Communication, Culture, and Discord: A Lesson in Leadership Failure

Abstract

This case study highlights and examines an avoidable failure of management communication and leadership in a non-governmental organization (NGO). The case study draws on a real-life example of a NGO that was established in Palestine with European Union (EU) funding and that became subsequently staffed by a team composed of local Palestinian employees and expatriate non-Palestinians who, as is commonly the case in international NGOs, were appointed to executive management and leadership roles. Overall, this case study highlights processes of cross-cultural communication between the local employees, the expatriate employees, and (indirectly) with senior executives of the EU funding agencies, whose distant yet decisive influence give a broader context to the localized communication and conflict management processes described and analyzed here. Finally, recommendations are made for future research specific to effective communication, leadership and conflict resolution in international organizations generally and in Palestinian organizations specifically.