SEU Evaluating Leadership in Vision 2030 Mohammed Abdullah AI Jadaan Discussion

Reply to Introduction to Leadership Discussion 1

Q – Please read the discussion below and prepare a Reply to this discussion post with comments that further and advance the discussion topic.

Discussion

Introduction to Leadership

The KSA leader that I selected is Mohammed Abdullah Al Jadaan who is the Chairman of the Financial Sustainability Program, Minister of Finance and Member of Council for Economic & Development in Saudi Arabia. I chose him because he wears a cap of a leader who reflect Saudi Vision 2030. The Saudi Vision 2030 is an all-inclusive approach to turn Saudi Arabia into a global wall of investment. Al-Jadaan’s contribution to the Fiscal Sustainability Program corresponds with some of the economic objectives in Saudi Vision 2030 which is to decries subsidies, create sovereign wealth fund and open Saudi Aramco to private investment through partial IPO.

         The aim of the Fiscal Sustainability Program is to keep public finances stable and achieve fiscal balance in the Kingdom. Saudi Vision 2030’s aspiration for economic sustainability is reflected through Al-Jadaan’s work as Structural Fiscal Reforms and reduction of the Kingdom Net Deficit Ratio of 15.8% in year 2015 to 2.3% by 2021 (Saudi Vision 2030). The program’s attempts to enhance financial accountability, develop public finances through the formation of institutions such as Government Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority, National Debt Management Center and Non-Oil Revenue Development Centre are consistent with vision for diversification of economy and reduction in dependence on oil.

        With regards to the imperial bases of power identified by French and Raven’s, Al-Jadaan makes use both expert power and legitimate authority (Feriors, 2021). Expert power comes from his knowledge of finance and economics that is essential for running the Fiscal Sustainability Program. From his position as the Minister of Finance, he has legitimate power that enables him to influence and take decisions. As a result, his authority serves as the impetus for promoting fiscal reforms that are specifically listed in Saudi Vision 2030.

         Al-Jadaan stand as a leader who can be emulated by others in leadership and governance. On the other hand, he is also a transformational leader as he leads Kingdom through an momentous shift in its economy. As illustrated by Kotter (1990), transformational leaders strive to create an environment that facilitate their performance of some great deeds which allows them to inspire and motivate people and Al-Jadaan uses kind of approach which is visible in his efforts towards effective structural reform.

        Additionally, he implements a participative style of leadership through openness and disclosure in financial planning. Al-Jadaan ensures that there is the formulation of a culture for collaboration and evidence base decision making through creating annually budgeted in sustainable way designing it to fit on conditions at macroeconomics level over next few years. This participative approach does not only develop trust and confidence between the citizens but it also correlates with modern leadership theories that entail a process of shared-decisions.

        The successes achieved by the Fiscal Sustainability Program under Al Jadaan’s leadership indicate that a new era has arrived in Saudi Arabia. This determination to achieve both medium- and long-term aims is strengthened by increasing non-oil revenues, and improving of financial management that are also redirecting goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Therefore, Al-Jadaan’s leadership is crucial in steering the Kingdom into economic diversification, stability and credibility on public finance thus reflecting one of the aspirations for a prosperous future.

References

Feriors. (2021, January 26). Bases of power in leadership by French and Raven.

Kotter, J (1990). Leadership versus management and emerged leadership, John Kotter’s Approach. Creative Commons. New York, NY.

Saudi Vision 2030. (n.d.). Fiscal Sustainability Program. Www.vision2030.Gov.sa. https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/vision-2030/vrp/fiscal-sustainability-program/