Graduating students’ standpoints on Wasta as a ‘gateway’ to employment: motives and influences

Abstract

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.

A change management roadmap for wasta‐free managerial practices in Arab organizations

“…Some specialists even went so far as to coin it as a way of life (Al‐Ramahi, 2008; Cunningham & Sarayrah, 1993; Hutchings & Weir, 2006b). Thus, it comes as no shock that Arab nationals are quite used to resorting to wasta when it comes to any HRM practice, most notably recruitment and promotion (Afiouni, Ruël, & Schuler, 2014; Aladwan, Bhanugopan, & Fish, 2014; Alsarhan, 2021; Al‐Twal, 2022; Al‐Twal & Aladwan, 2021; Branine & Analoui, 2006; Budhwar & Mellahi, 2006; El‐Said & McDonald, 2001; Ezzedeen & Swiercz, 2001; Harbi, Thursfield, & Bright, 2017; Hutchings & Weir, 2006b; Loewe et al, 2008; Mohamed & Mohamad, 2011; Mohammad & Darwish, 2022; Sfeir, 2022; Tlaiss & Elamin, 2016; Tlaiss & Kauser, 2011; Valax & Alsarhan, 2021). Hence the difficulty to challenge the status quo, as many individuals (and even families and tribes) who benefit from the prevalence of wasta are not likely to be eager to give up their gains and privileges (Ta'Amnha et al, 2016).…”

Narrative inquiry: A proposed methodology for Wasta research

“…There is, however, a paucity of research, which resulted in a limited theoretical rigor and disjointed understanding of various aspects of wasta . This includes, for example, perceptions of wasta (Aldossari & Robertson, 2016; Barnett et al, 2013), the role of the type of network in explaining how wasta works (Ali & Weir, 2020), individuals' motives to get engaged in it and the influence it has on the donor and the receiver (Al‐Twal & Aladwan, 2020; Kropf & Newbury‐Smith, 2016).…”

“…Another study conducted by Kilani and Sakijha (2002) in Jordan found that 90% of surveyed people admitted that they would use wasta , although 87% revealed that they want it to be eradicated; this alludes to the pain and paradox of wasta , as described by Cunningham and Sarayrah (1993). Similarly, a study conducted by Al‐Twal and Aladwan (2020) to explore graduating students' standpoints of wasta as a gateway to employment uncovered paradoxical views in this sense. Students accepted and justified wasta for personal use, yet rejected it when it comes to others.…”

“…Not to mention the importance of acknowledging its effect on individuals' lives after it takes place. The donors and recipients of wasta may develop a different way of thinking or co‐constructed self‐image after committing to it, which explains the created perceptions (Al‐Twal & Aladwan, 2020). There is a lack of research in this area considering mainly the context of which wasta takes place as well as the type of relationship (network) between individuals involved in the process (Ali & Weir, 2020).…”

The Psychology of Offering Wasta: Inferences from Narratives

“…People use Wasta for different reasons, and the outcomes of using it could be positive or negative for individuals and organizations alike (Aldossari & Robertson, 2016; Alsarhan & Valax, 2020; Al‐Ma'aytah et al., 2021; Ali & Weir, 2019; Al‐Twal & Aladwan, 2021; Andrews, 2017; Barnett et al., 2013). For this reason, the manifestations of Wasta vary (Berger et al., 2019), especially with the existence of various controllable and uncontrollable justifications for its use (Al‐Twal & Aladwan, 2021).…”