Workplace spirituality as an aggregate construct of organizational theory concepts: Shutting down Hewlett-Packard's volume systems division

Abstract

This chapter explores three dimensions of workplace spirituality through an ex post observation of my direct experience as director of Human Resources shutting down the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Volume Systems (VS) division in 2002, at the time of the HP acquisition of Compaq and its 20,000 employee layoffs. Intriguingly, in this business case, despite distressing events, the foreseeable closure of the 700-employee division and the absence of financial incentives, business results, and organizational performance steadily improved to the last day. But how can middle management improve employee workplace experience and organizational performance while downsizing? The objective of this chapter is to explore how conceptual dimensions of workplace spirituality may enrich organizational behavior theory and contribute to understand the related outcomes.