Mindfulness as organisational capability for strategic agility in South African logistics
Bridget Nkuna, Amanda Mphahlele, Ayanda Sibiya
SA Journal of Human Resource Management October 12, 2026 DOI: 10.4102/sajhrm.v24i0.3772 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative interpretivist multiple case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Managers at two South African logistics organisations with differing levels of mindfulness institutionalisation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors report that mindfulness enhanced strategic agility via cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation and psychological safety, aligning with strategic sensitivity, resource fluidity and collective commitment. They contend that institutionalisation, rather than mere presence, was associated with more consistent, scalable outcomes, and that cultural framing using operationally embedded language mitigated resistance. |
Abstract
Orientation: Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as a resource for employee well-being and leadership effectiveness, yet its potential as a collective capability for strategic agility remains underexplored, particularly in lower- and middle-income (LMIC) contexts. Research
Purpose: This study explored how mindfulness, when institutionalised within organisational systems, functions as a dynamic capability that enhances strategic agility in South African logistics organisations. Motivation for the study: Mindfulness research is predominantly individual-focused and Western. Few studies have examined how organisational embedding of mindfulness influences strategic agility through a comparative cross-case design in South Africa. Research approach/design and
Method: A qualitative, interpretivist multiple case study was conducted across two logistics organisations with differing levels of mindfulness institutionalisation. Ten purposively selected managers participated in semi-structured interviews, supported by document analysis. Reflexive thematic analysis using hybrid deductive-inductive coding was applied. Main
Findings: Mindfulness enhanced strategic agility through cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation and psychological safety, aligning with strategic sensitivity, resource fluidity and collective commitment. Institutionalisation, rather than mere presence, was associated with more consistent, scalable outcomes. Cultural framing using operationally embedded language mitigated resistance. Practical/managerial
Implications: Embedding mindfulness within leadership development, HR policies and operational routines enhances adoption. Contextual framing, including ubuntu-aligned values, supports integration, while brief practices address time constraints. Contribution/value-add: The study provides empirical support for mindfulness as a micro-foundational capability and shows that institutionalisation is associated with its contribution to strategic agility.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Mindfulness Meditation Impairs Task Motivation but Not Performance Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes July 1, 2018
- Examining the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention on the health of urban South Africans. African journal of primary health care & family medicine June 18, 2018