Essay - Spiritual Practice in the Workplace Chapter 1. Introduction Contemporary Management...

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN THE WORKPLACE

***** 1.

Introduction

Contemporary management theory and practice has in recent years taken cognizance of a new trajectory in ***** ***** workplace theoretical perspectives. This refers to the perceived increasing importance of research in***** the various aspects and dimensions of spirituality in the business world and the workplace. Issues such as learning and leadership in the workplace ***** been enhanced and exp*****ed upon by numerous research studies, which have ***** particularly focused on the *****terrelati*****ships between ***** of ***** and the meaning of work. (Howard, 2002) As ***** (2002) states:" Recently, the term spirituality has gained greater currency in organization and management development circles" (p.230). Therefore the study ***** spirituality ***** the workplace is no longer seen as a peripher*****l concern in management praxis but rather as a subject that can throw considerable light ***** understanding on managerial issues and the process of leadership, ***** well as ***** learning processes in the workplace and organization.

Furthermore, the study ***** spirituality ***** begun to be seen as an indispensable part of managerial and organizational success. Howard (*****) goes on ***** ***** state that there is an "...explosion of interest in spirituality as a new dimension ***** ***** " (Howard, 2002, p. 230). On the other hand that problematics of this area of research must also be borne ***** mind. The study of workplace spirituality is a provocative and sensitive issue that needs to be studied in-depth and understood in terms ***** its impact, relevance and practical signifi*****ce in the work*****g environment.

***** chapter will provide an overview of the various *****pects ********** components ***** this study and ***** deal briefly with the ***** as well ***** practical ********** surrounding ***** topic of spirituality in the workplace.

1.2. Background

In essence workers are an ********** ***** to the part of a management system. Thus, a leader's decisions or actions in the workplace might positively or negatively impact a worker's living conditions, health, culture, and personality. *****orists in the field have realized that ***** order to maximize a leaders' decision-making effectiveness in organizations, leaders need to evaluate and ***** aware of the perceptions of workers as well as *****ir own perceptions of their inner spirit, moral values, ***** desires. Essential to the background on any ***** on spirituality in ***** workplace is that, in the context of spiritual *****hip, positive attitudes and behaviors might contri*****e to healthy organizations.

A central aspect that underlies this topic is the mean*****g of spirituality ***** ***** significance in ***** of business. The terms business and spirituality have generally in the past been seen to refer ***** very different and even opposed **********. However, as ***** thesis will illustrate, ***** have been an incre*****ing number of ***** *****d reports dealing with the intersection between business and spirituality, which is the focus of the present *****.

In terms of a r*****ther simpl*****tic definition of the term *****, this concept can be seen as a *****n-r*****tional aspect of existential life which includes emotions, feelings and