Overarching Values: The Pivotal Role of Organizational Values in Navigating Uncertainty

This chapter introduces the construct of overarching value in organizations, a subset of core values that act as universal guiding principles, providing coherence, legitimacy, and ethical direction during times of uncertainty. These values are non-negotiable, enduring over time, yet performative, enabling organizations to navigate and overcome challenging periods by anchoring their actions to these foundational principles. Overarching values align with an organization’s rationale, mission, and cohesion, fostering a shared sense of purpose and adherence among its members. The chapter critically examines debates surrounding organizational moral values, particularly their connection to humanistic values, and the role of values work practices with special attention devoted to hybrid organizations, where values often emerge and evolve dynamically through practice. Drawing on the case of Addiopizzo—a Sicilian grassroots movement that transformed into a hybrid organization blending activism and business—this chapter demonstrates how overarching values develop through organizational processes, shaping strategic decisions and stakeholder engagement. By analyzing the emergence and application of overarching values, the chapter enhances understanding of the relative ordering of values and their function as critical drivers in overcoming turbulence, ensuring organizational resilience, and fostering ethical coherence in complex and uncertain environments.