<p>This research paper was aimed at analysing the influence of culture and communication practices in team functioning.  The scope of the study was limited to the project teams in the financial sector in Japan and the Philippines. The study was a qualitative research through the application of case studies whilst the primary data were gathered from semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study revealed that the project teams were collectivist with a noticeable degree of power distance, bestowment of status through ascription and the strong need for harmony in the project team environment. The communication practices were also affected by the hierarchical, relational, societal and regulatory dictates and expectations. However, there were some differences noted in Japanese and Philippine project teams as the latter exhibited more flexibility towards hierarchical relationship where position was not seen as hindrance in developing convivial and professional relationships. In so doing, culture and communication practices influenced team functioning in the aforementioned research context. Finally, the results of the study will allow project members, leaders and other key stakeholders in understanding the influence of culture and communication practices to team functioning in a more in-depth manner. This will lead to better policies and practices in helping them realise their goals and objectives.</p>

This research paper was aimed at analysing the influence of culture and communication practices in team functioning.  The scope of the study was limited to the project teams in the financial sector in Japan and the Philippines. The study was a qualitative research through the application of case studies whilst the primary data were gathered from semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study revealed that the project teams were collectivist with a noticeable degree of power distance, bestowment of status through ascription and the strong need for harmony in the project team environment. The communication practices were also affected by the hierarchical, relational, societal and regulatory dictates and expectations. However, there were some differences noted in Japanese and Philippine project teams as the latter exhibited more flexibility towards hierarchical relationship where position was not seen as hindrance in developing convivial and professional relationships. In so doing, culture and communication practices influenced team functioning in the aforementioned research context. Finally, the results of the study will allow project members, leaders and other key stakeholders in understanding the influence of culture and communication practices to team functioning in a more in-depth manner. This will lead to better policies and practices in helping them realise their goals and objectives.

AbstractThe study aims to hear and represent the experiences of Afghan immigrant mothers in Malmö, Sweden. By focusing on the individual level, the research seeks to investigate the challenges of raising children and the strategies developed to overcome those challenges.  A qualitative research design was chosen for the study, using data from five semi-structured interviews and a focus group. The research is theoretically framed by Berry's acculturation theory and concepts of parenting. The finding indicates that Afghan immigrant mothers face challenges as individuals and as parents during their integration process. The key challenges include adapting to a new way of living, overcoming language barriers, changes in social position and lack of social networks. Additionally, Cultural influence on parenting, the difference between the collective and individualistic parenting styles in Swedish society, and differences in acculturation levels, authority and discipline were significant factors. Finally, the thesis implies immigrant mothers need structural support through access to language classes and community programs to navigate the Swedish system and professional support to integrate successfully into the Swedish community.

in English This work focuses on the Czech afterwar avant-garde and its fiction in the wider European context. The main goal of our writing was diversifying literary historical field by integrating genre of short story and its authors into the interpretive frame of the prepoetistic avant-garde. We could intrude a canonic picture of the Czech avant-garde by enriching the interpretive frame of the new genre (short story) and new, often hardly known or forgotten, writers. Last but not least by doing so we were able to questioned and problematized basic oppositions such as expressionism × avant-garde, and mainly individualism × collectivism. We introduce the principal opposition individualism × collectivism, which in our opinion, organizes afterwar literary discourse, as a main connecting line between Czech avant-garde art and European art (collective and one of its manifestation - crowd, as one of the main themes of modernism and avant-garde). We interpretate beyond this scope the fictions of French unanimism as the main inspiration of the Czech afterwar avan-garde and its (collective) fiction as well.

This thesis is divided in three main parts. It is overall designed to give a better understanding of leadership in China and Asia. This work mentions Leadership methods used, as well as cultural aspects related to the different practices. The first part is made to give basic notions related to leadership in Asia. Important leadership concepts such as the effective leadership, some cultural aspects such as relationships in Asia and their management, the paternalistic way, and implicit leadership are introduced. The part also contains notions about organizational change and leadership strategy including the task integration strategy, the behavioral integration strategy, transactional and transformational leadership. This part is introductory and provides a basic knowledge about elements needed for leadership in Asia. The second part is dedicated to important concepts about leadership in China specifically, and this with comparisons to Western practices. This part contains important elements to know for people willing to have leadership positions in China. Some important cultural Chinese aspects are mentioned here in order to have a better understanding about why some leadership practices are the way they are. Even if this work is more China focused, other Asian examples are taken in the last part. The third part is about examples of leadership in different Asian countries. For this research, the following countries have been selected: Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. Even if this work is more focused on the Chinese world, having a look at other Asian countries might be useful to realize that some elements might have similarities to Chinese culture, some less.

This paper identifies variables that discriminate between participants and non-participants considering electoral and non-electoral dimensions of political participation in Córdoba, Argentina. A study was conducted by survey on a representative sample of the population (N = 450). The discriminant analysis allowed recognizing the contribution of right-wing autho­ ritarianism (RWA), collectivism, political collectivism, political interest and of participatory measure of “political efficacy”, to such differentiation in two dimensions of participation: electoral-campaign and contact with organizations and political figures. These results show the relationship of RWA with different political behavior of party preferences; and verify the relationship of different values and a participatory measure of “political efficacy” with broad participation repertoires. / El presente trabajo identifica variables que discriminan entre las personas que participan y quienes no participan políticamente, considerando dimensiones electorales y no electo­ rales de la participación política en Córdoba, Argentina. Se realizó un estudio por encuesta en una muestra representativa de la población (N=450). El análisis discriminante permitió reconocer el aporte del autoritarismo de derecha (RWA), colectivismo, colectivismo político, interés político y eficacia política participativa, a dicha diferenciación en dos dimensiones de la participación: electoral-de campaña y de contacto con organizaciones y referentes polí­ ticos. Estos resultados evidencian la relación del RWA con otros comportamientos políticos diferenciados de las preferencias partidarias y comprueban la relación de diferentes valores y de una medida participativa de la eficacia política con amplios repertorios participativos. / Este documento identifica as variáveis que discriminam entre os participantes e não par­ ticipantes, considerando dimensões eleitorais e não-eleitorais de participação política em Córdoba, Argentina. Um estudo foi realizado por levantamento de uma amostra represen­ tativa da população (N = 450). A análise discriminante permitiu reconhecer a contribuição de “autoritarismo de direita” (RWA), colectivismo, “coletivismo político”; política e interesse “política participativa eficácia”. Essas variáveis discriminar participantes em duas dimensões de participação: eleitorais - “campanha” e contato com organizações e figuras políticas. Estes resultados mostram a relação de RWA com outro comportamento político diferenciado das preferências partidárias e verificar a relação de valores diferentes e uma medida de eficácia política participativa, com amplos repertórios de participação.