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2025 AOM Annual Meeting

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12012: Meaning Systems: How to Integrate Research on Meaning and Meaningfulness of Work?

Saturday, July 26, 2025
13:30 - 15:00 CEST (GMT+2)
Location: Bella Center: Hall B- B4-m5
Session Type: PDW (workshop)
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/ZK8E8b
The meaning systems approach is an integrative framework that connects a wide array of processes that people use to answer big-picture questions in life (Silberman, 2005). People rely on meaning systems to interpret their perceived reality and organize their behavior, directing it towards attaining future goals (Paloutzian & Park, 2013). However, research on meaningfulness of work tends to focus on specific aspects, for example job crafting (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001) and calling (Tosti-Kharas et al., 2024). At the same time, other aspects and particularly, systems-oriented approaches (Kern et al., 2020; Steger, 2024; Steger & Park, 2012) are less commonly explored. Therefore, there is a place for integration that can move the field forward towards a holistic understanding of meaning and meaningful work. The proposed PDW aims to present a flexible model of meaning systems that can help explain and predict how meaningful work arises and can be sustained. After presenting the framework, we will interact with the participants via roundtable discussions over theoretical and practical aspects of work meaningfulness. We aim to further explore recommendations for researchers who wish to study the topic in depth, and to discuss tangible practical tools for assisting employees and employers in facilitating the discovery, design, and maintenance of calling and meaningful work.