Positive Organizational Scholarship Concept: An Overview and Future Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about the insightful Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) concept, which is considered as one of the most important management theoretical developments over the past decade. Therefore, it reviews the meaning, scope, domains, major constructs, outcomes, and theoretical overlaps related to POS, as well as providing a critical analysis of this umbrella concept. In doing so, it is expected to contribute to further understanding of POS theoretical richness as a path to the improvement of workplaces. Despite the difficulties and problems discussed here (e.g., few empirical work, validity issues, and some theoretical intersections) under the relatively new POS concept has ever gathered germane knowledge that has helped to explain how organizations improve their dynamics and general outcomes by adopting more constructive approaches. On the other hand, it is exciting to find that POS concept researchers have worked with a sizeable number of constructs, topics, and ideas. This review contributes to the POS concept by closely examining some of its major constructs (fundamentally those ones that are more theoretically and empirically developed) such as compassion, connections and relationships, cooperation, courageous, flourishing, forgiveness, meaningful work, positive deviance, positive motions, resilience, thriving and virtuous aspects. The results reveal a richer understanding about their benefits and challenges, as well as emphasizing new possibilities for future studies.

Intrinsic case study of how leaders at a startup biotechnology organization established a positive culture and high organizational performance

“…Within the scope of POS, there exist several key aspects related to overall organizational function coupled with enhanced organizational performance and capabilities. An organization must develop a concern for the need to flourish if it is to grow and survive; it must recognize the need for the development of its people, strengths, and skills in order to empower them and encourage the common sharing of organizational values and goals; and it must place strong emphasis on the life-enhancing dynamics of organizational culture (Dutton & Glynn, 2008). Positive leadership then seeks to enhance the relationship between organizational leaders and followers with the purpose of establishing goals and shared values common to all.…”