Al Bin Ali, Hesham A. (2013) A study of succession processes for executive positions in the Bahraini public sector. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This research strived to enhance our knowledge about the succession phenomenon by investigating
the impact of various internal and external factors on the succession process. Specifically, the aim
of the research was to explain the variations in succession processes for executive positions in the
Bahraini public sector in light of the impact of the influential stakeholders and context-related
factors. The researcher adopted a sequential mixed methods research approach to collect data. In
the first phase, quantitative data were obtained to detect variations among the succession processes
for executive positions in the Bahraini public sector. In the second phase, qualitative data were
collected to reveal the influential factors acting upon the succession processes and to explain the
detected variations in light of the impact of these factors. However, as the aim of the research was
to explain the variations among the succession processes and in order to maintain the focus of the
current thesis, only the qualitative part of the research is reported.
The research findings highlighted the impact of several influential stakeholders (within and outside
the organisational boundaries) and context-related factors (at macro, organisational and positional
levels) on the succession process in the Bahraini public sector. Furthermore, the findings identified
two factors that influence the stakeholders’ involvement in the succession process (stakeholders’
awareness and perceived importance of their stakes in the process). In addition, two factors were
identified as determining the stakeholder’s impact on the process (the stakeholder’s power and the
nature of the stakeholder-decision maker relationship). The findings also highlighted five influence
mechanisms employed by the stakeholders to further their interests and claims in the succession
process. Specifically, these influential mechanisms are intended to influence the availability of
successors, overthrow the office incumbent, influence succession decisions, override undesirable
decisions and alter the succession process framework.
Based on these findings, the researcher proposed two conceptual models. The first model illustrated
the influential stakeholders and context-related factors that act upon the succession process. The
second model explained the detected variations in the succession processes by linking these
variations with the influential mechanisms employed by the stakeholders. In addition, the
researcher proposed a categorisation of the mechanisms employed by stakeholders, in general, to
further their interests and claims regarding an organisational issue.
The value of this research lies, primarily, in its contribution to the theory and literature of the
succession phenomenon and to a lesser degree to the Stakeholder Theory; whilst the findings also
have practical applications in the field of succession management.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Executives -- Bahrain, Executive succession -- Bahrain, Corporate governance -- Bahrain
Official Date:	February 2013
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Business School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Mellahi, Kamel
Sponsors:	Bahrain
Extent:	xiii, 415 leaves : charts.
Language:	eng

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