This paper aims to explore invitational discourse as a modality underpinning socially responsible enterprises seeking to become spiritually alert. This is carried out by focussing on a rich symbolic environment within which organizations operate.
This conceptual paper explores a fifteenth-century icon from the Russian Orthodox tradition to demonstrate how organizations might move from silo-based communication strategies to create open environments where information is shared. A case study of the global organization in crisis, the dairy cooperative Fonterra, is used as a case study.
Where organizations become invitational and go beyond blame to develop the two fundamental ethical qualities of forgiveness and generosity, they become more socially responsible.
The study takes a well-known artefact within one tradition and appropriates for a discussion about contemporary organizations as they seek to become more holistic and spiritually alert.
