Abstract
How should we study the management practices of religious organizations to do justice to their distinctive religious motivations and traditions? In this article, we articulate how a specific research approach – organizational ethnography – may enable a deeper understanding of religious and/or spiritual organizational practice. We approach our methodological research questions by engaging with the literature on the distinctive decision-making practices of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), commonly known as the Quaker business method. Having shown that the Quaker business method destabilizes a simple binary between “insider” and “outsider” and between believers and nonbelievers, we bring the theory and practice of organizational ethnography into conversation with Quaker accounts of decision-making. We conclude with pathways for future research in the space this destabilization creates.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 349-367 |
Number of pages | 28 |
Journal | Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 20 Jul 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Organizational ethnography
- Quakers
- decision-making
- Quaker business method
- spiritual/religious organizations