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Transforming hidden conflicts into participation: The case of charismatic leadership in the Middle East

Pierre El Haddad (Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Policy, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA) (Iaelyon Magellan Research Center, Universite Lyon III, Lyon, France)
Marc Bonnet (Universite Lyon III, Lyon, France)
Patrick Tabchoury (Faculty of Business and Management, University of Balamand, El-Koura, Lebanon) (Institute of Business Administration of Lyon, Universite Lyon III, Lyon, France)

Journal of Organizational Change Management

ISSN: 0953-4814

Article publication date: 31 July 2018

Issue publication date: 30 January 2021

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the issues raised by hidden conflicts in a charismatic-led organization. The paper investigates the transformation from a management paradigm of quelling conflict artificially through charismatic leadership to a paradigm of negotiation that favors participation, systematicity, the multiplying of innovation sources and synchronization. The research is based on a specific approach to action research aimed at revealing the inherently masked conflictive energy, and contributing to a more sustainable, peaceful and well-performing construct.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is a specific approach to participatory action research that the authors call socio-economic intervention research.

Findings

The results of the research support the proposition that while charismatic leadership quells conflict and jeopardizes the sustainability of the organization, socio-economic intervention research can help transform conflicts into cooperation in this type of organization.

Originality/value

The main contributions relate to shedding light on the hazards of denying conflict in charismatic-led organizations, and the importance of systemic negotiation in transforming conflict into cooperation in the Middle Eastern cultural context.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This paper forms part of a special section “Management of conflicts in organizations”, guest edited by Dr David Boje.

Citation

El Haddad, P., Bonnet, M. and Tabchoury, P. (2021), "Transforming hidden conflicts into participation: The case of charismatic leadership in the Middle East", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 84-103. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-11-2016-0236

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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