Paper deals with research question “How far female cultural development in-fluences German-Swedish cooperation in project management and which values are behind it?”. Collaboration in international teams is stamped by different cultures and therefore varying values. A guarantee of success and efficiency is only possible if those disparities are considered. Teamwork of groups who consists of women from Germany and Sweden appear at first in cultural view as similar. On closer inspection variation due to history of women in each country are available. Comparison based on dimensions of culture from Geert Hofstede. German women are influenced by their past. Traditional role orientation and allocation of household as well as childcare are deep in mind indeed there is a sea change in last decades. For that reason German are embossed by values like performance and hierarchy. On contrary in Sweden gender equality is deep-seated since foundation. Development of public frame conditions promoted this in family as well as business and enabled a work-life-balance for women. Hence values like self-independence and equality are momentous. Outcome of diverse values are potentials and consequences in teamwork.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General information
2.1 Intercultural project management
2.1.1 Properties and task of culture
2.1.2 Project management
2.2 Hofstede: Models and dimensions of culture
3. Country reports
3.1 Germany
3.2 Sweden
4. Development of women
4.1 Germany
4.1.1 Situation before 1945
4.1.2 Point of departure 1945
4.1.2.1 West Germany
4.1.2.2 East Germany
4.1.3 Today
4.2 Sweden
5. German-Swedish project management
5.1 In general
5.2 Commonalty and disparity
5.3 Potentiality and negative consequences
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines how female cultural development influences German-Swedish cooperation in project management and identifies the underlying values driving these differences. It investigates the historical and societal factors that have shaped current work-life balance concepts and gender roles in both countries, aiming to deduce potential improvements for international team collaboration.
- Cultural dimensions and their impact on international team dynamics.
- Historical evolution of female professional and social status in Germany and Sweden.
- Comparative analysis of work-life balance and childcare frameworks.
- Identification of management challenges and opportunities in mixed German-Swedish teams.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Properties and task of culture
When you talk about culture there is not a generally accepted definition but there are many variable approaches. All of them incorporate an assumption that culture is based on way, habits and standards to create environment and relationships of people. Most of them are established in solutions of problems from everyday life and passed down from generations. Not only artistic merits are included in conception of culture but also manners. There is not only a culture on a national base but also in companies, divisions or project teams. Moreover there is the possibility to split up cultural aspects. There are visible and hidden factors. Viewable aspects are easy to recognize and describe from outside. As an example you can refer to clothes, food, celebrations or form of address. For people who are not part of culture it is simple to observe this attributes. Unfortunately those visible factors are also fundamentals for stereotypes. On contrary hidden aspects are difficult to understand. This part encompasses rules for the combination of visible factors like values, norms and taboos. They influence viewable elements in an enormous way.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the motivation for the study based on observations of child-friendliness in Sweden versus Germany and defines the core research question regarding female cultural development in project management.
2. General information: Establishes theoretical foundations by defining culture and project management and introducing Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions as an analytical framework.
3. Country reports: Provides a concise overview of the political, economic, and social landscape of Germany and Sweden.
4. Development of women: Offers a retrospective look at the historical evolution of gender roles in Germany (East/West) and Sweden, focusing on legislation, societal norms, and milestones of equality.
5. German-Swedish project management: Combines previous findings to analyze how cultural differences and gender role perceptions impact professional cooperation, identifying specific potentials and conflict areas.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the results, confirming that the different historical trajectories of women in both nations influence current business values and cooperation dynamics.
Keywords
Internationality, project management, teamwork, Hofstede, dimensions of culture, values, gender equality, work-life balance, self-independence, role orientation, childcare, performance, hierarchy, cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The paper explores the influence of female cultural development on the collaboration between German and Swedish professionals within international project management.
Which theoretical model is used for cultural comparison?
The study utilizes the cultural dimensions model developed by Geert Hofstede to analyze and compare German and Swedish values.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The goal is to determine how differing historical and societal developments regarding women in Germany and Sweden influence modern business cooperation and to identify strategies for more successful teamwork.
Which research methodology is applied?
The paper employs a comparative literature review, historical analysis, and an evaluation of statistical data concerning employment, childcare, and female representation in leadership.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers intercultural project management, detailed historical and current reports on the development of women in both nations, and an analysis of how these factors affect professional relationships and work-life balance.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include project management, teamwork, Hofstede, gender equality, work-life balance, and cultural dimensions.
How do German and Swedish approaches to hierarchy differ?
The research indicates that Germany generally maintains a more vertical, hierarchical structure, whereas Swedish professional culture is characterized by flat hierarchies and group-based decision-making.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding work-life balance?
The author concludes that Sweden’s comprehensive childcare and policy support systems foster a more effective dual-income model, whereas German traditions regarding traditional role allocations still impact professional participation.
Does the work address the impact of the historical divide in Germany?
Yes, the paper explicitly analyzes how the period between 1945 and 1990 created different gender role perceptions in East and West Germany, which still manifest in contemporary statistics.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Tricy Unger (Autor:in), 2015, Career versus family. How far does female cultural development influence German-Swedish cooperations in project management and which values are behind it?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/354846
