"It is only by building on existing strengths, and moving forwards on established capabilities that economic maturity can be achieved and rising living standards maintained."
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Psychology of Arab Management Thinking by Majid Said Nasser Al Suleimany Trafford Publishing
book review by John E. Roper
Writers approach their craft with a variety of motivations. Some search for fame, others for fortune, and still others because spinning words together is one of the few things they are really good at. Some, though, write because what they have to say is burning inside them, and the only release is to share with others what has so inflamed their emotions. Such is the case with the author, whose passion for his people and his culture has driven him to speak out against the problems within Arab management practices so that, as he says, he can one day tell his grandchildren that by writing books he did something about them.
The author approaches his topic as an insider. Having worked extensively in the global business environment and in human resources in particular, both with Arab and international leadership, he has seen firsthand the shortsightedness, prejudice, paranoia, and autocratic tendencies of many Arab managers as well as the unfortunate fact that motivation and morale are frequently higher among Arab employees when someone other than one of their own countrymen is in charge. These observations have gnawed at him, and he questions not only why the situation within the corporate world is like this but also what can be done about it.
As an Omani, the author offers great insight into his own country's management issues, but he is quick to point out that many of the observations he makes can be applied to businesses throughout the Arab world. While the subject matter of this book will mainly appeal to readers approaching it from an Arab perspective, students of international business can also learn a lot from the author's research.