Abstract

DU PLESSIS, Danie F.. Re-visiting the relevance of John Calvin's values of self-denial and calling for new Learning Organisations. Koers (Online) [online]. 2017, vol.82, n.2, pp.1-13. ISSN 2304-8557.  http://dx.doi.org/10.19108/koers.82.2.2353.

Modern organisations are subjected to increasing demands for the space employees ana members need to find purpose, meaning and sense in what they do every day This article aims to connect John Calvin's ideas related to calling and self-denial with the needs of organisations to accommodate staff members' wishes for meaningful engagement with the work they do in the context of the concept of Learning Organisations. This connection between Calvin and the aim of organisational renewal is made by briefly pointing to the disillusionment of postmodern society with modernistic forces of rationalism, linear thinking, bureaucratisation and standardisation which have led to the dehumanisation of organisations and, ultimately, the world of work. The argument is also made that the development of the Learning Organisation as concept is a new trend in organisational thinking The Learning Organisation represents a break with modern bureaucratic and hierarchical thinking The aim is to link these relatively new two organisational trends with the principles which John Calvin articulated about the calling or vocation of the faithful and their relationship with their fellow humans. The conclusion is that, for Christian (Reformed) faithful, the Learning Organisation and acknowledgement of their spiritual contribution is an opportunity to claim the workplace as territory to be in the service of others (as explained in Chapter 7 of Book 3 of the Institutes of the Christian Religion) and, effectively in service of God, experience work as a true vocation and calling.

Keywords : Learning Organisation; John Calvin; Organisational Purpose; Calling; Self-denial.

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