Towards a Spiritually Integral Theory of Management

Abstract

Novel epistemological, ontological, and metaphysical foundations of the burgeoning spirituality in management “movement” suggest a fundamental revisioning of the extant management disciplines. First, we examine the roots of management knowledge by revisiting Burrell and Morgan's (1979) classic work on sociological paradigms and organizational analysis. Their subjectivist-objectivist/sociology of regulation-sociology of change, four-quadrant paradigm framework has become a seminal work in organizational studies. Second, we explore the interdisciplinary work of philosopher Ken Wilber (1998), whose integral four-quadrant, holonic paradigms nicely complement Burrell and Morgan's efforts. Third, as inspired by the vanguard ideas and practices of the spirituality in management movement, we synergistically combine these two bodies of knowledge to produce a spiritually integral theory of management. Such a holistic theory may serve as an intellectual and methodological grounding for the new spirituality in management movement. In conclusion, we envision new possibilities for the future of management research and application in light of praxiological advancements offered by a spiritually integral theory of management.

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