Purpose This paper aims to investigate the nature and prevalence of environmental scanning as practiced by organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and explore the impact of perceived uncertainty on the way various information sources are used in managerial decision-making. Specifically, by targeting firms in the region, the paper examines whether the degree and frequency of scanning activities influence the relationship between perceived uncertainty and the use of environmental information in making strategic decisions. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a cross-sectional research design, with self-administered questionnaires as the main mode of data collection, and uses quantitative data analysis tools to answer the research questions. Findings The study finds that perceived environmental uncertainty significantly influences scanning efforts in an organization, which in turn influence the use of environmental information in decision-making. Additionally, findings suggest that while perceived source quality significantly influences frequency of scanning, the influence of perceived source accessibility on scanning is statistically insignificant. Research limitations/implications The results of this study have several implications for academics in the field of strategic management and industry professionals involved in long range planning. Results indicate that scanning activities should be more extensive and frequent when perceived uncertainty is high and indicates the potential value of timely market research to assess demand, gather consumer feedback and respond to changing needs of the customers. Originality/value The study addresses an identified gap in the literature and adds to the existing body of work by exploring organizational practices in a unique cultural context and assessing a conceptual model that links perceived uncertainty and environmental scanning to strategic management practices.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of a range of factors on the decision of female Emirati students to join the private sector as a career choice. Design/methodology/approach This study employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to prioritise the factors affecting Emirati students’ choice of career. The AHP model was developed with five criteria and 19 sub-criteria based on previous literature. Data were collected through interviews of 12 female Emirati students enroled in higher educational institutions in the UAE. The respondents were selected from both public and private universities on the basis of their majors and their academic performance (GPA). The data collected were interpreted and a priority vector was assigned to each criterion and sub-criterion. Findings The findings show that emotional stability for engineering students and job-skills mismatch for business students are the most important factors that influence the career choice of female Emirati students in the private sector. Research limitations/implications Authors can develop this model in their academic pursuits, and the AHP method can be used to solve employment-related decision-making problems in the private sector. Also, the findings can help policy makers and related associations to develop various policies based on the specific factors found to empower female Emirati students in the private sector in an effective manner. Originality/value The low rates of employment of the native population in the private sector is a major issue in the UAE. The study is the first of its kind to propose an AHP model that prioritises the factors which influence female Emirati students to join the private sector.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which contextual factors outlined in the theory of planned behavior (TPB) affect entrepreneurial intent (EI) of female students in the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a hierarchical regression analysis utilizing data from a university in the UAE. Findings The study indicates that prior and current family business exposure to entrepreneurship does not affect the EI of female students from the UAE. However, the family affects EI via the family norms. More exposure to business classes and the subjective norms from the university are not significant predictors of EI, and perceived behavioral control is the strongest contextual predictor of EI. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to the UAE and to a small sample of female students from a single university; therefore, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Practical implications The study points to opportunities within the university environment to design more robust curricula that offer female students opportunities to boost their confidence in the ability to start up and manage a business. Originality/value The paper is the first of its kind to apply the TPB to the context of female students from the UAE.

No abstract

No abstract