Leading multicultural teams in a global technology organization
Andersson, Allegra (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202503113980
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202503113980
Tiivistelmä
This study examines the leadership of multicultural teams in a global technology company. It looks at the opportunities and especially challenges that arise in multicultural teams. The theoretical framework focuses on defining globalization and cultural diversity in organizations. It defines multicultural teams, their challenges and how to lead those teams successfully including models that are used to lead those teams effectively.
The research objectives were accomplished through a combination of literature review and empirical data analysis. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information about people leaders working inside the commissioning company having culturally diverse teams to lead. The data-driven analysis offers a comprehensive perspective on the challenges that emerge within multicultural teams, emphasizing the critical role of fostering an inclusive work environment and maintaining effective communication to enhance collaboration and team cohesion.
The carefully chosen research methods, along with a systematic approach to data collection and thorough analysis, successfully generated valuable insights into the complexities of leading multicultural teams, highlighting the key strategies, challenges, and best practices necessary for fostering effective collaboration in diverse work environments. Eleven leaders have been interviewed, enormous empirical raw data has been created and analyzed.
The findings of this study aim to serve as improvement suggestions for the commissioning company to improve leadership approaches for culturally diverse teams and with that gain from the benefits of multicultural teams and overcome challenges. The thesis ends with a discussion of the results, along with recommendations and ideas for future research development. As a recommendation the thesis suggests that future research could focus on how unconscious bias affects team dynamics and methods for mitigating bias at the leadership level. Additionally, exploring the influence of power distance on leadership styles, the role of informal interactions in fostering inclusion, and the employee's perspective on multicultural team challenges would provide valuable insights for improving collaboration and reducing tensions.
The research objectives were accomplished through a combination of literature review and empirical data analysis. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information about people leaders working inside the commissioning company having culturally diverse teams to lead. The data-driven analysis offers a comprehensive perspective on the challenges that emerge within multicultural teams, emphasizing the critical role of fostering an inclusive work environment and maintaining effective communication to enhance collaboration and team cohesion.
The carefully chosen research methods, along with a systematic approach to data collection and thorough analysis, successfully generated valuable insights into the complexities of leading multicultural teams, highlighting the key strategies, challenges, and best practices necessary for fostering effective collaboration in diverse work environments. Eleven leaders have been interviewed, enormous empirical raw data has been created and analyzed.
The findings of this study aim to serve as improvement suggestions for the commissioning company to improve leadership approaches for culturally diverse teams and with that gain from the benefits of multicultural teams and overcome challenges. The thesis ends with a discussion of the results, along with recommendations and ideas for future research development. As a recommendation the thesis suggests that future research could focus on how unconscious bias affects team dynamics and methods for mitigating bias at the leadership level. Additionally, exploring the influence of power distance on leadership styles, the role of informal interactions in fostering inclusion, and the employee's perspective on multicultural team challenges would provide valuable insights for improving collaboration and reducing tensions.