The Impact of Culture on Third-Line Leaders in the Kuwait Oil Sector
Dr. Alawi Taqi

Abstract
Societies pass through several transformational phases that could result from economic growth and changes in technology as well. At present, Kuwait is going through such transformation mainly because of the wealth brought by the oil revenues and the current oil price drops. The society has gone through a rapid evolution, without passing into gradual transformational phases.This research studies the impact of culture on leadership within the oil and gas sector in Kuwait. Culture in Kuwait is influenced strongly through Islamic religion and values. Issues related to Wasta (nepotism) and Kuwaitization (nationalization) is a substantial factor in business and every other aspect in Kuwait. Through in-depth interviews with 42 third-line leaders, the research identifies the influence of societal and collectivist culture, Wasta, Kuwaitization, and organization structure. The root problem is the lack of adequate Kuwaiti workforce with the required skills and experience. With a larger expatriate population in Kuwait, the focus of government in Kuwaitization is essential. However, this should not be at the cost of expertise. The emphasis should be on recruiting and identifying talent to achieve excellent business performance. The influence of Wasta needs to be eliminated.

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