Spiritual development and meaningful work: a Habermasian critique |
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Authors: | Shoaib Ul-Haq |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Management, Karachi School of Business &2. Leadership, Karachi, Pakistanshoaib_ulhaq@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTA dominant theme of the workplace spirituality discourse in HRD is its transformational nature which enables an organization to imbue work with purpose and meaning. Empirical studies have shown that providing meaningful work to employees enhances several indicators of organizational performance. However, this discourse ignores that such organizational interventions are shaped by capitalist power relations in which the organization is embedded. In this paper, I apply a critical theory perspective drawing from the work of Jurgen Habermas to show that workplace spirituality movement has emerged in response to the loss of meanings inherent in neoliberal capitalism. However, since this movement is operating on a logic of performativity and instrumental rationality, it represents an attempt to re-orient individual subjectivity and the spiritual realm of human experience to serve capitalism. |
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Keywords: | Workplace spirituality Habermas colonization of the lifeworld capitalism meaningful work |
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