Abstract
Although there are several conceptions of organizational moral learning (OML), there is a need for more empirical studies. This study aims to provide illustrations of the dynamism of organizational moral learning by spiritual hearts (OML-SH), where OML and organizational immoral learning (OIL) are coupled antagonistically. Two OML-SH initiatives (i.e., the Quality Control Circle program and 100-hour training record system) within Brunei’s public sector are scrutinized to illustrate the dynamic process of OML-SH, spanning individual, group, and organizational levels. From the two exploratory case studies, the purifying mechanism was coined to capture the laminated interplay between the spiritual hearts, group understanding, leadership, organizational intention, structure, culture, and resources to drive OML. In contrast, the corrupting mechanism was also coined as the opposite force to drive toward OIL. From the study, leadership and organizational learning repositories were seen to play essential roles in the purification of the spiritual heart (i.e., individual moral development). Additionally, the spiritually diseased hearts occupying the two extremes of OML and OIL were seen to experience moral ambivalence, which was also not captured in previous studies. The paper concludes with suggestions to manage moral ambivalence for more positive outcomes, drive OML further and impede OIL simultaneously.
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As a Brunei public servant from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the author receives salaries while preparing this manuscript. However, there are no foreseeable gains or losses financially by the University or the Government of Brunei through the publication of this manuscript.
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The author is a public servant under the Ministry of Education in Brunei. For the case study, the author examined and reported on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Brunei. The data collection was conducted in 2017. There may be a conflict of interest to keep the reported Ministry and/or the Government of Brunei in a good light. However, this was mitigated when the required permissions were obtained from the relevant party in the Ministry of Religious Affairs to study and publish the research.
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Tarip, I. Organizational moral learning by spiritual hearts: explorative cases from Brunei’s public sector. Asian J Bus Ethics 12, 513–533 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-023-00184-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-023-00184-3