Comparison of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom
2)Identify and describe some of the cultural differences in the two chosen countries and how it affects
leadership practices.
3)Analyze the effect such cultural features have on leadership practices.
4)Evaluate the effectiveness of your own country�s leadership practices with regard to acknowledging
and understanding these two other cultures.
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Comparison of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom
Exploring the culture of Saudi Arabia will obtain different sets of drivers that affect the
leadership practices in relation to other countries. Power is one of the elements that are being
pursued at each level (Akers, 2007). The dimension of the power in general claim and prove the
fact that every human being living in a community is equal. This reveals how we should take our
culture as we practice it amongst ourselves (Akers, 2007). Therefore, in Saudi Arabia the
cognition of power distance as a way of culture has been referred as the extent to which the less
powerful members of the organization or institution in the Saudi Arabian country would expect
and also they accept that power has been distributed equally (The Hofstede center, 2015). As a
way of life the people living in the country have accepted the hierarchical order that has provided
each individual a place and they need no further jurisdiction.
The practice of individualizing exists in the people of Saudi Arabia as the degree of
interdependence is maintained (The Hofstede center, 2015). These people are taking care of
themselves compared to the other states where there are organs of the government undertaking
the role in protecting their citizens (The Hofstede center, 2015). Also the organization behavior
of of the citizens in relation to the practice of culture is that there exists a society being driven by
achievement, competition and success (The Hofstede center, 2015). The critical issue in here is,
what motivate the people to do the best? They are masculine and they live to work. Also Saudi
Arabia culture has proved that of pragmatism encourages effort and thrift in today’s education as
a way out to prepare for the future (The Hofstede center, 2015). Another challenge that exists in
human beings is the degree into which little children can socialize (The Hofstede center, 2015).
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The rate of indulgence in the Saudi Arabian country is high, in its definition is the extent to
which the citizens try to control their own desires and impulses according to the way they were
raised (The Hofstede center, 2015).
Cultural differences affecting leadership practices
Saudi Arabia is one of the nations located in the Middle East region where majority of its
citizens are Muslims (Domina, 2009). One of the most convenient cultural practices that
Muslims do is the art of festival activities. There are a number of festivals that Muslims
participate according to their calendar. In relation to the United Kingdom, it is not an Islamic
based nation as the majority of the citizens in this nation are Christians (Domina, 2009). The
consideration of these numerous festival activities in the Islamic country does have an influence
in the leadership practices (The Hofstede center, 2015). Leaders in Saudi Arabian country are
aware of the religious activities that are pertaining the celebration practices as in the United
Kingdom each individual take part in the celebrations in their own ways (The Hofstede center,
2015). Islamic festival occupies a large base in leadership practices as they also play a substantial
role in ensuring leaders have good skills to guide and lead citizens (The Hofstede center, 2015).
The use neo-charismatic leadership in the United Kingdom compared to the culture that
have adopted the use of power distance in Saudi Arabia affects leadership practices
(LEADERSHIPS LEARNING PA N 1 CBE IRU, 2013). The use of visionary or neo-charismatic
leadership style will be affected by engaging in a culture of power distance like the one being
adopted in Saudi Arabia (LEADERSHIPS LEARNING PA N 1 CBE IRU, 2013). The culture
being shaped on in the United Kingdom involves challenging different processes, modeling most
of the ways to participate in and also encouraging or inspiring citizens as a leader. Therefore,
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observing and adopting the culture of the United Kingdom which is effective, will improve on
the leadership qualities for the people of Saudi Arabia (LEADERSHIPS LEARNING PA N 1 CBE
IRU, 2013). Culture plays a vital role in improving leadership practices, hence adhering to
infringing cultural practices will bring up negative impact on leadership practices
(LEADERSHIPS LEARNING PA N 1 CBE IRU, 2013).
Also, another cultural practice that is being practiced in Saudi Arabia that is highly
condemned in other world states is the inconsiderate or undermining of gender bias (Aimar,
2007). Saudi Arabia as an Islamic state they do value male dominance hence infringing the
woman gender (Aimar, 2007). The other states have advocated for freedom and equality of
gender on any field that individuals wish to participate. Women have been segregated from
leadership activities in Saudi Arabia while in United Kingdom there is equality of leadership
practices (Aimar, 2007). Therefore, gender bias influences leadership activities and it should be
abolished. There is need for equality on all genders in the world to ensure effective leadership
practices is achieved (Aimar, 2007).
Effect of cultural features of leadership practices
The fundamental issue behind individualism is that people will not be able to think about
others as they portray a self image that have to keep (Svensson, 2005). In a culture, it it
recommended to care about others as much as they do care about themselves. Individualism
practices affect negates the value of leadership practices, hence people should step up and care
others as much as they do to themselves (Amnuckmanee, 2002). Also the availability of
ambiguity that is brought forward by the use of uncertainty avoidance in a culture brings the
onset of to deal with the fact that the future can never be known hence there should control
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measure (Amnuckmanee, 2002). Lack of control of the future will bring about the uncertainty
avoidance that affects leadership practices too. More so the effect of uncertainty avoidance
affects the leadership practices through being unaware of the future and the lack of ways to
control it (Amnuckmanee, 2002). Lastly, cultural practices to indulgence has been seen as
another feature in Saudi Arabia that’s affected leadership practices. In individuals it has been
revealed that they try a lot to control their impulses and desires, but yet it is not easy (Svensson,
2005). Indulgences affect leadership activities through the creation of desires that are irrelevant
to other people (Svensson, 2005).
Effectiveness of your own country’s leadership practices
Leadership practices in my country largely depend on the societal norms hence they are
considerate in many ways (Fisher, 2002). The exercise of various characteristics and values in
my country renders the daily activities being performed to be accurate (Harris, 2005). There is
the existence of neo-charismatic leadership, hence following of cultural values cannot be
influenced. The use of charismatic leadership should be exercised in all countries since it is the
best way to consider the value of diverse cultures (Harris, 2006).
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Harris, L.L. 2006, The relationship of leaderships’ communication to employee engagement and
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