Autophagic Leadership: Promoting Self-Renewal of Organizations

Abstract

This chapter explores how the concept of autophagy, which is used in medicine and biology, might be helpful in developing leadership in social organizations. First, from the perspective of a social researcher, it attempts to explain how autophagy works in a biological organism by a simple framework. It then focuses on understanding the potential role of autophagy in social organizations through use of metaphors, models, and theoretical explanations. Finally, it develops a conceptual model of autophagic leadership as a contribution to utilizing this vital biological process in today’s social organizations. The implications for the role of leaders arising from the autophagic leadership model are also analyzed.