In this learnshop held during ebbf's recent international event Thanos Kriemadis offers insights into his research on this new era in spiritual based management models.
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ebbfspirit learnshop by thanos kiremadis: new era in spiritual based management models
1. how can ethical business build the future
transitioning towards the spiritual enterprise?
Keynotes
October 12th – 15th 2017 , Bucharest
KEYNOTE
New Era in Management Development:
The influence of Spirituality on Organizational Performance
Thanos Kriemadis, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.A.
ethical business building the future #ebbfspirit@
2. New Era in Management Development:
The influence of Spirituality on
Organizational Performance
Thanos Kriemadis, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.A.
Professor of Strategic Planning and Business Consultant
University of Peloponnese, Athens, Greece
EBBFConference
October 2017, Bucharest, Romania
3. NEW ERA IN MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
SPIRITUAL – BASED MANAGEMENT MODEL
ORGANIZATIONAL AND
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
• Philosophy
• Spirituality
• Self Actualization
• Ethics
• Social Responsibility
• Sustainability
• Leadership & Corporate
Governance
• Strategic Management
• Human Resource
Management
• Marketing Management
• Total Quality Management
• Entrepreneurship &
Innovation
4. New Era in Management Development: The influence of
Spirituality on Organizational Performance
Definitions
Spirituality is a multiform search for a transcendent meaning of life based on the
reflection of our human experience, having connected with all beings and with the
whole of creation (Bouckaert and Zsolnai, 2012).
Spirituality is generally considered to be a complex, intercultural and
multidimensional concept (Cook, 2004; Moberg, 2002).
Spirituality is a research for inner identity, connectedness and transcendence.
Most definitions of Spirituality share a number of common elements: (a) reconnection
to the inner self (b) a search for universal values (c) deep empathy with all living
beings, and (d) a desire to keep in touch with the source of life (transcendence)
(Bouckaert & Zsolnai, 2012).
Meezenbroek et al., (2012) defined Spirituality as a search for connection with
oneself, connectedness with others and nature and connectedness with the
transcendent.
5. New Era in Management Development: The influence of
Spirituality on Organizational Performance
Definitions
Connection with oneself is expressed through actions based on moral values, authenticity,
inner harmony, self-knowledge, and search for meaning (Illes, 2012). Self knowledge and
connectedness with one’s true self is the foundation for building meaningful relationships
with others. The quest to “Know Thyself” has been the most significant part of human
development throughout history (Bouckaert and Zsolnai, 2012).
Connectedness with others and nature is expressed through compassion, caring,
gratitude, and love.
Connectedness with the transcendent includes connectedness with a transcendent reality
or a higher power/consciousness, which includes feelings of joy, hope and adoration of
the transcendent (Meezenbroek et al. 2012; Cook, 2004).
Business Ethics refer to the moral principles that define right and wrong in business that
go beyond legal issues (Ferrell, 2004).
Spiritual Business Leader: is a leader who draws inspiration from his or her spiritual
beliefs when running a company.
6. Spirituality in Business – Promotional Activities
and Spiritual-based Leadership
2001, International Conference in Hungary, European Workshop on “Spirituality in
management”.
2004, European Centers of Business Ethics, European Spirituality in Economics & Society Forum,
Belgium
In the USA & Asia similar initiatives took place.
The Palgrave Handbook of Business & Spirituality in 2012, Bouckaert & Zsolnai (eds).
Spiritual-based Leadership is an inclusive, holistic, and highly personal approach to Leadership
that intergrades a leader’s inner perspectives about identity, purpose, responsibility and success
with his or her decisions and actions in the outer world of business.
Spiritual-based Leadership incorporates other approaches to leadership such as “Business
Ethics”, “Value-based Leadership”, “Corporate Social Responsibility”, and “Sustainability”, and
considers these as its fundamental goals and not just as means to protect and promote the
business rationale/model (Pruzan, 2011). Optimization of economic performance is the goal of
the traditional management. The spiritual fulfillment of all stakeholders is the goal of the
Spiritual-based Leadership.
7. Spirituality in Business - Research
•Some spiritual practices include holding Bible, Quran, or Torah study groups; forming voluntary
meditation and prayer groups; forming interfaith dialog groups; organizing reflection sessions; offering
meditation exercises; and serving the society through Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
The conceptual link between spirituality and business ethics has been explored by the International
Research community and their potential relationship is just starting to emerge. Further empirical
investigations may contribute to an understanding of the association between the two domains.
Spirituality is measured using the Spiritual Transcendence Scale (STS) developed by Piedmont (1999).
The STS was validated with both self-and observer ratings, showing that the results for the scale could
be verified and have predictive value (Piedmont, 1999, 2001). The STS measures spirituality with 3
main factors: (a) Universality, (b) Prayer Fulfillment, and (c) Connectedness. The STS scale has been
shown to demonstrate suitable applicability across nationally and with groups of various faiths
(Piedmont, 2007; Piedmont et al., 2009). The STS uses nine items to measure universality, nine items
to measure Prayer Fulfillment, and six items to measure Connectedness.
Liu and Robertson (2011) developed a valid and reliable survey instrument (questionnaire) having 3
significant factors: (a) Interconnection with a higher power, (b) Interconnection with human beings,
and c) Interconnection with nature and all living things.
8. Spirituality in Business - Research
Spirituality supports organizational performance based on the existing business literature:
a) Spirituality enhances employee well-being and quality of life;
b) Spirituality provides employees a sense of purpose and meaning at work;
c) Spirituality provides employees a sense of interconnectedness and community.
Spirituality enhances the general well-being of employees:
a) by increasing their morale, commitment and productivity
b) by reducing stress, burnout and workaholism
9. Spirituality in Business - Research
•Seven studies have reported “a significant correlation between spirituality and mental health
indices of life satisfaction, happiness, self esteem, hope and optimism, and meaning in life”
• There is growing evidence in spirituality research that workplace spirituality programs result
in positive individual level outcomes for employees such as increased joy, serenity, job
satisfaction and commitment.
• Czaplewski, and Ferguson (2003) found a positive correlation between workplace spirituality
and employee attitudes such as commitment to the organization, intrinsic work satisfaction.
Neck and Milliman (1994) claim spirituality values have positive effects on both personal
well-being and job performance.
Lips- Wiersma (2002) argued that employees fully expressing their spirituality can benefit
their organizations through “creativity and intuition”, “increased empowerment”, “more
cohesive vision and purpose”; and “enhanced team and community building”.
Paloutzian, Emmons, and Keortge (2003) report that work takes on new meaning and
significance when it is seen as a calling, a sacred duty, a service opportunity to humanity or a
way to serve God, other deities, or a higher purpose. When work is seen as a calling, it
becomes more meaningful and this increases productivity and commitment of employees.
10. Spirituality in Business - Research
Spirituality and Business Performance
Organizations that encourage spirituality experiences improved their
organizational performance and profitability (Biberman and Whitty, 1997;
Biberman et al., 1999; Burack, 1999; Kriger and Hanson, 1999; Korac-Kakabadse,
Kouzmin, and Kakabadse, 2002; Neck and Milliman, 1994; Thompson, 2000).
In the last decade, several research projects have been conducted that reported
positive relationships between spirituality at work and organizational productivity
and performance (Bierly, Kessler, and Christensen, 2000; Delbecq, 1999; Korac-
Kakabadse and Korac-Kakabadse, 1997; Mitroff and Denton, 1999b).
Additional research reveals that organizations that have voluntary spirituality
programs have had higher profits and success (Dehler and Welsh, 1994; Mitroff and
Denton, 1999b; Konz and Ryan, 1999; Turner, 1999).
11.
Our Research on Spirituality & Management
University of Peloponnese
Research Laboratory “Service Management & Quality of Life”
Organized 2 Scientific Meetings (2014, 2017) on Spirituality, Meditation and
organizational/individual performance.
Participated in International Conferences with the same topic.
Conducted a comprehensive International Review of Literature regarding the status
of primary research on spirituality in the workplace.
Publishing a paper on the “Spiritual message of the Deming’s Management System”.
Dr Deming’s quality management ideas were adopted by Japan. They have also been
used by several fortune 500 companies. Dr. Deming’s management work has been
said to have sparked the greatest transformation since industrial revolution.
Organizing an International Conference on Spirituality and Business management in
Athens, Greece, in October 2018.
Conducting primary research in the following 7 Research Questions
12. Questions for you
1. Which should be, in your opinion, the spiritual practices ?
2. What does “spirituality in the workplace” mean to you ?
3. Can you provide any examples of spirituality application in your workplace ?