![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
25.06.2007 More efficiency in Finnish-Russian co-operation
|
![]() |
Marko
Mäkiluoko, Principal Lecturer at Tampere Polytechnic University of
Applied Sciences is familiar with the work of international project
groups. Recently he has made a special study of leadership styles
in Finnish-Russian project teams. High resolution image (148 Kb) Photo: Tampere Polytechnic University of Applied Sciences |
In
research funded by the Tampere Polytechnic University of Applied
Sciences and Fazer Bakeries on Russian project leadership, polytechnic
students with a knowledge of Russian used interviews to learn more
about the leadership styles of project groups in the Finnish-Russian
processing and IT industries. The findings suggest that in the Finnish
teams project leadership was largely a mere formality, since in
practice the teamwork was led by a Russian; this is exceptional in
other bilateral project teams. In addition to the advantage of
operating in their own language, the Russians had social competence to
lead teamwork requiring multicultural interactivity.
In bilateral, international co-operation Finnish companies have a
chance to acquire special expertise through their neighbouring country
for application in very varied national operating and behavioural
cultures. For example, the formerly very authoritarian way for Russians
to lead projects has in recent years shifted in a more European issue
and task oriented direction, but social interaction skills continue to
be a core element in practical project management. Moreover, if the
Finns have a good command of Russian it is easier for them to
investigate the Russian legislation.
The geographical proximity of two countries with utterly different
cultures makes the always indispensable face-to-face project team work
easier. In Finnish-Russian teamwork the emphasis is on personal
interaction skills and the power and ability of project management to
decide and delegate the accomplishment of subsidiary tasks. Good
project management training from the very beginning also reduces the
financial risk.
The Fazer Bakeries have long experience of bilateral project work in
Russia, the Baltic countries and the Nordic countries. Using among
other ways in-depth interviews conducted in Russian, the research
revealed the mechanisms of project team leadership. Research on
Finnish-Russian project leadership is rare, and complements research on
other bilateral European project leadership. The research findings will
be of especial benefit to Finnish companies, since it is impossible to
define a universally effective method for project leadership.
Further information:
Tampere Polytechnic University of Applied Sciences Principal Lecturer Marko Mäkiluoko Tel. +358 50 463 0731 firstname.lastname@tamk.fi |
Fazer Bakeries Project Manager Raine Kallio Tel. +359 40 586 7772 firstname.lastname@fazer.fi |