Abstract
Although Estonia and Finland are culturally related, according to an empirical study in the electronics industry in the two countries they display significant differences in job‐related attitudes. This paper investigates employees’ attitudes toward society, trade unions, work, employer organisations and pay determinants in the two countries from an institutionalist and cultural perspective. While Finland has experienced almost a century of capitalism and democracy, work‐related attitudes in Estonia have been particularly affected by the 50 years of Soviet rule. It is argued that the differences in work‐related attitudes are influenced inter alia by differences in levels of institutional development.
Highlights
The enlargement of the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004 has resulted in institutional changes in acceding countries, and in existing members
While Finland has experienced almost a century of capitalism and democracy, work-related attitudes in Estonia have been affected by the 50 years of Soviet rule
Instead of planned change, with its focus on the effort involved in change and the overall change strategy, there is an emphasis on the process of change and on attitudes to change (Bergquist, 1993)
Summary
The enlargement of the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004 has resulted in institutional changes in acceding countries, and in existing members. Research results in Estonian organisations indicate that aspects of organisational culture influencing organisational change have a differentiated impact on the formation of attitudes toward change (Alas and Vadi, 2004) and on the formation of attitudes toward learning (Alas and Vadi, 2003), depending on the particular level of institutional development. Attitudes toward both change and learning are crucial in continuously changing contemporary organisations, especially in a country undergoing considerable change
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
