AI for Breakfast

Post 140 - Word Wednesday - Cronyism

As we are running up to an election here in the UK I thought this word would be fitting for Perplexity to explain!



ChatGPT created the image, still has a hand problem!

Cronyism is the practice of showing favouritism to friends and associates, especially by appointing them to positions of authority without proper regard to their qualifications. It is often seen in political and business settings. Here is a summary based on the provided search results:

Definition of cronyism:

• Partiality to cronies especially as evidenced in the appointment of political hangers-on to office without regard to their qualifications [7]
• The practice of favouring one's close friends, especially in political appointments [5] [9]
• Giving preference to friends, relatives or other acquaintances in political and business appointments regardless of their qualifications [6]

Key characteristics of cronyism:

• Favouring friends and associates based on personal connections rather than merit or performance [2] [6]
• Often involves political appointments and awarding of government contracts [4] [5]
• Can occur at both vertical levels (favoured by superiors) and horizontal levels (favoured by colleagues) [6]
• Stems from cultural values of particularism (in-group bias) and paternalism (unreserved personal loyalty) [6]
• Considered unethical as it violates principles of fairness, meritocracy and equal opportunity [11]

Examples of cronyism in use:

• A mayor appointing an unqualified friend to an important city position [7]
• A CEO hiring an old college roommate for an executive role despite lack of experience [2]
• Politicians filling their cabinets with friends and loyalists rather than the most qualified candidates [2] [5]
• Procurement managers altering contract criteria to favor companies owned by friends [6]
• Governments awarding infrastructure projects to cronies' firms without a proper bidding process [4]
  

In summary, cronyism is a form of favouritism where personal connections take precedence over qualifications and merit in doling out positions, contracts and advantages. While not always illegal, it is widely seen as unethical and damaging to organisational performance and morale. Cronyism thrives where there is lack of transparency and objective criteria in decision-making processes.

Citations:
[1] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cronyism
[2] https://study.com/learn/lesson/cronyism-concept-forms-examples.html
[3] https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/cronyism
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cronyism
[6] https://www.azeusconvene.com/articles/cronyism
[7] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cronyism
[8] https://www.scu.edu/government-ethics/resources/what-is-government-ethics/favoritism-cronyism-and-nepotism/
[9] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cronyism
[10] https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cronyism
[11] https://www.onboardmeetings.com/blog/cronyism/
[12] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cronyism