The liberated firm: An integrative approach involving sociocracy, holacracy, spaghetti organization, management 3.0 and teal organization

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of management 2024-03, Vol.40 (1), p.101312, Article 101312
• Main Authors: EL Khoury, Michèle, Jaouen, Annabelle, Sammut, Sylvie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Freedom-form organization; Holacracy; Liberated firm; Management 3.0; Sociocracy; Spaghetti organization; Systematic literature review; Teal organization
• ISSN: 0956-5221; 1873-3387
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2023.101312

Recent research has shown that the liberated firm is associated with better performance and can address the emerging needs in our hypermodern society for autonomy, self-esteem, commitment, and well-being. While research on liberated firms has been increasing, the concept remains widely debated among academics, especially in management and organisational behaviour fields as well as in the press and on social media. The coexistence of related notions (sociocracy, holacracy, spaghetti organization, management 3.0 and teal organization) accentuates the need for a theoretical framework. This research aims to fill this gap. Specifically, we conduct a systematic literature review and comparative analysis. We therefore demonstrate that the concept of the liberated firm integrates the five other notions (as modalities or different stages of liberation); that is, it presents the highest degree of humanist values and operates at the highest corporate level. •Academics disagree on the perimeter of a liberated firm (LF). ‎•The use of heterogeneous terms leads to fragmented and dispersed research.•We compare LF, sociocracy, holacracy, management 3.0, spaghetti and teal organization.•Liberated firms are characterized by twelve attributes.•The comparative analysis shows that several degrees of liberation exist.