Comments on: Does Spiritual Capital Exist? http://www.lmmiller.com/blog/the-new-capitalism/spiritual-capital/2006/03/26/does-spiritual-capital-exist/ The Continuous Search for the Keys to Cultures of Quality and Commitment Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:42:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Larry Gebhardt http://www.lmmiller.com/blog/the-new-capitalism/spiritual-capital/2006/03/26/does-spiritual-capital-exist/#comment-570 Larry Gebhardt Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:55:03 +0000 http://www.lmmiller.com/blog/the-new-capitalism/spiritual-capital/2006/03/26/does-spiritual-capital-exist/#comment-570 Spiritual Capital may be recognized in the revised Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. Self-actualization (personal growth and fulfillment) was the former top need. In the 1990s, the concept of Transcendence, helping others to self-actualize now occupies the top slot. Transcendence may be a measure or symptom of spiritual capital for an individual. Then how do individuals with “spiritual capital” share with others to build measurable organizational spiritual capital? Forms of organizational capital may to come from different cultures of academic inquiry, different worldviews and different basic presumptions about reality. Traditional building blocks of business administration courses of study (management, finance, accounting, marketing, etc.) do not delve very far into social, spiritual, human and even technical/process areas. An approach to systemically defining organizational capital writ large may be to consider creating new business knowledge along with more effective qualitative and quantitative ROI metrics. My personal tool for building organizational spiritual capital emerges from some faith-in-action approaches. It will be interesting to expand this conversation. Spiritual Capital may be recognized in the revised Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. Self-actualization (personal growth and fulfillment) was the former top need. In the 1990s, the concept of Transcendence, helping others to self-actualize now occupies the top slot. Transcendence may be a measure or symptom of spiritual capital for an individual.

Then how do individuals with “spiritual capital” share with others to build measurable organizational spiritual capital?

Forms of organizational capital may to come from different cultures of academic inquiry, different worldviews and different basic presumptions about reality. Traditional building blocks of business administration courses of study (management, finance, accounting, marketing, etc.) do not delve very far into social, spiritual, human and even technical/process areas. An approach to systemically defining organizational capital writ large may be to consider creating new business knowledge along with more effective qualitative and quantitative ROI metrics. My personal tool for building organizational spiritual capital emerges from some faith-in-action approaches.

It will be interesting to expand this conversation.

]]> By: Larry Miller http://www.lmmiller.com/blog/the-new-capitalism/spiritual-capital/2006/03/26/does-spiritual-capital-exist/#comment-571 Larry Miller Thu, 30 Mar 2006 03:45:43 +0000 http://www.lmmiller.com/blog/the-new-capitalism/spiritual-capital/2006/03/26/does-spiritual-capital-exist/#comment-571 Larry, the entire issue of a) what is spiritual capital, specifically; and b) how can it be measured, are both issues in their infancy. In my new book I have attempted a definition of spiritual capital (social and human capital are easier and more commonly accpeted). Some, have equated spiritual capital with membership or participation in religious organizations. I have difficulty with that definition for several reasons. Also, for the the purpose of improving business organizations, I feel it is important to separate the concept of spiritual capital from formal religion (which is not to deny that religious participation may enhance one's personal spiritual capital or spirituality). I have defined spiritual capital as having two major components: first, the dedication to an ennobling worthy purpose; and second, a disciplined adherence to a set of moral values that are derived from a source of authority outside oneself. In my book (the new one) I have identified five critical success indicators for each of these, at three levels - the organization, the team and the individual. In doing this I don't claim that my definitions or indicators are in any way authoritative, or "right". Rather I offer them as a starting point, or as a contribution to a dialogue that I suspect will go on for a long time. Larry Miller Larry, the entire issue of a) what is spiritual capital, specifically; and b) how can it be measured, are both issues in their infancy. In my new book I have attempted a definition of spiritual capital (social and human capital are easier and more commonly accpeted). Some, have equated spiritual capital with membership or participation in religious organizations. I have difficulty with that definition for several reasons. Also, for the the purpose of improving business organizations, I feel it is important to separate the concept of spiritual capital from formal religion (which is not to deny that religious participation may enhance one’s personal spiritual capital or spirituality).

I have defined spiritual capital as having two major components: first, the dedication to an ennobling worthy purpose; and second, a disciplined adherence to a set of moral values that are derived from a source of authority outside oneself. In my book (the new one) I have identified five critical success indicators for each of these, at three levels - the organization, the team and the individual.

In doing this I don’t claim that my definitions or indicators are in any way authoritative, or “right”. Rather I offer them as a starting point, or as a contribution to a dialogue that I suspect will go on for a long time.

Larry Miller

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