Workplace spirituality and organizational effectiveness: exploration of relationship and moderators

ABSTRACT

Research on benefits of workplace spirituality is rich in diversity, and has gained traction over the years. However, wider adoption of workplace spirituality initiatives will require sound justification of its ability to improve organizational effectiveness. Assertions about organizational effectiveness being a beneficial outcome of workplace spirituality are predominantly conceptual propositions, or based on narrow perspectives of the construct. Practitioners are under increasing pressure to adopt evidence-based management practices, and must justify investments in development interventions. Based on an eastern perspective of workplace spirituality, this study evaluates the relationship between workplace spirituality and organizational effectiveness as observed among academics in the higher education sector in India. The study establishes empirical evidence of relationship between the two constructs, as well as universality of this relationship across several demographic factors. These outcomes pave the way for wider adoption of workplace spirituality initiatives to improve organizational effectiveness.

Keywords:

• Workplace spirituality
• organizational effectiveness
• evidence-based management
• universality
• academics
• India

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nidhi Sharma

Nidhi Sharma is Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi, where she also held the position of Teacher-in-Charge at Kirori Mal College. She is an alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce, and Delhi School of Economics. As a PhD scholar, her interest lies in the area of human resource management and organizational behavior. She has published quantitative and qualitative research papers on organizational effectiveness, workplace spirituality, and talent management in leading national and international journals.

Reetesh K. Singh

Reetesh K. Singh is Professor and Dean at Faculty of Commerce and Business, University of Delhi. He has published several articles in the domain of managing human resources with focus on effectiveness and spirituality. Along with qualitative and quantitative research and teaching, he has been actively engaged in corporate training, consultancy, and administration. His contributions as a trainer and interventions at the corporate level have been well acknowledged by HR practitioners.