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Using Personal-Type Relationships (Guanxi) To Attract And Retain Customers In Small Business Enterprise (Sbe): An Empirical Study In Uae, Abu Dhabi, Hadi Saif Albadi

Dissertations

Very few researchers have investigated the underlying socio-cultural formulas in the aspects of culture that affect relationships around the globe. Middle Eastern cultures give great importance to personal-type relationships (akin to the Chinese concept of Guanxi), in many different spheres of life. This research identifies the factors composing the unique forms of such relationships that are found in the context of Abu Dhabi city. The research focuses on the significant role and the effect of the cultivation in business contexts of personal-type relationships, characterized by the presence of personal trust, empathy, reciprocity, bonding, face, and affection. The aim of this …