Management Strategies and Their Impact on Organisational Dependencies in the Middle Eastern Countries: A Case Study of IBM In Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This paper examines how management strategies influence organisational dependencies within multinational corporations operating in the Middle East, focusing on International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in Saudi Arabia. A particular focus is placed on the roles of human resource management (HRM) and managerial leadership in strategy initiatives and implementation. This research draws exclusively on secondary data, including prior empirical studies and academic literature. An inductive thematic analysis is employed to systematically identify and interpret recurring patterns related to managerial, organisational and cultural challenges affecting strategic performance. This allows for the integration of insights concerning future managerial decisions and organisational adjustments necessary to address existing operational deficiencies within the Saudi Arabian context. The findings indicate that the primary causes of strategic management failure include weak leadership capabilities, ineffective project management practices, deficiencies in cross-cultural management, and misalignment between organisational objectives and available resources. Additionally, limitations in training and development provision, reliance on outdated HR strategies and limited cultural inclusivity further exacerbate HRM-related failures. These issues undermine strategic alignment and organisational effectiveness within the Saudi Arabian business context. This study contributes to the strategic management and international HRM literature by highlighting the significance of culturally responsive leadership and adaptive HR practices in multinational organisations operating in emerging markets. The study recommends the implementation of transformational leadership approaches, enhanced training and development initiatives, strengthened cultural literacy, and the use of 360-degree feedback mechanisms to mitigate managerial shortcomings and support successful strategy execution.