Cultural differences in digital organizational communication
Takala, Henna (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022111823103
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022111823103
Tiivistelmä
The thesis aimed to understand the culture between Sweden, Finland, and Norway, and how different digital communication was between these countries. The objective was to find out which communication channels were used. The purpose was to focus only on digital platforms and devices and to study how employees communicate through them.
It was used mixed-method research. The qualitative method was used to better understand the current state of communication. Open questions helped to gather variable answers to support the quantitative study made after. The quantitative method was used to better understand how each country communicates, and which communication channels were used.
The study showed that organizational communication was very important to all countries. Foreign languages were not challenging for any of the countries. Leadership communication worked in the case company. There should have arranged external training related to communication and clear communication channels for employees. The company should have had rules or instructions on how channels should have been used and how people should have communicated. Sweden preferred Teams the most, then e-mail and Intranet. Finland preferred Workplace the most, then e-mail and Intranet. Norway preferred Workplace the most, then e-mail and Teams.
Sweden, Finland, and Norway did not have major cultural differences between them. Each of the countries had its aspects and routines that they followed. Those were only personal issues, and not relevant cultural issues to be concerned about. The company could have had a strong common organizational culture that was followed. However, there were some differences in communication channels, which would have affected efficient communication and good results. All countries had to use the same channels for the same purposes.
It was used mixed-method research. The qualitative method was used to better understand the current state of communication. Open questions helped to gather variable answers to support the quantitative study made after. The quantitative method was used to better understand how each country communicates, and which communication channels were used.
The study showed that organizational communication was very important to all countries. Foreign languages were not challenging for any of the countries. Leadership communication worked in the case company. There should have arranged external training related to communication and clear communication channels for employees. The company should have had rules or instructions on how channels should have been used and how people should have communicated. Sweden preferred Teams the most, then e-mail and Intranet. Finland preferred Workplace the most, then e-mail and Intranet. Norway preferred Workplace the most, then e-mail and Teams.
Sweden, Finland, and Norway did not have major cultural differences between them. Each of the countries had its aspects and routines that they followed. Those were only personal issues, and not relevant cultural issues to be concerned about. The company could have had a strong common organizational culture that was followed. However, there were some differences in communication channels, which would have affected efficient communication and good results. All countries had to use the same channels for the same purposes.