a version that can be enlarged for easier reading, a PDF is available below.
The intersection of justice & fairness
Bringing the two typologies together in some form, the matrix chart offered here illustrates just some of the possible alignments. You may well identify other relationships between justice and fairness concepts that require consideration in directing and managing your nonprofit organisation.
Hopefully, you find the resources offered here provide a useful catalyst for further reflection on the critical role these related concepts play in promoting a positive culture, ethical conduct, and social harmony. Understanding the nuances of each type is essential for addressing justice and fairness issues effectively across different domains.
See also:
Good Change: Bad Change
The science of ‘worth’ – your theory of value
With ‘respect’ …
Integrity – greater than the sum of its aspects
Are we managing human resources or human beings?
