Spirals of spirituality: A qualitative study exploring dynamic patterns of spirituality in Turkish organizations

Karakas, Fahri and Sarigollu, Emine (2019) Spirals of spirituality: A qualitative study exploring dynamic patterns of spirituality in Turkish organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 156 (3). 799–821. ISSN 0167-4544

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Abstract

This paper explores organizational spirituality, uncovers it as spiralling dynamics of both positive and negative potentialities, and proposes how leaders can shape these dynamics to improve the human conditions at the workplace. Based on case study of five Turkish organizations and drawing on the emerging discourse on spirituality in organizations literature, this study provides a deeper understanding of how dynamic patterns of spirituality operate in organizations. Insights from participant observation, organizational data, and semi-structured interviews yield three key themes of organizational spirituality: reflexivity, connectivity, and responsibility. Each of these themes has been found to be connected to upward spirals (inspiration, engagement, and calling) and downward spirals (incivility, silence, and fatigue). The study provides a detailed and holistic account of the individual and organizational processes through which spirituality is enacted both positively and negatively, exploring its dynamic and dualistic nature, as embodied in the fabric of everyday life and culture.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: organizational spirituality,organizational dynamics,spirals
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Employment Systems and Institutions
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Marketing
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 05 Jul 2017 05:06
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2023 09:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/64015
DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3619-y

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