Teal organisation

Teal organization is one that adheres to workers' self-management. The organizational theory term was coined in 2014 by Frederic Laloux in his book Reinventing Organizations. Laloux uses a descriptive model in which he describes different types of organizations in terms of colour, and he cites studies by evolutionary and social psychologists including Jean Gebser, Clare W. Graves, Don Edward Beck, Chris Cowan and Ken Wilber.{{cite web|last= Laloux |first=Frederic |title= The Future of Management Is Teal |url= https://www.strategy-business.com/article/00344?gko=10921 |website= Strategy + Business |date= July 6, 2015 |access-date=30 October 2021}}

Model

Laloux defines a "teal" (a greenish-blue color) organisation as one where the management is based on worker autonomy and peer relationships.{{Cite web|url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_rise_and_fall_of_a_teal_ngo |title = The Rise and Fall of a Teal NGO |website=ssir.org |last= Farag |first= Mahmoud |date = 31 May 2017 |access-date=30 October 2021}} He contrasts this to:{{Cite web |last=Rossingol |first=Natalia |date=Apr 25, 2023 |title=Teal Organizations - Say What? The Definition, Pillars & Examples |url=https://www.runn.io/blog/teal-organizations |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.runn.io |language=en}}

Red Organizations: Characterized by authoritarian structures and control through fear.
Amber Organizations: Structured around rigid hierarchies and top-down command.
Orange Organizations: Operate on meritocratic principles, emphasizing competition and performance.
Green Organizations: Focus on consensus and stakeholder values, often emphasizing culture and empowerment.

The theory of Teal organizations is built on three core concepts: self-management, wholeness, and evolutionary purpose.{{Cite web |last=H. |first=Valeriia |date=June 19, 2021 |title=What exactly is a teal company? |url=https://www.empat.tech/post/what-the-best-startup-pros-do-and-you-should-too |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=EmpTech}}

Self-management replaces traditional hierarchy with a system where employees manage themselves and collaborate on decisions, distributing authority more evenly.

Wholeness encourages employees to integrate their personal and professional identities, fostering a work environment that prioritizes emotional well-being and authenticity.

Evolutionary purpose sees Teal organizations as living entities that adapt and evolve naturally, guided by their own sense of direction rather than rigid strategic plans or profit motives.

Examples

A number of notable organisations around the world have adopted and operate with the Teal organisation model

{{cite web

|title=The design principles evolve "naturally" in the workplace and the need for a scientific foundation

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|publisher= Prosocial World

|date= June 2, 2017

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some of which are in the table below:

:

class="wikitable"
style="vertical-align:bottom;" ! Organization !! Business, mission, or activity !! Office location(s)	Ref.
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Morning Star Co.	food processing	United States	{{cite web \|title=Self-Management \|publisher=The Morning Star Company \|website=morningstarco.com \|url=http://morningstarco.com/index.cgi?Page=Self-Management }}
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Culture Unplugged	Socio-Cultural Activism + Integral Health	Global, since 2007	{{cite web \|title=Socio-Cultural Mission \|publisher=Culture Unplugged Studios \|website=cultureunplugged.com \|url=https://www.cultureunplugged.com/filmedia/storyofservice.php }} {{cite web \|title=Global Documentary Platform \|publisher=Culture Unplugged Studios \|website=cultureunplugged.com \|url=https://www.cultureunplugged.com/filmedia/join.php }}
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Raise	Recruitment Services	{{small\|international}}	[https://raiserecruiting.com/ Website]
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Patagonia	apparel	United States
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Sounds True	media	United States
style="vertical-align:top;" \| AES	energy sector	{{small\|international}}
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Buurtzorg	health care	Netherlands
style="vertical-align:top;" \| ESBZ	K–12 school	Germany
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Hatmill	Supply chain and logistics management consultancy	UK
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Heiligenfeld	mental health hospitals	Germany
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Nucor	steel manufacturing	{{small\|international}}
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Varkey Foundation	non-profit with expertise in Education	{{small\|international}}
style="vertical-align:top;" \| Thomsen Trampedach	brand protection	Denmark	{{cite web \|url=https://www.thomsentrampedach.com/ \|title=Thomsen Trampedach GmbH }}

Teal organisation

Model

Examples

See also

References

Further reading