REGENERATIVE LEADERSHIP: AN INTEGRAL THEORY FOR TRANSFORMING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY by Guillermo [John] Hardman A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida April 2009 Copyright by Guillermo J. Hardman 2009 ii iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was made possible thanks to the support and encouragement of many people who accompanied me on this wonderful journey. First and foremost, to my wife, Patricia, without whose wise and healing support this endeavor never would have got off the ground. Secondly, to my advisor and mentor, Dr. John Pisapia, who pushed me to aspire far beyond what I believed I was capable, and to the members of my committee, who intervened at critical times to provide much needed guidance and counsel. For the intrinsic value to be found in the subject matter itself, I have to thank the inspiring leaders who gave generously of their time to participate in the study. Sharing their experiences has become one of the major turning points in my own life. Finally, this project could not have been possible without the support and tolerant good humor of innumerable colleagues and friends in the colleges and schools at Florida Atlantic University: A warm and heartfelt thanks to all. iv ABSTRACT Author: Guillermo J. Hardman Title: Regenerative Leadership: An Integral Theory for Transforming People and Organizations for Sustainability in Business, Education, and Community Institution: Florida Atlantic University Dissertation Advisor: Dr. John R. Pisapia Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Year: 2009 This study examined and compared the developmental experiences of leaders who have successfully developed their capacities to engage in and maintain a vision and practice for sustainability over time in themselves and others in business, education and community. Through the application of grounded theory as a systematic comparative method for the analysis of qualitative data, the study generated a substantive theory of leadership called regenerative leadership. This leadership approach is especially relevant at a time when humankind is faced with accelerating change and increasing evidence that numerous natural and social systems at the global level have reached or are rapidly approaching points of overshoot and collapse. Among the major findings, the study revealed that the more evolved sustainability leaders are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the construct of sustainability, and v indicate the need for a profound cultural shift towards regenerative human systems. In this framework, regenerative organizations are driven by a sense higher purpose, and leadership is exercised heterarchically. Leaders and followers engage in generative conversations to create desirable futures which are then backcasted to eliminate unanticipated consequences. Throughout, participants emphasized the critical importance of engaging in personal and collective consciousness development or “inner work” in order to make regenerative practices possible. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ……………………………………………………….…...………………..x List of Figures………….………………………………………………….……………...xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Sustainability or Sustainable Development ................................................................. 2 Other Perspectives on Sustainability .................................................................... 3 Sustainability Leadership for the 21 st Century ............................................................ 5 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................... 11 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................. 12 Research Question .............................................................................................. 13 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................... 14 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................ 16 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 18 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ........................................................... 21 Introduction.. .............................................................................................................. 21 Theoretical Frameworks ............................................................................................ 22 Global Trends towards Sustainability ................................................................. 37 Preliminary Findings from the Research ............................................................ 38 Business. .................................................................................................... 42 Community. ............................................................................................... 46 Sustainable development. .......................................................................... 51 Social entrepreneurship. ............................................................................ 52 Education. .................................................................................................. 59 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 69 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 71 Introduction.. .............................................................................................................. 71 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 71 Assumptions ....................................................................................................... 73 Sampling Plan ............................................................................................................ 74 Interview Procedure and Data Collection Process ..................................................... 78 Validation of the interview process. ................................................................... 80 vii Data Analysis ............................................................................................................. 81 Construction of the Data Base ............................................................................ 81 Coding Process ................................................................................................... 83 Open coding. ............................................................................................. 83 Axial coding. ............................................................................................. 88 Selective coding. ....................................................................................... 90 Inter-rater reliability. ................................................................................. 92 Validation of the coding process. .............................................................. 93 Limitations .......................................................................................................... 93 Delimitations ....................................................................................................... 94 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 4: THE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY TO SUSTAINABILITY ....................... 97 Introduction.. .............................................................................................................. 97 Redefining the Concept of Sustainability .................................................................. 99 Business ............................................................................................................ 100 Community ....................................................................................................... 107 Education .......................................................................................................... 113 Sustainability as a Construct ............................................................................. 119 Sustainability and Unsustainability: Past and Future ....................................... 121 The Sustainability Leadership Journey .................................................................... 123 Sustainability comes from Within .................................................................... 123 Sustainability and Human Consciousness ........................................................ 127 Sustainability Leadership as Purpose-driven .................................................... 130 Engagement and Acquisition of New Attributes .............................................. 131 A Diversity of Influences. ................................................................................. 133 Shifts in Mindsets and Behaviors. .................................................................... 142 Key Priorities in Sustainability Leaders’ Current Agendas ....................................