Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline

by Kim S. Cameron, Jane E. Dutton, Robert E. Quinn

Overview

Scholarship establishes a new field of study in the organizational sciences. Just as positive psychology focuses on exploring optimal individual psychological states rather than pathological ones, Positive Organizational Scholarship focuses attention on optimal organizational states —- the dynamics in organizations that lead to the development of human strength, foster resiliency in employees, make healing, restoration, and reconciliation possible, and cultivate extraordinary individual and organizational performance.
While the concept of positive organizational scholarship encompasses the examination of typical and even dysfunctional patterns of behavior, it emphasizes positive deviance from expected patterns. Positive Organizational Scholarship examines the enablers, motivations, and effects associated with remarkably positive phenomena —- how they are facilitated, why they work, how they can be identified, and how researchers and managers can capitalize on them. The contributors do not adopt one particular theory or framework but draw from the full spectrum of organizational theories to understand, explain, and predict the occurrence, causes, and consequences of positivity.
Positive Organizational Scholarship rigorously seeks to understand what represents the best of the human condition based on scholarly research and theory. This book invites organizational scholars to build upon and extend the positive organizational phenomena being examined. It provides the definitional, theoretical, and empirical foundations for what will become a cumulative body of enduring work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781576752326
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	08/10/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	6.44(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Kim S. Cameron is professor of organizational behavior in the School of Business and professor of higher education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. His research centers on organizational virtuousness, especially forgiveness after downsizing, and its effects on performance. A key aspiration is to establish positive organizational scholarship in the main- stream of the organizational sciences.
Jane E. Dutton’s research focuses on how high-quality relationships affect individuals and work organizations. She is interested in the transformative potential of relationships as they enable growth, identity, knowledge, and change for individuals. She also studies how organizational contexts enable relational capabilities of firms that heal, build resilience, and foster human flourishing. She is the William Russell Kelly Professor of Business Administration and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.
Robert E. Quinn is interested in positive organizational scholarship and the processes of change. He focuses his research, teaching, and practice on unleashing human potential. He specifically addresses topics such as leader- ship, vision, and the transformation of people, groups, and organizations. He holds the Margaret Elliot Tracy Collegiate Professorship at the University of Michigan and teaches in the School of Business.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Foundations of Positive Organizational Scholarship—
—Kim S. Cameron, Jane E. Dutton, and Robert E. Quinn
2 Positive Organizational Studies: Lessons from Positive Psychology
—Christopher M. Peterson and Martin E. P. Seligman

Part 1: Virtuous Processes, Strengths, and Positive Organizing
3 Virtues and Organizations
—Nansook Park and Christopher M. Peterson
4 Organizational Virtuousness and Performance
—Kim S. Cameron
5 Positive Organizing and Organizational Tragedy
—Karl E. Weick
6 Acts of Gratitude in Organizations
—Robert A. Emmons
7 Organizing for Resilience
—Kathleen M. Sutcliffe and Timothy J. Vogus
8 Investing in Strengths
—Donald O. Clifton and James K. Harter
9 Transcendent Behavior
—Thomas S. Bateman and Christine Porath
10 Courageous Principled Action
—Monica C. Worline and Ryan W. Quinn

Part 2: Upward Spirals and Positive Change
11 Positive Emotions and Upward Spirals in Organizations
—Barbara L. Fredrickson
12 Positive and Negative Emotions in Organizations
—Richard P. Bagozzi
13 New Knowledge Creation in Organizations
—Fiona Lee, Arran Caza, Amy Edmondson, and Stefan Thomke
14 Positive Deviance and Extraordinary Organizing
—Gretchen M. Spreitzer and Scott Sonenshein
15 Toward a Theory of Positive Organizational Change
—David L. Cooperrider and Leslie E. Sekerka
16 Authentic Leadership Development
—Fred Luthans and Bruce Avolio

Part 3: Positive Meanings and Positive Connections
17 The Power of High-Quality Connections
—Jane E. Dutton and Emily D. Heaphy
18 A Theory of Relational Coordination
—Jody Hoffer Gittell
19 Finding Positive Meaning in Work
—Amy Wrzesniewski
20 Fostering Meaningfulness in Working and at Work
—Michael G. Pratt and Blake E. Ashforth
21 Positive Organizational Network Analysis and Energizing Relationships
—Wayne Baker, Rob Cross, and Melissa Wooten
22 Empowerment and Cascading Vitality
—Martha S. Feldman and Anne M. Khademian
Conclusion
23 Developing a Discipline of Positive Organizational Scholarship
—Kim S. Cameron, Jane E. Dutton, Robert E. Quinn, and Amy Wrzesniewski
References
Index
About the Contributors