Culture, Wasta and perceptions of performance appraisal in Saudi Arabia

Al Harbi, Saleh; Thursfield, Denise; Bright, David

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between Arabic culture and employees’ perceptions of performance appraisal in a Saudi Arabian company named SACO. Using an interpretive and qualitative methodological framework, the article suggests that Western models of performance appraisal rooted in rationality and objectivity conflict with aspects of Saudi Arabian culture. Specifically, the personal relations implicated in the social practice of Wasta. However, the article also shows how SACO employees are beginning to reject Saudi Arabian cultural norms and adopt alternative values which are linked to notions of organisational justice and individual egalitarianism. These values are compatible with Western models of performance appraisal.

Citation

Al Harbi, S., Thursfield, D., & Bright, D. (2017). Culture, Wasta and perceptions of performance appraisal in Saudi Arabia. The international journal of human resource management, 28(19), 2792-2810. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1138987

• Acceptance Date: Dec 31, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 8, 2016
• Publication Date: 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 15, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: International journal of human resource management
• Print ISSN: 0958-5192
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 19
• Pages: 2792-2810
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1138987
• Keywords: Appraisal; Culture; Justice; Performance; Wasta
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/384169
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09585192.2016.1138987
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International journal of human resource management on 8th February 2016, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09585192.2016.1138987
• Contract Date: Nov 23, 2017