Mindful Business Curriculum
Lievonen, Taina (2019)
Lievonen, Taina
2019
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019052712231
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019052712231
Tiivistelmä
This qualitative research oriented thesis was commissioned by a leadership consultant and wellbeing professional with a PhD in organizational behavior and psychology.
The aim of this thesis was to create an understanding of how mindfulness theories and practices have been and could furthermore be integrated with a higher education institute’s (HEI) business curriculum. In order to do so, eight highest ranked HEIs according to the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2018 with Business and Management as the subject were compared and analyzed to discover if and how mindfulness is being integrated to business curricula.
The concept of mindfulness was studied trough the etymology of mindfulness and the ways it has benefitted people throughout the ages and in the present times. Mindfulness being an umbrella term with multidimensional practical applications and interpretations, the theoretical framework was researched and analyzed using peer-reviewed research articles and theoretical literature about mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, science of mindfulness, mindful leadership, and mindfulness practices.
The research methods included a qualitative analysis of peer-reviewed research articles, meta-analyses, theoretical literature and higher education institutes’ websites. The qualitative analysis of the eight higher education institutes provided an international perspective for this thesis.
Through the research it became evident that mindfulness and meditation have been scientifically proven to have an impact on people by improving their stress tolerance, self-awareness, brain functions, non-cognitive functions, and productivity.
Mindfulness was integrated into the business curricula as one approach in a leadership course. In the courses mindfulness was considered a skill to learn and enhance leadership, but also from state of awareness viewpoint.
The aim of this thesis was to create an understanding of how mindfulness theories and practices have been and could furthermore be integrated with a higher education institute’s (HEI) business curriculum. In order to do so, eight highest ranked HEIs according to the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2018 with Business and Management as the subject were compared and analyzed to discover if and how mindfulness is being integrated to business curricula.
The concept of mindfulness was studied trough the etymology of mindfulness and the ways it has benefitted people throughout the ages and in the present times. Mindfulness being an umbrella term with multidimensional practical applications and interpretations, the theoretical framework was researched and analyzed using peer-reviewed research articles and theoretical literature about mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, science of mindfulness, mindful leadership, and mindfulness practices.
The research methods included a qualitative analysis of peer-reviewed research articles, meta-analyses, theoretical literature and higher education institutes’ websites. The qualitative analysis of the eight higher education institutes provided an international perspective for this thesis.
Through the research it became evident that mindfulness and meditation have been scientifically proven to have an impact on people by improving their stress tolerance, self-awareness, brain functions, non-cognitive functions, and productivity.
Mindfulness was integrated into the business curricula as one approach in a leadership course. In the courses mindfulness was considered a skill to learn and enhance leadership, but also from state of awareness viewpoint.