With the help of Integral Worlds theory this research-to-innovation by Jordanian Professor Adel Al-Rasheed focuses on possible scenarios that help in transforming management in Jordan by revealing the imbalances derived from adopting alienated and non rooted management theories and frameworks in practicing management in Jordan and the Arab World.
My teaching and research, as a university lecturer for more than 25 years so far, concentrate on looking on those scenarios which enable teaching and delivering universalised and standardised Western (significantly American) management theories, concepts and models in a manner that takes into consideration the distinct cultural and social features of a given context, in this case the Jordanian/Arab contexts, which molds the way management is practiced. They also draw students’ attention to the incompatibility of Western management theories and models found in the prevailing texts to the varied Jordanian and Arab contexts, and the necessity for students to reflect on the ways that can help in synthesizing, modifying and transcending what they learn in order to be possible to apply them usefully in practice.
My research, which is adjacent to my teaching and supports it also attempts to shed the light on those relevant areas and topics that help in revealing the wide gaps between what is taught in classes and reality. These areas which are rarely researched or never researched before and are critical to the way management is taught particularly not linking its theories and frameworks to the wider Jordanian and Arab social and cultural contexts, and which help in the processes of revealing the gaps between theory and reality include: traditional Arab management, management and globalization, institutionalism, Jordanian women managers, culture and management, organisational cultures, Jordanian women flight attendants, public and private sectors partnerships, strategic partnerships and management development, management and higher education in Jordan, transforming Jordanian business organisations and evaluation of Jordanian management and organisational research.
My contacts with Ronnie Lessem in 2004 through a related conference in Jordan and then with Alexander Schieffer in 2006 followed by my close interaction with Trans4m’s global philosophy, intellectual production, worldwide research and consultation which continued until now has largely widened and deepened my critical and integral orientation and perspectives towards Management and Management Transformation in Jordan, in the Arab World and globally. For quite a long time, I included management transformation and the Integral Worlds theory in my teaching of MBA courses and in the dissertations I supervise.
I am now in the process of writing a book about Jordan and Management Transformation in which I attempt to look through the lenses of the Integral Worlds theory and the integral developmental framework developed by professors Lessem and Schieffer to the possible scenarios that help in transforming management in Jordan on a broad basis by revealing the imbalances derived from adopting alienated and non rooted management theories and frameworks in practicing management in Jordan (and largely in the Arab World), as well as initially addressing some scenarios that would help in building a resilient theory of management rooted in the Jordanian/Arab cultural and social context and can contribute to the sustainable local-global frameworks of management, which I hope that to be the blueprint of my next following book project not far in future.