Crisis Management in cross-cultural teams: A qualitative study of leaders in Norwegian shipping
Master thesis

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Date
2022Metadata
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- Master of Science [1822]
Abstract
Globalization in the business world has increased the need to understand how
cultural differences affect leadership performance. An individual’s cultural frame
affects how they perceive the world around them, influencing their interactions
with other people, reactions to events, and attitudes toward leaders. The
foundations of structure and communication in multicultural teams can further be
distorted by crises, throwing a wrench in organizational routines. Since a growing
number of maritime accidents are attributed to ineffective communication and
misinterpretation of different behaviors on multilingual and multicultural vessels,
cultural complexity in the shipping industry has gained intensive attention.
Although research literature in cross-cultural management has increased
substantially in the past years, there remains a gap in research on crisis
management in cross-cultural teams. Hence, the aim of this study was to
contribute to an enhanced understanding of cultural differences in the context of
crisis management. An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted to answer the
research question. After reviewing the relevant literature, the authors conducted
semi-structured in-depth interviews with six male leaders from the shipping
industry to address their experiences with crisis management in a multicultural
workplace.
The results reveal that culture affects various aspects of crisis management.
Language misunderstandings, insufficient cooperation, or conflicting expectations
can all influence how a crisis is handled. In order to benefit from cultural diversity
in a crisis, the leader’s ability to include team members seems to be crucial. The
findings emphasize the importance of cultural competency and that a cultural
approach should be incorporated in all phases of crisis management.
Description
Masteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Business, Leadership and Change - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2022