The complex and unpredictable nature of cultural behavioral changes has posed multiple challenges for marketing practitioners during recent years. These challenges include, but are not limited to, inaccurate market forecasts, market failures, wasted resources etc.This study attempts to tackle that problem by exploring cultural dimensional interactions and their potential role in consumers’ cultural behavioral change process. Due to both fields of cultural behavioral change and cultural dimensional interactions being under researched, having insufficient theoretical basis, this study adapted an abductive research approach. Additionally, this study conducted its data gathering process abroad and within the restaurant industry, so as to capture the necessary aspects of the studied phenomenon.The research was conducted by identifying two separate research subgroups: “culturally unaffected” Swedes, living in Sweden, and “culturally affected” Swedes, living in Spain. The two subgroups were interviewed on their preferred consumer behaviors in a restaurant setting. Consequently, their answers were matched against each other, in order to locate any differences in consumer behavioral preferences, indicating potential cultural behavioral changes. When provided with the participants’ rationale for the potential cultural behavioral changes, the study analyzed it through the lens of Hofstede model, looking for possible interactions between its cultural dimensions.The findings of this study suggest that cultural dimensional interactions are, in fact, existent and have a role in consumers’ cultural behavioral change process. The assumption is that the cultural dimensional interactions are regulatory in their nature and are used by the consumers to create desirable consumer situations, in order to maintain their preferred consumer behaviors in a culturally unfamiliar environment. Additionally, the findings suggest a much bigger role of consumer´s core values in the process of cultural behavioral change, than previously thought. Core values are speculated to serve as a trigger that starts the cultural dimensional interactions, due to the consumers’ adamant unwillingness to alter their core values and consumer behaviors linked to them. Due to this study´s abductive research approach, as well as insufficient theoretical basis in the fields of cultural dimensional interactions and cultural behavioral changes, these findings don´t provide any definitive conclusions. As of that, numerous prospects for future research are discussed and recommended.

No description available.

Globalisering har lett till en ökning av individer som lever i en annan kultur än sin egen vilket innebär att kunskap om interkulturell kommunikation har blivit viktigare än någonsin. Ett område som ännu inte forskats om är svenskars anpassning till den japanska kulturen. Tidigare forskning visar att individer genomgår olika faser vid kulturanpassning samt att Japan är ett land där utlänningar vanligtvis upplever svårigheter med att förstå och integreras i. Syftet med studien var att undersöka inom vilka kulturella dimensioner svenskar upplever svårigheter i en kultur som skiljer sig mycket från deras egen samt att bidra med kunskap om hur svenskar anpassar sin kommunikation till en främmande kultur med normer och sociala regler som skiljer sig från deras egen. För att undersöka detta utfördes en kvalitativ intervjustudie där fyra svenskar som bott i Japan intervjuades. Intervjuerna analyserades därefter med en tematisk analys som tog avstamp i teorierna Hofstedes nationella kulturdimensioner samt Tvärkulturell kodväxling. Resultatet visade att det i den japanska kulturen svenskar hade mest svårigheter med att anpassa sig till var hierarkier, kommunicera i led, upprätthålla gruppharmoni, att japaner undviker dem samt att implementera förändring. I resultatet framgick det att svenskarna först behövde förstå de kulturella skillnaderna för att kunna anpassa sin kommunikation till den japanska kulturen, men att deras anpassade beteende ofta kändes onaturligt då de behövde sätta sina egna kulturella värderingar åt sidan. / Globalization has resulted in an increase in the number of individuals living in a culture other than their own, which makes knowledge about intercultural communication more important than ever. One area that has yet to be properly researched is the Swedish people's adjustment to Japanese culture. Previous research shows that individuals go through different stages during the cultural adjustment period and that Japan is a country where foreigners usually struggle to understand and integrate into the culture. This study aimed to research which cultural dimensions Swedes experience difficulties within a foreign culture with significant differences from their own, as well as contribute knowledge about how Swedes adjust their communication to foreign cultural norms and social rules. A qualitative interview study was used to research this topic in which four Swedish people with experience living in Japan were interviewed. The interviews were then analyzed using a thematic analysis utilizing Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension Theory and the theory of Cross-Cultural Code-Switching. The result showed that the parts of Japanese culture that Swedish people struggled with the most were hierarchies and hierarchical communication, maintaining group harmony, being avoided by the Japanese, and implementing change. The result showed that Swedish people first needed to understand the cultural differences to adjust their behavior to the Japanese culture. Still, the adjustments often felt unnatural because they had to discard their cultural values in the process.

In today's globalized and highly technological world, diversity has emerged as a key element of the modern corporate world. Because of globalization and the integration of cultures, diversity offers organizations and leaders both benefits and problems. This study explores the dynamics of effective leadership in managing cultural diversity, with an emphasis on employees' expectations and perceptions in the two culturally distinct nations of Sweden and India. For an organization to succeed in the globalized world of today, where diversified teams are the norm, leaders need to be able to navigate cultural differences. The study uses a comprehensive analysis of existing literature in addition to empirical data obtained from culturally diverse environments of Sweden and India. By using a mixed methods approach, 4 qualitative interviews with the managers and 96 quantitative surveys from both nations were analyzed. The qualitative study indicated that managers emphasize equality, inclusion, and the need for effective interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating an extensive awareness of the value of diversity. The findings of a quantitative study showed that while power distance, individualism, and gender equality differ significantly between Swedish and Indian leaders, task-oriented behaviors are similar. Despite cultural differences, both cultures place a high priority on resolving conflicts and maintaining harmony in the workplace, suggesting that these are qualities that all cultures value equally. The study contributes to the development of strategies and practices that support leaders in effectively managing cultural diversity, by fostering cultural collaboration and organizational effectiveness across different teams.

A Política Nacional de Humanização (PNH) basicamente direciona quanto à relação e aos processos de atenção ao usuário. A eficiência da PNH depende da forma como a instituição está estruturada, de quais são seus valores, hierarquias, objetivos, ou seja, da cultura da organização, a qual pode ser considerada conforme as dimensões culturais de Hofstede. Assim, foram elaborados pressupostos que relacionavam as diretrizes da PNH com as características das dimensões culturais de Hofstede, inferindo-se que houvesse: baixa distância ao poder; baixa aversão à incerteza; coletivismo; orientação a longo prazo; feminilidade; e indulgência. Desse modo, para validar essa inferência, primeiramente, caracterizou-se a cultura organizacional de um hospital universitário quanto às dimensões culturais de Hofstede, por meio de dados secundários, aplicação do questionário de Hofstede e de questionário de apoio, com questões abertas, elaborado pelo autor e aplicado para os níveis hierárquicos da gerência e da divisão do hospital. Assim, identificou-se, conforme percepções das gerências, que as dimensões culturais de Hofstede da unidade eram: baixa distância ao poder; baixa aversão à incerteza; coletivismo; orientação a longo prazo; feminilidade; e indulgência. A convergência de resultados indicou a busca da instituição em seguir as diretrizes da PNH, e certa uniformidade cultural, devido, principalmente, ao momento da coleta de dados que foi na transição de gestão, diminuindo a influência de subculturas. Os resultados indicaram uma possibilidade de mensuração da implementação da PNH em uma instituição, a partir da identificação das características culturais de Hofstede, por meio do questionário padrão. No entanto, sugerem-se ajustes para verificar a replicabilidade do pressuposto deste trabalho, como a aplicação do questionário aos usuários e demais funcionários, o estudo em diversas instituições hospitalares e o emprego de outros modelos culturais. / The National Humanization Policy (NHP) basically addresses the relationship and processes of attention to the user. The efficiency of NHP depends on the way the institution is structured, what its values, hierarchies, objectives, namely, the culture of the organization, which can be considered according to the cultural dimensions of Hofstede. Thus, assumptions were made that related the guidelines of the NHP with the characteristics of the cultural dimensions of Hofstede, inferring that there was: low distance to power; low aversion to uncertainty; collectivism; long-term orientation; femininity and indulgence. Thus, to validate this inference, we first characterized the organizational culture of a university hospital regarding the cultural dimensions of Hofstede by means of secondary data, the application of the Hofstede questionnaire and a questionnaire of support, with open questions, elaborated by author and applied for the hierarchical levels of hospital management. Thus, it was identified, according to management\'s perceptions, that Hofstede\'s cultural dimensions of hospital unit were: low distance to power; low aversion to uncertainty; collectivism; long-term orientation; femininity and indulgence. The convergence of results indicated the institution\'s pursuit of the NHP guidelines and a cultural uniformity, due mainly to the moment of data collection that was in the management transition, reducing the influence of subcultures. The results showed a possibility of measuring the implementation of the NHP in an institution, from the identification of the cultural characteristics of Hofstede, through the standard questionnaire. However, adjustments are suggested to verify the replicability of the assumption of this work, such as the application of the questionnaire to users and other employees, a study in several hospital institutions and the handling of other cultural models.

La présente thèse de doctorat porte sur les processus internes au sein des équipes de travail pluriculturelles. Cette thèse se compose de trois articles et propose, d’une part, une mesure validée des valeurs culturelles au niveau individuel en langue française et, d’autre part, une mesure du degré d’homogénéité culturelle au sein des équipes de travail (ci-après ÉT). En outre, elle se penche sur la vérification empirique des nombreux liens entre l’homogénéité culturelle et les processus internes au sein des ÉT postulés par les auteurs mais jamais vérifiés empiriquement. Le premier article a pour but de faire le point sur la documentation scientifique concernant les équipes de travail pluriculturelles. Il présente une recension de la documentation portant sur ce type d’équipe, notamment l’impact présumé de la culture sur les comportements d’équipier, et les effets de la diversité culturelle sur la performance de l’équipe et sur ses processus internes. Le deuxième article, quant à lui, a pour objectif de valider la mesure des dimensions culturelles de Hofstede (1980, 1991, 1994) sur une base individuelle et en langue française. Cette étude a été réalisée en adaptant deux questionnaires, l’un développé par Hellmann (2000) et mesurant les dimensions culturelles de distance hiérarchique, de masculinité, de contrôle de l’incertitude et de collectivisme, et le second développé par Bearden, Money et Nevins (2006) et mesurant la dimension d’orientation à long terme. L’échantillon se compose de 453 répondants tous étudiants dans des programmes de baccalauréat à l’Université de Montréal et à l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Les résultats des deux analyses factorielles exploratoires effectuées ont fait ressortir sept facteurs distincts expliquant 41.6% de la variance pour le premier questionnaire et 61.6% de la variance pour le second. La composition de l’échantillon n’a pas permis de conduire d’analyse de variance afin de vérifier s’il se trouvait des différences significatives entre les différents groupes culturels de l’échantillon à l’étude, et ce, pour chacune des dimensions culturelles. Les limites de la recherche ainsi que des suggestions de recherches futures sont proposées. Enfin, le troisième article se penche sur les liens, postulés par de nombreux auteurs mais jamais confirmés empiriquement, entre l’homogénéité culturelle dans les équipes et les processus internes de l’équipe en termes de comportements productifs et de comportements contre-productifs. Afin d’étudier cette réalité, l’instrumentation de Hofstede (1980, 1991), conçue pour capter des différences au niveau des nations, a été opérationnalisée au niveau des individus (Temimi, Savoie et Duguay, 2008) et mis en relation avec les processus internes se déroulant au sein de l’équipe (Duguay, Temimi et Savoie, 2008; Rousseau, 2003; Temimi et Savoie, 2007). Cette étude a été réalisée auprès de 67 équipes variant en termes d’homogénéité culturelle. Les résultats indiquent que le degré d’homogénéité culturelle global s’avère positivement relié aux comportements productifs de l’équipe et négativement relié aux comportements contre-productifs. De plus, le degré d’homogénéité de la dimension culturelle de féminité ressort négativement relié aux comportements contre-productifs de flânerie sociale et de domination. / This doctoral thesis focuses on internal processes within multicultural teams. It consists of three articles and proposes a validated measure of cultural values at the individual level in French but also a measure of the degree of cultural homogeneity within teams. In addition, it analyzes the empirical examination of the many links between cultural homogeneity and internal processes within teams that several authors postulated but never empirically verified. The objective of the first article is to present a review of the documentation concerning multicultural teams including the alleged impact of culture on team members’ behaviours and effects of cultural diversity on team performance and internal processes. The second article, aims at validating the measurement of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (1980, 1991, 1994) at the individual level and in French. This study was achieved by adapting two questionnaires, one developed by Hellmann (2000) and measuring the cultural dimensions of power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance and collectivism, and the second developed by Bearden, Money and Nevins (2006) and measuring the dimension of long-term orientation. The sample consists of 453 students in degree programs at l’Université de Montréal and l’Université du Québec à Montreal. Results of both exploratory factor analyses conducted have revealed seven distinct factors explaining 41.6% of variance in the first questionnaire and 61.6% of variance in the second. The composition of the sample failed to conduct analysis of variance to see if there were significant differences between different cultural groups in the sample under study and for each of the cultural dimensions. Research limitations and suggestions for future research are also presented. The third article examines the links, postulated by many authors but never confirmed empirically, between cultural homogeneity in teams and internal processes of the team in terms of productive behaviours and counterproductive behaviours. To investigate these links, the questionnaire of Hofstede (1980, 1991) designed to capture differences at a national level has been adapted to the individual level (Temimi, Savoie et Duguay, 2008) and linked with internal processes taking place within teams (Duguay, Temimi et Savoie, 2008; Rousseau, 2003; Temimi et Savoie, 2007). This study was conducted among 67 teams. Results indicate that the overall degree of cultural homogeneity is positively related to productive team behaviours and negatively related to counterproductive behaviours. Moreover, the degree of homogeneity of the cultural dimension of femininity appears negatively related to counterproductive behaviours of social loafing and domination.

A Política Nacional de Humanização (PNH) basicamente direciona quanto à relação e aos processos de atenção ao usuário. A eficiência da PNH depende da forma como a instituição está estruturada, de quais são seus valores, hierarquias, objetivos, ou seja, da cultura da organização, a qual pode ser considerada conforme as dimensões culturais de Hofstede. Assim, foram elaborados pressupostos que relacionavam as diretrizes da PNH com as características das dimensões culturais de Hofstede, inferindo-se que houvesse: baixa distância ao poder; baixa aversão à incerteza; coletivismo; orientação a longo prazo; feminilidade; e indulgência. Desse modo, para validar essa inferência, primeiramente, caracterizou-se a cultura organizacional de um hospital universitário quanto às dimensões culturais de Hofstede, por meio de dados secundários, aplicação do questionário de Hofstede e de questionário de apoio, com questões abertas, elaborado pelo autor e aplicado para os níveis hierárquicos da gerência e da divisão do hospital. Assim, identificou-se, conforme percepções das gerências, que as dimensões culturais de Hofstede da unidade eram: baixa distância ao poder; baixa aversão à incerteza; coletivismo; orientação a longo prazo; feminilidade; e indulgência. A convergência de resultados indicou a busca da instituição em seguir as diretrizes da PNH, e certa uniformidade cultural, devido, principalmente, ao momento da coleta de dados que foi na transição de gestão, diminuindo a influência de subculturas. Os resultados indicaram uma possibilidade de mensuração da implementação da PNH em uma instituição, a partir da identificação das características culturais de Hofstede, por meio do questionário padrão. No entanto, sugerem-se ajustes para verificar a replicabilidade do pressuposto deste trabalho, como a aplicação do questionário aos usuários e demais funcionários, o estudo em diversas instituições hospitalares e o emprego de outros modelos culturais. / The National Humanization Policy (NHP) basically addresses the relationship and processes of attention to the user. The efficiency of NHP depends on the way the institution is structured, what its values, hierarchies, objectives, namely, the culture of the organization, which can be considered according to the cultural dimensions of Hofstede. Thus, assumptions were made that related the guidelines of the NHP with the characteristics of the cultural dimensions of Hofstede, inferring that there was: low distance to power; low aversion to uncertainty; collectivism; long-term orientation; femininity and indulgence. Thus, to validate this inference, we first characterized the organizational culture of a university hospital regarding the cultural dimensions of Hofstede by means of secondary data, the application of the Hofstede questionnaire and a questionnaire of support, with open questions, elaborated by author and applied for the hierarchical levels of hospital management. Thus, it was identified, according to management\'s perceptions, that Hofstede\'s cultural dimensions of hospital unit were: low distance to power; low aversion to uncertainty; collectivism; long-term orientation; femininity and indulgence. The convergence of results indicated the institution\'s pursuit of the NHP guidelines and a cultural uniformity, due mainly to the moment of data collection that was in the management transition, reducing the influence of subcultures. The results showed a possibility of measuring the implementation of the NHP in an institution, from the identification of the cultural characteristics of Hofstede, through the standard questionnaire. However, adjustments are suggested to verify the replicability of the assumption of this work, such as the application of the questionnaire to users and other employees, a study in several hospital institutions and the handling of other cultural models.

No description available.

What constitutes the best leadership is a topic of much debate, with differing opinions on various types of leadership styles and success factors among leaders and countries. Over time, we have observed both informal and formal leaders who have taken on the role of leading a group of people through both difficult and easy situations, which has led to attempts to understand what truly is the best leadership and what characteristics such a person possesses. Leading a group of employees can look different depending on the country one works in, given the different cultures that characterize each country. But what does leadership look like within a group that exists in two different countries? How does leadership appear within an organization that operates in a cross-cultural environment? To be able to motivate your employees, it is required that you as a leader have the same goals within your own role, that you pay attention to the individual in order to then develop the group you are responsible for in the best possible way. This study provides an insight into how to work with different leadership models and by using the identified key factors that are fundamental to being the best leader in the workplace, to be able to develop oneself and help others to develop to achieve a good working environment where everyone thrives, finds engagement, trust, understanding, and where communication functions well. The study also demonstrates an understanding of the cultures that exist within organizations, which allows for connecting them and extracting the most important aspects from each culture. This leads to the inclusion of all individuals and the development of autonomy. The study's results partly support what previous research has claimed about leadership. It is possible to see that many of the characteristics between the countries are found both in theory and in the results, such as communication styles, organizational structure, and decision-making. Seven key factors have been identified for each country that are required for successful leadership, where the majority of these are directly related to developmental leadership, which are role models, personal care, inspiration and motivation, demands and rewards, and control. In addition to these, balance, transparency, and competence are identified, which are not directly related to developmental leadership, with the latter two being unique to each country. The study also suggests that there are challenges to leading an organization within a cross-cultural environment, but there is feasibility and the possibility to adapt one's leadership to the prevailing situation by taking into account what is required from the leader. The results can be valuable for companies and organizations striving to improve their leadership and create a positive work environment for their employees as well as for companies operating within different cultures. / Vilket som är det bästa ledarskapet finns det många olika åsikter om, där synen på olika typer av ledarskapsstilar och framgångsfaktorer skiljer sig mellan ledare och länder. Genom tiden har vi kunnat följa både informella och formella ledare som tagit sig an rollen att leda en grupp människor genom både svåra och lätta situationer, vilket har lett till att försöka förstå sig på vad som egentligen är det bästa ledarskapet, och vilka egenskaper en sådan person innehar. Att leda en grupp medarbetare kan se olika ut beroende på vilket land man arbetar inom, givet de olika kulturerna som präglar länderna var för sig. Men hur ser det egentligen ut med ledarskapet som verkar i en grupp som finns i två olika länder? Hur ser ledarskapet ut inom en organisation som arbetar inom en tvärkulturell miljö? För att kunna motivera sina medarbetare krävs det att du som ledare själv har samma mål inom din egen roll, att du ser till individen för att sedan kunna utveckla den grupp du ansvarar över på bästa möjliga sätt. Genom denna studie ges en inblick i hur man kan arbeta med de olika ledarskapsmodellerna och genom att ta hjälp av de identifierade nyckelfaktorerna som ligger till grund för att vara den bästa ledaren på arbetsplatsen, för att kunna utveckla sig själv och hjälpa andra att utvecklas till att nå en bra arbetsmiljö där alla trivs, finner engagemang, tillit, förståelse och där kommunikationen fungerar på ett bra sätt. Studien visar också på förståelsen av de kulturer som existerar inom organisationer, vilket möjliggör att koppla samman dem och dra ut det viktigaste från varje kultur. Detta leder till att alla individer kan involveras och att autonomi kan utvecklas.  Studiens resultat visar delvis på vad tidigare forskning har påstått om ledarskap. Det går att se att många av karaktärsdragen mellan länderna återfinns både i teorin och resultatet, exempelvis kommunikationsstilar, organisationsstruktur och beslutsfattande. Det har identifierats 7 nyckelfaktorer för respektive land som krävs för ett framgångsrikt ledarskap där majoriteten av dessa är direkt relaterade till det utvecklande ledarskapet, vilka är föredöme, personlig omtanke, inspiration och motivation, +krav och belöning och +kontroll. Utöver dessa identifieras balans, transparens och kompetens som inte är direkt relaterade till det utvecklande ledarskapet där de två sistnämnda är unika för respektive land. Studien menar även att det finns hinder att leda en organisation inom en tvärkulturell miljö, men där det finns överkomlighet och möjlighet till att kunna anpassa sitt ledarskap till rådande situation genom att ta till beaktning vad det är som krävs utifrån ledaren. Resultaten kan vara värdefulla för företag och organisationer som strävar efter att förbättra sitt ledarskap och skapa en positiv arbetsmiljö för sina anställda samt för företag som verkar inom olika kulturer.

<p>The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the implications and challenges of intercultural communication. An in-depth study was performed of the perspectives from people who work within an international organization. How they experience cultural differences and how they handle them, in particular when it comes to communication. Also, their perceptions of communicative competence were explored. The study was carried out at Svalorna India Bangladesh, at the Swedish office in Lund. Svalorna’s staff was interviewed on their experiences of intercultural communication. Both employees at the Swedish office and employees on location in India and Bangladesh were interviewed. The method used in the study was qualitative interviews where the interviewees could expand their answers fully as the interview developed. The main theory used was Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, presented in the thesis and considered in the study. It was concluded that being aware of cultural differences and having knowledge of other cultures but also your own is important for understanding the so-called non-verbal communication in an intercultural situation. There are also differences in to what extent a certain culture uses non-verbal communication. Both India and Bangladesh, according to the interviewees, are high context cultures whereas Sweden has a low context culture. All the interviewees had similar experiences when it comes to intercultural communication. A cultural difference in the perception of time is an example of when verbal communication can be inadequate, if one is not aware of cultural differences. Both India and Bangladesh use polychronic time whereas in Sweden monochromic time is used. This is indeed confirmed by all interviewees. Many of Hofstede’s cultural dimension theories are found to be coherent with the results of this study, for example the Individualism.</p>