Cultural Perceptions of Group Work : Comparison between Nepalese and Finnish students
Kharel, Baburam (2018)
Lahden ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018053111745
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018053111745
Tiivistelmä
The main aim of this thesis was to understand the differences in cultural perceptions related to group work between Nepalese and Finnish students.
Literature review discusses some key cultural frameworks elaborating on Hofstede’s dimensions of culture. Regarding the different group perception that might be affected by these cultural dimensions were communication, evaluation, leadership and decision making, convincing, expressing disagreements, perception of time and scheduling and approaches to building relationship and trust.
Questionnaire survey was used to understand the differences in perceptions between Nepalese and Finnish students. One-Hundred and forty-six responses were collected from students from many different universities of applied sciences out of which eighty-four consisted of either Nepalese and Finnish students.
The study shows that there is clearly a huge difference in the way group works are understood and implemented between these two nationalities. The most important group process that is culturally affected is perhaps relationship building and generally how tasks are perceived. There were some differences in the way how disagreements are expressed. In many cases, however, the results did not confirm the theoretical expectations.
This study was primarily done in educational settings and therefore applicable to the group work in multicultural environments in that context. However, since the findings discusses differences in perceptions of Nepalese and Finnish students regarding group work, it can also be applicable in business settings when the group work in this context comprises of multicultural groups from these backgrounds.
Literature review discusses some key cultural frameworks elaborating on Hofstede’s dimensions of culture. Regarding the different group perception that might be affected by these cultural dimensions were communication, evaluation, leadership and decision making, convincing, expressing disagreements, perception of time and scheduling and approaches to building relationship and trust.
Questionnaire survey was used to understand the differences in perceptions between Nepalese and Finnish students. One-Hundred and forty-six responses were collected from students from many different universities of applied sciences out of which eighty-four consisted of either Nepalese and Finnish students.
The study shows that there is clearly a huge difference in the way group works are understood and implemented between these two nationalities. The most important group process that is culturally affected is perhaps relationship building and generally how tasks are perceived. There were some differences in the way how disagreements are expressed. In many cases, however, the results did not confirm the theoretical expectations.
This study was primarily done in educational settings and therefore applicable to the group work in multicultural environments in that context. However, since the findings discusses differences in perceptions of Nepalese and Finnish students regarding group work, it can also be applicable in business settings when the group work in this context comprises of multicultural groups from these backgrounds.