Transforming hidden conflicts into participation: The case of charismatic leadership in the Middle East
Journal of Organizational Change Management
ISSN: 0953-4814
Article publication date: 31 July 2018
Issue publication date: 30 January 2021
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
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited