Think Positive (Emotions)! Understanding Awe, Hope, and Compassion in Organizations

Abstract

A growing body of positive organizational scholarship research provides strong support for the ubiquity and importance of positive emotions in organizations. In this symposium, four empirical papers continue this line of research by examining the contours and consequences of awe, hope, and compassion in the workplace. These emotions are explored across a diverse set of research contexts, utilize several distinct empirical approaches, and focus on both the individual and group levels of analysis. Following the paper presentations, our discussant, Kathleen Sutcliffe, will offer recommendations for the development of the papers presented and provide insights on how to further advance research in this growing domain. The symposium is designed to provide insight on the role of positive emotions within the organizational context and inspire new streams research. The Emotional Culture of Curiosity and Awe on Performance, Innovation, and Employee Attitudes Presenter: Olivia Amanda O'Neill; George Mason U. Presenter: Jennifer Mueller; U. of San Diego Presenter: Chan Hyung Park; Washington U. in St. Louis, Olin Business School Which Matters More? Group Fear Versus Group Hope in Entrepreneurial Escalation of Commitment Presenter: Tori Yu-wen Huang; The U. of Nottingham, China Presenter: Vangelis Souitaris; Cass Business School, City U. London Presenter: Sigal Barsade; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania To Hope is to Persist: The Role of Hope in the Creative Process Presenter: Chaitali Kapadia; Hong Kong U. of Science and Technology Presenter: Shimul Melwani; U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Doing Bad to Do Good? Compassion at Work and Pro-Social Rule Breaking Presenter: Samantha Su-Hsien Sim; NOVA School of Business and Economics Presenter: Jochen Matthias Reb; Singapore Management U.