Sweden final.doc

8/14/2019 Sweden final.doc

1/10

Babe -Bolyai University

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Master Saint George

SWEDEN

Directive Student

Dr! "elemen Ant#nia Mi$ola% &odica-Andrea


2/10

'ontents

1. Introduction

1.1. Location1.2. Neighbours

1.3. History1.3.1. Social1.3.2. Economy1.3.3. Political1.3.4. Cultural2. Cross-cultural Communication in Sweden

2.1. Meeting and reeting2.2. i!t i"ing Eti#uette2.3. $he %ole o! a Manager2.4. &''roach to Change

2.(. &''roach to $ime and Priorities2.). *ecision Ma+ing2.,. -ni#ue !eatures3. Bibliography


3/10

SWEDEN

1. Introduction

S/eden o!!icially the 0ingdom o! S/eden is a Scandina"ian country in Northern Euro'e. S/edenborders Nor/ay and inland and is connected to *enmar+ by a bridgetunnel

&t 4(25( s#uare +ilometers 61,37) s# mi8 S/eden is the third largest country in the Euro'ean-nion by area /ith a total 'o'ulation o! about 5.( million.

S/eden has a lo/ 'o'ulation density o! 21 inhabitants 'er s#uare +ilometer /ith the 'o'ulation mostlyconcentrated to the southern hal! o! the country. &bout 7(9 o! the 'o'ulation li"e in urban areas.

S/eden:s ca'ital city is Stoc+holm /hich is also the largest city. Since the early 15th century S/edenhas been at 'eace and has a"oided /ar.

LOCATION


4/10

Situated in Northern Euro'e S/eden lies /est o! the ;altic Sea and ul! o! ;othnia 'ro"iding a longcoastline and !orms the eastern 'art o! the Scandina"ian Peninsula. Situated in Northern Euro'e S/eden lies/est o! the ;altic Sea and ul! o! ;othnia 'ro"iding a long coastline and !orms the eastern 'art o! theScandina"ian Peninsula.

S/eden lies bet/een latitudes ((< and ,< N and mostly bet/een longitudes 11< and 2(< E&t 4455)4 +m2 61,3,32 s# mi8 S/eden is the ((th largest country in the /orld the 4th largest

country entirely in Euro'e and the largest in Northern Euro'e.$he lo/est ele"ation in S/eden is in the bay o! La+e Hammars=>n near 0ristianstad at ?2.41 m

6?,.51 !t8 belo/ sea le"el. $he highest 'oint is 0ebne+aise at 2111 m 6)52) !t8 abo"e sea le"el.

NEI!B"#$Sinland is located to its northeast. @t has maritime borders /ith ermany Poland %ussia Lithuania

Lat"ia and Estonia.S/eden is also lin+ed to *enmar+ 6south/est8 by the Aresund ;ridge.

!istory

1.Social2.Economy3.Political4.Cultural

1. Social%

S/eden emerged as an inde'endent and uni!ied country during the Middle &ges. @n the 1,th centurythe country eB'anded its territories to !orm the S/edish Em'ire. $he em'ire gre/ to be one o! the great'o/ers o! Euro'e in the 1,th and early 17th century

Most o! the con#uered territories outside the Scandina"ian Peninsula /ere lost during the 17 th and

15th centuries. $he eastern hal! o! S/eden 'resentday inland /as lost to %ussia in 175.$he last /ar in /hich S/eden /as directly in"ol"ed /as in 1714 /hen S/eden by militarymeans !orced Nor/ay into a 'ersonal union. Since then S/eden has been at 'eace 'racticing non'artici'ation in military alliances during 'eacetime and neutrality during /artime.

S/eden has been a member o! the Euro'ean -nion since 1 Danuary 155( and is a member o!the EC*.

2. Economy%

S/eden is an eB'ortoriented miBed economy. $imber hydro'o/er and iron ore constitute the resourcebase o! an economy hea"ily oriented to/ard !oreign trade. S/eden:s engineering sector accounts !or (9 o!out'ut and eB'orts. $elecommunications the automoti"e industry and the 'harmaceutical industries are alsoo! great im'ortance. &griculture accounts !or 29 o! *P and em'loyment. $he country ran+s among thehighest in tele'hone and @nternet access 'enetration

$he 2 largest 6by turno"er in 2,8 com'anies registered in S/eden are Fol"o Ericsson Fatten!allS+ans+a Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications &; S"ens+a Cellulosa &+tiebolaget ElectroluB Fol"oPerson"agnar $eliaSonera Sand"i+ Scania @C& Hennes G Maurit @0E& Nordea Preem &tlasCo'co Securitas Nordst=ernan and S0. S/eden:s industry is o"er/helmingly in 'ri"ate control unli+e


5/10

many other industrialised Iestern countries and 'ublicly o/ned enter'rises ha"e al/ays been o! minorim'ortance.

3. &olitical%

Constitutionally the 345member ri+sdag 6Parliament8 holds su'reme authority in modern S/eden.$he ri+sdag is res'onsible !or choosing the 'rime minister /ho then a''oints the go"ernment de'artment

heads 6cabinet ministers8. Legislati"e 'o/er is only eBercised by the ri+sdag. EBecuti"e 'o/er is eBercised bythe 'rime minister and the cabinet /hile the =udiciary is inde'endent. S/eden lac+s com'ulsory =udicialre"ie/ although the noncom'ulsory re"ie/ carried out by lagrJdet 6La/ Council8 is mostly res'ected intechnical matters but less so in contro"ersial 'olitical matters.

@n the 2) general election the Moderate Party allied /ith the Centre Party Liberal Peo'le:s Partyand the Christian *emocrats !ormed the centreright &lliance !or S/eden and /on a ma=ority o! the "otes.$ogether they !ormed a ma=ority go"ernment under the leadershi' o! the Moderate 'arty:s leader redri+%ein!eldt. @n the Se'tember 21 election the &lliance contended against a uni!ied le!t bloc+ consisting o! theSocial *emocrats the reens and the Le!t Party. @t also sa/ the !irst election o! the S/eden *emocrats intothe ri+sdag.

K Political 'arties Seats @n o"tK Centreright 'arties 153K Moderate Party 1, esK Liberal Peo'le:s Party 24 esK Centre Party 23 esK Christian *emocrats 15 esK S/eden *emocrats 2 NoK le!to!centre 'arties 1()K Social *emocrats 112 NoK $he reens 2( No

K Le!t Party 15 No

'. Cultural%

Swedish Culture and Society

(utheran

$he Church o! S/eden 'ro!esses the Lutheran branch o! Christianity and it has a membershi' o! almost, million 'eo'le ma+ing it the largest Lutheran Church globally. &lthough o"er ,(9 o! S/edish citiens aremembers o! the church only 29 regularly attend church ser"ices.

)he Ethnic *a+e-up o, Sweden

$he indigenous 'o'ulation o! S/eden is com'rised o! S/edes /ith innish and Sami minorities.oreignborn or !irstgeneration immigrants are ty'ically o! innish *anish Nor/egian ree+ and $ur+ish

ethnicity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament


6/10

)he Culture o, Sweden%

ne o! the +ey characteristics o! S/edish culture is that S/edes are egalitarian in nature humble and!ind boasting absolutely unacce'table. @n many /ays S/edes 're!er to listen to others as o''osed to ensuringthat their o/n "oice is heard.

Ihen s'ea+ing S/edes s'ea+ so!tly and calmly. @t is rare that you /ere /itness a S/ededemonstrating anger or strong emotion in 'ublic.

@n terms S/edes rarely ta+e hos'itality or +indness !or granted and as such they /ill gi"e o!ten gi"ethan+s. ailing to say than+ you !or something is 'ercei"ed negati"ely in S/eden.

;eha"iours in S/eden are strongly balanced to/ards lagomO or e"erything in moderationO. EBcess!lashiness and boasting are abhorred in S/eden and indi"iduals stri"e to/ards the middle /ay. &s aneBam'le /or+ hard and 'lay hard are not common conce'ts in S/eden. Peo'le /or+ hard but not too hardthey go out and en=oy themsel"es but /ithout 'artici'ating in anything eBtreme.

*ue to the strong leaning to/ards egalitarianism in S/eden com'etition is not encouraged andchildren are not raised to belie"e that they are any more s'ecial than any other child.

)he amily

$he !amily in S/eden is eBtremely im'ortant and as such the rights o! children are /ell 'rotected.$he rights a!!orded to S/edish !amilies to ensure that they are able to ad#uately care !or their children

are some o! the best rights in the /orld. &n o"er"ie/ o! these rights is as !ollo/s Either the mother or !ather is entitled to be absent !rom /or+ until their child reaches 17 months. Either 'arent has the right to reduce their /or+load by 2(9 until their child reaches 7 years old 6and is

!ormally ready !or school8. & 'arental allo/ance is 'aid !or 47 days /hich is intended !or both 'arents. SiBty o! these days must

be used by the minorityO 'arents. or this reason this element o! the allo/ance is o!ten +no/n as*addyOs monthsO.

ou ha"e the right to u' to ) days o!! 'er year to care !or a sic+ child& number o! 'eo'le in S/eden ho/e"er challenge the degree to /hich these rights are truly 'ositi"e as

statistics suggest that /omen o!ten !all /ay behind their male colleague in res'ect to 'osition in 'ay.&nyone tra"elling to S/eden /ill notice the !amily !riendly en"ironment o! most resturants and other

such establishments. E"en trains ha"e a toy and 'lay area

)he $ole o, !ospitality

&lthough S/eden is a largely egalitarian and relaBed en"ironment hos'itality and eating arrangementsare o!ten a !ormal a!!air.

@t is more common !or guests to be in"ited to a S/edeOs home !or co!!ee and ca+e as o''osed to a mealbut i! you are in"ited !or a meal then ensure that you

&re 'unctual as it is considered eBtremely im'olite i! you are rude. @n the same essence do not arri"e

too early. @t is not an uncommon e"ent in S/eden !or guests to sit in the car until the last minute or/al+ around the bloc+ until the eB'ected time o! arri"al has arri"ed

*ress smartly as to other/ise /ould be considered disres'ect!ul to the hosts.

*o not as+ to see the rest o! the house as S/edes are general "ery 'ri"ate and it is li+ely that the onlyroom 6other than the dining Q sitting room8 that they /ould eB'ect you to go to /ould be the bathroom.

Ihen eating +ee' your hands in !ull "ie/ /ith your /rists on to' o! the table.

$he Euro'ean eating eti#uette should be adhered to in res'ect to +ni!e in the right hand and !or+ in thele!t.

*o not start eating until the hostess has started.


7/10

*o not ta+e the last hel'ing !rom a 'late. inish e"erything on your 'late as it is considered rude to lea"e any !ood uneaten.

*o not o!!er a toast to anyone more senior to you in age. Ihen o!!ering a toast then li!t your glass andnod at e"eryone 'resent loo+ing !rom those seated on your right to those seated on your le!t be!oreta+ing a si'. ou should then nod again be!ore re'lacing your glass on the table.

@t is im'ortant that you do not discuss business at the table as S/edes try to distinguish bet/een homeand /or+.

*uring !ormal e"ents the guest seated on the le!t o! the hostess ty'ically stands to ma+e a s'eechduring the s/eet to than+ her on behal! o! the /hole grou'. &l/ays /rite or call to than+ the host Q hostess /ithin a !e/ days o! attending the dinner.

2. Cross-cultural Communication in Sweden

*eeting and reeting%

;usiness Personnel in S/eden are ty'ically !airly reser"ed and as such it is im'ortant that all dealingsare !ormal and serious until it is deemed acce'table by the res'ecti"e S/edish 'ersonnel to allo/ e"ents tobecome more relaBed.

ey suggestions are as ,ollows

Ensure that maintaining eye contact cou'led /ith a !irm handsha+e you sha+e hands /ith all attendeeson both arri"al and de'arture.

Ensure that you address your hosts /ith either their 'ro!essional title or their honori!ic title and theirsurname Mr. Herr or Mrs. R ru.

ounger 'eo'le are li+ely to mo"e more #uic+ly to a !irst name basis than older 'eo'le.Personal s'ace is im'ortant in S/eden and as such it is recommended that you maintain an a/areness

o! someoneOs 'ersonal s'ace and that you do not in"ade it. &"oid any unnecessary touching.

i,t i/ing Eti0uette

@! you are in"ited to a S/edeOs home then it is suggested that you ta+e the same ty'e o! gi!t as you/ould gi"e in the -0 e.g. a bou#uet o! !lo/ers or a boB o! chocolates.

@! you choose to gi"e !lo/ers then ensure that the bou#uet does not include /hite lilies orchrysanthemums. $he reason !or this being that both ty'es o! !lo/ers are ty'ically gi"en at !unerals.

Since S/eden is such a child centred country it is al/ays recommended that you ta+e gi"es !or anychildren /ho may be 'art o! the !amily /ho you are "isiting.

@! you are 'ersonally gi"en a gi!t then it is custom to o'en it u'on recei't.

Business *eetings

Ensure that you gi"e at least t/o /ee+s notice i! you are arranging a meeting in S/eden.Months to a"oid i! 'ossible include Dune Duly &ugust and then late ebruary through to early March as mostS/edes /ill be on holiday during these 'eriods. &s /ith the -0 most S/edes are also absent during theChristmas 'eriod.

Punctuality is absolutely essential. @! you are late then this /ill re!lect "ery badly on you and /ill be"ie/ed as discourteous.

S/edes rarely engage in small tal+ at the start o! a meeting. @nstead 'eo'le /ill mo"e directly to theto'ics at hand.


8/10

Meetings are ty'ically go"erned by an agenda /hich is distributed to indi"iduals 'rior to the meeting.$here is "ery little tal+ outside o! the agenda to'ics.

&lthough most meetings are managed by a 'articular 'erson all indi"iduals are eB'ected to contribute.S/edish business 'ersonnel are eBtremely detail !ocused and as such any 'resentations should be /ell

're'ared /ith su''orting accurate and rele"ant data. ;e assured that your hosts /ill 'ay a great deal o!attention to the detail.

S/edes rarely ma+e decisions during initial meetings and as such the !irst meeting that you ha"e /ithyour hosts is li+ely to be !airly general and lo/ +ey.

S/edes are direct communicators and as such Saying /hat you mean and meaning /hat you say isboth 'racticed and eB'ected.

&/+/ard silencesO are rarely seen as a/+/ard in S/eden and as such S/edes do not rush to !illcon"ersation silences.

@! you are trying to sell something then try to tone do/n the use o! em'hasis or su'erlati"es as it is "eryrare that a S/ede /ill o"er elaborate during a con"ersation R e"en i! they are trying to sell something. ailureto adhere to this could result in your deli"ery being "ie/ed as insincere.

)he $ole o, a *anager

Cross cultural management needs to recognie that S/edish "alue the s'ecialied +no/ledge that

em'loyees at all le"els bring. @n S/eden as in most egalitarian cultures 'ositions o! authority are earnedlargely on the basis o! indi"idual achie"ement and 'eo'le at all le"els o! the organiation /hile res'ectingauthority are !ree to as'ire to those 'ositions.

$he role o! the leader is to harness the talent o! the grou' assembled and de"elo' any resultingsynergies. $he leader /ill be de!erred to as the !inal authority in any decisions that are made but they do notdominate the discussion or generation o! ideas. Praise should be gi"en to the entire grou' as /ell as toindi"iduals.

pproach to Change

S/edenOs intercultural com'etence and readiness !or change is lo/ meaning that social change is

di!!icult to bring about and the idea o! it is not recei"ed /ith enthusiasm. $he underlying belie! is that changemay threaten the social !abric.

E"en though they are cautious in business they are some o! the most ra'id hightech inno"ators in the/orld. @n order !or change to ta+e hold ho/e"er it needs to be 'ercei"ed as good !or the grou' and beacce'ted by the grou'. @ntercultural sensiti"ity is needed as S/edenOs attitude to/ard ris+ is dramaticallyim'acted by the negati"e rami!ications o! !ailure on both the indi"idual and the grou'.

pproach to )ime and &riorities

S/eden is a controlledtime culture and adherence to schedules is im'ortant and eB'ected. @n S/edenmissing a deadline is a sign o! 'oor management and ine!!iciency and /ill sha+e 'eo'leOs con!idence. Peo'lein controlledtime cultures tend to ha"e their time highly scheduled and itOs generally a good idea to 'ro"ideand adhere to 'er!ormance milestones.

E!!ecti"e crossculture management s+ill /ill de'end on the indi"idualOs ability to meet deadlines.


9/10

ecision *a+ing

S/edish organiations are relati"ely !lat /ith !e/ management le"els. MatriB organiations arecommon and em'loyees o!ten re'ort to more than one manager.

S/edish management style is based on the 'remise that all /or+ has "alue and that em'loyees come to/or+ /anting to do a good =ob. S/edish managers see themsel"es as coaches rather than as autocratic rulema+ers. $hey guide subordinates and 'ride themsel"es on being good listeners. Subordinates are !ree to sol"euneB'ected 'roblems /ithout re!erring the matter to the manager.

Status is not "ery im'ortant in S/edish com'anies. &ny em'loyee o! a com'any can a''roach theManaging *irector. Em'loyees do/n'lay their achie"ements and do not eB'ect to be 'raised !or doing their=obs /ell.

Cross cultural management needs to understand the S/edish !undamental belie! in an egalitariansociety. $his means they su''ort a 'artici'ati"e management style.

Boss or )eam &layer

$he role o! the leader is to harness the talent o! the grou' assembled and de"elo' any resultingsynergies. $he leader /ill be de!erred to as the !inal authority in any decisions that are made but they do notdominate the discussion or generation o! ideas. Praise should be gi"en to the entire grou' as /ell as toindi"iduals.

#ni0ue ,eatures%

S/eden has lo/ le"els o! burglary car the!t and drug 'roblems. ;ribe see+ing is rare. $he Su'reme Court consists o! 1) Councilors o! Dustice /hich are a''ointed by the go"ernment but

the court as an institution is inde'endent o! the Parliament o! S/eden and the go"ernment is not able

to inter!ere /ith the decisions o! the court. $he S/edish ca'ital Stoc+holm is substantially less eB'ensi"e to li"e in than such cities as slo Hong

0ong $o+yo Ne/ or+ and Trich. ne o! the +ey characteristics is that S/edes are egalitarian in nature humble and !ind boasting

absolutely unacce'table $he !amily in S/eden is eBtremely im'ortant and as such the rights o! children are /ell 'rotected.

.


10/10

3. Bibliography

htt'QQro./i+i'edia.orgQ/i+iQSuedia

htt'QQeuro'a.euQabouteuQcountriesQmembercountriesQs/edenQindeBUro.htm htt'QQ///.suedia.seQ
http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suediahttp://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/sweden/index_ro.htmhttp://www.suedia.se/http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suediahttp://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/sweden/index_ro.htmhttp://www.suedia.se/

Documents

Sweden final.doc