Center for Positive Organizations

Center for Positive Organizations is a research center based at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, founded by Jane Dutton, Robert Quinn, and Kim Cameron. The center is dedicated to promoting positive organizational scholarship and positive psychology in the workplace, as inspired by the works of Martin Seligman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and Daniel Goleman. The center's work is influenced by the research of Peter Drucker, Gary Hamel, and C.K. Prahalad, and is aligned with the principles of Appreciative Inquiry developed by David Cooperrider.

History and founding

The Center for Positive Organizations was established in 2002, with the goal of creating a community of scholars and practitioners dedicated to promoting positive organizational scholarship. The center's founders, Jane Dutton, Robert Quinn, and Kim Cameron, were inspired by the work of Chris Argyris, Donald Schön, and Karl Weick, and sought to create a research center that would focus on the positive aspects of organizational behavior. The center's early work was influenced by the research of Edgar Schein, Mary Parker Follett, and Chester Barnard, and was supported by organizations such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Mission and focus

The Center for Positive Organizations is dedicated to promoting positive organizational scholarship and positive psychology in the workplace, with a focus on creating a more humane and sustainable work environment. The center's mission is inspired by the work of Amitai Etzioni, Herbert Simon, and James March, and is aligned with the principles of organizational development and change management. The center's research focuses on topics such as positive leadership, organizational culture, and employee well-being, and is influenced by the work of Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky, and Richard Thaler.

Research and publications

The Center for Positive Organizations has published numerous research papers and articles on topics related to positive organizational scholarship and positive psychology. The center's researchers have published in top-tier journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and have presented their research at conferences such as the Academy of Management and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The center's research has been influenced by the work of Kurt Lewin, Douglas McGregor, and Abraham Maslow, and has been supported by organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Educational programs and initiatives

The Center for Positive Organizations offers a range of educational programs and initiatives, including executive education programs, certification programs, and research workshops. The center's programs are designed to promote positive leadership and organizational development, and are influenced by the work of Peter Senge, Ronald Heifetz, and Joseph Badaracco. The center's initiatives include the Positive Business Conference, which brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss the latest research and trends in positive organizational scholarship, and the Michigan Ross Positive Business Project, which aims to promote positive business practices in the state of Michigan.

Impact and recognition

The Center for Positive Organizations has had a significant impact on the field of organizational behavior and management, and has been recognized for its contributions to positive organizational scholarship and positive psychology. The center's research has been cited by scholars such as Gary Becker, Michael Jensen, and William Baumol, and has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes. The center's work has also been recognized by organizations such as the Academy of Management, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the International Positive Psychology Association, and has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Category:Research centers