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The Institute works with insights from systems theory, psychoanalysis, theology, attachment theory and behavioural studies in business, health and social care, education, prisons, churches and faith groups, and voluntary sector organisations, which has brought a cross-fertilisation of understanding of how human beings contribute to the purpose of their organisations. | The Spirit of Enquiry | We work by inviting clients to join with us in using a spirit of enquiry into the realities that face them in their experience. This is a collaborative research-oriented approach that relies primarily on mutual disclosure, discovery and new insight for everyone involved in the interaction, rather than upon inputs to the client from the consultants. | | Working with Experience | The principal content of study is the client's conscious and unconscious experience of their working institution and nothing is taken for granted in the process of seeking the meaning of the experience. | | Finding Purpose | This work provides space for clients to find purpose and to discover the leadership and management which makes their institution fit for purpose. Once purpose has been found, persons are energised and resources can be used imaginatively and effectively. | | Developing Tools | Based on experience, the Institute is constantly developing, testing and adapting a range of conceptual tools (eg Role Praxis, Organisation-in-the-Mind) which enable people to give meaning to their working experience, find purpose and bring effective leadership to their institutions, from whatever position they may be in. | | Multi-disciplinary | The Institute's multi-disciplinary staff come from a range of disciplines (management, architecture, theology, biochemistry, political and economic science, education, philosophy and clinical psychology) and the core staff have worked together since 1969 at issues that are critical to the well being of society. Their work has been in business, education, health, religious organisations (not restricted to Christian ones), central and local government agencies and voluntary bodies. Work has been done both in the UK and in Ireland, several continental European countries, USA, Central and South Africa and Australia | | Evaluation | Institute staff always evaluate their work, an example being the sponsorship of a PhD student at Leeds University to study the impact and development of Bruce Reed's Theory of Oscillation, a combination of theology and the behavioural science designed to understand religious behaviour in society. Also most of the Institute's courses involve participants themselves in the continual evaluation of what is happening on the course.
A Christian framework informs our practice and - we believe - adds value to clients, but we are not partisan or proselytising. It is as accessible as the client wishes it to be and in our experience liberates organisations to access their spiritual differences and similarities as a resource. | | Applied theology | Examples of concepts used by the Institute
A brief outline of the Institute's theoretical approach to studying organisational behaviour |
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Our Discipline
