Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the awareness of spiritual intelligence in the NGO sector. The study attempts to define the concepts of meaning, spirituality, spiritual intelligence and spiritual leadership. The research used as its basis questionnaires by Katz (2007) derived from the Zohar and Marshall characteristics of Spiritual Intelligence. A recent Gallup Poll showed that 45 percent of Americans talk about their faith at work, and this suggests that employers should not dismiss its motivating power. For most people faith and spirituality is a private matter. One can therefore pose the question, “What has the 'spirituality' of employees got to do with big business?” However, when the HR directors of Nokia, Unilever, McKinsey, Shell, Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Starbucks and the Cooperative Bank, some of the world's most successful companies talk about concepts such as 'spiritual quotient' and 'spiritual capital' one otherwise has to sit up and listen. Sir John Templeton, founder of the John Templeton Foundation, spends $16 million to $30 million a year funding research that explores links between science and God. He suggests that "No human being has yet even understood 1 percent of what can be learned about spiritual matters". It is initiatives like these and the growing number of professional presentations, journal articles, books and conferences devoted to the subject that confirms the new interest in spirituality. It seems that a consensus is emerging on the principal elements of spirituality for working people, which includes acknowledging God, the importance of prayer, other people and a sustainable world. Research further suggests that spirituality enables a businessperson to gain a more integrated perspective on their firm, family, neighbours, community and on themself. Sweeping social and economical changes, including downsizing, mergers, globalisation, the threat of terrorism since the 9/11 attacks, and corporate ethical scandals are all contributing to business’s spiritual awakening. In order to cope with increased stress and alienation, both managers and employees seek meaning and purpose in the workplace. The research in this study suggests that amidst these changes and associated challenges, there exists a high level of spiritual awareness in the organisations and the managers that participated in this study. The study report provides research examples and references to other case studies from across the world, including practical guidance for implementing and measuring workplace spirituality. The conclusions suggest that spirituality is a not passing fad but, an authentic movement based on universal spiritual principles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die bewustheid van geestelike intelligensie in die nie-regeringsorganisasie- (NRO-) sektor te ondersoek. Hierdie studie probeer die konsepte betekenis, spiritualiteit, geestelike intelligensie en geestelike leierskap definieer. Die navorsing het as grondslag die vraelyste van Katz (2007) gebruik, wat ontleen is aan die eienskappe van geestelike intelligensie soos gedefinieer deur Zohar en Marshall. ’n Onlangse Gallup-opname het getoon dat 45 persent van Amerikaners by die werk oor hulle geloof praat, en dit impliseer dat werkgewers geloof as motiveringskrag nie moet onderskat nie. Vir die meeste mense is geloof en spiritualiteit ’n persoonlike saak. ’n Mens kan dus vra: Wat het die ‘spiritualiteit’ van werknemers met groot sakeondernemings te make? Wanneer die menslikehulpbron-direkteure van Nokia, Unilever, McKinsey, Shell, Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Starbucks en die Co-operative Bank, ’n paar van die wêreld se suksesvolste maatskappye, egter praat oor konsepte soos ‘spirituele kwosiënt’, moet ’n mens goed na hulle luister. Sir John Templeton, stigter van die John Templeton Foundation, spandeer elke jaar tussen $16 miljoen en $30 miljoen om geld te voorsien vir navorsing wat die verband tussen die wetenskap en God ondersoek. Hy stel voor: “Geen menslike wese het nog ooit eens een persent verstaan van wat oor geestelike sake ontdek kan word nie.” Dit is inisiatiewe soos hierdie, sowel as die groeiende aantal professionele aanbiedings, tydskrifartikels, boeke en konferensies wat aan hierdie onderwerp gewy word, wat die nuwe belangstelling in spiritualiteit bevestig. Dit lyk of daar konsensus begin ontstaan oor die hoofelemente van spiritualiteit vir werkende mense, wat insluit die erkenning van God, en die belangrikheid van gebed, ander mense en ’n volhoubare wêreld. Navorsing impliseer verder dat spiritualiteit sakepersone in staat stel om ’n meer geïntegreerde perspektief op hulle firma, familie, bure, gemeenskap en hulleself te kry. Ingrypende sosiale en ekonomiese veranderinge, insluitende afskaling, samesmeltings, globalisering, die bedreiging van terrorisme sedert die aanvalle op 11 September 2001 en etiese skandale in die korporatiewe wêreld, dra by tot maatskappye se spirituele ontwaking. Om die toenemende spanning en vervreemding te kan hanteer, soek sowel bestuurders as werknemers na betekenis en doelgerigtheid in die werkplek. Die navorsing van hierdie studie impliseer dat daar te midde van hierdie veranderinge en meegaande uitdagings ’n hoë vlak van spirituele bewustheid heers in die organisasies en die bestuurders wat aan hierdie studie deelgeneem het. Dié studieverslag voorsien navorsingvoorbeelde en verwysings na ander gevallestudies van oor die hele wêreld heen, insluitende praktiese riglyne om spiritualiteit in die werkplek te vestig en te meet. Die gevolgtrekkings impliseer dat spiritualiteit nie net ’n verbygaande gier is nie, maar ’n outentieke beweging gegrond op universele geestelike beginsels.