World Institute of Scientology Enterprises

World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, commonly known as WISE, is an international membership organization associated with the Church of Scientology. It promotes the adoption of L. Ron Hubbard's administrative methods, generally called Hubbard Administrative Technology or Admin Tech, among business owners, managers, and employees. WISE describes its members as businesses that use Hubbard's management technology while accepting the organization's membership responsibilities and ethical standards. The organization developed from Hubbard's administrative writings and training materials. During the 1960s and 1970s, Hubbard expanded a body of policies and procedures that had initially been intended for the administration of Scientology organizations. These materials were compiled in the Organization Executive Course, also called the Org Executive Course or OEC. Hubbard presented the system as applicable not only to Scientology organizations but also to companies, societies, political entities, and individuals. Its techniques include management by statistics, organizational charts known as org boards, administrative formulas, personnel procedures, and defined systems for handling organizational problems. WISE was incorporated in 1979. Its initial purpose was connected to the Church of Scientology's concern that Scientologists operating private businesses might improperly use Church personnel, mailing lists, address books, or other organizational resources for commercial purposes. WISE offered a framework through which business operators could use Hubbard's methods while maintaining a formal relationship with the wider Scientology network. The organization also developed mechanisms for resolving disputes among members, including local Charter Committees and mediation procedures intended to reduce reliance on civil courts. A related training structure was created through the Hubbard College of Administration. Originally known as WISE College, the institution was established in 1990 and began operating in 1991. It provides instruction in Hubbard's administrative system and in Scientology-derived Study Technology. Its offerings have included certificate programs, workshops, continuing education, corporate seminars, and an associate-level program in management and administration. WISE members may also obtain training through licensed Hubbard Management Consultants. WISE's commercial network has included consultants and member businesses in fields such as dentistry, software, management services, computer products, publishing, and alternative health services. Consultants have been licensed to sell training, seminars, courses, and management services based on Admin Tech, and have encouraged client businesses to join WISE. The organization has used regional offices, often located at or connected with Church of Scientology facilities, to coordinate local activities and Charter Committees. The organization has attracted criticism and litigation because employees of some member businesses have alleged that workplace management training incorporated Scientology content or that they were pressured to study Scientology, attend related seminars, or use Scientology terminology. Several employment-discrimination cases and regulatory complaints were filed in the United States from the early 1990s through the 2010s, with outcomes varying by case. Some claims were dismissed or rejected, while others resulted in settlements. WISE's relationship to the Church of Scientology, the religious character of the underlying materials, and the use of those materials in workplaces have remained central issues in public reporting about the organization. In 2021, Russia designated WISE an undesirable organization. WISE remains associated with the Church of Scientology and continues to present itself as a business membership and management-training network rather than as a conventional commercial product brand.

WISE grew out of L. Ron Hubbard's administrative writings and the Church of Scientology's efforts to control how those materials and organizational resources were used by Scientologists in private commerce. Hubbard developed his management system from the early 1960s through the late 1970s. The resulting policies were compiled in the Organization Executive Course, a collection originally used in Scientology organizational administration but subsequently presented as applicable to ordinary businesses and other institutions. WISE was incorporated in 1979. Its early role was to address cases in which Scientologists operating businesses allegedly recruited or poached trained Church personnel, or used Church address books and mailing lists to promote private commercial activity. WISE provided a membership structure intended to separate authorized use of Hubbard's administrative system from unauthorized exploitation of Church resources. Membership involved acceptance of a code of ethics and agreement to use WISE procedures for resolving disputes with other members. The Hubbard College of Administration was created by WISE in 1990 and began operations in 1991. It was initially called WISE College. The school was designed to teach Hubbard's administrative methods in a setting outside a Church of Scientology organization, allowing business owners and employees to study the system while applying it to their own employment situations. The college has offered certificate programs, workshops, continuing education, corporate seminars, and an associate program in management and administration. It also uses Study Technology associated with Scientology. The institution obtained tax-exempt status in 1993 as part of a wider settlement between the Internal Revenue Service and Scientology-related entities in the United States. WISE established a network of regional offices and local Charter Committees. Charter Committees were intended to guide members and mediate disputes, offering an internal alternative to civil litigation. Businesses could join at a basic level, while firms wishing to train employees with WISE materials paid for a higher level of participation. Hubbard Management Consultants served as licensed providers of courses, seminars, management services, and training, and were encouraged to recruit additional WISE members. The organization's stated ambitions broadened during the 1980s. In 1986, a WISE executive committee described a goal of placing Hubbard's administrative technology in businesses throughout the world, including firms not operated by Scientologists, while ensuring that Hubbard remained recognized as the source of the system. This strategy made WISE a vehicle for extending Scientology-derived management practices into sectors such as dentistry, software, publishing, computer products, management services, and alternative health. The use of Scientology-derived training in ordinary workplaces generated controversy. Former employees of member companies alleged that they had been pressured to study Scientology, attend related courses or conferences, adopt Scientology terminology, or participate in religiously connected activities. Lawsuits and administrative complaints were brought against several dental practices, a software company, and other employers. The results were mixed: some defendants prevailed, while other matters ended in settlements. The cases raised recurring questions about the boundary between religious instruction and workplace management training, as well as whether employees could be disadvantaged for refusing to participate. WISE's corporate officers are associated with the Sea Organization, a religious order within the Church of Scientology. Its Los Angeles headquarters are located in the Hollywood Guaranty Building, while regional operations have commonly been connected with local Church of Scientology facilities. In autumn 2021, Russian authorities designated WISE an undesirable organization. The Hubbard College of Administration has continued to operate as the principal educational institution associated with the WISE system, although public information about WISE's current membership, finances, and executive structure is limited.

• 2021

  Russia designates WISE undesirable

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  Russian authorities designated WISE an undesirable organization.

• 1993

  Tax-exempt status reported for Hubbard College

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  The Hubbard College of Administration received tax-exempt status as part of a broader IRS settlement involving Scientology-related entities.

• 1991

  Hubbard College begins operations

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  The college began offering instruction in Hubbard's administrative system outside regular Church organizational facilities.

• 1990

  Hubbard College of Administration established

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  WISE created its principal training institution, initially called WISE College.

• 1986

  Global business-expansion objective published

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  A WISE executive committee articulated an objective of spreading Hubbard's administrative technology across the worldwide business community.

• 1979

  WISE incorporated

  [1]World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was incorporated to structure the use of Hubbard's administrative methods by Scientologists operating private businesses and to address concerns about the commercial use of Church resources.

WISE positions itself as an international business membership and management-training organization for firms that use L. Ron Hubbard's administrative methods. Its public-facing proposition combines management instruction, business networking, ethical standards, consultant services, and internal dispute mediation. Critics and former employees have emphasized that the methods are derived from Scientology and have alleged that some member businesses used them in ways that pressured employees to participate in religiously connected training.

• Business membership · 1979

  WISE Membership

  WISE membership is intended for business owners who adopt Hubbard's administrative ideas and agree to follow a WISE code of ethics. The membership framework emphasizes administrative procedures, management by statistics, organizational charts, and internal handling of disputes between members. Businesses seeking to train employees with WISE materials may participate at a higher membership level.

• Management system

  Hubbard Administrative Technology

  Hubbard Administrative Technology, or Admin Tech, is the management system promoted through WISE. Its components include policies on organization, personnel, statistics, organizational structure, administrative formulas, and workplace procedures. The system originated in Scientology organizational materials and is presented by WISE as adaptable to businesses and other institutions.

• Management course

  Organization Executive Course

  The Organization Executive Course, also called the Org Executive Course or OEC, is a compilation of Hubbard's administrative policies and training materials. It was initially intended for executives and staff in Scientology organizations, but Hubbard later described its principles as applicable to businesses and other entities. WISE uses the broader administrative system represented by these materials in its training and consulting network.

• Management education · 1991

  Hubbard College of Administration programs

  The Hubbard College of Administration offers WISE certificate programs, continuing education, workshops, corporate seminars, and an associate-level program in management and administration. Courses teach Hubbard's administrative methods and related Study Technology. The institution does not participate in federal or state student financial-aid programs, according to the reference material.

• Business consulting

  Hubbard Management Consultant services

  Hubbard Management Consultants are WISE members licensed to sell management services, seminars, courses, and training based on Admin Tech. Consultants also encourage client businesses to join WISE. Examples identified in reference material include Sterling Management Systems, Survival Strategies, Management Success, MasterTech Computer Products, and David Singer Enterprises.

• 1990

  Establish the Hubbard College of AdministrationProduct launch

  Background

  WISE sought to teach Hubbard's administrative methods to business personnel outside the day-to-day administration of a Church of Scientology organization.

  Action taken

  WISE established the Hubbard College of Administration, initially known as WISE College.

  Aftermath

  The college began operating in 1991 and became the main educational venue associated with WISE management training.

  Source

• 1986

  Pursue wider adoption of Hubbard management methodsStrategy

  Background

  WISE leadership described a goal of extending Hubbard's administrative technology beyond Scientology-operated organizations.

  Action taken

  The organization promoted use of the system by businesses worldwide, including businesses not operated by Scientologists.

  Aftermath

  WISE consultants and member firms expanded the system into sectors including dentistry, publishing, software, and management services.

  Source

• 1979

  Create a formal business-membership structureStrategy

  Background

  Scientology-affiliated business operators were accused of using Church personnel, address books, and mailing lists for private commercial purposes.

  Action taken

  WISE was incorporated to organize business participation, establish ethical expectations, and regulate the use of Hubbard's administrative system.

  Aftermath

  WISE developed membership levels, consultants, Charter Committees, and training institutions for businesses using Admin Tech.

  Source

1. 1World Institute of Scientology Enterprisesen.wikipedia.org