Questioning the Appropriateness of Examining Guanxi in a Wasta Environment: Why Context Should Be Front and Center in Informal Network Research – A Commentary on ‘De-Linking From Western Epistemologies: Using Guanxi-Type Relationships to Attract and Retain Hotel Guests in the Middle East’

Horak, Sven; Abosag, Ibrahim; Hutchings, Kate; Alsarhan, Fadi; Ali, Sa'ad; Al-Twal, Arwa; Weir, David; ALHussan, Fawaz Baddar; AL-Husan, Faten Baddar

doi:10.1017/mor.2023.26

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In concluding our response to RQ1, we investigate how the varying strength of informal ties in ISC practices influences the impact of FRN on commitment, particularly considering the different developmental paths of commitment in Arab, Asian and Western contexts. Specifically, we analyze how the strength of informal ties from low (instrumental) to high (affective) in ISC practices moderates the influence of FRN on commitment (Horak et al, 2023;Minbaeva et al, 2023).…”

Section: Favor Reciprocity Norms and Relational Outcomes (Rq1)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pursuant to further research calls, our study investigates the differences between Eastern and Western perspectives (Dobrucalı, 2020;Graça et al, 2021). Specifically, we clarify (1) the positive and negative aspects of informal networks (Horak et al, 2023;Sharma et al, 2022), (2) the affective or instrumental nature of informal networks in emerging economies (Horak et al, 2023;Minbaeva et al, 2023) and (3) the intricate interaction of national culture and institutional gaps in relational exchanges (Deephouse et al, 2016;Puffer et al, 2009). Overall, our study aims to demonstrate that the dark side effects of favor reciprocity norms (FRN) are more pronounced in regions with strong formal institutions unless the prevailing informal networks are relatively affective (socio-morally binding) in nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In line with the need for context-specific research on informal networks in emerging economies (Horak et al, 2023), we propose a typology and test an RM model to explore this dynamic. We examine the nuances of informal networkswhether affective or instrumentalthat influence two RQs: affective commitment and exchange performance satisfaction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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B2B informal networking influences on relational outcomes in emerging and developed nations: a multiregional empirical study

Barry,

Graca,

Maskara

et al. 2024

JBIM

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Purpose This study aims to investigate how indigenous socio-cultural (ISC) practices within informal networks, such as guanxi and wasta, provide benefits beyond mere access. Specifically, the authors explore their global impact on B2B relationships, focusing on reciprocity. A multiregional sample extends research on ISC practices in B2B relationships by examining contingency effects of informal network ties. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed 404 buyers in two developed (Hong Kong and Portugal) and two emerging economies (Kuwait and Colombia), and also categorized by strong and weak informal network ties. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examined a relationship marketing (RM) model from a typology (Clubs, Sociocracies, Clans and Compadres) for assessing contingency effects. Findings The study reveals that in developed economies with strong formal institutions, negative aspects of favor reciprocity norms intensify unless informal networks are driven by strict sociomoral obligations. This supports research indicating that contractual governance competes rather than complements relational governance. Moreover, trust-building processes are crucial in regions with low uncertainty tolerance to mitigate adverse effects. Practical implications Suppliers from developed nations need more than cultural communication insights when engaging in business in emerging markets. We acknowledge changes buyers may expect adherence to reciprocity rules embedded in the ISC practices of their informal networks. Originality/value This study pioneers a typology of social structures to analyze ISC practices across buyers with varying formal institutional strength and informal network ties. It sheds light on institutional dynamics, trust-building processes, and nuances surrounding both positive and negative aspects of reciprocity practices. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of RM to Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

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Section: Favor Reciprocity Norms and Relational Outcomes (Rq1)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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B2B informal networking influences on relational outcomes in emerging and developed nations: a multiregional empirical study

Barry,

Graca,

Maskara

et al. 2024

JBIM

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Towards understanding the failure of new public management in the MENA region: Are informal networks to blame?

Alsarhan,

Al‐Twal

2024

Thunderbird Intl Bus Rev

Self Cite

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This study aims to understand the main factors that contribute to the failure of implementing New Public Management (NPM) plans, as well as to investigate the potential link between informal networks, namely wasta, and this failure in organizations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region), with Jordanian public organizations taken as an illustrative case. A qualitative approach was applied, and a total of 24 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with HR officials in Jordanian public organizations, different state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), ministries, and government agencies (GAs). The results show that wasta contributes to the failure of NPM implementation in Jordanian public organizations, indicating that public employees contribute directly to the failure of NPM strategies in Jordanian public organizations for many reasons on top of which their resistance to these reform plans. Our findings also suggest that the implementation of NPM strategies failed to diminish the use of wasta in HRM practices even though wasta was an important reason to implement NPM. This study adds knowledge to the limited informal networks literature, by exploring the interplay between informal networks on one side, and the NPM literature on the other side.

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A Rejoinder to: ‘Questioning the Appropriateness of Examining Guanxi in a Wasta Environment: Why Context Should Be Front and Center in Informal Network Research – A Commentary on “De-Linking from Western Epistemologies: Using Guanxi-Type Relationships to Attract and Retain Hotel Guests in the Middle East”’

Shaalan,

Eid,

Tourky

2023

Manag. Organ. Rev.

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This rejoinder responds to a commentary (Horak et al., 2023) on our article ‘De-Linking from Western Epistemologies: Using Guanxi-Type Relationships to Attract and Retain Hotel Guests in the Middle East' (2022). We thank the authors for engaging with our work and are grateful to the editor for the chance to respond. Firstly, we do not accept the central assertion that we imposed the Chinese concept of guanxi on a Middle Eastern context. Some aspects of guanxi extend beyond China, and we consider it part of our role as researchers to explore universal behavioral aspects that transcend specific cultural settings. While we described guanxi to introduce the variables, we drew a clear distinction between guanxi itself and guanxi-type relationships, and provided on page 859 an explicit statement about what we meant by the term ‘guanxi-type relationships’, i.e. the networks of interpersonal ties found in the Middle East. While this distinction could have been more clearly emphasized in places, we consider that the article as a whole made it abundantly clear.

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Questioning the Appropriateness of Examining Guanxi in a Wasta Environment: Why Context Should Be Front and Center in Informal Network Research – A Commentary on ‘De-Linking From Western Epistemologies: Using Guanxi-Type Relationships to Attract and Retain Hotel Guests in the Middle East’

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

B2B informal networking influences on relational outcomes in emerging and developed nations: a multiregional empirical study

B2B informal networking influences on relational outcomes in emerging and developed nations: a multiregional empirical study

Towards understanding the failure of new public management in the MENA region: Are informal networks to blame?

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