Memes and Organisational Culture: What is the relationship? By Helen Russ A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2014 © H. Russ Dedication: For the future, for friends who are coming and those who are here now, may this help us permeate the landscape of consciousness with the will of the human heart. It is the combined power of human beings Make it an active force that holds the Divine. Samuel Sagan (1990-2000) Acknowledgements: For their care, insight and vision in helping to map the metaphysical landscape of organisations in the five case studies, the following practitioners can take credit for what has emerged. Claire Devereux. Ireland Brigid Walsh; Ireland Donal Minihan, United States Karen O´Connell, United States Gilda Ogawa, Australia Gratitude goes to Gilda Ogawa, for having the insight to see the potential for the research, for having the caring, vision and focus to keep working with me when my thinking was confused or bogged, and for being a pillar of strength, clarity and love throughout the three years. A lot of the learning that emerged during the research was due to the space of consciousness that Gilda holds. Similarly, Michele Goeldi has been a source of incredible support and clarity throughout the development of the thesis. Michele has been someone who was willing to unselfishly and collaboratively work through challenges, to map memes and provide vision on things that were not working. Her insight and caring has been invaluable. Thank you goes to my sister and brother in law, Jenny and Richard Beach for gently giving me a place to be during some of the darkest days. Thank you also goes to my brother Stuart for listening to the developments and giving me a place to write, and to my brother David for being interested in some of the more esoteric aspects. Gratitude goes to Dr Samuel Sagan, who was instrumental in the initial impulse to tackle the research topic. He uncovered the seed that I had not yet germinated, he could see more about what was possible than I could, and his integrity inspired me to take the journey. More practically, it was Dr Sagan who relentlessly worked to provide a structure for people to experience non-physical realms which laid the foundation for the research. Without his teachings this research would never have developed. A big thank you goes to my supervisors, Terry Sloan and Ann Dadich for their commitment, flexibility and understanding throughout the process. In the beginning I was Russ 2014 2 University of Western Sydney happy to have found them, it was only as the process developed that I realised how lucky I was to have their support, insights and sheer depth of experience. They have allowed me freedom, to work in a way that allowed the research insights to emerge and the structure so necessary in this thesis. Terry for his pragmatism, without his insight, the thesis would have taken a lot longer and been much more cumbersome and troublesome. Terry has a way of navigating the academic realm that is masterful. Ann’s endless support, her role as devil’s advocate, in her attention to detail and for understanding the theoretical foundations, has been invaluable. Together they have been a gift; an incredible team. Acknowledgements go to, the Dairy Cooperative particularly, Tim Dineen for being open to the research and supporting the testing phase; to the Peace Organisation, particularly to John Flood for accepting the unusual research in a time that was challenging; to the Sight Foundation particularly Ruth Tamara, Jack Blanks and Wavy Gravy for being so inspirational in carrying the impulse with such commitment and heart; to the Bio-Cultural Fund, Ken Wilson and the founding family for welcoming me and opening their beautiful organisation to the research; to the Emergency Service particularly Mal Connellan and Bruce Cameron who recognised that the Emergency Service might enjoy the process and facilitated a smooth process. Russ 2014 3 University of Western Sydney Statement of Authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. … (Signature) Russ 2014 4 University of Western Sydney Table of Contents Dedication: ..................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgements: ....................................................................................................2 Statement of Authentication ........................................................................................4 Abstract.........................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 1: Introduction..............................................................................................13 1.1: Background to the researcher..............................................................................13 1.2: Significance of the research................................................................................14 1.3: Qualifier: The term meme...................................................................................26 1.4: Research questions and objectives......................................................................26 1.5: Thesis structure....................................................................................................27 1.6: Conclusion to Chapter One.................................................................................28 CHAPTER 2: CONTEXT Organisations and culture.....................................................29 2.1: Introduction ........................................................................................................29 2.2: Perspectives on organisations..............................................................................29 2.3: Perspectives on Culture.......................................................................................37 2.4: Where culture and organisational research overlap.............................................40 2.5: Limitations of research .......................................................................................52 2.6: Conclusion to organisations and culture .............................................................53 CHAPTER 3: CONTEXT Memes..................................................................................55 3.1: The birth of an idea: Dawkins et al. ...................................................................55 3.2: Meme definition..................................................................................................56 3.3: Essential criteria in meme theory........................................................................58 3.4: Research directions..............................................................................................62 3.5: Criticisms of memetics........................................................................................66 3.6: Genetics research changing the parameters.........................................................69 3.7: Types of memes...................................................................................................71 3.8: Where memes and organisations overlap............................................................73 3.9: Where memes and culture overlap......................................................................74 3.10: Conclusion to memes........................................................................................76 Russ 2014 5 University of Western Sydney CHAPTER 4: CONTEXT Philosophical........................................................................77 4.1: Introduction.........................................................................................................77 4.2: Taking a standpoint..............................................................................................77 4.3: Creation...............................................................................................................86 4.4: Knowledge...........................................................................................................98 4.5: Intelligible worlds..............................................................................................100 4.6: In summary........................................................................................................106 4.7: A theoretical structure........................................................................................109 CHAPTER 5: A NEW APPROACH ............................................................................111 5.1: Introduction........................................................................................................111 5.2: Defining the approach........................................................................................111 5.3: The principles of the metaphysical organisations..............................................116 5.4: The creation of a meme-complex......................................................................120 5.5: A Reinterpretation of memes.............................................................................125 5.6: A new look at Organisations and Culture..........................................................133 5.7: Conclusion ........................................................................................................140