Dynamics of Organisational Wisdom

Abstract

This paper introduces the notion of organisational wisdom. While wisdom has been largely neglected in the management literature, there appears to be an increasing interest in wisdom and its practical application across a wide range of disciplines. A small, but growing number of writings drawing on the ancient wisdom traditions such as Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and discussions of spirituality and soul in the workplace indicate that that the hard edge of management is softening to holistic and philosophical considerations. Facets of wise thought and action are central to burgeoning disciplines such as business ethics, sustainability, transformational leadership, corporate citizenship and social responsibility, and workplace democratisation. Built on the principles and practices of organisational learning and knowledge management, but surpassing them in their ability to foster learning, understanding, commitment, and “doing the right thing,” organisational wisdom provides an aim worth striving for. This paper identifies and explains important elements of organisational wisdom, and describes their interaction as a dynamic, complex system. Understanding this system illuminates causes of organisational learning problems, permits targeting key sticking points and levers for change, and suggests strategies for more effective learning and the achievement of important performance outcomes. Show more