2020/06/19 by Benjamin N. Alexander, Benjamin Nathan Alexander, Bruce E. Greenbaum +4
Psychology · #Migration, Health and Trauma #Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research #Resilience and Mental Health
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/0021886320931119
openalex publication_date 2020/06/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
This research explores organizational trauma and the phenomenon of organizational posttraumatic growth (OPTG). Many organizations experience traumatic events, events that disrupt core organizational activities. While some affected organizations never recover their prior level of well-being, others surpass their pretrauma state. This research explores this phenomenon by examining how one organization, which was traumatized by a substantial theft committed by a senior leader, emerged transformed and stronger. In the exploration of this intriguing phenomenon, we extend individual-level trauma research to the organization level to address how OPTG occurs. We draw on these findings to chart paths for future research on OPTG and organizational change and consider their implications for development and change practitioners in organizations experiencing trauma.