Enthinkment Circle centers around the work of Professor David
Michael Boje and his exploration of "enthinkment," a term coined
by his mentor, Louis Ralph Pondy. The website serves as a hub
for understanding and expanding upon this concept, which has
been largely overlooked in traditional management literature.
Origin of Enthinkment
The term "enthinkment" was born from a casual conversation
between Pondy and Karl Weick while walking through the
cornfields of Illinois. Pondy suggested "enthinkment" as a
concept for new ways of thinking, contrasting with Weick's
well-known theory of "enactment," where organizational reality
is shaped through the senses. Despite being initially
dismissed as a jest, Boje sees "enthinkment" as having
profound implications for management theory, not merely as an
alternative but as a complementary concept to enactment.
Born 9 March 1938 in Lorain Ohio, and died 15 July 1987 in
Urbana, Illinois.
In 1978, Professor Louis Ralph Pondy
shouted the word “Enthinkment” but just once, then made a joke
about it, and never uttered again. He died 1987. Two
years ago, we formed 'Enthinkment Circle' and take up the long
path of thinking, called Enthinkment. It is a path of
questioning one’s own thinking and the thinking paths of
organizations.
Boje's Work on Enthinkment
Boje, recognizing the value of
"enthinkment," embarked on a thorough review of Pondy's
extensive writings, lectures, and presentations. His aim was
to illuminate "enthinkment" as a pivotal shift in
understanding organizational dynamics, emphasizing reflective
thinking over just sensory interaction with the environment.
Together with his former student, now Professor Rohny
Saylors, they co-authored a book detailing this exploration.
This book connects "enthinkment" with broader concepts like
"true storytelling" and "quantum storytelling," suggesting
that these frameworks can offer a deeper, more nuanced
understanding of organizational behavior.
The Enthinkment Circle
Boje and Saylors founded the Enthinkment Circle, which holds
weekly Zoom meetings every Tuesday. This group serves as a
community for discussing, developing, and applying the
principles of enthinkment in real-world settings.
Key Concepts and Implications
Tear in Management Thought:
The website discusses the "tear in management thought,"
which represents the discrepancy between the idealized view of
organizations as cooperative and the reality where conflict is
central. This "tear" critiques the reliance on bounded
rationality and highlights the need for a more conflict-aware
management approach.
True Storytelling and Enthinkment:
Unveils Hidden Dynamics: By exploring narratives beyond
the surface, true storytelling reveals the underlying
conflicts and power dynamics.
Challenges Dominant Narratives: It pushes against the
mainstream stories that often support established power
structures, allowing for more inclusive and critical
perspectives.
Embraces Complexity: It captures the multifaceted nature
of organizational life, promoting a more comprehensive
understanding.
Expands Temporal Awareness: Incorporating future
anticipations and past reflections in storytelling aligns
with enthinkment's holistic view of time.
Promotes Ethical Reflection: Encourages organizations to
consider the ethical implications of their narratives and
decisions.
Conclusion
Enthinkment.com not only preserves and promotes the legacy
of Louis Ralph Pondy but also seeks to redefine how we think
about and manage organizations. By linking enthinkment with
true storytelling, it offers a pathway to more authentic,
insightful, and ethically sound organizational practices,
acknowledging conflict and diversity as inherent and valuable
aspects of organizational life.
