English: The numerous business scandals experienced worldwide in recent years have placed the integrity of senior executives of big companies under the magnifying glass. The values and ethics of these companies can be questioned. South Africa did not escape these business scandals. On the contrary, fraud in businesses and the state sector is not uncommon and regularly hits the front pages. South Africa is regarded as a so-called Christian country since approximately 80% of the population claim to be Christian. One therefore wonders whether any of the leaders in executive positions are currently following Christian values and ethics.
The purpose of this study was to explore and walk alongside Christian executives while they go about their daily work in the business field. In this study these executives are referred to as fellow researchers since they are the experts in their respective fields. It is believed that they construct the social context of their businesses. Leaders also determine the culture and atmosphere in such a workplace. Together we, the executives and I, identified, observed and evaluated their unique contexts. This gave me an opportunity to listen and interpret their life stories.
The experience can be described as fellow researchers on a narrative journey where we learned about the challenges and successes in the field of business. Eight of the eleven fellow researchers were men and three were women. Four of the fellow researchers work in the corporate environment of which one was a woman and three men. There were also five entrepreneurs, four men and one woman. The last two (man and woman) hold senior positions in the state sector.
A qualitative research design was applied and, more specifically, a narrative research was conducted. Within the qualitative framework I used a postfoundational practical theological approach. As a theologian I could listen to people who are in a totally different discipline and within this transversal relationship we discovered God, Christ and the Holy Spirit within their context. We found that company leaders’ example is invaluable. In addition, we learned that if you as a leader are a professing
Christian, people must be able to observe Jesus in your behaviour. My fellow researchers all agreed that the world becomes a better place when Christians apply their values, not only in their personal lives, but specifically in their workplace. In all the research stories it was established that, in the first place, leaders have to profess the kingdom of God and his will. It was also agreed that they have been chosen by God to be a leader in the business where they are currently involved. The fruit of the Holy Spirit should be present in these leaders and their companies in order to live the Christian values (love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your fellowman as Jesus loves you). When the foundation of these values is built on love for God, love for others (the employees of these businesses) and the fruit of the Spirit, businesses will become beacons of hope in the community. Practically all the leaders agreed that they were striving to be servant leaders in their homes, businesses and communities.
Afrikaans: Die talle skandale wat die sakewêreld tot onlangs geruk het, het die integriteit van senior bestuurslui onder die vergrootglas geplaas. Vele vrae oor waardes en etiek is aan die orde van die dag. Suid-Afrika het nie hierdie skandale vrygespring nie. Inteendeel, bedrog binne besighede en die staatsektor is aan die orde van die dag en gereeld voorbladnuus. In ’n land wat as ’n sogenaamde Christelike land bekend staan, omdat ongeveer 80% van die inwoners beweer dat hulle Christene is, kan tereg gevra word: “Waar is die Christenleiers in besigheid?”
Die doel van hierdie studie was om op reis te gaan met Christene wat leiers in die sakewêreld is. Ek verwys na hulle as medenavorsers, omdat hulle die kundiges van hulle eie konteks is. Hulle konstrueer inderdaad die sosiale konteks van hulle besighede, omdat leiers die kultuur en atmosfeer van hulle besighede bepaal. Ek het met elkeen na sy/haar unieke konteks gekyk en saam met hulle na hulle verhale geluister.
Ek was saam met elf medenavorsers op ’n narratiewe reis, waar ek baie van hulle uitdagings en suksesse geleer het. Agt van die elf medenavorsers was mans en drie vroue. Vier van die medenavorsers werk in die korporatiewe omgewing waarvan een ’n vrou en drie mans is. Verder is vyf entrepreneurs, waarvan vier mans en een ’n vrou is. Die laaste twee (man en ’n vrou) kom uit die staatsektor waar hulle senior posisies beklee.
In die lig van die aard van die studie is daar van ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak en meer spesifiek van narratiewe navorsing. Binne die kwalitatiewe raamwerk het ek van ’n postfundamentele prakties-teologiese benadering gebruik gemaak. Ek kon as teoloog luister na mense wat in ’n totaal ander dissipline staan en binne hierdie transversale verhouding het ons God, Christus en die Heilige Gees opnuut ontdek. Ons het ontdek dat leiers se voorbeeld binne maatskappye van onskatbare waarde is. Verder het ons geleer dat indien jy as leier Christus bely, mense Jesus in jou lewe moet kan sien. My medenavorsers het gesê dat die wêreld ’n beter plek word waar Christene hulle waardes uitlewe. Wat ook telkens in die
verhale na vore getree het, is dat leiers eers die koninkryk van God en sy wil voorop behoort te stel. Daar is ook saamgestem dat God jou as ’n leier kies om ’n verskil te maak. Daar is telkens na die Heilige Gees en dan spesifiek na die vrug van die Heilige Gees verwys. My medenavorsers het gesê dat indien die vrug van die Gees by leiers teenwoordig is, hulle maatskappye Christelike waardes (om God lief te hê met jou hele hart, siel en verstand en jou medemens lief te hê soos Jesus jou liefhet) bo alles sal uitdra. Wanneer hierdie waardes op liefde vir God, liefde vir mense rondom jou (werknemers in die geval van besighede) en op die vrug van die Gees gebou word, sal besighede bakens van hoop word vir die samelewing om hulle. Omtrent al die leiers strewe daarna om ’n diensknegleier te word.
