Nuha Sultan Al-Harithi Kausar Yasmeen Salem Said Salem Al Abri Swadhin Mondal

Abstract

This study investigates the nuances of labor productivity in Oman, set against the backdrop of decreasing productivity trends in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) regions since the 1980s. Albeit Oman's strategic initiatives like Vision 2040 to counteract this decrease, several challenges persist. Applying Order logistic regression, this research analyzed cross-sectional data gathered from 301 respondents to understand the impact of myriad factors: work ethics, cultural differences, skills, will, education, gender, marital status, and experience on productivity. It emerged that the work ethics and cultural nuances in the Omani scenario are sparsely researched. The finding of this study emphasizes the profound role of work ethics, skills, will, and educational qualifications in shaping productivity, with gender not presenting as a significant influencer. These findings can guide policymakers, HR professionals, and employers in devising strategies that accentuate work ethics, skill development, and cultural integration. Hence, the research is constrained by its cross-sectional nature, potential overlooked factors, and its specificity to the Omani milieu. Future researchers should endeavor to bridge these gaps for a holistic understanding of labor productivity in varied contexts.

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Keywords

Oman's Labor Dynamics
Vision 2040 Challenges
Cultural Productivity Nuances
Work Ethics Impact
GCC Productivity Trends

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• Nuha Sultan Al-Harithi is a researcher with a master’s degree in economics who has experience working in the Ministry of Manpower in Oman. She is involved in research focusing on economic development, labor policies, and workforce management in Oman.

• Kausar Yasmeen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of Nizwa, Oman. With a PhD and Postdoctoral in Economics from Universiti Utara Malaysia, her research spans economic policies, Islamic economics, and labor economics. Dr. Yasmeen has led multiple research projects funded by The Research Council (TRC) of Oman and has a strong record of publications, including books and journal articles. She is actively involved in community service and academic development initiatives, reflecting her commitment to fostering a collaborative scholarly environment.
• Salem Al Abri is the Acting Dean and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Business Management at the College of Economics, Management, and Information Systems, University of Nizwa, Oman. He earned his PhD in Business from The Australian National University, and a Master’s in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University, USA. His research interests include Human Resource Management, Leadership, and Organizational Behavior. Dr. Al Abri has presented at numerous international conferences and published several papers on entrepreneurship and leadership in reputable journals.
• Swadhin Kumar Mondal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance at the College of Economics, Management, and Information Systems, University of Nizwa, Oman. He holds a PhD in Economics from Vidyasagar University, India. Since joining the University of Nizwa in 2017, Dr. Mondal has taught courses in Econometrics, Microeconomics, and GCC Economics. His research focuses on health financing, equity, and pharmaceutical economics, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is an active member of various professional associations, including the Indian Health Economics and Policy Association and the International Health Economic Association.
How to Cite
Sultan Al-Harithi, Nuha, Kausar Yasmeen, Salem Said Salem Al Abri, and Swadhin Mondal. 2024. “Dynamics of Productivity in Oman: An Ordered Logistic Regression”. Studies in Business and Economics 27 (2). https://doi.org/10.29117/sbe.2024.0154.
Section
Articles