Scientization, instrumentalization, and commodification of mindfulness in a professional services firm

Mira Karjalainen, Gazi Islam and Marie Holm
Additional contact information
Mira Karjalainen: Helsingin yliopisto = Helsingfors universitet = University of Helsinki
Gazi Islam: EESC-GEM Grenoble Ecole de Management, IREGE - Institut de Recherche en Gestion et en Economie - USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry] - Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Marie Holm: Excelia Group | La Rochelle Business School

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: Mindfulness programs, and related practices of contemplation and spirituality, are a growing trend in contemporary work organizations. Increasingly adopted into corporations, mindfulness is often described as a remedy for workplace challenges such as constant hurry, interruptions, and stress. Despite increasing research on mindfulness, little research examines how mindfulness is adapted in corporate settings, including concerns of co-optation during implementation. This article addresses this gap by qualitatively examining corporate mindfulness practices within an international, knowledge-intensive firm. We identify the processes of scientization, instrumentalization, and commodification of mindfulness programs, exploring the mechanisms by which these three processes interact with each other. We conclude by discussing the importance of scientization, instrumentalization, and commodification for understanding mindfulness in practice, and for building a research agenda around emic and situated understandings of corporate mindfulness.

Keywords: Critical management studies; mindfulness; spirituality; workplace well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Organization, inPress, ⟨10.1177/1350508419883388⟩

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02877579

DOI: 10.1177/1350508419883388

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().