Purchase Solution

Juggling Cultures-Women in Saudi Arabia

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males. This is even more the case in many Arab Muslim countries where women play a limited role in public and business life.

As a leader of a business division, you face the choice of selecting the leader of a negotiation team to draft a new deal with a potential Saudi Arabian client. By far your best, most experienced, and most skilled negotiator is one of your female executives. She has, for many years, successfully negotiated deals within the United States and in several Western countries. Her second in command is a promising but relatively young male executive who still needs to develop his skills and experience (Nahavandi p. 27).

It is suggested that you research Saudi culture first:

It is your understanding that women in Saudi Arabia do not even drive, let alone participate in business. Is this still true, or is it changing?
What is the purpose of the negotiation? How will that affect your choice of negotiators?
Who will you send to Saudi Arabia as head of your team? Why?
If your CEO is insistent on sending the female executive, what adjustments might you make to ensure that the deal is not put at risk?
What are the implications of your decision for your business and the message you send as a leader?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures-Women in Saudi Arabia

Solution Preview

It is very true that Arab society like Saudi Arabia is predominantly a male society where women are not allowed to take important business. But, with the influence of western culture and education, the situation has now started to change in Muslim countries. As cities like Dubai, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are becoming more and more cosmopoliton, Middle East has transformed itself radically and business practices and culture is changing as well to suit Western business practices.

Saudi business culture:

Doing business in Saudi Arabia is somewhat more challenging for women. There is gender separation in the Kingdom. Many public places, like hotels and restaurants, will have family rooms where women are served with their husbands. Women are expected to dress conservatively, with long skirts most appropriate, sleeves at elbow length or longer, and necklines that are unrevealing. It is generally uncommon for a Muslim man to shake hands with a woman or engage in the conversational body contact that is common when speaking to another man, although Saudis who ...

Solution provided by:
Sandeep Bardia, MBA
Education
  • BCom, SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi
  • MBA, Rochester Institute of Technology
Recent Feedback
  • "Thank you. "
  • "Thank you"
  • "Thank you. I got 20/20 last week for my discussion you help me out with."
  • "Thank you. Great Job. "
  • "Thank you. Great Job. "
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
SWOT

This quiz will test your understanding of the SWOT analysis, including terms, concepts, uses, advantages, and process.

Business Processes

This quiz is intended to help business students better understand business processes, including those related to manufacturing and marketing. The questions focus on terms used to describe business processes and marketing activities.

Organizational Leadership Quiz

This quiz prepares a person to do well when it comes to studying organizational leadership in their studies.

IPOs

This Quiz is compiled of questions that pertain to IPOs (Initial Public Offerings)

Income Streams

In our ever changing world, developing secondary income streams is becoming more important. This quiz provides a brief overview of income sources.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Saudi Arabia Culture and Women

    73649 Saudi Arabia Culture and Women Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males.

  • Marketing Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures

    121294 Marketing Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males.

  • Cultural Impact in International Business Negotiation

    74805 Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures, Devising Negotiation Strategies in different countries Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males.

  • Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures - Women in Saudi Arabia

    116166 Leadership Challenge: Juggling Cultures Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males.

  • How to conduct business in Saudi Arabia - Customs & Culture

    This is especially true when you consider the vast differences between women in Saudi Arabia as compared with women from western cultures.

  • Women in Saudi Arabia

    79116 Women in Saudi Arabia Just wanted more opinions and more references on this topic: Culture, gender, and leadership can be closely intertwined. In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males.

  • Business Leadership - Culture, Gender and leadership

    In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males. This is even more the case in many Arab Muslim countries where women play a limited role in public and business life.

  • Discussing Culture, Gender and Leadership

    In most cultures, even Western cultures, leadership is associated with males. This is even more the case in many Arab Muslim countries where women play a limited role in public and business life.

  • Saudi culture

    1.It is your understanding that women in Saudi Arabia do not participate in business. Is this still true, or is it changing?

View More Related Solutions