Date of Award

Spring 5-11-2015

Document Type

Thesis: Open Access

Degree Name

MA Leadership Studies

Department

Leadership Studies

Committee Chair

Afsaneh Nahavandi

Committee Co-Chair

Zachary Green

Abstract

UAE is a young country with a young population that has witnessed tremendous changes over the past decades. There has not been much research about the cultural values of the UAE in generational perspectives, and there have been rapid changes. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring systematic changes in leadership cultural values among the older and the younger generations of the United Arab Emirates. The author utilized Hofstede’s (VSM08) instrument to survey undergraduate students, administrators and faculty at UAE University.

The study found no significant differences between the younger and older generations’ tolerance to unequal distribution of power (power distance), fear of the unknown (uncertainty avoidance), quality of life (feminism), tight knit social framework (individualisms) and the exhibition of short-term orientation.

Surprisingly, participants in this study scored significantly lower on power distance, masculinity and uncertainty avoidance than those in Hofstede’s original data that was collected 30 years ago. The specific characteristics of the represented sample, and the systematic value change were investigated as a possible explanation of the nation’s indices, and low masculinity in particular. Empirically, wealth and Western influence emerged to be the primary factor for the registered index scores, and the study unveiled generational struggles in a traditional, yet largely Westernized society.

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