In April 2016 Manchester eScholar was replaced by the University of Manchester’s new Research Information Management System, Pure. In the autumn the University’s research outputs will be available to search and browse via a new Research Portal. Until then the University’s full publication record can be accessed via a temporary portal and the old eScholar content is available to search and browse via this archive.

AN ANALYSIS OF HR AND OTHER MANAGERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TOOLS AMONG SAUDI FIRMS

Alharbi, Ameen Saleem N

[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2014.

Access to files

Abstract

While the business environment in Saudi Arabia is generally considered to be favourable, inadequate strategic planning and management have been implicated in the suspension or de-listing of a number of firms from the stock exchange; in that respect, the study is an examination of potential ‘best practices’ in strategic management in the context of the use of strategic management tools. The main research question is on how the application of strategic management tools is reflected in firm performance. This is measured by the perceptions of managers within firms about the tools’ effectiveness in terms of information-gathering, developing objectives, and performance management. The primary research consists of a questionnaire administered to 213 managers at Saudi-listed firms, representing a cross-section of various business sectors. Follow-up semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 18 of the questionnaire respondents to gather further insights into their assessments of strategic management tools and the decision-making processes behind their selections of particular tools. The study’s findings are that strategic management tools use is widespread among firms, with all of the surveyed managers identifying one or more tools used by their firms. Managers in firms with significant foreign relationships – local subsidiaries of foreign firms, or firms with operations outside Saudi Arabia – reported using tools more frequently and using a greater variety of tools than their domestic counterparts, although the difference was slight, and there were no notable differences in the perceptions of tools’ effectiveness that could be associated with the ownership structure. Overall, managers reported that the use of strategic management tools positively impacted their firms’ performance, and the results of statistical analysis revealed that the perceived effectiveness of strategic management tools is positively associated with the type of firm rather than with the type of tool. The results of the study have beneficial implications for improving the performance of other firms in the Saudi business environment, and suggest areas for further study to enhance the use of strategic management tools.

Bibliographic metadata

Type of resource:
Content type:
Form of thesis:
Type of submission:
Degree type:
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree programme:
Research Programme: Development Policy & Management
Publication date:
Location:
Manchester, UK
Total pages:
286
Abstract:
While the business environment in Saudi Arabia is generally considered to be favourable, inadequate strategic planning and management have been implicated in the suspension or de-listing of a number of firms from the stock exchange; in that respect, the study is an examination of potential ‘best practices’ in strategic management in the context of the use of strategic management tools. The main research question is on how the application of strategic management tools is reflected in firm performance. This is measured by the perceptions of managers within firms about the tools’ effectiveness in terms of information-gathering, developing objectives, and performance management. The primary research consists of a questionnaire administered to 213 managers at Saudi-listed firms, representing a cross-section of various business sectors. Follow-up semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 18 of the questionnaire respondents to gather further insights into their assessments of strategic management tools and the decision-making processes behind their selections of particular tools. The study’s findings are that strategic management tools use is widespread among firms, with all of the surveyed managers identifying one or more tools used by their firms. Managers in firms with significant foreign relationships – local subsidiaries of foreign firms, or firms with operations outside Saudi Arabia – reported using tools more frequently and using a greater variety of tools than their domestic counterparts, although the difference was slight, and there were no notable differences in the perceptions of tools’ effectiveness that could be associated with the ownership structure. Overall, managers reported that the use of strategic management tools positively impacted their firms’ performance, and the results of statistical analysis revealed that the perceived effectiveness of strategic management tools is positively associated with the type of firm rather than with the type of tool. The results of the study have beneficial implications for improving the performance of other firms in the Saudi business environment, and suggest areas for further study to enhance the use of strategic management tools.
Thesis main supervisor(s):
Thesis co-supervisor(s):
Thesis advisor(s):
Language:
en

Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:226054
Created by:
Alharbi, Ameen
Created:
29th May, 2014, 09:59:32
Last modified by:
Alharbi, Ameen
Last modified:
3rd June, 2019, 11:22:35

Can we help?

The library chat service will be available from 11am-3pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). You can also email your enquiry to us.