Dear Dr. Mohammad Kalil Abraheem

The views will differ in choosing a method of strategic thinking (in Arab and other countries) and because of the different thinking approach itself.

• In order to arrive at a common strategic thinking approach, we must first think correctly ( by logic).
• Then move on to systemic thinking and I mean here (thinking about inputs, processes, outputs, results, effects and control system).
• Then move on to possess the flexibility of thinking and breaking idols and restrictions, customs and traditions (ruling ideas).
• Then we have the ability to think strategically.

The models for strategic thinking, such as the Lidteka model and others, are useful but not effective, especially in Arab countries. So I encourage you to move forward on building a model that fits into the Arab mentality.

Ali A. Naeem

This is simple information about a special understanding of the roots of strategy.

Presentation Strategy is a shade of Reality Between Strategic Thinking an...

This is a difficult question to answers as the context for raising this question is unknown, but its quite an interesting one. I will try to answer this question in two parts:

1. We can define the two types of Arab organization as - Public or governmental organizations and the private companies. These are the two key stakeholders, in which the governmental organizations play a role of creating and managing the framework for creation of wealth while the private companies exploit this framework to assimilate and disburse wealth.

The government organizational strategization process is seemingly driven by goals that are primarily focused at political, security, health, education and socio-economic development. (you can get a perspective of strategic thinking in public sector by reading a report on how strategic thinking is applied by UK - https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmpubadm/1625/1625.pdf)

The private companies goal is wealth creation by exploitation of opportunities and resources. They strategize based on their internal capabilities and changes that are happening in the external environmental, this is a matter of great importance in the Arab region, where the external environment has been hit with sudden unpredictable shocks and surprises, either unknown to private businesses or if known difficult for them to adjust.

2. Approach to understanding strategic thinking in these Arab organizations - would involve evaluating the vision and mission, evaluating the political and cultural dynamics, slicing and dicing the data on performance, aligning performance data with expected goals and objectives as per the vision and mission, identifying strengths and weakness along with opportunities and threats to growth, regional, national and global dynamics that affect competitiveness status and resource availability and limitations of these organizations.

Politics and cultural differences play a very important aspect of influencing decision making in Arab organizations and need to be incorporated in any evaluation study to provide a true perspective of strategic thinking in these organizations.

So, I agree with you that the best aproach to understand stategic thinking in Arab organisations is the cultural approach

While people would like to go down to the root of strategic thinking that is based on westernized theoretical and practical aspects, after having worked within a public Arab entity, I would stil stick of what I call, the "polical & personal interenst"; "political clique" and "personification of self" that underscores both Eastern, Middle eastern, and probably Western strategic thinking. But Eastern strategic thinking is also more cultural and socialized, but rich middle eastern entities are more monetized, and is still monetized through "western consultants" who try to apply a western model work in a middle eastern context and cultural aspects which might not click or cling well strategically.