A Cross-Cultural Comparison of French and British Managers: An Examination of the Influence of Higher Education on Management Style

Abstract

Organisations are increasingly expanding beyond their national borders due to a variety of factors that have created international expansion opportunities. The hospitality industry, in particular, has seized the opportunity to extend its reach internationally. When internationalisation occurs, organisations are confronted with the challenge of managing a culturally diverse workforce. This challenge is especially acute for industries that are as labour intensive as is the hospitality industry. Indeed, the ultimate success of international expansion is largely driven by the effectiveness of a company's human resource management strategy. This paper explores management differences of French and British managers, hypothesising that management styles and beliefs are strongly influenced by managers' educational backgrounds.