Otto's Books, Articles and Papers, Interviews and Podcasts, Commentaries and more
by Otto Scharmer, 2018
A useful pocket guide for practitioners that distills all of the research and materials found in Otto Scharmer's seminal texts Theory U and Leading from the Emerging Future.
A short handbook that focuses on the core principles of Theory U, the key movements that makes the process of Theory U, and social applications, to be used as an introduction to work in the field of Presencing.
Interested in Bulk Orders & Custom Editions? Please contact: Leslie Crandell | lcrandell@bkpub.com | +1 (510) 817-2264
"This book provides a new language and teaches us new ways to integrate the insights of the psychology of mindfulness with the sociology of groups and the forces of the political and economic system. It is an incredible tour de force."
Edgar Schein
Professor Emeritus at MIT Sloan School of Management & Author
"A great and timely book. As more and more people become part of the global movement around deep systemic change — from social entrepreneurs to innovators working within large established organizations to diverse network builders — a new field of knowledge is gradually taking shape."
Peter Senge
Senior Lecturer at MIT & Co-Founder of Academy for Systems Change
"My life and work have changed in no small part since meeting Otto and Theory U through MIT over a decade ago in the founding of the United in Diversity Forum. We have seen an amazing impact of the ‘U’ based leadership work in Indonesia and China, particularly in terms of how business, government and civil society collaborate to bridge the environmental, social, and spiritual divides."
Cherie Nursalim
Co-Chair of SDSN-SEA & Chair of United In Diversity Foundation
"I’ve experienced firsthand the profound impact of Otto’s transformative work — on our company as a whole, our teams, and individual employees. Now we can all participate more readily in the possibilities for systems change in the world."
Eileen Fisher
Founder & Chairwoman of Eileen Fisher Inc.
2nd Edition | by C. Otto Scharmer, 2016
In this ground-breaking book, Otto Scharmer invites us to see the world in new ways. What we pay attention to, and how we pay attention - both individually and collectively - is key to what we create. What often prevents us from "attending" is what Scharmer calls our "blind spot," the inner place from which each of us operates. Learning to become aware of our blind spot is critical to bringing forth the profound systemic changes so needed in business and society today. By moving through the "U" process we learn to connect to our essential Self, see our own blind spot and pay attention in a way that allows us to experience the opening of our minds, our hearts, and our wills. This wholistic opening constitutes a shift in awareness that allows us to learn from the future as it emerges, and to realize that future in the world.
Free download: Intro and Chapter 1 | Audiobook available now: Sample
Link to figures and images
Executive Overview: English | Chinese | French | Hebrew | Italian | Japanese | Korean | Russian | Spanish
by C. Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer, 2013
We have entered an age of disruption. Financial collapse, climate change, resource depletion, and a growing gap between rich and poor are but a few of the signs. Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer ask, why do we collectively create results nobody wants? Meeting the challenges of this century requires updating our economic logic and operating system from an obsolete “ego-system” focused entirely on the well-being of oneself to an eco-system awareness that emphasizes the well-being of the whole. Filled with real-world examples, this thought-provoking guide presents proven practices for building a new economy that is more resilient, intentional, inclusive, and aware.
Free download: Intro, Chapter 1 & 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapters 4 & 5 | Chapter 8
by Peter M. Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, Betty Sue Flowers, 2004
Organizational learning pioneers Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty S. Flowers explored the nature of transformational change - how it arises, and the fresh possibilities it offers a world dangerously out of balance. By encouraging deeper levels of learning, we create an awareness of the larger whole, leading to actions that can help to shape its evolution and our future. Drawing on the wisdom and experience of 150 scientists, social leaders, and entrepreneurs, including Brian Arthur, Rupert Sheldrake, Buckminster Fuller, Lao Tzu and Carl Jung, Presence revolutionary and original work goes on to define the capabilities that underlie our ability to see, sense and realize new possibilities in ourselves, in institutions and organizations, and in society itself.
2000. Universität im 21. Jahrhundert, Zur Interdepenz von Begriff und organization der Wissenschaft. (co edited with St. Laske, T. Scheytt, C. Meister-Scheytt) Maring: Rainer Hampp Verlag.
1996. Reflexive Modernisierung des Kapitalismus als Revolution von inmen. Auf der Suche nach Infrastruckturen einer lernenden Gesellschaft (Reflective Moderization of Capitalism: Toward Infrastructures of a Learning Society). Stuttgart”: Schaffer-Poeschel.
1991. Ästhetik als Kategorie strategischer Führung (Aesthetics as a Category of Strategic Leadership). Der ästhetische Typus von Organisationen. Stuttgart: Urachhausverlag.
2022. Transforming our economies from ego to eco. Earth4All: Deep-Dive Paper 12. October 2022.
2020. Lernen und Fuhrung in Zeiten von Umbruch. Grundfragen und Trends, HRM; June 2020.
2019. Social Systems As If People Mattered. Response to the Kühl Critique of Theory U. Journal of Change Management; 2019.
2018. How to Escape your Organizations's Echo Chamber. Conscious Company Media. June 11, 2018.
2018. It Takes a Journey. Indian Management: June 2018.
2018. An Apple Shows Just How Broken Our Food System Is. The Blog Huffpost. May 27, 2018.
2016. WAS KÖNNEN WIR TUN? Das Herz eines neuen Aktivismus. Evolve Magazin Fur Bewusstsein Und Kultur. Aktuelles Heft, Ausgabe 12/2016.
2016. Scharmer, Otto: Universitat als Ort der Erneuerung. In: Kovce, Ph, and B. Priddat (eds): Studium der Zukunft. Aussichten der Universitat.
2015. Awareness-Based Action Research: Catching Social Reality Creation in Flight. By Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer. in: Hilary Bradbury (ed), Action Research, 3rd edition. L.A.: Sage, 2015, pp. 199.
2015. Kwaliteit in Bedrijf. The Success of ULab by Jacqueline van Rijswijk (English PDF | Dutch PDF).
2015. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion; Taylor & Francis Group; Exploring transcendental leadership: a conversation. J. Barney, J. Wicks, C.O. Scharmer & K. Pavlovich.
2014. Questions for Presencing and Theory U, An Interview with Otto Scharmer by Questions for Living.
2014. Otto Scharmer über Society 4.0, Gegenwartskrise und evolutionäres Denken, da Vinci Das Lese Radio, February/March 2014.
2013. America Emerging - Western Civilization 2.0 by Otto Scharmer, November 2013, Schumacher Center for a New Economics
2013. Open Democracy, From ego-system to eco-system economies by Otto Scharmer, 23 September 2013.
2013. Perspectives on Theory U: Insights from the Field. Gunnlaugson, O. & Scharmer, O. (2013). Presencing Theory U, In Gunnlaugson, O., Baron, C., Cayer, M. (2013). IGI Global Press
2013. Evolve, Magazin für Bewusstsein und Kultur, 2013 - An interview with Otto Scharmer.
2013. SoL Reflections, Vol.13, #2, Leading the Relational Inversion from Ego to Eco, Scharmer and Kaufer, 2013.
2013. Kooperation leben - auch am Marktplatz!, TAU - Magazin für Barfußpolitik, April, 2013.
2013. EnlightenNext Impulse Interview, A conversation with Otto Scharmer.
2013. Otto Scharmer über Society 4.0, Gegenwartskrise und evolutionäres Denken, News Network Anthroposophy Limited, April 8, 2013.
2013. Financial Times. Schools can help spark change required to address world crises, by Otto Scharmer September 1, 2103 edition.
2013. 30 Years of Building Learning Communities: A Dialogue with Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, and Darcy Winslow. Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning, and Change, Volume 12 and Volume 13.
2012. Die Zukunft ist jetzt wit Otto Scharmer, Wir Menschen im Wandel Leseprobe.
2012. Sustainable Development Drivers by Zoeteman, K. (contributor: Scharmer, C.O.) The Role of Leadership in Government, Business and NGO Performance. Edward Elgar Publishing.
2012. Interview with Otto Scharmer (Portuguese) A Vez do Ecoismo, 8, Janeiro 2012.
2011. Leading from the Emerging Future: Minds for Change - Future of Global Development, Scharmer, C. O., Paper prepared for Ceremony to Mark the 50th Anniversary of the BMZ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Berlin, Germany, November, 2011.
2011. Change Management Morgen–13 Thesen, published in OrganisationsEntwicklung Nr.4, p.36-39.
2011. u.school: an awareness-based global leadership platform - building cross-sector capacity for resilient societies, Draft 2.0, Scharmer, C. O., Dayna Cunningham, and Katrin Kaeufer, May 2011.
2010. Il Punto Cieco della Leadership nelle Organizzazioni, document prepared for the World Economic Forum, Tianjin, Repubblica Popolare Cinese, 13-15 settembre 2010.
2010. The Blind Spot of Institutional Leadership: How To Create Deep Innovation Through Moving from Egosystem to Ecosystem Awareness, Scharmer, C. O., Paper prepared for: World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting of the New Champions, Tianjin, People's Republic of China, September 2010.
2010. Seven Acupuncture Points for Shifting Capitalism to Create a Regenerative Ecosystem Economy, Scharmer, C. O., Oxford Leadership Journal, June 2010, Volume 1, Issue 3.
2009. Zukunft entsteht aus Kris, Riemann Verlag, Random House GmbH
2009. ELIAS: Creating Platforms for Leading and Innovating on the Scale of the Whole System, Scharmer, C. O., Paper prepared for FOSAD Workshop, Mount Grace Hotel, Magaliesburg.
2009. Field Based Leadership Development, Scharmer, C. O., Paper prepared for Round Table Meeting on Leadership For Development Impact The World Bank, The World Bank Institute, Washington, DC.
2009. The Blind Spot of Economic Thought: Seven Acupuncture Points for Shifting to Capitalism 3.0, Scharmer, C. O., Paper prepared for presentation at the Roundtable on Transforming Capitalism to Create a Regenerative Economy, Cambridge, MA.
2009. Presencing: Die Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen und das Neue erspuren, Von Dr. Claus Otto Scharmer, Business-Wissen.de (German).
2008. Transforming Capitalism: Mapping the Space of Today's Societal Leadership Action. Scharmer, C.O., Paper prepared for presentation at: Presencing Institute Annual Meeting, Cambridge, MA.
2008. Fuhrung vor der leeren Leinwand, published in Organisations Entwicklung, Nr. 2, p. 4-11.
2008. Innovations Start Small, Interview with Otto Scharmer (in English and German).
2007. Executive Summary: Theory U: Leading from the Future as it Emerges (2 pages and 17 pages)
2007. Uncovering the Blind Spot of Leadership. Scharmer, C.O., Executive Forum: Leader to Leader.
2004. Awakening Faith in an Alternative Future. Senge, P.; Scharmer, C.O.; Jaworski, J.; Flowers, B.S..
2003. The Blind Spot of Leadership. Presencing as a Social Technology of Freedom. Habilitation Thesis. Introduction.
2003. Breathing Life into a Dying System. Kaeufer, K; Scharmer, C.O.; Versteegen, U.
2002. Presencing: A Social Technology of Freedom. Interview with Dr. Claus Otto Scharmer.
2002. Learning Communities: Toward a Triadic Differentiation of Learning Networks (with Peter Senge). In: Heinrich v. Pierer und Bolko von Oetinger (Hrsg.) A Passion for Ideas. A How Innovators Create and Shape Our World, 87-105. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press.
2002. Illuminating the Blind Spot. Leadership in the Context of Emerging Worlds, Summary Paper on an Ongoing Research Project (with W. Brian Arthur, Jonathan Day, Joseph Jaworski, Michael Jung, Ikujiro Nonaka, Peter M. Senge) In: Leader to Leader, Spring 2002.
2001. Illuminating the Blind Spot. In: Leader to Leaders, Spring 2002 (w/W. Brian Arthur, Jonathan Day, Joseph Jaworski, Michael Jung, Ikujiro Nonaka, Peter M. Senge).
2001. Self-transcending knowledge: Sensing and Organizing Around Emerging Opportunities. In: Journal of Knowledge Management, Special Issue on Tacit Knowledge Exchange and Active Learning.
2001. The Pentagon Praxis. (with U. Versteegen, K. Kauefer) In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning and Change (Cambridge, Mass.). Vol. 2, no. 1, pp 29-40.
2001. Community Action Research (with Peter Senge). In: Peter Reason and Hilary Bradbury (eds.), Handbook of Action Research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.
2001. Self-transcending Knowledge: Organizing Around Emerging Realities. In: I. Nonaka and D.J. Teece (eds.) Managing Industrial Knowledge: New Perspectives of Knowledge-based Firms, pp. 68 – 90. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.
2001. Conversation with Khoo Boon. Interview by C. Otto Scharmer. In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning and Change (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol. 2, no 3, 36-45.
2000. Presencing: Learning from the Future as it Emerges. On the Tacit Dimension of Leading Revolutionary Change. Paper presented at the Conference on Knowledge and Innovation, May 25-26, 2000, Helsinki School of Economics, Finland.
2000. Leadership in the Digital Economy: Sensing and Actualizing Emerging Futures (with Joseph Jaworski) Society for Organizational Learning. Cambridge, Mass.
2000. A Den Nya Ledarutmaningen: nyckelkompetenser I nya företag (with Joseph Jaworski). In: Ledmotiv, Nummer 2: 63-74.
2000. Self-transcending Knowledge: Organizing Around Emerging Realities. In Soshiki Kaaku (Organizational Science), Vol. 33, no. 3 (March): 14-29.
2000. Universities as the Birthplace for the Creating Human Being. (with K. Kaeufer). In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning and Change (Cambridge, Mass).
2000. Universitäten als Geburtsstätte des unternehmenden Menschen. (mit K. Kaeufer) (German Version).
2000. Universität als Schauplatz für den unternehmerischen Menschen (with Katrin Kaeufer). Hochschulen als, Landestationen fuer für das In-die-Weit-Kommen des Neunen.A (Universities as the Birthplace for the Entrepreneurial Human Being) In: St. Laske, T. Scheytt, C. Meister-Scheytt, C. O. Scharmer (Hrsg.), Universität im 21. Jahrhundert, Zur Interdependenz von Vegriff und Organisation der Wissenschaft, S. 109-131. Merring: Rainer Hampp Verlag.
1999. Organizing Around Not-Yet-Embodied Knowledge. In: G.v. Krogh, I. Nonaka, and T. Nishiguchi (eds.), Knowledge Creation: A New Source of Value, pp. 36-60. New York: Macmilian.
1998. Jenseits von Hierarchien (with Peter Senge), Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie 2/1998. (Published by the German Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology).
1997. Rudolf Steiner: History as Development Towards Emancipation and Freedom. In: J. Galtung and S. Inahyatullah (eds.), Macro History and Macro Historians: Perspectives on Individual, Social, and Civilizational Change, p. 90. 1997. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
1997. Auguste Comte: The Law of the Three Stages. In: J. Galtung and S. Inahyatullah (eds.), Macro History and Macro Historians: Perspectives on Individual, Social, and Civilizational Change, pp. 54-60. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
1997. A Max Weber: History as Interplay and Dichotomy of Rationalization and Charisma. In: J. Galtung and S. Inahyatullah (eds.), Macro History and Macro Historians: Perspectives on Individual, Social, and Civilizational Change, pp. 84-89. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
1997. Was ist Personal Mastery? 21 Thesen. Zwischen Selbstführung und Persönlichkeitsentfaltung (What Does Personal Mastery Mean? 21 Propositions). In: R. Benedikter (Hrsg.), Wirtschaft und Kultur in Gespräch. Zukunftsperspektiven der Wirtschaftskultur, S. 112-123. Bozen: Verlag Alpha und Beta.
1997. Von "Learning Organizations zu "Learning Communities": Über die Produktionsbedingungen gemeinsam hervorgebrachten Wissens (From Learning Organizations to Learning Communities: On the Conditions of Cogenerating Knowledge) (with Peter Senge). In: Heinrich v. Pierer und Bolko von Oetinger (Hrsg.), Wie kommt das Neue in die Welt? S. 99-111. München: Hanser Verlag.
1996. Infrastrukturen für lernende Organisationen (Infrastructures for Learning Organizations) (with Peter Senge). In: Zeitschrift für Führung und Organisation, Heft 1, pp. 32-36.
1994. Kopf, Herz und Hand. Die Anforderungen eines zukunftsfahigen Wohlstandsmodells an die Universitaten (Head, Heart and Hand: Requirements of the New Sustainability Model from Universities). In: Politische Okologie, Heft 39, November/December, pp. 51-54.
1994. Neues Wohlstandsmodell als Bildungsaufgabe (New Welfare Models as an Educational Task). In: Franz-Th. Gottwald et al. (Hrsg.), Bildung und Wohlstand, Auf dem Weg zu einer verträglichen Lebensweise, S. 14-25. Wiesbaden.
1993. Ästhetik als Kategorie strategischer Führung (Aesthetics as a Category of Strategic Leadership) . In: Bankspegal, Februar 1993, 1-2 (Part 1) and März 1993, 7-9 (Part II).
2002. Universities as the Birthplace for the Entrepreneurial Human Being (with Katrin Kaeufer). In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning, and Change (Cambridge, Mass.).
2001. Illuminating the Blind Spot: Leadership in the Context of Emerging Worlds. Summary Paper on an Ongoing Research Project. (with W. Brian Arthur, Jonathan Day, Joseph Jaworski, Michael Jung, Ikujiro Nonaka, Peter M. Senge).
2001. Building Ba to Enhance Knowledge Creation and Innovation at Large Firms. Hitotsubashi University and MIT Sloan School of Management.
2000. Presencing: Learning from the Future as it Emerges: On the Tacit Dimension of Leading Revolutionary Change. Paper presented at the Conference on Knowledge and Innovation, May 25-26, 2000, Helsinki School of Economics, Finland.
2000. Leadership in the Digital Economy: Sensing and Actualizing Emerging Futures (with Joseph Jaworski). Society for Organization Learning, Cambridge, Mass., and Generon Consulting, Beverly, Mass.
2001. Reflections on an Interview with Ed Schein and Adam Kahane. Commentary by C. Otto Scharmer. In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning, and Change (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol. 3, no 2, 19.
2001. Four Scenarios for the Future, A. Kleiner and A. Kahane. Commentary by C. Otto Scharmer. In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning, and Change (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol. 3, no 1, 70-72.
1999. Schein in the Field and in the Classroom: Reflections on a Model of Managed Learning. Commentary by C. Otto Scharmer. In: Reflections: The SoL Journal on Knowledge, Learning, and Change (Cambridge, Mass.), Vol. 3, no 1, 70-72.
2022. An Interview with Otto Scharmer on Leadership (Part 2), November 2022 (German).
2022. An Interview with Otto Scharmer on Transformation (Part 1), November 2022 (German).
2020. On the Sunnie Side, Forbes YouTube Channel interview, July 2020
2020. Was will Die Welt Uns Sagen Der Omnius-Podcast, June 2020.
2020. Transformational Leadership with Henna Inam Podcast, May 2020.
2018. One World in Dialogue, Collective Mindfulness as a Tool for Global Change, September 27, 2018.
2017. La Mayor Parte De La Educacion Actual, El Mercurio, December 23, 2017.
2017. Otto Scharmer in the Captain Future Show with Michael Sillion.
2016. Verlasslich ist nur das eigene Selbst. Otto Scharmer interview (German) Wissen, December 2016.
2015. Soziale Achtsamkeit. An interview with Otto Scharmer. Evolve Magazin (German).
2014. Questions for Presencing and Theory U. An Interview with Otto Scharmer Questions for Living Info 3 Podcast: Interview with Otto Scharmer, (language: German).
2011. Transforming Capitalism through Presence. Waking Up the Workplace: Otto Scharmer. Global Conversations to Awaken a World of Conscious Business - a free online interview series exploring the emerging field of conscious business, organized by Diederick Janse.
As part of the Earth4All project, this paper explores how to transform the 21st-century economic system to become more just and sustainable. Otto Scharmer argues for the need to create a learning infrastructure to make this transformation possible.
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