Chapter 10: Is Today’s Focus on Innovation Enticing Global Managers Away from Religious and Spiritual Principles?

This chapter is based on a qualitative research conducted by the author to lay out certain religious and spiritual qualities of a global leader. Findings from the research also point out how managers in different parts of the globe are trying to obtain these qualities. The chapter explains how such qualities can be attained in conjunction with the manager’s intimate relationship with religious belief.

The author wants readers to understand why most global managers put so much emphasis on innovation. Thus, this chapter begins with a clear definition of change management. A detailed justification for change management offers specific and practical tools that business managers, around the globe, apply in leading people within the context of Golden Rule principles. The author delves deeper into the realm of leadership—although these points are elevated to higher integrity—not only addressing pitfalls with major religions practiced by managers in different regions of the globe, but also tackling topics such as the global manager’s ability to engage with employees, and customers. Readers would experience a demonstration of shift in interpretation of the Golden Rule principles, by the progression of religious practices over time. This illustrates how global managers frequently apply certain elements of management practices effectively to ensure project success, avoid valuable losses, and minimize the negative impact of change on productivity and customers’ loyalty (Specht, Kuonoath, Pachler, Weisweler, & Frey, 2017).