Title: Compassion as an enabler of organisational innovativeness

Authors: Jenni Spännäri; Elina Juntunen; Pirjo Ståhle; Anne Birgitta Pessi

Addresses: University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4 (Yliopistonkatu 3) 00014, Finland ' Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 12, FI-00511 Helsinki, Finland ' School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000 (Otakaari 1B), 00076 Aalto, Finland ' University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 4 (Yliopistonkatu 3) 00014, Finland

Abstract: Compassion potentially has a crucial role in developing organisational innovativeness, as it has been found to bring about organisational capability for renewal and change management. The relation between compassion and innovativeness has not, however, been thoroughly clarified. This article explores, based on empirical material (nine focus group interviews, two thematic interviews, 46+5 informants) to what extent innovativeness and compassion are interrelated, and more specifically, whether and how compassion acts as an enabler for innovativeness. The results highlight: 1) which compassionate practices promote innovativeness; 2) which are the essential contexts of these practices both with individuals and the working community; 3) which dimensions of compassion are at play. Building on these results, this article presents a model of compassion as an enabler of organisational innovativeness.

Keywords: compassion; innovativeness; copassion; organisational innovativeness; innovation management; compassion in organisations; change management; organisational capability; focus group interview; enabling innovativeness; compassionate practices; individuals; work community; dimensions of compassion; model of compassion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2024.144396

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2024 Vol.28 No.3/4, pp.129 - 147

Received: 21 Jul 2022
Accepted: 02 Nov 2023
Published online: 11 Feb 2025 *

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