Is Superstition The Hidden Forces Shaping Strategy in Indonesia?

In business and strategy, success is often attributed to careful planning, market analysis, and data-driven decision-making. However, in Indonesia, strategic thinking is not always purely rational. Many leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs also rely on supernatural beliefs to increase their chances of success. Whether in oil and gas exploration, business formation, or major investments, luck, serendipity, and superstition often play an unexpected role in decision-making.

While working in the oil and gas industry, I encountered a Western drilling manager struggling to locate an oil source despite precise calculations from the subsurface team. Frustrated, a fieldworker suggested that the drilling pipe was being “squeezed” by a jin (genie) that demanded a sacrifice before releasing its grip. Initially skeptical, the manager eventually allowed a ritual, performed by an orang pintar (a local shaman-like figure). The orang pintar determined that the jin required the sacrifice of a black goat. Desperate for results, the manager paid for the ritual himself. Strangely enough, not long after, the oil began to flow.

A similar belief-driven approach exists in the business world. A friend of mine, preparing to start his own company, insisted on consulting an orang pintar to choose the company’s name and office location. When the time came to sign the establishment documents, he followed another belief system—consulting a Chinese calendar to select the most auspicious day. To him, these rituals were not superstitions but essential steps to ensure success.

These stories are not isolated cases. Across Indonesia, from large corporations to small businesses, decision-making is often influenced by a blend of religion, mysticism, and strategic pragmatism.

The Deep Influence of Religion and Mysticism in Indonesian Business

Indonesia is a nation where religion and mysticism are deeply woven into everyday life, influencing business ethics and governance. A study published in Sociology of Religion describes "functional religiosity" as the application of religious principles in daily decision-making, highlighting its prevalence in Indonesia. With the world’s largest Muslim population alongside significant Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist communities, religious teachings serve as guiding principles in leadership.

Beyond institutionalized religion, many Indonesians hold deep-rooted mystical beliefs passed down through generations. An article in the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies examines how rumors of sorcery in an Indonesian university reflect the persistence of Javanese cosmological and magical beliefs. These supernatural elements remain embedded in society, influencing perceptions of luck, success, and misfortune.

One example of this duality is the widespread reliance on orang pintar, who provide guidance on personal and professional matters. While modern corporate leaders in other parts of the world may rely solely on data-driven analysis, many Indonesian entrepreneurs and executives consult orang pintar to determine auspicious dates for launching businesses, purchasing property, or making significant investments. This reflects a belief that unseen forces—whether ancestral spirits, cosmic energies, or divine will—can shape business outcomes in ways beyond rational explanation.

Mystical traditions such as Kejawen (Javanese spiritual beliefs) and Sunda Wiwitan (an ancient Sundanese belief system) continue to shape leadership practices. Kejawen, which emphasizes harmony with nature and the universe, is often referenced by Javanese business and political leaders who seek balance in their decision-making. Meanwhile, Sunda Wiwitan encourages rituals to cleanse spaces and ensure positive energy before major endeavors.

Strategic Adaptation in an Unpredictable World

In an unpredictable business environment, leaders seek ways to increase their chances of success. While conventional management emphasizes risk assessment, market research, and financial modeling, many Indonesian leaders incorporate intuitive decision-making, serendipity, and supernatural guidance. This reflects an adaptive approach to uncertainty in a country where institutional instability, economic fluctuations, and regulatory unpredictability are constant challenges.

One strategy is risk diversification and flexibility. Instead of relying solely on rigid long-term plans, business owners adopt fluid decision-making, allowing them to pivot when unexpected opportunities or challenges arise. Many Indonesian entrepreneurs maintain multiple side ventures, driven by a belief in spreading fortune or as a strategic buffer against downturns. This aligns with effectuation theory, where entrepreneurs base decisions on available resources rather than fixed future goals.

Another key factor is social capital and collective intelligence. The Indonesian concept of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) extends to business networks. Rather than seeing success as individual achievement, many believe good fortune arises from reciprocal support and shared goodwill. Business negotiations are often built on trust and symbolic gestures to ensure long-term cooperation.

Rituals and superstitions also serve as uncertainty-mitigation strategies. While Western businesses conduct financial audits before major investments, some Indonesian companies hold rituals to cleanse new offices or factories of bad luck before starting operations. These practices are not seen as replacements for logical planning but as complementary safeguards.

Navigating the Tension Between Rationality and Cultural Beliefs

For Indonesian leaders, decision-making is not a binary choice between rational strategy and cultural beliefs. In an environment where religious and mystical traditions shape public perception, leaders must navigate investor expectations, consumer trust, employee morale, and even supernatural forces.

Some leaders strategically justify cultural practices as stakeholder management. A CEO who allows a ritual before opening a factory may not personally believe in its supernatural effects but recognizes its psychological impact on employees and the local community. These actions help foster goodwill, prevent social backlash, and reinforce a sense of shared destiny.

However, there are moments where mystical traditions clash with modern business logic, creating dilemmas. A company may delay signing a high-value contract because the selected date is deemed “unlucky,” potentially losing a strategic opportunity. Political leaders may avoid making necessary but controversial reforms out of fear of upsetting religious groups. The challenge is weighing tangible risks against the intangible consequences of ignoring cultural beliefs.

As Indonesia deepens its integration into the global economy, leaders must adapt traditional decision-making frameworks to international business norms. Foreign investors expect rational, numbers-driven strategies, which may conflict with Indonesia's intuitive, belief-influenced methods. Successful companies find ways to reframe traditional beliefs in modern business language, whether by aligning them with risk management strategies or corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Summary: Superstition as a Strategic Tool

In Indonesia, strategic success is shaped not only by data, market forces, and business acumen but also by cultural and spiritual beliefs. Whether through religious guidance, mystical rituals, or intuitive decision-making, Indonesian leaders integrate luck, serendipity, and superstition into their strategic playbooks. This approach is not merely a relic of tradition but a practical response to high uncertainty, social cohesion, and stakeholder expectations.

Rather than contradicting modern strategy, these practices complement structured decision-making by reinforcing trust, psychological reassurance, and social alignment. However, as Indonesia continues to globalize, leaders must find ways to translate these belief-driven strategies into a language that resonates with modern risk management and corporate governance.

Ultimately, whether one attributes success to rational strategy, divine intervention, or cosmic alignment, the goal remains the same: creating the conditions where luck, opportunity, and serendipity can flourish. Indonesian leaders do not just wait for fortune to strike—they actively cultivate it, balancing pragmatism with deeply held beliefs in a way that reflects Indonesia's unique and dynamic approach to leadership.