I want to thank Brian (Bo) Newman for bring (once again) the notion of
"Corporate Soul" to this list. In addition to the information identified
in his posting, I would like to encourage the readers of this list,
especially in light of the holiday season, to reflect seriously on the
notion of organizational soul as a key element, if not the fundamental
building block (as some of us would propose it to be), of true "learning
organizations." In this regard, it is important to underscore that the
word dialogue implies more than "passing through meaning" as articulated
by David Bohm and others (including its reference in Peter Senge's The
Fifth Discipline). The Greek word, Logos, also can be translated as
"spirit"; therefore bringing the process of dialogue to a new level of
awareness--"passing through spirits" and developing a "pool of common
spirit." (NOTE: I discuss this perspective at length in one of the
chapters that I contributed to a forthcoming book, Managing in
Organizations That Learn (Oxford, England & Cambridge, Mass: Blackwell
Publishers), Steve Cavaleri & David Fearon, eds., as well as in my
chapter, "Searching for the Soul in Government", in Rediscovering the Soul
of Business: A Renaissance of Values, Bill DeFoore & John Renesch, eds.
(San Francisco: New Leaders Press, 1995, which, among other places, can be
obtained through my office).
Happy Holidays to all!
-- Alex N. Pattakos, Ph.D. President Renaissance Business Associates Creative Learning Technologies, Inc. P.O. Box 418 Boise, Idaho 83701 208/345-4235 USARenaissance Business Associates P.O. Box 197 Boise, Idaho 83701 USA 208/345-4234
clt@primenet.com (Creative Learning Technologies/RBA)