Jesus and Change Management

This book is based on the author's doctoral thesis, "Organizational Change Model and Christian Values: Links between Kotter's Steps and the Actions of Jesus of Nazareth." The timeless leadership of Jesus is the central focus of this analysis, supported by His extraordinary ability to transform a small community of disciples into a global faith that today encompasses more than two billion followers. However, John P. Kotter—recognized by Business Week in 2001 as America's leadership guru after selling over two million copies of his books, including Leading Change and Matsushita Leadership—was selected as a point of comparison, as one of the main modern references in leadership and organizational transformation. This study explores the dynamics of leadership and change management from a historical and behavioral perspective, focusing on the actions, teachings, and values of Jesus of Nazareth as narrated in the Gospel of Matthew, and their possible relationship with John P. Kotter's model of change. A conscious effort was made to approach these narratives as historical case studies—free from theological interpretation—in order to compare them with Kotter's 1997 change model, seeking to establish connections and points of convergence between change management and Christian values that may also be associated with business administration. The general purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the similarities between leadership and change management principles documented in the biblical context of the Gospel of Matthew (NLT) and those proposed by Kotter (1997). In doing so, it aims to extract leadership and change lessons applicable across various organizational contexts, regardless of the religious orientation within organizations. It is important to emphasize that, while Jesus of Nazareth promoted inner and spiritual transformation, and John P. Kotter focused on structural and organizational change, both share a fundamental premise: change requires change leadership, regardless of the context. A change leader guides others through transformation—whether personal, spiritual, or institutional. The differences in their spheres of action do not diminish their impact as agents of change; rather, they demonstrate that the principles of transformational leadership remain universal and timeless. This analysis demonstrates that the eight steps of Kotter's (1997) change model—widely accepted within the field of contemporary leadership and management—can be paralleled with events narrated in the Gospel of Matthew, related to the change led by Jesus in the first century. This relationship suggests a continuity of principles and practices that have withstood the test of time. The convergence between Kotter's change model and the transformational process led by Jesus highlights how certain leadership principles have endured, revealing Jesus as both a transformative and forward-thinking leader.