The Business Spirituality Chair was created in May 2006 by Nyenrode Business Universiteit and is held by Paul de Blot SJ (Paul de Chauvigny de Blot SJ). The objective of the chair is to develop a high quality knowledge centre to improve the quality of the way business is done in general and the renewal and revitalization of business in particular using organizations’ own spiritual strength.

In so far as there is the ambition for renewal within organizations’ theory and practice, this is generally of a pragmatic nature. Renewals are limited to a number of areas and to matters that gain short-term attention and have to be solved. In fact, there is little or no fundamental renewal within organizations. A better way of describing developments that do occur is "visible work". The key reason for this lack of fundamental renewal is the current lack of clarity regarding organizations as meaningful systems.

Do modern organizations offer sufficient significance to people so that they want or are able to contribute? This is the essence of organizations’ right to existence, anchored in their spiritual strength and which directs managements’ renewal. The Business Spirituality Chair addresses organizational renewal, with a particular focus on their spirituality on order to answer the abovementioned question, or at least to perform focused research in this domain. In doing so it also devotes the necessary attention to the importance of the environment and openness for other cultures.

Long-term program
This program can be adapted and supplemented as need be.

Lectures
Lectures and guest lectures, readings, seminars and tutorial, assistance with theses and dissertations, media appearances.

Research
Contributions to a deeper insight into business spirituality by developing practically-applicable models and expanding their theoretical basis.
Enriching the horizon and the network of business spirituality through contacts with representatives of associated disciplines such as philosophy, ethics and cultural sciences.
From practice, through case studies that contribute to the theoretical formation of business spirituality.

Development
Creating a meeting point and developing networks in order to exchange thoughts and ideas on business spirituality along national and international networks, particularly through the Nyenrode VCV network.
Recording the activities, expertise and skills from practice as ingredients for the development and improvement of a theoretical model for business spirituality.
Providing training in basic spiritual development and spiritual exercises; spiritual formation of leaders, trainers, coaches, advisors and facilitators in this area.

Service
Service provision to companies and institutions, in particular Nyenrodeans, through recommendations, training, publications and other forms of support in order to activate the spiritual strengths within the organizations.
Providing case studies for companies so that they learn to recognize, activate and expand their spiritual strengths.

Planning 2009

Planning for 2009 is available in Dutch for download: Planning 2009