Question

Describe the origins of stewardship and its modern applications.

Short answer

Stewardship is an ethical ideology which means humans are responsible for the world and its care. It has origins in many religions and ancient societies like Christianity and Roman culture. Modern applications of this concept are seen in environmental conservation, corporate world and data management.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the term Stewardship

Stewardship is an ethical or philosophical concept that people have a duty to take care of the world. Essence of stewardship states that humans are responsible for the world, and should take care of it as loving, caring and responsible stewards. It involves management, care, and utilisation of resources without exploitation.

Origins of Stewardship

The concept of stewardship originates from several cultures and religious texts. In Christianity, the idea is deeply entrenched, as humans are considered God's stewards on earth. Other religions like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism also share similar ideologies. This idea has also been visible in historical societies like Greek and Roman cultures.

Modern Applications of Stewardship

Stewardship has evolved and is now utilized widely in various fields. Environmental stewardship is an example in which humans are considered responsible for preserving the environment. It's also used in businesses where corporate executives act as stewards entrusted with managing the company's resources. Lastly, it's seen in Data Stewardship where management and oversight of an organization's data assets is done to provide high quality data.