Organizational ethnography and religious organizations: the case of Quaker decision-making

Nicholas Burton*, Juliette Koning, Rachel Muers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)349-367
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Management, Spirituality and Religion
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Organizational ethnography
  • Quakers
  • decision-making
  • Quaker business method
  • spiritual/religious organizations
  • STUDYING SPIRITUALITY
  • MANAGEMENT
  • WORK
  • MINDFULNESS
  • QUALITY
  • TALES
  • FIELD

Cite this