Sustainable organizing: A multi-paradigm perspective of organizational development and permaculture gardening

As organizations seek survival, there is an increased focus on principles that lead to sustainability. Discourse on organizations has transcended adaptation, presented in contingency theory, and moved onto growth, resilience, and flourishing. The theory of sustainable organizing, presented in this paper, supports organizational flourishing and yields positive outcomes for a system of organizations. A 120-day action research case is featured. The findings of the case suggest that the application of permaculture gardening techniques, applied to human systems, will yield sustainable organizing which renders a thriving and resilient organizational ecosystem.