LEADERSHIP IN A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT : How Asian employees at Snellman AB experience the company's leadership strategy
Lindqvist, Pamela (2018)
Lindqvist, Pamela
Centria-ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805249950
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805249950
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis was to identify how the leadership strategy at Snellman group is experienced by their Asian employees. Nepalese and Bangladeshi employees were chosen as a control group as they were the largest group of non-native employees in the company. The objective was to conduct a quantitative study on the chosen group regarding multi-cultural leadership issues. The research was carried out using an electronic quantitative questionnaire powered by Webropol.
The theory part of this thesis covers the topics of leadership and cultural differences. The emphasis was placed on communication between different cultures and how to overcome these differences. Studies in cultural dimensions have been highlighted as a tool for insight into how cultures vary from each other in different matters and can build a foundation for understanding people from other cultures. The theory part also investigates leadership culture and how one can achieve a thriving working environment. General ideas on leading in a multi-cultural environment are brought up as well as broad differences in Finnish and Asian leadership style.
The results of the study showed that the Asian employers were satisfied with the way their manager was leading and overall content with their working situation. The control group seemed to agree on leadership being different in Snellman than in their home country. The respondents were more satisfied with the way their manager was acting at Snellman than in their home countries. The results showed that the Asian employers have adopted the Finnish business in which managers and employers are equal and the relationship between the two is open and honest. However, The Asian employers at Snellman were displeased with the manager’s willingness to learn from other cultures and experienced the treatment of employees as unequal.
The theory part of this thesis covers the topics of leadership and cultural differences. The emphasis was placed on communication between different cultures and how to overcome these differences. Studies in cultural dimensions have been highlighted as a tool for insight into how cultures vary from each other in different matters and can build a foundation for understanding people from other cultures. The theory part also investigates leadership culture and how one can achieve a thriving working environment. General ideas on leading in a multi-cultural environment are brought up as well as broad differences in Finnish and Asian leadership style.
The results of the study showed that the Asian employers were satisfied with the way their manager was leading and overall content with their working situation. The control group seemed to agree on leadership being different in Snellman than in their home country. The respondents were more satisfied with the way their manager was acting at Snellman than in their home countries. The results showed that the Asian employers have adopted the Finnish business in which managers and employers are equal and the relationship between the two is open and honest. However, The Asian employers at Snellman were displeased with the manager’s willingness to learn from other cultures and experienced the treatment of employees as unequal.