3RD-ORDER ORGANIZATIONAL-CHANGE AND THE WESTERN MYSTICAL TRADITION

Third-order change in organizations refers to attempts to help organiz ational members to transcend their shared schemata. It has not previou sly been explored in depth. Uses mystical experience as a model of how the third-order change process may occur. Discusses several character istics of mystical experience, focusing in particular on the central c haracteristic of transconceptual understanding. Presents an example of Teresa of Avila, a Spanish woman from the sixteenth century whose mys tical life was reflected in her organizing activities. Suggests how my stical experience can inform understanding of the third-order organiza tional change process and presents a preliminary model of ways in whic h the third-order change capacity might be developed.