Publication Date

Spring 5-3-2026

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Ferguson, Amanda

Second Advisor

Wright, Paul

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Department

Department of Management

Abstract

When making the comparisons between Eastern and Western approaches, the primary focus of juxtaposition is the “this or that” attitude of Western thought against the “this into that” focus of Eastern thought. For instance, a Western company may view change as the opposite of stability whereas Taoist belief through Yin-Yang theory suggests change actually is stability (Chen, 2002).

The inherent paradoxical nature of this approach counters most Western schools of thought and, therefore, might prove difficult to implement in a Western workplace. This study aims to explore the potential for applying the principle of Wu-Wei (also known as “effortless action”) and other Taoist wisdom in the everyday lives of Western working individuals. With that said, this essay is by no means normative in nature; instead, it focuses on potential links and applications that may already exist—or have the potential to. Simply put, we explore whether these two seemingly separate ideas can be combined for the benefit of the Western workforce.

To answer these questions, we reviewed existing literature on Taoist links in business, as well as the application of Eastern philosophies more broadly. To examine how Taoist principles may be applied—and/or are already being applied—in the workplace today, we created a qualitative research study designed to explore typical work-related experiences and how interviewees approached them. Specifically, we examined these experiences through the lens of a typical workday and the decisions made therein. The interviews were then assessed for emerging themes, which were compared with themes in Taoist teachings.

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