How to develop a research agenda in two days. “Gender in organisations in the MENA region Think Tank”

• Pages: 814-824
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-06-2019-0184
• Date: 18 November 2019
• Published date: 18 November 2019
• Author: Linzi Kemp,Savita Kumra
• Subject Matter: Hr & organizational behaviour,Employment law

How to develop a research

agenda in two days

“Gender in organisations in the MENA

region Think Tank”

Linzi Kemp

American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and

Savita Kumra

School of Business Administration,

American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the aims, objectives and structure of a two-

day Think Tank, “Gender in Organisations in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region”, held at the

American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 18–19 March 2019.

Design/methodology/approach –The paper will explain the design decisions made to achieve the

objectives of the event, which will be of interest to equality, diversity and inclusion readers who may wish to

hold such events themselves. It will then explain each of the Think Tank sessions and provide an overview of

the keynote speakers’presentations and the ensuing plenary discussions.

Findings –The Think Tank was an extremely useful vehicle for facilitating discussion on the development

of a research agenda to advance knowledge in respect of gender in organisations in the MENA region.

The design of the Think Tank enabled collaborative discussion amongst academics drawn from across the

globe, who shared their knowledge and experience to develop a coordinated research agenda, to guide action

and attention on key issues identified by the group.

Originality/value –The Think Tank is believed to be the first of its type in the MENA region. The authors

believe this collaborative and time-efficient approach advances research agendas in respect of key issues of

interest to equality, diversity and inclusion scholars. The Think Tank format is a valuable addition to the

processes currently utilised to achieve such outcomes, e.g. conferences and symposia.

Keywords Gender, MENA, Stakeholders, Assumptions, Think Tank

Paper type Viewpoint

A total of 22 participants attended the “Women in Organisations ThinkTank (MENA)”:

2 organisers, 4 leaders, 16 participants. Participants exampled diversity in action –working

together over two days to theorise women in organisations. There was rather an

international “diversity spread”, as evidenced by the university affiliations held amongst

these attendees, distributed across four continents: Africa one, Australia two, Europe nine,

Middle East region seven and the USA three. As to gender diversity amongst our

participants (21 women and 1 man), we do recall concern from a male colleague, during a

meeting at which we presented the plan, that as a women’s event, men were not welcome

and indeed would be excluded! We reassured him of our gender inclusivity. However, our

Think Tank was virtually gender uniform in favour of women, and did thereby reflect the

state of current scholarship as men are not expected to study equality, diversity or inclusion

internationally (McKearney, 2014).

Introduction

Although there are many frameworks, models and theories about women in organisations,

the majority of them were developed in western contexts and are based on Anglo-Saxon

assumptions. Furthermore, frameworks, models and theories about women in organisations

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 38 No. 8, 2019

pp. 814-824

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-06-2019-0184

Received 27 June 2019

Accepted 27 June 2019

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/2040-7149.htm

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EDI

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