Matthijs Bal

The current world is absurd. Faced with climate change, health pandemics, and ever-growing inequality, it is striking how globally, governments and organizations are malingering to find effective responses to these crises, leading to absurd situations where we are facing the destruction of the planet, while humankind is not making the necessary transformation towards truly sustainable societies and workplaces. Focusing on these grand, global challenges from an absurdity and hypernormalization lens, the book aims to elucidate what is happening in contemporary society and workplaces, why there is so little improvement being made in relation to the grand global challenges, and how a more sustainable social transformation can be made in organizations. It offers a wide, yet in-depth, perspective on absurdity in society and the workplace and presents a theoretical framework, as well as in-depth case studies of sectors or organizations where absurdity manifests itself. Presenting an overarching new perspective on society and workplaces, this book helps students and academics make sense of what is currently unfolding, and what can be done. The book therefore bridges theory, science and the everyday practice of organizational life, and how individuals working in a variety of organizations can contribute to more sustainable economies and societies.

The current world is absurd. Faced with climate change, health pandemics, and ever-growing inequality, it is striking how globally, governments and organizations are malingering to find effective responses to these crises, leading to absurd situations where we are facing the destruction of the planet, while humankind is not making the necessary transformation towards truly sustainable societies and workplaces. Focusing on these grand, global challenges from an absurdity and hypernormalization lens, the book aims to elucidate what is happening in contemporary society and workplaces, why there is so little improvement being made in relation to the grand global challenges, and how a more sustainable social transformation can be made in organizations. It offers a wide, yet in-depth, perspective on absurdity in society and the workplace and presents a theoretical framework, as well as in-depth case studies of sectors or organizations where absurdity manifests itself. Presenting an overarching new perspective on society and workplaces, this book helps students and academics make sense of what is currently unfolding, and what can be done. The book therefore bridges theory, science and the everyday practice of organizational life, and how individuals working in a variety of organizations can contribute to more sustainable economies and societies.

Examining the experiences of Africans setting up businesses back home, the main focus of this book is to establish the economic, social and psychological reasons for such ‘home direct investment’. Despite the personal sacrifices that are often needed in order to set up new ventures, the diaspora invests relentless effort and motivations in the pursuit of home ventures. The authors explore critical areas such as the social and psychological pressures that African Diasporas experience when investing in their home countries, as well as the management of diaspora businesses and the impact of such investment to local economies.

Introducing a theory of workplace dignity into the field of management studies, this innovative new book presents an alternative paradigm based on principles of human dignity which is integrated into a theoretical approach to the topic. The author addresses and analyses the causes and consequences of the dominant political-economic paradigm within management studies. Further, it presents a theoretical alternative which can constitute a foundation for a new way of thinking about organisations, management, and leadership. Dignity in the Workplace offers scholars ideas for how research in the field of management studies may be enriched by a dignity-paradigm, and goes further to explore the role of a dignity-paradigm in the function of HR-managers and organisational leaders. Thus, the book aims to contribute to the need for alternative conceptualisations of how contemporary organisations can be managed.

Examining the experiences of Africans setting up businesses back home, the main focus of this book is to establish the economic, social and psychological reasons for such ‘home direct investment’. Despite the personal sacrifices that are often needed in order to set up new ventures, the diaspora invests relentless effort and motivations in the pursuit of home ventures. The authors explore critical areas such as the social and psychological pressures that African Diasporas experience when investing in their home countries, as well as the management of diaspora businesses and the impact of such investment to local economies.

Introducing a theory of workplace dignity into the field of management studies, this innovative new book presents an alternative paradigm based on principles of human dignity which is integrated into a theoretical approach to the topic. The author addresses and analyses the causes and consequences of the dominant political-economic paradigm within management studies. Further, it presents a theoretical alternative which can constitute a foundation for a new way of thinking about organisations, management, and leadership. Dignity in the Workplace offers scholars ideas for how research in the field of management studies may be enriched by a dignity-paradigm, and goes further to explore the role of a dignity-paradigm in the function of HR-managers and organisational leaders. Thus, the book aims to contribute to the need for alternative conceptualisations of how contemporary organisations can be managed.