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Whom to please: the government or the company? A case study of Ayla Hotels and Resorts in Djibouti, East Africa

Doa'a Darwish, Syed Zamberi Ahmad

Publication date: 31 October 2019

Abstract

Subject area

International Business Management, Global Business Strategy and Human Resource Management

Study level/applicability

This case is suitable for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program, specifically in human resources management, business strategy and international business management courses.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: to figure out the appropriate staffing approaches for the foreign investment projects; to understand the challenges that companies face when they expand in the foreign market; to understand the different foreign markets entry modes.

Case overview/synopsis

The Nayel and Bin Harmal Investment Co. LCC. is an experienced company that owns a hotel chain with three properties in the UAE. In 2011, it decided to invest in Africa and build a new hotel – Ayla Djibouti Hotel – in Djibouti. The hotel’s construction is nearly complete. This has urged Bashar Al Tamimi to begin devising a staffing strategy for the hotel. Of particular concern is Djibouti’s lack of manpower with hospitality qualifications and expertise. Consequently, Al Tamimi must grapple with some difficult questions: Should he hire staff with the appropriate international hospitality experience? Or should NBHI invest in the human capital in Djibouti and train Djiboutian people to operate the hotel? Which strategy or approach will lead to the most successful and profit-making outcome for Ayla Djibouti

Complexity academic level

This case is suitable for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program, specifically in human resources management, business strategy and international business management courses.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 5: International Business.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Bashar Al Tamimi, the managing director of Nayel and Bin Harmal Investment Company, and Mohammed Soussan, the group general manager of Ayla Hotels and Resorts, for allowing the authors to conduct this case study about Ayla Djibouti Hotel and to publish it. Also, the authors would like to thank them for conducting the interviews and sharing the valuable information about the company and their investment project in Africa with them.

Disclaimer: This case is written solely for educational purposes and is not intended to represent successful or unsuccessful managerial decision making. The author/s may have disguised names; financial and other recognizable information to protect confidentiality.

Citation

Darwish, D. and Ahmad, S.Z. (2019), "Whom to please: the government or the company? A case study of Ayla Hotels and Resorts in Djibouti, East Africa", , Vol. 9 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-02-2019-0024

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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