Zen and well-being at the workplace

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate connections between the practice of mindfulness meditation and individual and organisational well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

A direct randomised study conducted on a groups of persons involved in various work activities through a programme of Zen meditation courses and a comparison between the situation of well-being found before and after taking part in the courses, assessed in the light of results obtained from a control group that had not taken part in the courses.

Findings

The comparison and analysis of results showed that the group of participants taking part in the meditation training obtained a significant increase in certain indicators relating in particular to subjectively perceived well-being, as regards attention and concentration as well as in a physiological indicator measuring stress reduction.

Originality/value

The study brought to the place of business a tool traditionally used almost exclusively in relation to the personal sphere, evaluating its potential in terms not only of individual well-being but also in terms of efficiency and productivity.

Citation

Baccarani, C., Mascherpa, V. and Minozzo, M. (2013), "Zen and well-being at the workplace", The TQM Journal, Vol. 25 No. 6, pp. 606-624. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-07-2013-0077