Recommendations to intercultural management interaction situations at a work place: for a Finnish manager with a Russian subordinate
Lamari, Riitta (2017)
Lamari, Riitta
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
2017
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017112317912
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017112317912
Tiivistelmä
The object of this thesis was to provide recommendations to interpersonal interaction situations between a Finnish manager and a subordinate of Russian origin in an intercultural work community in Finland. This is particularly topical issue at the moment because the workplaces are increasingly multicultural in Finland. To gain a broader picture to the subject the aim was also to make some acquaintance of interpersonal interaction situations in multicultural communication.
Thesis presents the concept of organisational communication including management com-munication. It furthermore deals with concepts of intercultural, multicultural and cross-cultural communication. It explains how culture affects communication by introducing cultural models of Gert Hofstede and Edward Hall, which can be helpful tools in understanding the differences and similarities in communication between different cultures. The thesis also familiarises the reader with the communication models of Edward Hall, and Hargie & Dickson.
The thesis introduces the results of the study that was carried out among Finnish managers who have Russian subordinates or/and deal with Russians. The respondents were asked how they have experienced interpersonal communication situations Russian subordinates and if they have acquainted themselves with Russian culture. They were also requested to comment on the comparison between Finland and Russia made by Gert Hofstede´s cultural model of dimensions. Furthermore the managers were questioned about interpersonal communication situations in multicultural communication. The study observed the subject above all from the point of Finnish managers, thus the empirical study results are of Russians. The study was performed as a qualitative research.
The study results pointed out that a Finnish manager should become acquaint with the Russian culture and values in order to better understand subordinates of Russian origin. To be able to understand the culture, a lot of communication and participation is needed. The importance of language skills arise quite strongly from the responses both in multicultural interaction situations overall and in intercultural face-to-face interaction situations with Russians. The lack of common language can lead to misunderstandings between communicators.
Additional observations were that a Finnish manager needs to be patient when handling the challenging situations with Russian subordinates and those situations need careful justification and time. It was furthermore mentioned that both in multicultural connections and with Russians it is important to perceive the people´s social reality in order to understand the contexts.
Thesis presents the concept of organisational communication including management com-munication. It furthermore deals with concepts of intercultural, multicultural and cross-cultural communication. It explains how culture affects communication by introducing cultural models of Gert Hofstede and Edward Hall, which can be helpful tools in understanding the differences and similarities in communication between different cultures. The thesis also familiarises the reader with the communication models of Edward Hall, and Hargie & Dickson.
The thesis introduces the results of the study that was carried out among Finnish managers who have Russian subordinates or/and deal with Russians. The respondents were asked how they have experienced interpersonal communication situations Russian subordinates and if they have acquainted themselves with Russian culture. They were also requested to comment on the comparison between Finland and Russia made by Gert Hofstede´s cultural model of dimensions. Furthermore the managers were questioned about interpersonal communication situations in multicultural communication. The study observed the subject above all from the point of Finnish managers, thus the empirical study results are of Russians. The study was performed as a qualitative research.
The study results pointed out that a Finnish manager should become acquaint with the Russian culture and values in order to better understand subordinates of Russian origin. To be able to understand the culture, a lot of communication and participation is needed. The importance of language skills arise quite strongly from the responses both in multicultural interaction situations overall and in intercultural face-to-face interaction situations with Russians. The lack of common language can lead to misunderstandings between communicators.
Additional observations were that a Finnish manager needs to be patient when handling the challenging situations with Russian subordinates and those situations need careful justification and time. It was furthermore mentioned that both in multicultural connections and with Russians it is important to perceive the people´s social reality in order to understand the contexts.