Practicing Organization Development, 5th Edition

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREELeveraging Positive Organizational Scholarship to Enhance OD and Change

Jon McNaughtan and Kim Cameron

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked planes to attack the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, with a fourth plane crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These attacks killed 2,996 people and injured more than 6,000. The US airline industry was severely impacted, with flights grounded worldwide and passengers afraid to fly. US Airways and Southwest Airlines suffered significant financial losses, and the industry saw a 20% reduction in flights and a 16% average layoff rate (Sharkey 2004).

An analysis of 10 airlines’ responses to the crisis revealed a key finding: airlines that prioritized positive practices recovered more quickly financially (Gittell et al. 2006). These practices included valuing human capital, protecting jobs, and supporting employees’ families. Southwest Airlines exemplified this approach using a crisis to turn challenges into opportunities, strengthen relationships, and reinforce a culture of compassion that resulted in positive outcomes. CEO Jim Parker stated, “We are willing to suffer some damage, even to our stock price, to protect the jobs of our people” (Conlin 2001, 42). This approach is one example of how positive organization scholarship can offer a positive lens and approach for organizations in crisis or facing adversity.

This chapter describes the field of Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) and its connection ...