According to the Global Intelligence Monitor, four of the world’s most promising Emerging Markets for the period 2012-2017 are located in the Middle East. Turkey is number 9. Saudi Arabia is number 18. The U.A.E is number 21. Egypt is number 22. (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, 295). For an organization who wishes to do business in a country such as the Turkey, they must be mindful of differences in religion and the multiple aspects of doing business. An organization can’t simply show up and expect to do business as they would in the Western part of the world.
Turkey is the historical home of both Christian and Jewish shrines, attracts thousands of Christian and Jewish pilgrims every year. Although Christianity and Judaism have a significant number of followers, Islam is the majority religion in the country where a synthesis of Islamic traditions and Western thought is prevalent in society (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014 p. 311). With a unique religious mixture, one needs to be sensitive and adaptable to interacting with the Turkish people. Islam is based on five pillars: Profession of faith (Shahadah), Prayer (Salah) Almsgiving (Zakah), Fasting (Sawn) and Pilgrimage (Haj). Islam has been the principle binder among the people of Turkey-it is a way of life and not simply a religion.
“Divine Guidance” is a fundamental component of the Islamic economic system. While Western businesses isolate any divine principles from guiding economic activity Islam establishes a certain set of divine rules on the economic activities of its adherents to create a control mechanism over individuals (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p. 300). Westerners on the other hand focus on maximize benefit and self-interest. According to the utility theory which is considered the cornerstone of conventional economics, economic man seeks to maximize his/her utility and acts in his/her own best interest to achieve his/her goal. It is fair to say the Western society has been largely influenced by this utility theory. In contrast Islam promotes “brotherhood” and “benevolence” among the people, instead of the “self-interest” principle of conventional economics (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p. 303).
Management and leadership style is another aspect of doing business in a Islamic country. Islam focuses its attention more on the individual people who manage or are managed, and less on the methodologies and process of management. This is because Islam believes that it is the individual people that guide and apply these management methodologies and practice through their motivations, enthusiasm, desires and emotions. Western managers maneuver for leadership positions, perhaps “shamelessly” in the eyes of the Islamic counter parts. Truth is not always spoken to maintain an advantage. Pride is often evident in management and behavior styles (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2014, p. 306). Islamic leadership assumes a role in which they set aside his/her self-interest in favor of social goods. This is a major difference between Western and Islamic leadership values.
Implementing and managing a successful business in the Middle East is a difficult task to perform. But to ensure success organizations can learn and adapt to the differences the Middle East has to offer.
References
Moran, R. T., Ph.D., Abramson, N. R., Ph.D., & Moran, S. V., MA. (2014). Managing cultural differences (Nineth ed.). New York, NY: Routledge
tls5778 says
I think the statement “to ensure success organizations can learn and adapt to the differences the Middle East have to offer” may be a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Simply learning and adapting doesn’t doesn’t ensure success, but can be a starting point.
In doing some research for my post I came across an article entitled “Four Tips For Successful Business In The Middle East And Asia” where the four tips are simple but important. I think that not all points are as straight forward as Davis’ second tip of understanding the culture. It is at this point where leaders can understand how to be successful and apply this knowledge.
And to take this one step further to enable to achieve success in a “best case scenario” leaders need to cultivate and encourage high-synergy teams. It is at this point where the parties involved work together for mutual benefit.
One last point, this doesn’t mean that leaders need to abandon their current way of leading, but they need to (to your point) adapt their style to enable collaboration to get the synergy that can lead to successful business for all parties.
Reference:
Davis, R. (2018, February 14). Four Tips For Successful Business In The Middle East And Asia. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2018/02/14/four-tips-for-successful-business-in-the-middle-east-and-asia/#2b5ddeab2b6e