This book explores opportunities and limitations with regard to transferring knowledge and tools from the corporate world to manage monasteries or other types of religious institutions. To do so, the contributing authors analyze both the ideological and practical implications of employing modern organizational theory in the context of religious institutions, and seek to strike a balance between preserving traditions and promoting modernization. In this regard, they draw on experience gained in the course of long-standing collaborations between religious institutions, such as monasteries, and business and management schools.

Part I Managing in a Monastic Context.- A Monastery Is More than a Business: Spiritual Foundations of the Rule of St. Benedict for the 'Oikonomia' of a Monastery.- Using Knowledge from Management Science in the Context of the Church: Possibilities and Limitations.- Management of Monasteries: A Field Report.- Sustainability for Centuries: Monastic Governance of Austrian Benedictine Abbeys.- Leadership Training in the Monastic Context: Experiences and Future Challenges.- Part II Leadership Development: Lessons Learned from the LRB Course.- Strategy Making: Providing Orientation and Sense.- CanMonasteries Learn from Modern Organizational Theory?.- Leadership in Monasteries.- Walking the Tightrope Between Change and Tradition: Lessons on Managing Projects in Benedictine Contexts.- Reflections on the Impact of the Leadership Training.- Part III Future Challenges.- Leadership Needs in Global Diversity: The Missionary Benedictines.- "Women Usually Ended Up Second Class": Remarks from an International Women's Perspective.- Observations of a Missionary Benedictine from Rome

Günter Müller-Stewens is a Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) Institute of Management. His main research interest is the field of strategic management. He has authored multiple books and articles in prestigious academic and practitioner-oriented journals. He has acted as the Dean of the Business School at the University of St. Gallen and served as the Academic Director of several Master Programs. He is a member of several editorial boards and the advisory boards of several firms, and is a consultant to and trainer at a number of international companies. 

Notker Wolf OSB served as the ninth Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict from 2000 to 2016. He is currently the Abbot Primate Emeritus of the Archabbey of St. Ottilien and has authored multiple books.