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  • January 2016 (Revised May 2016)
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IKEA in Saudi Arabia (A)

By: Karthik Ramanna, Jérôme Lenhardt and Marc Homsy
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:24
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Abstract

A Swedish newspaper reveals that IKEA has erased all images of women from its catalog for Saudi Arabia. The article sparks criticism of IKEA from the Swedish government and its customers in the West. Critics contend that IKEA is not living up to its own commitments to gender equality. Some threaten a boycott. IKEA must respond. Reissuing the catalog with women included risks running afoul of Saudi censors who can impose harsh penalties. The company has had a presence in Saudi Arabia for nearly 30 years.

Keywords

Corporate Values; Islam; Multinationals; Globalization; Leadership; Equality and Inequality; Multinational Firms and Management; Religion; Organizational Culture; Gender; Consumer Products Industry; Saudi Arabia; Sweden

Citation

Ramanna, Karthik, Jérôme Lenhardt, and Marc Homsy. "IKEA in Saudi Arabia (A)." Harvard Business School Case 116-015, January 2016. (Revised May 2016.)
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  • IKEA in Saudi Arabia (C) By: Karthik Ramanna, Jerome Lenhardt and Marc Homsy
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  • IKEA in Saudi Arabia (A), (B), (C) By: Karthik Ramanna
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