Is nepotism inherently wrong?

How do you personally define nepotism?
Why is nepotism bad?
How does nepotism differ from providing an enthusiastic reference?

No, I am not trolling.

You know someone. They are a great fit. They have the skills needed to complete the needed work. You know you will work well with them, that they are a team player. Sure, there are other applicants. They may interview well, but they are unknown. There is a huge hurdle for the unknown to overcome in order to get the job. They must show that they are more qualified than the known.

Then there's the aspect of relationship. Someone incredibly good at their field has a child. That child is inundated with trade secrets and various knowledge their entire lives. When they become old enough to work, they are prepared to jump in, they don't have that learning curve that comes with understanding company culture or the product line, they live and breathe it. And that child adores it. They have great ideas. They get all the right schooling to make their dreams happen and to take that company to the next level.

I have only heard of nepotism being bashed when someone is incompetent at their job, yet gets to keep it because of nepotism. But that seems to be the exception rather than the norm, in my limited life experience.

Yes, a diversity of ideas comes from a diverse work force. And any good leader knows to listen. But how is someone less of a leader because they were born into something, vs working their way into it? What negative traits follow legacies? And why do we need to shake things up?

 

This is a problem often faced by those "of color" and women. Qualified, but an unknown quantity. In many businesses (especially the "closely held" small businesses) they start out disadvantaged because they are not part of the club or old boys network. They have even less of a chance competing against family and friends of current management.

On the other hand, yes, a diverse work force can bring diverse ideas. But they may also bring disruptive ideas, and can be closed minded in their own (but different) way. Good or bad? Only time can tell.

 

If you take someone who is highly skilled in one area, and bring them to another, they are going to solve problems differently. They will bring innovation.

If a company is saturated in nepotism, it will not be able to progress as quickly as one that seeks differing voices, and will be at a competitive disadvantage overall.

So where is the balance?

 

Ah, the universal and perennially unanswered question.

 

No...
BUT, it's the potential of abuse or conflict of interest that may occur is the issue.

Yes, that person may be skilled and you know & trust them
However...often when checks or business decisions need to be made...they aren't. (favoritism)
And sometimes leads to corruption.

It's like speed limits.
We have them not because the majority doesn't have common sense.
But a few endanger everyone else...by going recklessly fast or neglect.

Same diff.
Prevention of abuse or neglect

 

I think it's really unfair to assume that friends and family are inherently lazy, incompetent, slackers, whatever.

In my mid-size home town there were numerous successful businesses in the second or third generation of family ownership/management. Off the top of my head I can list off a Ford dealer, a mortuary, Mexican restaurant, a well drilling service, a grocery, a couple of building contractors, a tavern, automotive machine shop, music store... These firms didn't go into second or third generation success by being a refuge for management's worthless friends and relatives.

When I worked at Dad's hardware store I worked my little butt off. I wanted to contribute to the family, not be a mooch!

Maybe it's different in government.

I will grant, however, that nepotism always looks bad, even if the workers are of indisputable competence.

 

Family run big business is a thing! nepotism is working for these companies:
The 21 biggest family-owned businesses in the world