Morris Kalliny

Differences between American, Egyptian and Lebanese Humor Styles Implications for International Management

The purpose of this study is to search for differences in humor use between Arabs and Americans and to provide managerial insights regarding such differences. We use Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as a theoretical basis for hypothesizing differences in humor styles between Arabs and Americans. The results indicate that Americans scored significantly higher than Arabs on self-enhancing and self-defeating humor style. There was no significant difference regarding affiliative and aggressive humor. Both Arab and American men scored significantly higher in aggressive humor than did Arab and American women. Managerial implications are provided for both practitioners and researchers.

Cultural Differences and Similarities in Television Commercials in the Arab World and the United States

Understanding the nature and influences of cultural differences is central to international marketing. This article investigates cultural differences in television advertising between the United States and a select group of countries in the Arab world on the cultural dimensions of contextualization, individualism/collectivism, time orientation, and human perception of nature. The results indicate that while there are many differences between the United States and the Arab world, there are also similarities. The results indicate that there are also differences between the Arab countries, and the Arab countries should not be viewed as the same in certain situations.

The Arab Spring, MNEs, and virtual public spheres

Purpose – Although multinational enterprises (MNEs), according to John Dunnings work, are driven by motives of ownership, location, internalization and, ultimately, higher returns, these business entities, by virtue of their transnational products and services, and extensive reach and resources, provide direct and indirect mechanisms that can shape political and social outcomes. This paper seeks to explore those mechanisms in the context of the so‐called “Arab Spring”, the popular uprising that has ensued in a number of Arab countries. The paper also aims to explore virtual public spheres, the platform from which the Arab Spring was launched, and which owes much to the presence of MNEs.Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is grounded on the theoretical construct of the virtual public sphere. The approaches taken are that of a general review and secondary research.Findings – The main findings of this paper are three‐fold. First, in the examination of the role of MNEs and the virtual public sphere in...

The Role of the Advertising Agency in the Cultural Message Content of Advertisements: A Comparison of the Middle East and the United States

ABSTRACT This study compared responses of advertising agencies located in the Middle East and the United States to an email survey examining their approach in designing advertisements. The survey examined whether the advertising agency incorporated area-specific cultural values and advertising appeals in the execution of their advertisements. Results indicate that indeed advertising agencies do use, or at least report to use, different cultural values and advertising appeals. Advertising agencies in the Middle East tend to focus more on filial obedience, customs and traditions, loyalty to ones group, honor, and patience. In addition, agencies in the Middle East reported that they tended to portray women in a more modest fashion than their counterparts in the United States.

Television Advertising in the Arab World: A Status Report

ABSTRACT This article reviews the current status of advertising in the Arab world with special attention given to television advertising. After providing a review of the literature and the status of television advertising, we provide the results of a content analysis dealing with various cultural values used in television advertising in various countries in the Arab world. This article points out that the potential for television advertising is enormous due to the proliferation of satellite television across the Arab world. This study finds that despite the common belief that the Arab world is vastly different from the United States, there are some similarities between the two in television advertising.

Usability in multiple monitor displays

An experimental study was conducted to examine the impact of multiple monitors on user performance and multitasking. Forty-three participants were assigned to two groups - a multi-monitor group and a singlemonitor group - to carry out a series of tasks. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Results indicated that those who used the multi-monitor display were more inclined to multitask and scored higher on performance measures than those using the single monitor. Interviews from the participants validated the quantitative results and provided additional insights on usability issues of multi-monitor displays.

The impact of technology on the Arab communication style and culture: Implications for marketing

‘Culture is communication and communication is culture,’ as Hall (1976, Beyond culture, Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, Doubleday) reminds us. The main purpose of this paper was to assess the impact of technology on the Arab communication style. The Internet is a unique environment with particular characteristics that might cause shifts in peoples communication styles. The setting/context of online communication is very different from face-to-face communication and thus assumptions about communication styles need to be reexamined. The data analysis indicates that significant changes to the Arab culture are taking place and these changes are likely to have an impact on marketing practices in the region.

Arab and Middle Eastern business research: a review of the empirical literature (1990-2013)

Purpose – The purpose of the current study is to examine the empirical research conducted on the Arab region as reported in the top 46 business journals over the past 23 years (1990-2013). After identifying patterns over time (focal country and methodologies), the identified methodological challenges that scholars have reported in their published research are presented. Design/methodology/approach – The Arab region in this study comprised all 22 member-countries in the Arab League. We also added three other countries that are very much tied to the Arab region and are usually included in the Middle East: Turkey, Israel and Iran. Following the recommendations of previous authors (DuBois and Reeb, 2000; Nicholls-Nixon et al., 2011; Martinez and Kalliny, 2012), published articles are reviewed, but not book chapters, book reviews and dissertation abstracts from our sample, as they do not meet the sample selection criteria (Inkpen and Beamish, 1994; Samiee and Athanassiou, 1998). Findings – As Table I indicates...

Are They Really That Different from Us: A Comparison of Arab and American Newspaper Advertising

Abstract This study examines cultural values reflected in U.S. and the Arab world newspaper advertisement. A total of 1245 newspaper advertisements from Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United States were analyzed. The findings indicate that there are some similarities between the Arab World and the U.S. that may allow for subtle changes in cultural values and advertising strategies. The findings also indicate that there are some cultural values that have more of a religious significance than others.

Cosmopolitanism: Concept and Measurement

ABSTRACT The authors describe the development and validation of a short 6-item, reliable, valid self-report scale to measure cosmopolitanism. Cosmopolitanism is a concept in which people have an inclination to learn about groups other than their own. The concept has been in existence since time immemorial but has gained significance with the two-decade-old process of globalization. More research on this could help marketers develop products/services and marketing tools that are more suitable and acceptable to the marketplace. Four studies are reported using 11 individual interviews and 701 surveys, which helped the authors develop, purify, and validate the six-item measurement Likert-type scale containing one dimension.