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Communicating Trust in Multicultural Teams: A case Study of International Organisations in Saudi Arabia

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  • Haila Ibrahim Altwaian

    (College of Business/Human Resource, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Trust among team members is a critical factor in increasing the team performance and productivity of multi- cultural teams. Multinational companies operating in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, attract a workforce from various countries, such as the U.S, Europe, Asia, and Arab countries. Such companies can struggle to cope with the issue of establishing trust within team members belonging to different socio cultural backgrounds, and this may lead to conflict and deteriorating relations. This theoretical paper embarks upon these issues in multicultural teams and presents a model of perceived trust among multicultural teams in Saudi Arabia. The proposed model also contributes to perceptions of trust by presenting ten personality characteristics: these are honesty, reciprocation, reliability, credibility, ability, security, openness, dependability, loyalty, and shared understanding. Some of the characteristics are more prevalent in individuals from certain nationalities than in others. Perceptions of trust are positively associated with communication and teamwork; therefore, it is important that management in multicultural organisations take into consideration these differences in order to develop cohesive and productive teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Haila Ibrahim Altwaian, 2019. "Communicating Trust in Multicultural Teams: A case Study of International Organisations in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Business and Administrative Studies, Professor Dr. Bahaudin G. Mujtaba, vol. 5(6), pages 351-364.
    • Handle: RePEc:apa:ijbaas:2019:p:351-364
    DOI: 10.20469/ijbas.5.10005-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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