Motivating Middle East Motivating Diversity in the Middle East Workforce

Motivation is a complex force, and there are a multitude of theories as to how it is best achieved. One useful and highly practical framework developed by David McLellan identifies three needs as factors in motivation that are present in varying degrees for different individuals: the need for affiliation which is a need for interpersonal connectivity and warmth; the need for achievement, which can be seen as a need for recognition or to develop more efficient or effective processes; and the need for power, which is a need to control and influence others (Source Year). Effective motivational strategies and methods will appeal to all three of these needs to some degree, such that all individuals are motivated to take on the desired changes regardless of their personal proclivities and needs in these areas.

It is not only individual differences that...

When attempting to motivate greater workforce diversity in the Middle East, there are some significant cultural barriers that need to be overcome. Researchers have noted that traditional Islamic law and culture remains a significant problem inhibiting true economic progress and expansion in many Middle Eastern countries, in part due to the very closed culture that this creates in terms of ethnic background and religious and ethical beliefs and perspectives (Kuran 2004). As entrenched as these cultural values are, efforts to motivate greater diversity must not attempt to simply diminish the importance of Islamic law and cultural values, but rather must find a way to increase an acceptance of diversity without diminishing Islamic expression (Kuran 2004).
Taking the framework proposed by McLellan and this knowledge…