Hello OBers:
I am seeking support for a caucus submission that will serve as a forum to discuss alternative models of organizing and satisfying ways of being in organizations. One of the requirements for caucus proposals is that at least five members of the academy support it, though lending support won't obligate you or cause your name to be included in the program. Here's what I have in mind:
The purpose of this caucus is to identify exemplars of unconventional practices that result in humanistic, democratic or participative, and personally rewarding organizational experiences such as Fasenpat (Trigona, 2008), Kerala (Franke, 2008), Samar and Orpheus (Banai, Nirenberg & Menachem, 2000), and Semco (Semler, 1994, 2005). The caucus will showcase several of these unusual, unorthodox, alternative forms of organizing, leading, motivating, and rewarding organizational members. Then, as a caucus, we will identify underlying principles and lessons for possible future research, case study development, or testing in other venues. Hopefully, the discussion will lead to the formation of a working group to identify additional successful organizational models and interpersonal practices which seem to result in the triune of satisfactory (profitable, effective) levels of collective achievement, positive interpersonal regard among the membership for one another, and individual satisfaction.
References:
Banai, M., Nirenberg, J. & Menachem, M. (2000). Leadership in self-managing organizations: Orpheus and a date
plantation. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies 7(3) 2-17.
Franke, R. W. (2008). Local planning: The Kerala experiment. In C. Spannos (Ed.) Real utopia: Participatory
society for the 21st century. Oakland, CA:AK Press.
Semler, R. (1995). Maverick: The success story behind the world's most unusual workplace. New York:
Warner Books.
Semler, R. (2004). The seven-day weekend: Changing the way work works. New York: Penguin.
Trigona, M. (2008). Fasinpat (factory without a boss): An Argentine experience in self-management. In C. Spannos
(Ed.) Real utopia: Participatory society for the 21st century. Oakland, CA:AK Press.
I hope you will be inspired to join in the conversation. Please let me know if you are willing to lend support at your earliest convenience. Please also feel free to comment upon, elaborate, or edit the above. I would appreciate hearing from you. Just include your name and email address. Thanks.
John