Nowadays, organizations have to deal more and more with cultural diversity concerning their workforce due to globalization. The challenge for these organizations is to manage the cross cultural workforce in an effective way. Therefore, they have to have skills and the necessary knowledge in order to conduct cross cultural management. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to investigate how a cross cultural workforce could be managed effectively. In order to get insights into what differences exist between employees of different cultures, what kind of problems can arise out of these differences and how these problems can be overcome through cross cultural management, a qualitative research approach in form of a case study was conducted. Hereby, interviews with three managers including two head of departments were conducted. These interviews have used the frame of reference as foundation including well-known theories like Hofstede, Inglehart, the eight value orientations, McGregor and some other theories. The statements of the interviews were evaluated and analyzed in order to find answers to the research questions stated in the thesis. The findings of this study show that the management team at LTU is not necessarily focusing on cross cultural differences as the impact is less negative than expected. However, conflicts that still arise do not really seem to have bad consequences at LTU. Therefore, these conflicts can be fixed relatively easy by applying the most important variables connected to encountering cross cultural challenges in the frame of reference. These are: human skills, good communication, creating unity, respect, empathy, body language as well as harnessing differences. Especially the personal attitude as well as the human skills of managers and employees play an essential role.

The principal aim of my dissertation was to specify and find out the sense of culturological aspects, which appeal on the development and stabilization of rural regions, to find the areas, where the culturological aspects could contribute to keep folks in the country and find the ways how to improve the satisfaction of folks with country life. I have tried to find the specific cultural symbols and dominant cultural dimensions of certain communities, which are the significant self-recognizable element of society. Our research was realized by standard questionnaire inquiry in Čkyně and Doudleby and by CSDT (Colour Semantic Differential Test). CSDT was used to get more complete information about communities of Čkyně and Doudleby and their dominant cultural dimensions. The results could be resumed into following. The problem, why people leave the countryside, is not based mainly on insufficient services and facilities. We can demonstrate it on Čkyně. However Čkyně has better public utilities than Doudleby, its inhabitants (especially the new arrivals and their children) are not satisfied as the inhabitants in Doudleby and they are likely to leave Čkyně in the future. Doudleby is the village with strong and still celebrated traditions. New arrivals are hearty welcome between the olds and they also participate on the local cultural life. The main contribution of my dissertation should have been the finding the influence of cultural traditions on stabilization the rural regions. Strong traditions join people together and improve social relations in the village. Traditions are the roots of folks that prevent them from leaving the countryside.

O propósito deste trabalho é identificar, através da investigação de estudo de caso, como as características culturais melhor se relacionam a cada um dos princípios do TQM. Nas últimas décadas, a gestão da qualidade passou por uma mudança singular. Pela primeira vez, a diretoria executiva das empresas começou a demonstrar interesse por esta matéria. Sob o título de Total Quality Management (TQM), a gestão da qualidade passou a apresentar importância estratégica para as organizações. Como consequência, princípios gerenciais integraram a gestão da qualidade aumentando a relevância da Cultura Organizacional. Entretanto, apesar do reconhecimento acerca da importância do papel da Cultura Organizacional, faltam estudos que examinem profundamente os relacionamentos existentes entre Cultura Organizacional e gestão da qualidade. A partir de uma revisão sistemática sobre a interface entre gestão da qualidade e Cultura Organizacional foram identificadas como as abordagens mais utilizadas o Competing Values Framework (CVF) e as Dimensões Culturais de Hofstede. Desse modo, foi estabelecido o estudo de caso como procedimento técnico de abordagem qualitativa, a fim de buscar por resultados aprofundados. Como resultado foram constatadas divergências a partir comparações das Dimensões Culturais entre os ambientes escritório/fábrica e os quatro níveis hierárquicos. Evidenciando a existência de subculturas na empresa. Por fim, apresentou-se os relacionamentos observados entre cada um dos sete princípios do TQM e as Dimensões Culturais. Este trabalho contribui para propor novas perspectivas e insights a fim de elucidar as relações entre cultura e gestão da qualidade. / The purpose of this study is to indentify, through case study research, how cultural characteristics relate to each of TQM elements. In the last decades quality management went through a singular change, for the first time the executive board began to demonstrate concern about this quality. Under the title of Total Quality Management (TQM) the quality management started to present strategic importance for organizations. As a consequence, managerial elements became part of quality management, increasing the organizational culture relevance. Nevertheless, despite the knowledge about the importance of organizational culture role, there are few studies that examine deeply the links between organizational culture and quality management. From a systematic review on the interface between quality management and organizational culture we identified that Competing Values Framework (CVF) and Hofstede\'s cultural dimensions are the most common methods. Thereby, the case study was established as a technical procedure of qualitative approach, in order to search deeper results. As a result differences were found on Cultural Dimensions comparisons between office/factory environments and four hierarchical levels. Evidencing the subcultures existence at the company. Finally, the relationships observed between each of the seven TQM principles and the Cultural Dimensions were presented. This research contributes to propose new perspectives and insights in order to elucidate the relationship between culture and quality management.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2016-09-01T19:05:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alexandre da Costa Goularte.pdf: 1691271 bytes, checksum: a94cb2d5ddfcdf9b354cb0410946e6b4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-01T19:05:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alexandre da Costa Goularte.pdf: 1691271 bytes, checksum: a94cb2d5ddfcdf9b354cb0410946e6b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-30 / Mobility-based technology is affecting the way people buy goods and services, how people communicate among themselves and even the way to use services provided by banks, institutions that already tread a digital transformation path in Brazil. Combination of information technology, internet and mobile devices has resulted in technological innovations, allowing most of the banking transactions to be carried out safely through smartphones and tablets. However, data from the banking industry and scientific research show little adherence to that innovative service: mobile banking. In this context, the objective of this research was to understand what cultural factors affect mobile banking usage in an emergent country from Latin America region. Applying structural equation modeling on a model that combines UTAUT2 theory and cultural dimensions of Hofstede, research confirms that Individualism / Collectivism and Long Term Orientation effectivelly affect mobile banking adoption. However, three other cultural dimensions do not support it: Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity/Femininity and Power Distance. / A tecnologia baseada em mobilidade tem afetado a forma como compram-se bens e serviços, o modo de comunicação entre as pessoas e, quiçá, a maneira de utilizar-se os serviços dos bancos, instituições que já trilham um caminho de transformação digital no Brasil. A combinação da tecnologia da informação, da internet e dos dispositivos móveis resultou em inovações tecnológicas, permitindo que a maior parte das transações bancárias seja realizada, de forma segura, por meio de smartphones e tablets. Porém, os dados do segmento bancário e da pesquisa científica mostram pouca adesão a esse serviço inovador – o mobile banking. Neste contexto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi entender quais fatores culturais afetam o uso do mobile banking em um país emergente da América Latina. Utilizando modelagem por equações estruturais sobre um modelo que combina a teoria de UTAUT2 e as dimensões culturais de Hofstede, confirmou-se que Individualismo/Coletivismo e Orientação por Longo Prazo são dimensões culturais que afetam a escolha pelo uso de mobile banking, não havendo suporte para as dimensões de Aversão à Incerteza, Masculinidade/Feminilidade e Distância de Poder.

O ensino de biologia requer ferramentas adequadas para a aprendizagem dos alunos. Argumenta-se que os conflitos diários vivenciados na sala de aula podem ser minimizados ou até mesmo resolvidos através do envolvimento de técnicas de aprendizagem significativas. Para apoiar a aprendizagem significativa surge o mapa conceitual (MC) desenvolvido por Joseph Novak como uma ferramenta para organizar e representar o conhecimento. Há também o círculo hermenêutico-dialético (CHD) que é um método interativo e dinâmico realizado em grupo que permite captar a realidade em estudo, através de uma análise que se configura em um consenso entre os grupos pesquisados. O ambiente cultural, em conjunto com a metodologia de ensino escolhida, pode influenciar a forma como os alunos aprendem. Hofstede apresentou um método de identificação de dimensões culturais: índice de distância hierárquica (PDI), individualismo versus coletivismo (IDV), masculinidade versus feminilidade (MAS), índice de aversão à incerteza (UAI) e orientação de longo prazo versus orientação normativa de curto prazo (LTO). Neste trabalho, estudou-se a construção de mapas conceituais (CM) em associação com uma sequencia didática interativa (SDI) envolvendo a aplicação do círculo hermenêutico-dialético (CHD). Além disso, as dimensões culturais de Hofstede foram verificadas para os estudantes. Os resultados mostraram que as características das dimensões culturais de Hofstede, como o baixo índice de distância hierárquica (-11 pontos) associado a um baixo índice de individualismo (5 pontos) indicaram que os estudantes foram participativos e gostaram de realizar atividades em conjunto. Além disso, os alunos apresentaram índices moderadamente elevados de masculinidade (68 pontos) e orientação de longo prazo (51 pontos), contribuindo para um grupo competitivo e comprometido. Foi proporcionado um ambiente estruturado e motivador em função do elevado nível de incerteza (88 pontos) dos estudantes. Os alunos ensinados usando o método de mapeamento conceitual associado ao círculo hermenêutico-dialético (MC-CHD) obtiveram melhores resultados do que quando construíram os mapas conceituais individualmente. A construção de mapas conceituais associada ao CHD foi estruturalmente mais complexa do que os mapas construídos individualmente. A aplicação do CHD devido à sua própria funcionalidade proporcionou um diálogo motivacional/interativo entre os alunos e professor favorecendo a aprendizagem significativa usando os mapas conceituais. De acordo com a escala de Hake esta proposta mostrou um ganho de aprendizagem a um nível médio. Este trabalho gerou um material complementar ao manual do professor da rede pública do Estado de São Paulo enriquecido com a construção de mapas conceituais e discussões no CHD. Além disso, usando as dimensões culturais de Hofestede. Esta proposta traz uma perspectiva inovadora para o uso do CHD e poderá contribuir para futuros estudos na área de ensino e aprendizagem. / Teaching biology requires appropriate tools for student learning. It is argued that everyday conflicts experienced in the classroom can be minimized or even solved through the involvement of meaningful learning techniques. To support meaningful learning emerges the conceptual map (CM) developed by Joseph Novak as a tool to organize and represent knowledge. There is also the hermeneutic-dialectic circle (HDC) that is an interactive and dynamic method carried out in a group that allows capturing the reality under study, through an analysis that is configured in a consensus among the groups surveyed. The cultural environment, together with the chosen teaching methodology, can influence the way students learn. Hofstede presented a method to identify cultural dimensions as power distance index- PDI, individualism versus collectivism-IDV, masculinity versus femininity-MAS, uncertainty avoidance index-UAI and long term orientation versus short term normative orientation-LTO. In this work, the construction of conceptual maps (CM) in association with an interactive didactic sequence (IDS) involving the application of the hermeneutic-dialectic circle (HDC) was studied. In addition, the Hofstede cultural dimensions were verified for the students. The results showed that the characteristics of the cultural dimensions of Hofstede, such as the low hierarchical distance index (-11 points) associated with a low individualism index (5 points) indicated that the students was participative and enjoyed doing activities together. In addition, students had moderately high rates of masculinity (68 points) and long-term orientation (51 points), contributing to a competitive and compromised group. A structured and motivating environment was provided due to the students\' high level of uncertainty (88 points). Students taught using the conceptual mapping method associated with the hermeneutic-dialectical circle (CM-HDC) obtained better results than when constructing the conceptual mapping individually. The construction of conceptual maps associated with the HDC was structurally more complex than the maps constructed individually. The application of HDC due to its own functionality provided a motivational/interactive dialogue between students and teacher favoring meaningful learning by using concept maps. According to the Hake scale, this proposal showed a learning gain at an average level. This work generated a complementary material to the teacher\'s manual of the public network of the State of São Paulo enriched with the construction of conceptual maps and discussions in HDC. In addition, the Hofstede cultural dimensions were used. This proposal brings an innovative perspective to the use of CHD and could contribute to future studies in the area of teaching and learning.

This diploma thesis applies the theory of cultural differences in the web environment. Several dozens of selected websites from various national cultures are evaluated and analyzed. Differences in the web design and marketing communication are studied depending on the culture. The evaluation is based on cultural models of social psychologist Geert Hofstede and anthropologist Edward T. Hall. Research sites are selected from nine cultural clusters according to the Inglehart-Welzel cultural map, based on the World Values Survey data. Other site surveyed includes the world's largem producers in the industry. The authors of this study build on and developed work of Aaron Marcus and Emilie Gould in the web design of Cross-Cultural Strategies for Web Design (Armando Calabrese et al., 2012). The objective of this diploma thesis is to analyze whether cultural differences are manifested on a selected group of websites.

Aim – The aim of the study is to investigate the way trust and relationships can be affected by Cross-Cultural Training, which will ultimately enhance intercultural business performance. Methodology – Qualitative data is gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews which provide deep responses on Cross-Cultural Training among Japanese companies operating in Sweden. Based on secondary data, theoretical discussions are grounded serves as a foundation for the study. Findings – The study resulted in two categories of companies in which one applies Cross-Cultural Training in order to build and maintain trust and relationships when developing intercultural business practices among Japanese companies and Swedish subsidiaries. Whereas the other type of companies have a different type of International Organizational Structure in which Cross-Cultural Training is redundant and relationships and trust are preserved since they do not interact directly with the Japanese- Headquarters or employees. Limitations – The research is solely based on an extensive qualitative study. Thus, a quantitative study should be conducted in order to support these findings to provide more rigidity and reliability. A complementary study from a Japanese perspective would clarify the reasons behind the decisions made in Sweden. Implications – Academicians can extend this study in order to understand the deeper reason on why some companies decide to work with an organisational structure which differs from the traditional working behaviours and dimensions of national culture. Furthermore, the study provides implications for business managers to anticipate different cultures when conducting international business. It furthermore forms a basis for academicians to conduct future research on Cross-Cultural -business and –training. These implications are generalizable across a manifold of industries since the study is based on a multiple case study.

The first part of the diploma thesis is focused on theory of culture, cultural dimensions and standards, as well as different concepts of cultural dimensions applied on the Chinese culture. The second part is targeting values and norms of the Chinese society with the help of: religious and philosophical doctrines, position that individual occupies in the society, systems of social relations, family life, holidays, and business ethics. In the third part the attention is paid to the research prepared on the basis of questionnaire survey, which main goal was either to confirm, or disapprove certain stereotypes, concerning the Chinese cultural standards from the Czech culture point of view.

The Master's Thesis deals with a management of a particular multicultural team of Bershka division of Inditex company. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the current situation from the view of the manager of the multicultural team of Bershka and to specify recommendations regarding the aspects of the specific cultural composition of the team. Theoretical part states a concept of working teams with the multicultural aspects, it deals with the cultural diversity and the cultural dimensions of G. Hofstede, E. T. Hall and F. Trompenaars. Analytical part involves the analysis of Hofstede's dimensions to define the cultural differences among the team members. To verify stated hypothesis, the qualitative methods of observation and personal interviews were used. The aim of the thesis is fulfilled by suggesting the specific recommendations for effective management of the team of Bershka.

The Diploma Thesis deals with cultural aspects of multilateral international negotiations at the United Nations. The aim of the work is to describe and compare the cultural dimension of sample of cultures at the UN: Czech, Italian and Swedish culture. Thesis is divided into four chapters. First chapter is theoretical and describes the most important basis for research on cultural dimensions. Second chapter briefly presents the entire UN organization and then focuses on its headquarters in Vienna. Emphasis is placed on the third and fourth chapter. Third chapter characterizes the national cultures from the perspective of cultural dimensions of Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars. Fourth chapter is purely practical. It consists of conclusions of the in-depth interviews conducted with employees of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations. The content of interviews follows the structure of cultural dimensions of Hofstede and Trompenaars and places questions into the working environment of the Permanent Missions to the UN. These findings are at the end of the work compared with the approaches defined by the third chapter.