scholarly journals Reclaiming the heterogeneity of the Arab states

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihanah Almutairi ◽  
Michael Heller ◽  
Dorothy Yen
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
North African ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Firms ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Culture Dimensions ◽  
Arab States

PurposeThis paper addresses the clustering of several Arab states on Hofstede's national culture dimensions and its implications for international firms targeting the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. It is imperative to distinguish the region's various national cultures, in order to enable enhanced segmenting strategies. The authors argue that reexamining the Arab states' national cultures can provide interested firms with a better understanding of their differences and similarities, so as to appropriately adjust their products and services to better serve their consumers.Design/methodology/approachHofstede's Values Survey Module 2013 (VSM 13) questionnaire is employed. In total, 1400 surveys were disseminated to all the Arab states, 200 for each country.Findingsfind evidence that national cultural differences do exist for Arab states and discuss implications toward international firms expanding in the region.Originality/valueEmpirical contributions include the dissemination and translation of Hofstede's national culture survey, the VSM 13, on seven Arab states: Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Egypt. Second, the VSM 13 survey measured the Arab states on two more dimensions which had not been previously measured before the present study's investigation. Last, the theoretical contribution of the present study offers empirical evidence that the MENA region's national culture profiles differ on all dimensions, and as such its findings are seen as an extension and validation of Hofstede's national culture theory.

Benchmarking national culture and decent work practice indicators in project-based industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 490-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asadullah Khan ◽  
Maqsood Sandhu
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
National Culture ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Work Practices ◽  
Decent Work ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to benchmark national culture in the context of decent work practices in project-based industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This should help in achieving successful short-term migration. The study also aims to validate the decent work practice indicators for Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani construction labourers working in the UAE. Design/methodology/approach – This study takes an ethnographic approach in its qualitative research methodology. The research involves observational methodology for its data collection during the execution of construction projects, semi-structured interviews to confirm the data collection during observational approach and a narrative methodology for the data collection within the labour camps, grassy fields and town streets. The qualitative data were expressed in quantitative terms to signify statistically the effect of the national culture in the context of decent work practices in this industry. Hence, the research involved triangulation in its data collection and analysis. Findings – The study reveals that the national cultures of the migrant construction labourers in this context are not the same as identified by Geert Hofstede about four decades earlier. It was found that Indians were high in uncertainty avoidance, Pakistani construction labourers were high in masculinity, Bangladeshi construction labourers were low in long-term orientation (LTO) and individualism and Chinese labourers were found to have high individualism and LTO. This study verified decent work practice indicators for Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi construction labourers and identified different decent work practice indicators for Chinese construction labourers in the UAE than Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi construction labourers. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to the construction labourers in the UAE. The data were collected during observation while execution construction projects and limited to visiting construction labour camps, grassy fields and town streets. Practical implications – The differences in the national culture of the migrant construction labourers and the decent construction practices in the UAE have economic, social and environmental implications for construction labourers in the Arab world, for both migrant sending and receiving countries. Understanding and managing various national cultures and improving prevalent decent work practices would help to improve economic and social condition of the migrant construction labourers and help to arrest the advance of looming health problems. Originality/value – The study identifies the national cultures of the migrant construction labourers in the context of decent work practices in the UAE. Improvement in the decent work practices of the migrant sending countries and the UAE and understanding of the culture of the migrants will help in preparing effective migration policy by both migrant sending and receiving countries. No study was found to have identified national cultures in the context of decent work practices and assessed the need for improvement in this regard.

scholarly journals The Need for Uniqueness among Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Consumers: A Cross-Culture Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Sarah G. Alzahrani ◽  
Lauren Copeland
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Need For Uniqueness ◽  
Middle East Countries ◽  
Culture Dimensions

Understanding differences among consumers across varying cultures is of great importance to the success of international retailers. Ignoring the influence of culture and centralized marketing has led to a decline in profits for some international companies. Studying the culture of Middle East countries, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCCC), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, is essential before marketing in these countries. Additionally, the GCCC is one of the top 10 luxury markets in the world. Hofstede model of national culture is crucial for GCCC due to the fact culture norms regarding dress and appearance are nationally adopted. A sample of 170 participants from the GCCC was collected using an online questionnaire of 45 items measuring national culture dimensions and need for uniqueness when shopping for luxury goods. It was found that power distance in all GCCC countries was a significant predictor of having a need for uniqueness, as well as indulgence. Power distance had a positive relationship with the need for uniqueness while indulgence had a negative relationship with the need for uniqueness. For other dimensions, findings indicated that long term vs short term orientation, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism were not significant predictors leading to uniqueness. Additionally, the important construct for uniqueness among GCCC consumers is unpopular choice followed by avoiding similarity. Creative choice is less important among the three constructs of uniqueness for GCCC participants. 

Time poverty in Egypt and Tunisia: is there a gender gap?

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-289
Author(s):  
Asmaa Ezzat ◽  
Hanan Nazier
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
North African ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
Time Poverty ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Individual Household

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender differences in time poverty in two Middle East North African (MENA) countries, particularly Egypt and Tunisia, as well as examining its determinants across gender. Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors make use of data provided by the Labor Market Panel Survey (LMPS) in Egypt (2012) and in Tunisia (2014) to estimate probit regressions to identify various determinants that explain time poverty. Findings The empirical findings show that the probability of time poverty, in both countries, is lower for women compared to men. In addition, the determinants of time poverty (individual, household and community variables) and their marginal effects differ across gender. Originality/value Research on the gender inequalities in time poverty and its determinants has been very limited. Additionally, the relationships between individuals’ time use and the conditions under which this might represent time poverty have not been fully studied in the literature. Moreover, most of the available studies have focused on developed countries; while studies tackling this issue in developing countries are very few. For the MENA region, in particular, this topic is totally missing in the available literature.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATIONAL CULTURE DIMENSIONS AND DEGREE OF INNOVATION

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (01) ◽  
pp. 1730001 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDRE LUIS PRIM ◽  
LUIZ STEPHANY FILHO ◽  
GUILHERME AUGUSTO CAVALLARO ZAMUR ◽  
LUIZ CARLOS DI SERIO
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
National Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Global Innovation ◽  
Culture Dimensions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Degree Of Innovation

The objective of this research is to analyse the relationship between cultural dimensions and the degree of innovation at the national level. For such, secondary data were collected relating to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the Global Innovation Index (GII). They were analysed using multiple linear technical regressions based on a sample of 72 countries. The results reveal the existence of three cultural dimensions associated with innovation outputs (technology and creativity): individualism, long-term orientation and indulgence, while a partially supported relationship was encountered for the power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity dimensions. National cultures were also classified as being competitive, planning, hierarchical or benevolent, to distinguish the most innovation-driven cultures. This evidence contributes to the innovation and competitiveness perspective, in which the intrinsic values of a national culture can favour the development of innovation and raise the competitiveness level of both nations and organisations.

scholarly journals Managing the workplace in a globalized world

Facilities ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (13/14) ◽  
pp. 744-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien B. Plijter ◽  
Theo J.M. van der Voordt ◽  
Roberto Rocco
Keyword(s):  
Real Estate ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Real Estate ◽  
Estate Management ◽  
Real Estate Management ◽  
Corporate Real Estate Management

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to provide a better insight into the role of national cultures on the management and design of workplaces of multinationals in different countries. Design/methodology/approach – This explorative study is based on an extensive literature review of dimensions of a national culture in connection to corporate real estate management, interviews with ten representatives of multinationals on corporate real estate strategies and workplace characteristics and a multiple case study of two multinational firms with site visits and observations at offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain. Findings – Whereas all interviewed companies had their real estate portfolio to some extent aligned to the local national culture, none had a strict central policy about this issue. Differences in workplace characteristics were mainly caused by the involvement of local people in workplace design. Using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, the case studies showed relationships between masculinity of a culture and the expression of status and between uncertainty avoidance and openness to innovation; however, no relationships were found related to differences in power distance and short-/long-term orientation. Research limitations/implications – The case studies were conducted in three European Union countries. Due to practical reasons, most interviewees were Dutch. Additional empirical research including more different national cultures is needed to advance more unequivocal conclusions and to develop a clear set of guidelines for decision-making. Practical implications – The findings stress the importance of finding a balance between aligning facilities to business purposes and meeting the needs of different (groups of) employees in multinational environments. Originality/value – Although much has been written about national culture, not much research is yet available in connection to facilities management and corporate real estate management.

National culture and fraud risk: exploratory evidence

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Getie Mihret
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Culture Dimensions ◽  
Corruption Index ◽  
High Power Distance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the association between national culture dimensions and exposure to fraud with a view to drawing implications for understanding fraud risk. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a sample of 66 countries. Regression analysis is conducted using Hofstede’s national culture dimensions as independent variables and fraud risk as a dependent variable. Transparency International’s corruption index was used as a proxy for fraud risk. Findings – Results suggest high fraud risk exposure in countries with high power distance and those having limited long-term orientations. Research limitations/implications – The study informs deeper understanding of fraud risk through analysis of fraud risk in a culturally relative sense. Originality/value – This is the first study (known to the author) to draw the implications of national culture for understanding fraud risk.

National culture and UN global compact affiliation

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-600
Author(s):  
Michel Coulmont ◽  
Kamille Lambert ◽  
Sylvie Berthelot
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Global Compact ◽  
Un Global Compact ◽  
Corporate Policies ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Nature ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Despite the global nature of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), a platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible and sustainable corporate policies and practices, the participation of organisations is unequally distributed across societies. This paper aims to explore the relationship between national cultures, as defined by Hofstede, and organisations voluntarily affiliating with the UNGC. Design/methodology/approach This study tests the relationship between national culture and firm affiliation with the UNGC using data derived from Hofstede’s works and information available on the UNGC website and other websites and accounting databases, covering 282 firms in 30 countries on 4 continents. Findings The results indicate that firms in countries with high individualism or high masculinity rankings are more likely to affiliate with the UNGC. In addition, organisations in countries with less uncertainty avoidance, short-term orientation and high restraint are also more likely to affiliate with the UNGC. Originality/value The results are interesting for initiatives like the UNGC. The development strategies and democratisation tools developed by this initiative will have to take into account the specific cultural features of different countries.

Project management control within a multicultural setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
André A. de Waal ◽  
Freke A. de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multicultural Environment ◽  
Control Framework ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Research Stream

Purpose There is a growing debate and research stream on the influence of national culture on the type and nature of management control systems (MCSs) used by organizations in the country. A specific case is the management control of projects executed in a multicultural international environment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the findings of a study into the role of national cultures in controlling a project which a multinational undertook in four countries. Design/methodology/approach Based on project management control literature a theoretical MCS for international projects is developed. Subsequently, the influence of national culture on this system is discussed, using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Then the theoretical system is applied on the project the multinational case company executed in four countries (Austria, Finland, India, and Russia). Findings A key finding is that different national cultures do require different types of control, but that this effect is neutralized by the culture of the multinational which is the same all over the world and which supersedes national cultures. This makes it possible to implement a standardized project management control framework. Originality/value The research yielded a conceptual project management control framework which in practice seemed to be useful for controlling not only the process and progress but also the product (end result) of a project in a multicultural environment.

Effect of ownership concentration on capital structure: evidence from the MENA region

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Ownership Concentration ◽  
Agency Conflicts ◽  
Information Asymmetries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth Firms ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This paper aims to document how does ownership concentration, a proxy for agency conflicts, affect capital structure of firms in emerging markets. Agency relationship between insiders and outsiders has the potential to influence corporate decision-making which, in turn, impacts firm characteristics such as leverage. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses pooled regression analysis to document the effect of ownership concentration on capital structure in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain), during the period between 2005 and 2009. Findings – The authors show that ownership concentration negatively affects capital structure. The results also show that for a given level of ownership concentration, the proportion of debt in capital structure goes up as information asymmetries decrease. Finally, the results show that for a given ownership concentration, it is the growth firms with low information asymmetries that have a higher proportion of debt in capital structure. Research limitations/implications – The authors argue that information asymmetries associated with ownership concentration minimize the ability of firms to raise debt, thereby resulting in a negative relationship between ownership concentration and capital structure. Furthermore, reluctance on the part of controlling shareholders to accumulate excess leverage to minimize non-diversifiable risk also negatively influences capital structure. Originality/value – Most of the prior studies on the relationship between ownership concentration and capital structure have been conducted in relatively more developed markets. An important market that has failed to attract attention regarding this issue is the MENA. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap by documenting the relationship between the two in the MENA region.

A revision of Hofstede’s individualism-collectivism dimension

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Minkov ◽  
Pinaki Dutt ◽  
Michael Schachner ◽  
Oswaldo Morales ◽  
Carlos Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Valid Measure ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated and authoritative measure of individualism vs collectivism (IDV-COLL) as a dimension of national culture. Design/methodology/approach Rather than focus solely on Hofstede’s classic work, the authors review the main nation-level studies of IDV-COLL and related constructs to identify the salient cultural differences between rich societies and developing nations. The authors conceptualize and operationalize IDV-COLL on the basis of those differences and propose a new national IDV-COLL index, using new data from large probabilistic samples: 52,974 respondents from 56 countries, adequately representing the national cultures of all inhabited continents. Findings The proposed index is a new, valid measure of IDV-COLL as it is strongly correlated with previous measures of closely associated constructs. As a predictor of important cultural differences that can be expected to be associated with IDV-COLL, it performs better (yields higher correlations) than any known measure of IDV-COLL or a related construct. Research limitations/implications An important facet of IDV-COLL – in-group favoritism vs out-group neglect or exclusionism – does not transpire convincingly from the authors’ operationalization of IDV-COLL. The study relies on self-construals. Respondents are unlikely to construe their selves in terms of such concepts. Practical implications The new IDV-COLL measure can be used as a reliable, up-to-date national index in studies that compare the cultures of rich and developing nations. The new IDV-COLL scale, consisting of only seven items, can be easily used in future studies. Originality/value This is the first IDV-COLL measure based on the communalities of previous studies in this domain and derived from large probabilistic samples that approach national representativeness. The superior predictive properties of the authors’ new measure with respect to extraneous variables are another important strength and contribution.

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