Wasta is a controversial subject that has received increasing research interest in recent years, including exploratory studies seeking to define its nature and scope and to understand why people use it. This article explores the potential applicability of using narrative inquiry in wasta research. It is premised on that intuitive assumption that analyzing individuals' experiences and perceptions of phenomena enable an “insider view” and a deeper understanding of the subject under investigation. This is particularly apt for emerging areas of research, such as wasta, which has not been deeply studied in terms of how it manifests and how it is perceived among people and organizations. It is suggested that narrative inquiry offers a new way to develop knowledge about wasta, which contributes to simplifying the academic understanding of the phenomenon. It is useful in uncovering characteristics of wasta that would have otherwise remained hidden when using other methodological approaches.

Purpose This study aims to uncover graduating students’ standpoints on Wasta through exploring their motives to use it and its potential influences on them particularly when they move to a workplace (i.e. after leveraging it to gain employment). Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 graduating students studying at a Jordanian private university. Findings Graduating students considered Wasta as a gateway to employment, which rationalised their motives to use it in terms of the perceived lack of equal opportunities in the market, and the absence of rules and regulations that inhibit it. However, they also perceived that being hired through Wasta could have positive and negative impacts on them. Originality/value The findings of the study enriched the understanding of various aspects of Wasta, such as why it is used, how it works and how it could have harmful effects on those who benefit from it in addition to those who do not have it, while previous literature primarily focussed on the latter. Although individuals may share similar contextual pressures that encourage them to use Wasta for employment purposes, this research shows that they would accept and justify its use for themselves, yet reject it for others. This study emphasises the need to conduct further research to explain these contradictory views. It also suggests exploring the motives of the patrons of Wasta and its influences on them when they offer it. This is to understand the psychology of offering Wasta and identify the roles of the parties who get involved in it.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to understand the relationship between economic challenges, tribalism and the use of the wasta informal network in the workplace across Middle East and North Africa (MENA) organizations, with Jordanian public organizations taken as an illustrative case.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was applied, and a total of 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with human resource (HR) officials working in different public organizations such as state-owned enterprises (SOEs), ministries, government agencies (GAs) the military forces and security agencies.FindingsThe authors' findings show that employees who live in rural areas are more likely to use wasta in public organizations than the counterparts living in the capital Amman. This contrast is accounted for by major differences between mentalities, the strength of tribalism, norms and living standards among residents of urban and rural areas. The authors argue that these differences play a pivotal role on the use of wasta informal networks in the workplace.Originality/valueThe outcomes obtained in this study have proven to be unique and important due to the authors' holistic theoretical understanding of wasta, which offers important insights into its emergence, evolution and use in the workplace. The outcomes of this study also serve as guidance for organizations in understanding the “hidden force” of wasta and the extent to which the organizations' businesses may be impacted by this, based on the type of employees the organizations already have or intend to hire and employees' tribal ties. This study accounts for the wide use of informal networks in managerial activities, based on important social and economic realities that have not been previously explored in the literature.

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There is increasing interest in understanding Wasta and its influences on individuals and organizations alike, but little attention has been paid to uncovering elements related to the psychology of offering Wasta, to understand how individuals make their decisions about being Wasta patrons.Extending on the article "Narrative inquiry: a proposed methodology for Wasta research" in Thunderbird International Business Review Journal, this article presents a set of narratives of five individuals in various occupations and industries who were asked to be the patrons of Wasta in an organizational setting in Jordan. The findings generated from the narratives indicate that the decision of offering Wasta depends on the type of network with the receiver, perceived recipient deservingness, the impact of offering Wasta on the donor, and the donor's reciprocity expectations. Through the narratives, a deep understanding of the psychology of offering Wasta and how it works is obtained.

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