Spirituality and knowledge sharing: A case study

There has been increasing attention in research on spirituality in management in recent decades. Its outputs, such as improved commitment, satisfaction, enhanced performance, and a reduction in turnover, are appreciated. To knowledge sharing occurs is crucial that the ambiance (physical, virtual, or mental) be developed with love, friendship, and mutual trust to create an energy that enables the knowledge flow among members of the organization. This research investigates spirituality and knowledge sharing in an organizational context. The method used was a case study. The organization selected was the Ananda Kalyani Master Unit-City Center in Portugal. This organization is part of a larger initiative created in India in 1955, Ananda Marga. The organization is a vegetarian restaurant in operation for over seven years, provides several other activities such as free collective meditation, Yoga classes, lifestyle courses, alternative workshops, singing, capoeira, cultural evenings, craft courses, lectures, book launches, and others. Data collection was done utilizing observation and guided interviews with the owner and members of the organization who were open to participating in this study. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in parallel with the literature. The interviewees highlighted the need for a loveful ambiance and alignment between organizational and personal values. They also emphasized spirituality outputs, such as inner improvement, interconnection, and a sense of belonging. The results suggest that spirituality, individual, in the workplace, and organizational, foster significantly the sharing of highly tacit knowledge. This study makes a relevant contribution to both theory and practice, as it complements the literature on the role of organizational spirituality in knowledge sharing, a subject that is still scarcely explored. The possibility of deeply exploring an organization with high levels of spirituality brings significant insights on this topic. In a small business where profit is seen as a secondary objective, formal knowledge management techniques are rare. However, the desire to share knowledge, as well as the very act of doing so, is something naturally developed. That is, it happens despite any explicit technical knowledge.