Handling the Moral Licensing Syndrome in an Organization: A Peep into Ismail Tiamiyu’s New Guide Book

For anyone that is not directly in the business of human resources management, encountering Ismail Tiamiyu’s treatise on the subject of moral licensing might sound very strange. Of course, as it is difficult to judge how delicious a pot of soup is until the content is tasted, so it will be for anyone looking at the book from a distance. However, a closer look at the book would reveal what the subject matter is all about.

The book concentrates on a subject matter that is very important in the workplace. Moral Licensing Syndrome, according to the author, is a moral dilemma faced by an employee when their past successes or track records push them to disregard rules or cheat the system. 

So, if by now your curiosity is tickled to want to have an understanding of the whole subject, then the book to order is Ismail Tiamiyu’s Moral Licensing: How your Category-best Employees can Endanger your System. So, what is it with the book? How can this book be useful to both interested and general readers? What are the major take-aways from the book? The answers to these questions are the focus of subsequent paragraphs.

With the book, Tiamiyu has made an effort to simplify a subject matter that could be complex to understand especially to lay readers and difficult to deal with by the concerned professionals. He does this in the book by harnessing storytelling resources backed up with some insights to illustrate the concept. In addition, the book is well arranged such that it is easy to follow. From the first chapter to the last chapter, it is easier to map the meaning, definition, problems and solutions to the issue of moral licensing. 

The prologue is a story that illustrates the dilemma a board of directors could find itself with the best salesperson of the company having character issues. Then, the first chapter introduces concepts while the second chapter focuses on definition and manifestation of MLS in people. The third chapter examines the conditions that reinforce MLS in employees while the fourth chapter looks at the negative effects as well as control of MLS. The last chapter is a recap of the entire information in the book. So, it is a real guide book that is well-arranged and well written in a simple language that is easy to comprehend.

Tiamiyu, who holds a first degree in Sociology, is a Research and Development expert. He makes his background reflect in the book with his copious citations of scholarly work. This does not make the book too difficult to understand as he breaks it down. When asked what his motivation for writing the book was, he said wanted to resolve frictions usually generated by Moral Licensing Syndrome in the workplace. 

He also asserted that his offering is his own contribution to generating a growth-driven process for administrators and managers towards resolving the Moral Licensing Syndrome in organizations.  Thus, the book is recommended for employers, managers, human resource professionals, employees and anyone who is interested in people’s management.