Resigning in the Arab and Western worlds

Dr. Khalid Al-Seghayer

When disharmony emerges among members of an administration, it often becomes clear that someone must step down. Similarly, when individuals even in the highest positions find that the atmosphere is no longer conducive to fully performing their assigned role, resignation becomes an option. However, the decision to resign is viewed differently in the Arab and the Western worlds.

In Western culture, resignation could suggest several notions including accepting full responsibility for what seems to be wrongdoing, tacit admission of negligence in the performance of tasks or the inability to achieve the organization’s desired goal, or recognition of assigning the wrong person to the job. The public in Western culture actually admires and respects such a resignation decision because, apparently, the public interest comes first at the expense of one’s personal interest. Resignation could further denote a way to amend a wrong operational approach; hold the person in charge accountable; firmly indicate that no place for equivocating exists; allow leading positions to be rotated; exercise self-supervision; and openly and directly express dissatisfaction with the current situation.

Read more: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130219153778