Spark: Igniting Organizational Change through a Planetary Mindset

by Marc Thompson

Overview

A fresh, sustainability-focused take on building organizations.

In a world facing growing social, political and environmental challenges, our organizations are no longer serving us well. This book offers a fresh framework for rethinking organizations. It is built on four generative dynamics—purposing, democratizing, cooperating and commoning— underpinned by a planetary mindset. Grounded in real-world examples and the latest research, it explores how these dynamics can spark new modes of organizing. With a focus on overcoming barriers and inspiring change, it’s a compelling call to reimagine organizations for a future that sustains people and the planet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529226720
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	05/01/2026
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208

About the Author

Marc Thompson is Senior Fellow in Strategy and Organisation, Said Business School, University of Oxford.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. We Must Stop (Dis)organizing Like This: The need for alternative models

3. The Compass: Organizing for a sustainable future

4. Powering Change: Tensions, contradictions, paradoxes as the engines of sustainable organizing

5. Mindsets Matter for Systemic Change: The importance of a socio-ecological mindset

6. Powering Change: Values, norms and socio-cultural practice s

7. Alternatives in Action: Purposing and democratizing

8. Alternatives in Action: Cooperating and Commoning

9. Getting the Work Done: Experimental spaces, containers and socio-ecological learning

10. Getting the Work Done: Systemic change

11. Conclusion