Wasta : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Talib, Ameen

doi:10.5742/mejb.2017.92942

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Moreover, it ranked 117 out of 180 countries in terms of corruption rate (Transparency International, 2020). Nepotism is endemic in public and private organizations, with family networks being highly instrumental (Mohamed and Hamdy, 2008; Mohamed and Mohamad, 2011; Talib, 2017). The institutional environment in Egypt has both encouraging and challenging features for entrepreneurs.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entrepreneurial resilience and business continuity in the tourism and hospitality industry: the role of adaptive performance and institutional orientation

Elshaer

Saad

2021

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Purpose This study aims to explore the dynamics of resilience in tourism and hospitality enterprises by investigating the influence of internal and external contextual factors (i.e. adaptive performance and institutional orientation) on the relationship between entrepreneurs’ resilience and business continuity indicators (i.e. perception of career insecurity and business exit intention). Design/methodology/approach In the Covid-19 pandemic context, quantitative data were collected using self-administrated questionnaires from entrepreneurs (founders of small-sized restaurants and travel agents in Egypt) using structural equation modeling. Findings The study reveals that entrepreneurs’ resilience under adversities directly correlates with business continuity indicators, with adaptive performance and institutional orientation functioning as mediators. Research limitations/implications The socio-demographic characteristics of entrepreneurs could be further investigated to observe the differences based on age, education and region. The type of business (i.e. restaurants and travel agents) could have an impact on the examined relationships. Therefore, further studies can use multi-group analysis to examine such differences between various sub-sectors of the hospitality business. Finally, the cross-sectional sample method used in this study is another limitation. In any study in which causality is inferred, longitudinal research confirms stronger inferences (Morgan & Hunt, 1994). Practical implications An instant implication is that entrepreneurs can take proactive actions to enhance their resilience. Entrepreneurs should seek to influence their own skills and abilities through various educational and training programs. For example, they can take advantage of business seminars, workshops and executive education courses. Entrepreneurs who have the chance of enhancing their skills in solving complex problems, identifying their strengths, managing their emotions are better able to adapt to unfavorable circumstances. Social implications The inhabited environment. Entrepreneurs should be institutionally oriented by building strong communications and networks with key actors and business-to-business customers. This would help entrepreneurs to understand the rules of the game, adapt to the environment, gain market legitimacy and accordingly acquire the social and financial support when hazards occur. Originality/value The extant literature lacks evidence about the internal and external contextual factors underlying the process of resilience in small and medium-sized enterprises and its outcomes. Research on entrepreneurship has rarely discussed the antecedents of business withdrawal. This study contributes to addressing this research gap.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entrepreneurial resilience and business continuity in the tourism and hospitality industry: the role of adaptive performance and institutional orientation

Elshaer

Saad

2021

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“…Wasta is a fixture of everyday life and it has become a right and expectation in Middle Eastern Arab societies (Talib, 2017). It is also seen that the younger generation is not as averse to wasta as previously hypothesized, in that they have grown used to the wasta effect and ultimately use it themselves for fear of being disadvantaged by the wasta of others (Whiteoak et al, 2006).…”

Section: The Wasta Effectmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Traditionally, wasta has been present in (tribal) Middle East for mainly mediation purposes (Talib, 2017), but over time has evolved and the objective has changed from defusing tribal conflicts to acquiring economic wealth. The use of wasta is considered to play a significant role in many decisions in the Arab world (Whiteoak et al, 2006).…”

Section: The Wasta Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Arab State's high power distance ranking refers to the prevalence of inequality in the culture and how much it is endorsed by the members of its society, while their ranking as highly collective refers to their preference to work in groups and think in terms of "we". Emphasis from a collective to an individual benefit seems to be a relatively modern innovation in the wasta system and the current epidemic level of wasta, a previously benevolent system, has turned into something that is sinister and ugly (Talib, 2017). Wasta can also be seen as anti-meritocracy, such that the marginalization of the individuals not connected (or in the know) can be permanently blocked from entry to otherwise open opportunities and resources.…”

Section: The Wasta Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wasta can also be seen as anti-meritocracy, such that the marginalization of the individuals not connected (or in the know) can be permanently blocked from entry to otherwise open opportunities and resources. Talib (2017) argued that present leaders in the Middle East are themselves mainly a product of the wasta system and are pro wasta oriented.…”

Section: The Wasta Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Paternalistic leadership in Kuwaiti business environment: Culturally endorsed, but largely ineffective

Adžić¹,

AlMutairi²

2021

Industrija

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There is an assumption from the reviewed literature that Paternalistic Leadership (PL) is culturally endorsed as a leadership style in Kuwait. With many diverse perspectives on the effectiveness of paternalistic leadership, the research objectives of the current research are threefold. First, to examine if PL is recognized as a leadership style in Kuwait organizations, second, to test the effectiveness of that style if present, and third, to identify the specifics of the Kuwaiti leadership practice. The findings lead to the conclusion that PL is present in Kuwaiti leadership practices, culturally is endorsed, but otherwise is considered as an ineffective leadership style because of the influence of wasta.

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Wasta: Advancing a Holistic Model to Bridge the Micro-Macro Divide

Ali

Weir

2020

Manag. Organ. Rev.

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This article offers a synthesis of understandings of wasta, seen as a form of social network prevalent in the Arab Middle East. Whilst there has been increasing interest in this practice, research remains fragmented and has been criticised for its limited theoretical rigor. To address this issue, a systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles exploring wasta published between 1993 and 2019 was conducted. We analysed the identified papers according to the theoretical lens from which wasta was viewed, creating a bridge between a theoretical focus on the macro aspect of wasta and an alternative focus on its micro aspects, leading to the development of a holistic model of wasta. The model also helps us to understand the complexity of wasta, both as the network itself and as the social ties that exist among its members, and sheds light on the complex nature of the role and interactions of the wasta. The findings respond to calls for more holistic and inclusive research to inform social networks research and bridge the micro–macro divide. This article offers recommendations to future researchers to build on the holistic and emic approach to wasta research adopted here.

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Wasta : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Entrepreneurial resilience and business continuity in the tourism and hospitality industry: the role of adaptive performance and institutional orientation

Entrepreneurial resilience and business continuity in the tourism and hospitality industry: the role of adaptive performance and institutional orientation

Paternalistic leadership in Kuwaiti business environment: Culturally endorsed, but largely ineffective

Wasta: Advancing a Holistic Model to Bridge the Micro-Macro Divide

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