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ORGANZING THROUGH EMPATHY

Editors: Kathryn Pavlovich (University of Waikato Management School) and Keiko Krahnke (University of Northern Colorado)

We are working with Routledge to edit a book on Organizing through Empathy, and we welcome your contributions. The book will provide insights into new paradigm views regarding empathy as an organizing mechanism.  Goleman (2006, p. 137) suggests that empathy "represents the foundation skill for all social competencies important for work."  He defines empathy as "sensing what people are feeling, being able to take their perspective, and cultivating rapport and attunement with a broad diversity of people" (p. 318).  Empathy is both an intellectual and an emotional response, and forms a 'glue' that connects us.  We therefore suggest that 'soft' mechanisms like empathy play a powerful role in creating a vibrant society as they dissolve the boundaries between self and others (Pavlovich & Krahnke, 2012). 

We invite conceptual contributions that explore empathy from a variety of perspectives that may include neuroscience, health, emotions, psychology, organizational theory and leadership.  We are also interested in empirical studies that examine the effects and implications of empathy in organisations from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective.  A suggested outline of the proposed book, but not limited to, is:

Part One: Introduction

Changing world order; altruism and human nature; quantum perspectives; global transcendence

Part Two: Scientific Evidence of Empathy

Neuroscience of empathy; nature's examples of empathy

Part Three: Learning Empathy

Learning to be in others shoes; do unto others; compassion and nonviolence; self-reflection and mindfulness; empathy as a way of being

Part Four: Empathy in Organizations

Empathy and systems thinking; empathy in organizational learning and growth; empathy as the core of ethics; empathy and wisdom in business, sustainability

Part Five: Creating an Empathic Society

Dissolving boundaries on all levels; global transcendence and uniting humanity; aligning strengths to make positive change

If you are interested in contributing a chapter to this book, including aspects not covered above, please provide us with a two page summary of the information requested below by 20 February 2012. Thank you.

AUTHOR(S ) FULL NAME :

AFFILIATION:

CONTACT INFORMATION: (Phone and email address)

POTENTIAL TITLE OF BOOK CHAPTER:

DESCRIPTION OF BOOK CHAPTER CONTENT: (Please describe the phenomenon covered  in your potential chapter, geographical focus, and your study approach)

CONTRIBUTIONS: (Briefly describe how your chapter's contents contribute to a heightened understanding or appreciation of empathy as an organizing mechanism)

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE:

Book chapter proposals received: Feb 20 2012

Notification of accepted chapter proposals:  March 20 2012

Receipt of full book chapters: June 20 2012

Peer review of chapters

Chapter authors receive reviews with feedback:  July 20 2012

Final revisions due: 2012 September 2012

Book release:  Summer 2012/3

Please send proposals and inquiries to both authors:

Kathryn Pavlovich kpav@waikato.ac.nz

Keiko Krahnke  keiko.krahnke@unco.edu

References:

Goleman, D. (2006). Working with emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Dell.

Pavlovich, K. & Krahnke, K. (2012).  Empathy, connectedness and organisation.  Journal of Business Ethics, 105: 131-137.  DOI 10.1007/s10551-011-0961-3

Keiko Krahnke, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management

Monfort College of Business

Campus Box 128

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO 80639

Office Kepner 1095-E

Phone (970) 351-2349

Fax (970) 351-1097

E-mail  keiko.krahnke@unco.edu