The fourth wave: The spiritually-based firm

Abstract

Alvin Toffler foretold the technological "third wave", in 1980. We suggest that there is an organizational fourth wave, the spiritually-based firm. The movement toward spiritualizing the organization has apparently caught on and a number of highly diverse firms are attempting to instill a spiritual corporate culture. The intent of this paper is to explore basic attitudes and practices that appear to be essential for success in maintaining a spiritual corporate culture. Six key concepts have been selected based on our review of the literature, professional observations, and in-depth personal interviews with leaders of spiritually-based firms: honesty with self, articulation of the corporation's spiritually-based philosophy, mutual trust and honesty with others, commitment to quality and service, commitment to employees, and selection of personnel to match the corporation's spiritually-based philosophy. As these key concepts are discussed, specific examples of how these concepts are practiced within various firms are included.