Abdullah Alkhoraif

The implementation of ambidextrous innovation in project organizations within the cultures of the Global South, such as Saudi Arabia, is a significant problem. Organizational culture is positioned as a key factor that can help project organizations in cultures such as Saudi Arabia to implement ambidexterity as a key innovation framework. However, knowledge of ambidextrous innovations in such an important cultural and organizational context is highly limited. Thus, the aim of the present research is to explore key cultural aspects and themes based on action and a grounded theory research approach that can help organizations employ projects as a key work structure to implement ambidextrous innovations in project management offices (PMOs) in Saudi Arabia. To achieve this aim, the current study employed in-depth semi-structured interviews with 36 participants. The results, employing open coding procedures as a tool of data analysis using the NVivo 14.0 software package, revealed 62 key cultural aspects that can be critical in implementing the innovation of ambidexterity. To further validate and triangulate the findings, inter-rater reliability was undertaken with the help of two experts, and two sessions of focus group discussions were also conducted. The first session of the focus group helped us critically evaluate and filter the cultural aspects, resulting in the final 56 key cultural aspects. The second focus group session was undertaken with participants with the aim of grouping aspects into theoretical themes, which resulted in 10 themes. The research is novel in that it addresses both project organizations and the culture of the Global South, including Saudi Arabia. Empirical research needs to be conducted to predict and achieve other key outcomes.

This study examines the impact of innovation governance and policies on government funding for emerging science and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia, addressing key bureaucratic, regulatory, and cultural barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with quantitative survey data to provide a comprehensive under-standing of the current innovation landscape. Findings indicate a high level of policy awareness among stakeholders but reveal significant challenges in practical implementation due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and stringent regulations. Cultural barriers, such as a risk-averse mindset and traditional business practices, further impede innovation. Successful initiatives like the National Transformation Program (NTP) demonstrate the potential for well-coordinated efforts, highlighting the importance of regulatory reform and cultural shifts towards entrepreneurship. Strategic recommendations include streamlining bureaucratic processes, enhancing policy coordination, and fostering a culture of innovation through education and stakeholder engagement. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering actionable insights to enhance innovation governance, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.

The organizations are facing a challenge of sustaining long-term business performance. As literature suggests, such long-term business performance can be attained through innovation. The ambidextrous innovation framework appears to be a key strategic framework that organizations can adopt in order to sustain their long-term business performance. Ambidextrous innovation is impactful because it helps organizations carry out both radical innovation, referred to as explorative, and incremental innovation, often referred to as exploitative innovation. However, implementing and adopting such a framework presents significant challenges that organizations have to face. Early insights and theories suggest that innovation, and more specifically ambidextrous innovation, requires a conducive culture that promotes behavioral patterns such as risk-taking, application of new ideas, collaboration, and cooperation. In light of such insights, the aim of the present research is to build the methodological toolbox to extract key insights and build theoretical models that assess the relationship between ambidextrous innovation and organizational culture. More specifically, this research guides organizations in modeling the culture so it can facilitate the implementation of ambidextrous innovation. The methodological stance and guidelines suggest that key grounded theory and action research methodologies of qualitative research can be employed to collect and analyze the data, leading to a theoretical model explaining the nuances of the culture necessary for the adaptation and implementation of ambidextrous innovation.

Individual and organizational-level cross-cultural adjustments are necessary in the hospitality sector because of its diverse and dynamic teams and guests. The aim of this research is to comprehend the variables that explain how job performance is affected by cross-cultural adjustment. A qualitative study was carried out, with an emphasis on the traits of the Saudi culture and the opinions on job performance, satisfaction, and the overall environment at work. To determine how high-context and low-context cultural norms differ from one another and what effects they have on various levels, ten individuals were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to examine the transcribed data, find patterns, and discuss the most significant relationships. The results demonstrated that a cross-cultural adjustment in a team of hotel industry in Saudi Arabia is affected due to the lack of cultural balance and inclusiveness. This may lead to communication problems and a challenging work environment, which can affect employees' engagement and job performance. The recommendations included focusing on enhancing the present recruitment procedure to develop more culturally balanced teams and evaluating the team's time-management skills, which is a factor that makes it challenging for employees to participate in activities of diverse cultures.

The application of the lean principle can play an important role in enhancing the competitiveness and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The lean principle can reduce the cost of production, maximize resource optimization, and enhance the firm’s ability to provide superior value to the customers. The empirical research studying the effect of the implementation of lean principles in the SMEs has been widely studied. The researchers have used varying amounts of contextual variables as antecedents and consequences of the lean principle implementation in SMEs. The purpose of the present research study is to address this gap by reviewing the literature on Lean implementation in SMEs with a focus on finance-related variables as antecedents and consequences. To achieve the purpose of our study, the current research has employed a systematic literature review as a methodology to collect the studies from academic databases of ABI/INFORM world, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, Sage, Inderscience, Premier, ScienceDirect, and Scopus Business Supplies. The results of the study have yielded insight and knowledge into four different themes. Finally, an area for future research has also been developed.

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