AUS professors coauthor book on managing organizations in the UAE

American University of Sharjah (AUS) professors Dr. Virginia Bodolica and Dr. Martin Spraggon Hernandez have coauthored the book Managing Organizations in the United Arab Emirates: Dynamic Characteristics and Key Economic Developments, published by Palgrave Macmillan recently. The dynamic collection includes six case studies of companies located exclusively in the UAE. This book, a valuable resource for businesspeople, policy makers, educators and students, is among the first of its kind in the UAE.

Though many management practitioners, consultants and students have heard about the rapid growth of Dubai, little is known about the specific challenges and opportunities of doing business and managing UAE-based organizations. In their book, Dr. Spraggon and Dr. Bodolica, faculty members from the School of Business Administration, seek to familiarize readers with the nature of doing business and managing organizations in the Middle East by bringing together case studies highlighting the dynamic characteristics and drivers of economic development in one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing economies in the world.

According to Dr. Spraggon, "One of the distinguishing features of this collection is that it includes a variety of case studies united by a common theme: the opportunities and challenges of managing entrepreneurial ventures, small firms and family businesses in the specific cultural and regulatory context of the United Arab Emirates."

"Another distinguishing feature is that all the case studies of local organizations included in the book were developed in close collaboration with our undergraduate and graduate students from American University of Sharjah. All students who collaborated in the development of UAE-based case studies are co-authors of these cases," said Dr. Bodolica.

The book includes six case studies of local organizations, accompanied by discussion questions and research-driven analyses, to uncover and assess the opportunities and challenges of managing UAE-based small firms, family businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. Highlighting the dynamic characteristics and drivers of economic development in one of the most rapidly growing economies in the world, the volume's case studies help to define the features of UAE-based organizations, which set them apart from other companies in the Middle East.

"The authors' in-depth local knowledge of the country enables them to present fascinating and pertinent case studies of Emirati business development, in particular at the small business level," said Robert Lowe, Manager of the Middle East Center, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. "Their findings help chart a path towards improved national competitiveness and sustainable development in the UAE. This book makes a valuable contribution to the growing literature on economic development in the UAE."

Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, the Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the book should be on the must-read list of entrepreneurs aiming to launch a new business in the UAE or improve the performance of their regional operations, and policy makers seeking to enhance the country's competitiveness and innovation.