Abstract:

The strategic vision of minimizing oil dependence in the Middle East has triggered a flurry of innovation, investments, and management initiatives in many public and private organizations (Goyal and Rishi, 2003). The Middle East has Western experts working diligently to bring Western theories and practices into the region, promising a better future with tangible improvements. The range of services include corporate governance, risk and compliance, strategic management principles, leadership models, organizational performance measurements and evaluation, through to organizational learning. While this can be considered a very noble cause, however, in many instances, it is assumed that the people who are at the center of all these theories ought to be western-minded for these principles to work. Adopting Western management concepts in Middle Eastern organizations has always been a challenge for many experts, especially during the implementation phase. The Middle Eastern culture, organizational dynamics, value systems, as well as learning styles are some of these challenges in the region. Preserving and understanding the local culture and adjusting organizational and management theories to fit the culture should be the way to go – not the other way around.