Thematic Analysis of Interviewee Responses
To synthesize the data helping to make conclusions regarding the state of affairs in the private equity industry, interviews from the respondents employed in the leading companies in the industry including Swicorp, Arcapita, and Jadwa Investment was taken. Thematic analysis of interviewee responses has suggested that the current situation is characterized by the presence of opportunities due to spinoffs of family conglomerates, technical startups, and continuous growth in fast food chains. The interviewees admitted that interest rates remain low, which is good for exciting the business depending on high valuation. The respondents have also commented that if interest rates become high and this is expected in the future, the situation will become favorable for investors because the company valuations will be low due to the lack of liquidity. The data gained in current industry resources suggests that the interviewee comments are valid from the point of view of recent industry reports supporting remarkable achievements of family conglomerates spinoffs, technical startups, and fast-food restaurants and the presence of the current trend to low-interest rates (Bortolotti, Fotak & Megginson 2014; Taleb & Treverton 2015).
Thematic Summary of Key Industry Features and Drivers
Evaluation of data provided by the respondents suggests that currently private equity industry in Saudi Arabia is characterized by emerging opportunities in both new and traditional sectors. The new sectors of interest are technological startups boosted by the entrance of companies representing innovative products. The traditional sectors include spinoffs of family conglomerates and fast food chains. The respondents have also focused on the key industry drivers in their comments by suggesting that industry data analysis suggests the future possibility of high interests rates emergence which can be a powerful driver for the industry development. The interviewee’s point of view is supported by the findings from current scholarly resources. According to Taleb and Treverton (2015), the private equity industry has undergone significant boosting in the past decade with the minor recession in the years of global international crisis. Currently, the key industry features are an abundance of opportunities in the real estate sector, growing innovative technology sector, ever stable fast food restaurants sector, and tourism (Abraham 2013; Bortolotti, Fotak & Megginson 2014). The key drivers in the private equity industry are the rising transparency, increase in cross-border service, and diversification (Alothman & Mishra 2014; Goetsch & Davis 2014).
Thematic Summary of the Range of Soft and Hard Skills Required In the Industry
Analysis of interviewee responses suggested that there is a steady demand for top-performing professionals in the field of private equity industry in Saudi Arabia. The interviewees shared their point of view on the subject of the employment situation in the private equity industry stating that employers need job candidates with the skills of financial modeling, vision for investment opportunities, ability to use data analytics, good presentation skills, and equity research skills. This information can be supported by the findings made by scholars in recent industry journals. According to Alothman and Mishra (2014) and Ryan (2015), the private equity industry in Saudi Arabia continues to need skilled professionals capable of using and analyzing data skillfully, having advanced research skills, and having brilliant presentation abilities. To cover this need, employers have to make concessions by attracting expatriate workers and changing the traditional gender ideas, which makes an emphasis on the scale of the existing gap.
Reference List
Abraham, A 2013, ‘Foreign ownership and bank performance metrics in Saudi Arabia,’ International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 43-50.
Alothman, A & Mishra, A 2014, ‘The impact of affirmative action policy on the employment of women in the private sector: the case of Saudi Arabia,’ MBE, pp. 128-134.
Bortolotti, B, Fotak, V & Megginson, W 2014,’The rise of sovereign wealth funds: definition, organization, and governance,’ Baffi Center Research Paper, pp. 163-175.
Goetsch, D & Davis, S 2014, Quality management for organizational excellence, Pearson, London.
Ryan, J 2015, ‘Old knowledge for new impacts: Equity theory and workforce nationalization,’ Journal of Business Research, pp. 75-86.
Taleb, N & Treverton, G 2015, ‘Calm before the storm: Why volatility signals stability, and vice versa,’ The Foreign Affairs, vol. 94, pp. 86-96.