Christian Leaders and Analytics

Abstract

This research finds that Christian leaders are called to apply strong analytical data and the associated analytical methods by both Biblical and contemporary secular academic sources. This research also concludes that two of the primary steps involved in the process of utilizing these resources (i.e., the data) and techniques (i.e., analytical methods and technologies) require a shift in the thinking processes within an organization (or between organizations) to build a foundation on which analytical practices can thrive. This research finds that one component of this shift in individual and organizational thinking includes a reliance or an insistence on facts, or data, instead of opinions in both traditional and more advanced forms of analysis such as textual and sentiment analysis. The manner in which Jesus Christ, the prophets and disciples, and other historical figures in the Bible regularly relied on and cited accounts from the Holy Scriptures demonstrates God’s command for His followers to rely on truth and facts. This research also finds that this practice, in turn, supports improved judgment or decision making. Decisions represent the ultimate leadership task and the effects of a leader’s decisions are often the source of their own evaluation criteria. This research concludes that Christian leaders need to rely on data-driven resources and techniques (data analytics) to improve the organizations they support and the God they serve. This endeavor is no