character

1. Computing: Letter, number, punctuation mark, other mark or symbol, and 'space' any element of a given character set.

2. Banking: One of the five key factors (see five C's of credit) considered in evaluation of a loan application is the applicant's credit history and reputation in the community.

3. Law: Reputation of a person, entity, or witness.

4. HR: Sum total of a person's behavioral traits, history, reputation in community, and values.

When you have able managers of high character running businesses about which they are passionate, you can have a dozen or more reporting to you and still have time for an afternoon nap. Conversely, if you have even one person reporting to you who is deceitful, inept or uninterested, you will find yourself with more than you can handle.

• What Wealth Cannot Buy