Course Discussion 1

Same like in Saudi, the other GCC countries too face similar problems in regards to Nationalization. In the case
of Qatar, you are not even allowed to speak about these issues. The private companies, do not have any option
in making any decision in regards to who they will employee or terminate.
Qatar has put a target to nationalize 20% of their workforce; the move is to encourage nationals to take up jobs in
private sector, as it is the responsibility of the Ministry to provide jobs to unemployed nationals, as it is leading to
frustration among Qatari youth. (Online, 2008)
Earlier, the employers were holding the passports of employees during their stay in Qatar. But, the 2009 Law has
forbidden this practice, and employers are no longer permitted to hold employee passports, except for visa and
immigration processing. (Online, 2009)
But the ex-pacts however are not allowed to leave the country without a document called exit permit, which is
given by the company/sponsor.
However the Nationalization same like Saudi is considered only in High Quality work atmosphere with a standard
salary set by the government. As far as my stay in Qatar since childhood, I have never seen a Qatari working in a
normal/ labor job.
In Qatar even if there are no qualified professionals, they are still forced to hire the Qatari's. In our company a
department called General Services is developed just filled with Qataris who chit chat all day. They do nothing,
but get paid almost double than the ex-pact who work all day and night, which is unfair.
The possible way to erase of the negative impacts caused due to these policies would be to train the locals in the
best manner possible, which is been already carried out by the Qatari government. Rather than granting them
high standard jobs straight after university they can go through training or challenging positions in order for them
to prosper. Thus Qatar wouldn't have to be highly dependent on ex-pacts but will also have knowledgeable
hardworking nationals.
Reference:
Online Qatar. (2008). Qatar set deadline for Nationalization drive.Available: http://www.onlineqatar.com/270Qatar-sets-deadline-for-nationalization-drive.html. Last accessed 10th Dec 2012.
Online Qatar. (2009). Basic Laws and Regulations in Qatar. Available: http://www.onlineqatar.com/living/lawsregulations.aspx. Last accessed 10th Dec 2012.

Course Discussion 2
I completely agree regarding, strategy has been the key factor in operations and management. But there is a big
misunderstanding among the people between strategy and steps that the company has to take.
Strategy is more like the advantage that we get at end of the day as we take the steps cumulatively overtime.
More like how the company would be unique, how are we going to have an advantage and how will we sustain it
over time. Today majority of the companies have taken the companies steps as strategy and what happens after
a while is they do not know why they are doing it and when they should stop doing it.
Even in industry that I currently reside, we find it difficult to actually focus on a particular strategy as most of the
time the other department wouldnt be comfortable in bringing on a change to the current workflow or an existing
plan.
Speaking of communication we have planned to delegate one employee just for communications from coming
year 2013 onwards, as we were forced to learn the importance of the communication as in procurement we have
to keep both the vendors and our own company departments pleased.

But the essence of Strategy is in the activities choosing to perform activates differently or to perform different
than rivals. Otherwise, a strategy is nothing more than a marketing slogan that will not withstand competition.
(Porter, 1996)
In regards to change of strategy in relation to internal and external factors, this change would be a never ending
continual procedure. To overcome this; company would have to continually update themselves with the on-going
changes and forecast smarter. This would help the company to set up enough informational resources to
strategize further. For example identifying factors like what the competitors are up to, studying the needs, wants
and desires, political and technological movements etc.
Reference:
Michael E.Porter. (1996). Harward Business Review. What is Strategy?. Reprint 96608 (2), 6.

Course Discussion 3
One of our biggest assets is that we are government owned and you know as its the Qatar government money
is not an issue at all. Its good in certain way but at the same time when you get to know that there wouldn't be
much pressure from upper management you tend to become lazy in terms of bargaining. Can say we are a bit
spoilt!
Sadly we dont have an ERP system. The reason why! not yet; would be that the company is only 4 years old.
Secondly, majority of the activities were outsourced until last August 2012, which made it really easy for the
company to get information and plan further at a very less difficulty. Thirdly, 85 95% of our employees are
Qataris who hate change and systems or in bringing forward a system where they would have to actually train
themselves. The best example is that the Qatars one and only port still works manually. The port datas are still
recorded on papers and excel sheets. Can you even imagine that?
However we are looking forward to work/develop better systems to further strategies and advance with fewer
headaches. We have been working continually with teams like Infor in developing qualitative systems. But the
only drawback is that they are too expensive.