Emerald | Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues | Table of Contents

Reflections of EFL university instructors on teaching and learning after the revolution in Egypt

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Salma Gehad Waly) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the different ways through which the revolution has influenced teaching and learning in Egyptian universities after January 25, 2011. Design/methodology/approach – Through detailed life-history interviews with two female university instructors, the researcher aimed to find out how the revolution has influenced the identities of the instructors and their perspectives on teaching and learning. Findings – One can see that the revolution has not only helped university instructors question what the new roles of their professional selves should be but also directly affected the way they viewed teaching and learning. The revolution did not only help teachers shape their new personal and professional identities but also drew their attention to new educational landscapes that they were not allowed to explore before. Research limitations/implications – One of the recommendations of the study is that more large-scale research should be conducted to learn about the hopes and dreams of teachers in post-revolutionary Egypt in order to align that with educational reform and development agendas. Originality/value – Although it is just a case study of two university instructors, this study serves as a starting point from which one can understand the link between education and the community and the role that instructors can play in bridging the gap between what happens inside the classroom and what is taking place in the world outside.

Human resource diversity in the United Arab Emirates: empirical study

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Abdulfattah Yaghi, Ihsan Yaghi) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the few countries where nationals make up less than 20 percent of the total population and less than 2 percent of the workforce. Hence organizations in the public and private sectors are highly diverse in terms of their employees' nationality, language, religion, race, and gender. The purpose of this paper is to examine how employees perceive human resource diversity and what they consider successful diversity to be. Design/methodology/approach – The main research instrument is a questionnaire which measures diversity in human resources. Exploratory factor analysis, multiple regression, and descriptive statistics were used in order to analyze 795 survey responses. Findings – The findings reveal that perception of human resource diversity in the UAE vary by employees' gender, educational level, nationality, professional experience, job level, previous experience in diverse workplace, and second language competency. Analysis of employees' responses helped to construct a four-factor model, which can be utilized to improve diversity practices in organizations. Research limitations/implications – Although the literature on the UAE is limited, the study proposes four factors needed to achieve perceived successful diversity practices: legal, personnel, bureaucratic, and political factors. Researchers are encouraged to use comparative approaches to test the proposed model. Originality/value – The study offers important insights for researchers and practitioners of human resource management in the UAE.

Critiquing of higher education policy in Saudi Arabia: towards a new neoliberalism

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Tariq Elyas, Michelle Picard) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impact of 9/11 on education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The authors take a historical approach in order to speak more broadly about higher education policy in Saudi Arabia and show how the post 9/11 context of education in Saudi Arabia has led to a new paradigm in educational policy, which has moved away from what McCarthy et al. call “safe harbors” in schooling and education. Design/methodology/approach – The authors first define neoliberalism and then describe its manifestations and impact on the Saudi Arabian educational context, particularly post-9/11. The authors also describe the arguments against adopting a neoliberal approach and suggest a new neoliberalism that addresses the needs of a glocalized Saudi higher educational community. Findings – A neoliberalism paradigm has been adopted by education policy writers and university academics. In addition, the university learners have enthusiastically embraced neoliberalism and globalization. However, the authors argue that the local conditions make a complete transformation to neoliberalism inappropriate and that, instead, a glocalized form of neoliberalism is required to meet national and individual needs and to ensure the buy-in of local teachers/lecturers. Practical implications – This paper has implications both locally and internationally. It provides insight into the changes that occurred in the educational policy of Saudi Arabia post 9/11. This in turn explains how Saudi Arabia's sudden shift in education gears towards the local market needs. Hence, this “glocalized” neoliberalism could hopefully address the needs of local learners and teachers to operate in a globally competitive environment, as well as address the fears of local critics. Originality/value – This is the first paper in the context of Saudi Arabia that deals with a “Neoliberalism approach” in unpacking the educational policy paradigm shift post 9/11.

Multi-culture consumer behaviour in the Abu Dhabi markets

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Vanaja Menon Vadakepat) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – Globalization has brought apparent transformations to the UAE market. Shift in market trends due to a growing multicultural population induces marketers to update their marketing strategies. Focusing on the purchase behavior and level of satisfaction of consumers coming from different regions, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of multi-cultural consumers in the buying behaviour in the Abu Dhabi market for durable and non-durable consumer products. Design/methodology/approach – The sampling frame to examine the impact of heterogeneous culture in a geocentric market comprised 300 consumers belonging to different nationalities working in the UAE. Satisfaction Index, Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to test hypotheses constructed from literature. Findings – The three hypotheses formulated to test inter-cultural differences revealed the influence of multi-culture on consumers' buying behaviour. This paper recommends that by optimizing the utility of well-advanced digital media in the Emirates, marketers can customize strategies by which to penetrate culturally segmented niches. Originality/value – Global marketing is emerging in the Arab markets, assuming that global culture will bring about a paradigm shift from homogenous to heterogeneous buying habits. Exploring the influence of multicultural consumerism, the study illustrates the divergent demands of Abu Dhabi consumers.

Job insecurity: a whirlpool of chronic powerlessness

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – Organizational downsizing, right sizing, layoffs, and restructuring that attempt to reduce labour cost and increase competitiveness, have generated considerable feelings of job insecurity among today's employees. Conversely, the rapidity of change in the Middle Eastern region, coupled with the unpredictability of economic conditions, the inevitable need to survive and the ever-lasting craving for organizational success merge to aggravate the adverse effects of job insecurity. The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between job insecurity and powerlessness, management trust, peer trust and job satisfaction within Lebanon. Design/methodology/approach – Employees working within medium-sized organizations in Lebanon were surveyed to measure their perceptions of job insecurity, job satisfaction, powerlessness, and interpersonal trust. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson correlation matrix and linear regression tests. Findings – The study identified significant positive relationship between job insecurity and powerlessness, and negative relationships between job insecurity and management trust and job satisfaction. No significant relationship was found between job insecurity and peer trust. Research limitations/implications – The study adds to the existing job insecurity literature by empirically testing the relationship between job insecurity and powerlessness, peer trust, management trust and job satisfaction within Lebanese organizations. The researchers hope that this study will assist managers in understanding the importance of earning their subordinates' trust and its implications on job insecurity which could also negatively affect job satisfaction. Also, the issue of powerlessness should be seriously considered by management since it triggers the feeling of job insecurity. Originality/value – Western organizational behavior literature has given the topic of job insecurity significant attention. However, no scholarly research has yet examined the topic of job insecurity within the Middle East. This paper sheds light on important results regarding job insecurity and its consequences. Powerlessness predicts and aggravates job insecurity, and is affected by the nature of the job; trust in management has a negative effect on job insecurity, while peer trust has no influence. Also, job satisfaction is influenced by the perceptions of job insecurity.