Scholarly record

NATIONAL STEREOTYPES AND POSSIBILITIES TO INFLUENCE THEM IN A MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATION

Maija Zakrizevska, Andris Larins

Abstract

Euro implementation in all three Baltic countries provides an opportunity for pan-Baltic organisations to centralise financial market and accounting operations. In order to achieve efficiency and reduced costs, international teams with local expertise will need to work on a best solution for all three Baltic countries. Projects usually involve discussions, arguing and conflicts. In conflict situations stereotypes can negatively affect communication process (people tend to concentrate on people not on a problem). Therefore in order to succeed, “a project manager needs to understand his or her own culture and the cultures of the project stakeholders” [13]. Research aim was to identify most popular national stereotypes within organisation working in all three Baltic countries, their origins and potential stereotypes mitigation measures. Research was done using method of association analysis and questionnaire made by authors. There were 49 participants in total. Among valid questionnaires 12 participants were from Estonia, 21 from Latvia and 16 from Lithuania. All participants are working in organizations corporate relationship division and have international working environment experience. Research revealed that all three nationalities are perceived differently mostly based on personal experience. Stereotypes about nationalities are ranging from very strong to minor and each nationality has its own range of positive and negative stereotypes contrasting with other two nationalities. Research also revealed, that participants are interested in knowing better other Baltic countries and preferred way to do it is to visit country of interest.

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