The Islamic work ethic among employees in Egypt

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship of the Islamic work ethic (IWE) and individualism among a large sample of supervisors working in Egypt, replicating earlier work by Ali (2005, 1987).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 484 male and female supervisors working in manufacturing organizations using anonymously completed questionnaires, 48 per cent response rate.

Findings

Measures of IWE and individualism were highly reliable and significantly and positively correlated (0.39, p < 0.001), replicating Ali’s work. Males and females scored similarly on both measures. Younger mangers were more individualistic, again supporting Ali’s findings. The Egyptian sample also scored very high on both measures, as do samples from other countries. Factor analysis of the IWE suggested two interpretable factors and the possibility of creating a shorter version of the IWE.

Research limitations/implications

An interesting question becomes why are levels of economic performance in these countries relatively low despite very high levels of commitment to the IWE? This raised the issue of potential social desirability in the measure of IWE. Future research must include indicators of both individual and work unit performance to examine this further.

Practical implications

Suggestions are offered on ways that organizations can develop reliable and valid measures of the IWE and examine their relationships with actual job and work group performance.

Originality/value

Supports continuing research on the usefulness of the IWE concept and measures in management research.

Citation

A. El-Kot, G. and J. Burke, R. (2014), "The Islamic work ethic among employees in Egypt", International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 228-235. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-09-2013-0103