Exploring the role of Biradari in career growth: Evidence from public sector organizations of Islamabad

Abstract

Biradari (Brotherhood) is one of the most important principles of Pakistani culture. The Biradari (Brotherhood) ties are considered very strong among south Asian communities, especially in Pakistan. It is an important cultural element of Punjabi cultural setup, considered as the strong binder in making group alliances and performs a significant role in daily life. The major objective of this research is to study the crucial role of Biradari relations in organizations and how does it affect the career growth of an individual. Academic researchers have highlighted different indicators and factors which contribute to career growth. Social networks, sifarish, and favoritism are deeply embedded dimensions of Pakistani culture. This research significantly contributes to the literature by giving the holistic view of Biradari and the importance of Biradari based networks in job selection and promotion. The research is conducted in the public sector organization of Islamabad (PIMS). The qualitative research methodology was used for this study and data was collected from fifteen (15) employees through in-depth interviews. The results of the study reveal that Biradari significantly influences the career growth of individual and it is considered as strong support for individual career growth. The results have further highlighted that in today's competitive environment individuals cannot able to achieve a successful career without using his/her networks.