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Why do some organizations survive across the centuries while others founder when faced with technological disruption? A new study by the University of Zurich shows that historically developed monastic forms of co-determination can be a significant advantage for dealing with digitalization. The findings are published in the journal Research Policy.
Monasteries seem the very antithesis of digital frenzy. Yet, a recent study by the Department of Sociology and the University Research Priority Program (URPP) Digital Religion(s) at the University of Zurich (UZH) shows that monasteries are no lumbering dinosaurs—on the contrary, when it comes to managing technological change, they're surprisingly adaptable.
For their study, the UZH researchers analyzed 112 monasteries in Switzerland, Germany and Austria and explored why some organizations remain adaptable even after centuries in existence.
Old structures, new strength
Looking into the matter, the researchers observed a surprising effect—precisely those historic structures originally created for spiritual communal life are also helping monasteries engage with digital technologies today. Collective consultation, local responsibility and decentralized decision-making processes have all proven to be advantageous for digital transformation.
In evolutionary biology, such a shift is referred to as "exaptation"—that is, the utilization of existing traits for an entirely new purpose. The best-known example of this are dinosaur feathers, which originally developed as a means for temperature regulation and millions of years later enabled birds to fly. Similarly, the monasteries' historic forms of organization have a new function today.
"Old practices of co-determination become tools for modern challenges," explains Jan Danko, lead author of the study and academic associate at the UZH Department of Sociology.
Selective use
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