Leadership in Economy of Communion Companies. Contribution to the Common Good through Innovation

Innovation is strongly associated with survival and growth of all kind of organizations in a global competitive economy. Moreover, nowadays companies are increasingly questioned on how they deliver innovative solutions to deep-seated problems, such as poverty. Our research aims to understand how Economy of Communion (EoC) companies respond to this challenge by applying the logic of gratuitousness and giving. This paper examines the altruistic behaviour of EoC leaders and the connection with organizational innovation, necessary for firm’s survival in the long-term. We analyse these connections through a qualitative descriptive case study of three Spanish EoC companies. The findings reveal altruistic behaviours of leaders seeking the Common Good. Innovation derives from the desire to help others, such as employees and customers. Moreover, the findings reveal that a culture of dialogue among employees, managers and the whole organisation enhances risk-taking and, therefore, innovation The paper contributes to our understanding of how EoC companies are able to reconcile innovation with the ideal of altruism, distinctive of the Economy of Communion. We believe that this study opens up a wide range of future research opportunities on the antecedents of an innovative organizational culture.