In search of Nordic management styles

Abstract

Previously published studies have indicated some distinctive aspects of Nordic management. Nordic managers have been consistently reported as individualistic but also more ‘feminine’ and employee-oriented, than those further south. In the present study, the ways in which managers from the five Nordic nations describe their role are compared with descriptions provided by managers from 42 other nations. Managers from each nation were asked to describe the degree to which they relied on each of eight sources of guidance in handling a series of everyday work events. Nordic managers reported relying more on subordinates and peers and less on formal rules and superiors than did other European managers. However, marked contrasts were also found between the Nordic manager samples. Predictions are derived from the results as to the types of difficulty most likely to occur within different Nordic collaborations.