Spirituality in the workplace in South Africa: : A systematic literature review

Abstract

Background: Spirituality is a multi-dimensional concept that involves a person’s pursuit of well-being through connections with oneself, others, nature, and the transcendent. Spirituality in the workplace encompasses the integration of spirituality into organisational and work dynamics.

Purpose: This systematic literature review sourced and synthesised empirical research evidence to explore the influence and experience of perceived spirituality in the workplace on workers in the South African workplace.

Methodology: The systematic literature review plan was registered on the Open Science Framework. Keyword searches were conducted, and studies were screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) process and checklist. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria informed the second screening and review of articles. Thirty-one articles fit the specific criteria for inclusion in the review. Relevant data was extracted using thematic analysis.

Findings/results: The respondents in the various studies spanned public and private sectors, encompassing various professions and ethnicities. The articles reviewed indicated that the perception of spirituality in the workplace manifested in a variety of constructs and concepts, positively influencing and impacting individual, group, and organisational levels. The review indicated that nuanced contextual differences may play a role in the experience of spirituality in the South African workplace.

Practical implications: The literature review suggests potential constructs for understanding workplace spirituality in South Africa, with future research potential for constructing a framework fostering a pluralistic model of spirituality at work.

Originality/value: Understanding spirituality in the South African work context could assist in bringing about more productive and healthy organisations. Provided data also forms a basis for developing a potential framework for implementing spirituality in South African organisations.

OPSOMMING
Agtergrond: Spiritualiteit is ‘n multidimensionele konsep wat die nastrewing van ‘n persoon se algemene welsyn en gesondheid omvat, wat geïntegreerdheid met die self, ander, natuur en die bomenslike insluit. Spiritualiteit in die werkplek sluit die integrasie van spiritualiteit in organisatoriese en werksdinamika in.
Doel: Hierdie sistematiese literatuuroorsig het empiriese navorsingsbewyse verkry en gesintetiseer om die invloed en ervaring van waargenome spiritualiteit by die werk op werkers in die Suid-Afrikaanse werkplek te verken.

Metodologie: Die sistematiese literatuurstudieplan is op die Open Science Framework geregistreer. Sleutelwoordsoektogte is gedoen, en studies is gesif met behulp van die Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses- (PRISMA) proses en -kontrolelys. Spesifieke in- en uitsluitingskriteria het die tweede sifting en keuring van artikels gelei. Een-en-dertig (31) artikels pas by die spesifieke kriteria vir insluiting in die oorsig. Relevante data is onttrek deur tematiese analise te gebruik.

Bevindinge/resultate: Die respondente in die verskillende studies het oor openbare en private sektore gestrek en verskeie beroepe en etnisiteite ingesluit. Die artikels wat nagegaan is, het aangedui dat die persepsie van spiritualiteit in die werkplek gemanifesteer het in ‘n verskeidenheid konstrukte en konsepte, wat individuele, groeps- en organisatoriese vlakke positief beïnvloed. Die oorsig het aangedui dat genuanseerde kontekstuele verskille ’n rol in die ervaring van spiritualiteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse werkplek kan speel.

Praktiese implikasies: Die literatuuroorsig stel potensiële konstrukte voor om werkplekspiritualiteit in Suid-Afrika te verstaan, met toekomstige navorsingspotensiaal vir die bou van ‘n raamwerk wat ‘n pluralistiese model van spiritualiteit by die werk bevorder.

Oorspronklikheid/waarde: Begrip van spiritualiteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse werkskonteks kan daartoe bydra om produktiewer en gesonder organisasies tot stand te bring. Data wat voorsien is, skep ook ‘n basis vir die ontwikkeling van ‘n potensiële raamwerk vir die implementering van spiritualiteit in Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies.

https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.89.1.2590