The Process of Spiritual Value Transfer

From Founder to Venture

Bibliographic Data

ID22425620
AuthorsThanuksha Abeywardana (Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume23
Issue3
Pages324-340
Publication date2026-05-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Management, Spirituality & Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-6086 • E-ISSN: 1942-258X
PublisherInternational Association of Management Spirituality & Religion (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.51327/pqvy6245
OpenAlexW7161756103
LanguageEN
References cited45

It is well established that personal values significantly influence the purpose and direction of a new venture, particularly when the founder’s spiritual values are involved. While spirituality provides energy, passion, and meaning in both personal and professional life, the process through which these values transfer to the organisation remains unclear. Addressing this gap, my study asks: How do the founder’s spiritual values transfer to the venture? Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, the research adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing on interviews with sixty founders and employees from Sri Lankan MSM social enterprises. The findings reveal that spiritual value transfer occurs through three processes: practising, fostering, and nurturing. These processes involve routine actions that align thoughts and behaviours with inner wellbeing. Sustained through empathy, collective engagement, and self-aware practices, this transfer transcends spatial and temporal boundaries, fostering inner growth and shaping behaviour, while offering a theoretical bridge between spirituality and management.

Knowledge transfer · Qualitative research · Spirituality · Workplace Spirituality · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Organizational Strategy and Culture · Workplace Spirituality and Leadership

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