The effect of workplace spirituality on team effectiveness

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical model aimed at understanding the impact that workplace spirituality (WS) has on team effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach -A literature review uncovers aspects of the implications that WS has for organizations and how it is related to team effectiveness. Findings -A theoretical model aimed at understanding the effect of WS on team effectiveness is presented. It is proposed that workplace spirituality is an element of the organizational culture and that it has an important effect on team effectiveness. In this sense, trust, creativity and respect are hightlighted as being important attributes presented in those organizations in which WS is encouraged. Research limitations/implications -With regard to limitations, other attributes such as communication or cooperation could also be considered for inclusion about spirituality in the workplace. Also, the concept of national culture could introduce important and interesting implications. Originality/value -The paper contributes by analyzing the effects of WS on teams. Past literature had focused primarily on studying the impact of WS at the individual and organizational level.

The what, why, and how of spirituality in the workplace revisited: a 14-year update and extension

“…For instance, Marques, Dhiman, and King (2005) include creativity as an outcome in their comprehensive model of spirituality at work. Similarly, Daniel (2010) includes creativity in his model of the effects of workplace spirituality on team effectiveness, while Corry and colleagues (Corry, Lewis, and Mallett 2014) suggest that spirituality and creativity combine to form a construct that may result in a process of transformative coping and associated mental health benefits. Spirituality, if viewed from a religious perspective, has been shown to influence creativity in at least one recent study (Zysberg and Schenk 2013).…”

“…Marques and colleagues (2005) include both honesty and trust as vital themes for a spiritual workplace, while Daniel (2010) suggests that trust is an important attribute in organizations in which workplace spirituality is encouraged. Along similar lines, Jurkiewicz and Giacalone (2004) include trust as a key component of their values framework of workplace spirituality.…”

Workplace spirituality and stress: evidence from Mexico and US

“…Finally, WS can be a determinant of values such as trust, respect, loyalty, responsibility and honesty. These values could function as mediators between WS and employee outcomes such as performance and cooperation (Daniel, 2010).…”

“…This popularity could be explained by the positive impact that the construct (WS) has at the individual (Milliman et al, 2003;Pawar, 2009;Rego and Cunha, 2008;Rego and Souto, 2004), group (Daniel, 2010;Duchon and Plowman, 2005) and organizational level (Giacalone and Jurkiewicz, 2003;Kolodinsky et al, 2008;Milliman et al, 1999).…”

Workplace Spirituality Scale Design─ the view of Oriental Culture

“…Personal family factors would affect the individuals and their work performance, as the employees, their families, and their organizations would influence the whole community or society, and these influences would finally affect individual and organizational management (Claude & Zamor, 2003;Milliman, et al, 2003, Jurkiewicz & Giacalone, 2004Duchon & Plowman;Sheep, 2006;Moor & Casper, 2006). Daniel (2010) proposed that workplace spirituality is an element of the organizational culture and that it has an important effect on team effectiveness. This study aims to construct measurement tools on workplace spirituality and probes into organizational situations, as shown in Figure 1, where the dotted line portion is the primary framework.…”