Tikkun Olam: exploring a spiritual path to sustainability

ABSTRACT

What should be the role of business in society? Broad-ranging initiatives, e.g. Principles for Responsible Management Education and the Sustainable Development Goals, attempt to reshape business as a force for good, yet evidence of scandalous business behavior continues to raise troubling doubts. This literature review introduces a healing perspective grounded in spirituality as applied in the health professions. This perspective aligns with Judaism’s principle of Tikkun Olam, the obligation to repair and perfect the world, proposed as a basis for business transformation. Invoking Tikkun Olam potentially impacts current understandings of Corporate Social Responsibility and reveals a sacred dimension to the adoption of sustainability initiatives. The article contributes to the literature on transformational approaches to exercising responsibility and embedding sustainability in contemporary business.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirituality
• healing
• Tikkun Olam
• corporate social responsibility
• sustainability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maurice Grzeda

Dr. Maurice Grzeda is a professor of management at Laurentian University where he teaches online graduate courses in ethical leadership and organizational development. His research interests include, online management education, management development, workplace spirituality and responsible management education.