Jamal Nassif

Focus Area: Leadership & Organizational Change Research Study: the Role of Leadership of Global Multicultural Project Success. An approach to studying the temporary organization from a complex adaptive system theory perspective, and understanding the leadership role in organizational success from a contingency theory perspective. The field of organizational management in GCC region is under-researched with existing gaps in the literature to identify the opportunities and risks of the multicultural work environment emerged from the rich oil and gas / energy industry, the strategic location between east and west, and the complex social and political environment. The economic development strategy is suffering from a widening gap between theory and practice. The challenge resulted into a struggling nationalization strategy, high employees’ turnover and attrition, and most important a misaligned compliance and governance practices of the global organizations’ and local national development strategies. In my research focus, I developed a theoretical framework that combined the Complex Adaptive Systems Theory and the Contingency Theory to explore the origin of the problem and define the boundaries of the multifaceted challenge. I deployed the Complex Adaptive Systems Theory in an organizational oriented approach to: explore the structural challenges in the organization from a systems-thinking perspective; identify the risks within and around the work environment; and propose recommendations that may respond to an immediate need for organizations with existing or future plans to conduct business in GCC region. I also deployed the Contingency Theory in a people oriented framework to: explore the leadership and team building requirements in the GCC global multicultural work environment; enhance the alignment between the corporate structure the job demand; incorporate the individual values in a corporate governance and control system. The approach is contributing to an evolving model for supporting corporate success from a governance and control perspective, identification of leadership challenging role in modernizing business processes, and the value of the knowledge integration to support team innovation and creativity in the GCC multicultural global environment. Considering the existing literature gaps and the under-researched work environment, I adopted a qualitative research approach grounded on a multiple case-study methodology that I designed with a multilayered and nested mini-case-studies structure and an exploratory and comparative methodology. The exploratory driven methodology supported the research enquiry to explore “how organizational processes are implemented in the work environment in GCC?” where the comparative driven methodology supported defining “how process implementation is different?” at the vertical and horizontal level of the industry structure. I used a face-to-face, personal, semi-structured interview integrated in a data collection plan that covered 25 participants currently working in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait with existing business or previous experience in all GCC countries and Iraq. For the objective to enhance the research trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, and dependability; I developed a methodology protocol that incorporated the data collection and data analysis plan in a framework that captured the richness of the qualitative information. I summarized the study results in an evolving conceptual framework that emerged with the support of the advanced capabilities of NVivo. An approach that may lead to additional future research opportunities and increase the opportunity of the study confirmability with other industries and research initiatives. The selected research focus, the region, and industry is attracting the attention of the scholars and practitioner with interest in the global multicultural work environment in general and in the work environment in GCC. The research study may contribute to a positive social change in three aspects: 1) support the sustainability of the global organizations initiatives in GCC; 2) provide a strategy to enhance the nationalization / localization strategy through a viable knowledge integration and exchange process; and 3) increase the efficiency in utilizing the natural and human resources in an efficient work environment. Published Research Study: http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4240/

• Masters in Business Administration from The American University of the Middle East, internationally accredited institute affiliated by Purdue University – USA. • Graduated with honor (3rd on the cohort) and 3.95 GPA. • My MBA is in General Management with a concentration area in Entrepreneurship. • A great focus on finance and financial analysis courses with integration to practical exercises. • An intensive full time program with 182 credit hours.

• An extension program to the Bachelor Degree in Science in Architecture with the objective to introduce students to higher education level and advanced technology allocation in the field of engineering such as Green House, Environmental Management Systems, Geographic Information Systems (Arcinfo / Arcview) application. • Specialization in town planning and socioeconomic factors impact on architecture and newly developed urban areas. • After crisis management and damage control.

• The B. Sc. Architectural Engineering offered by the Beirut Arab University – the most distinguished program in the Middle East equips the student with an advanced knowledge in building technology and the ability to perform as a construction engineer in addition to great knowledge and skills in the Art of Architecture. • The program in addition includes to major areas in one minor area o The major areas are in architecture design and construction o The minor area is in town planning • My concentration area was in industrial facilities and industrial cities planning.