Organization Development Experts' Perspectives On Leading Organizations In Saudi Arabia During a Global Pandemic and Transitions Due to Saudi Vision 2030
Open Access
- Author:
- Al Shawan, Fahad
- Graduate Program:
- Workforce Education and Development
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 17, 2023
- Committee Members:
- Wesley Donahue, Major Field Member
William Rothwell, Co-Chair & Dissertation Advisor
William Brendel, Co-Chair & Dissertation Advisor
John Ewing, Outside Unit & Field Member
Susan Land, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Organization Development
Saudi 2030 Vision
COVID-19
Organizational Change
Organization Development Practices
Organization Development Phases - Abstract:
- This qualitative study interviewed 11 experts about organization development (OD) practices in Saudi Arabia during the massive changes caused by the Vision 2030 national development project and the COVID-19 pandemic. It asked how OD professionals could provide competitive, differentiating value to help Saudi organizations adapt effectively to rapid change. Interviews covered facilitating and hindering factors. Facilitating factors included leaders’ attitudes and support for OD practices, cultural characteristics, change acceleration, communication and collaborative engagement, and effective strategic management. Hindering factors included excessive time and cost, a lack of collaborative engagement, leaders’ negative mindsets and misunderstanding of OD, a lack of human resources, dealing with different attitudes, measuring organizational maturity, COVID-19, the rapid pace of regulations, poor communication, and unequal compensation and benefits. Interviewees recommended leveraging helpful cultural factors, developing unique tools by collaborating with other organizations and experts, leading change as an ongoing process rather than simple projects, investing in talent development to address shortages, prioritizing leadership development, and emphasizing courageous leadership to encourage direct and open conversations about complex issues. The study outlines specific steps to transition Saudi organizations toward better OD practices in order to effectively deal with extraordinary change.