Cultural Dimensions and Change Management: Approaches in Europe

Details

Supervisors

Léonard, Evelyne

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

This thesis explores cultural dimensions and change management in Europe, addressing the question: "How can cultural differences explain the diversity of change management practices between European countries?". By using Hofstede's cultural dimensions as a primary theoretical framework, the study focuses on five European clusters: English, Eastern, Latin, Nordic, and Germanic. Through qualitative data gathered from people in the field, the research examines key dimensions including communication, participation in decision-making, approach to planning and implementation, leadership style and team responsibilities. The findings largely support Hofstede's theory while also revealing nuanced inter-cluster and intra-cluster variations. Therefore, the study confirms many cluster-specific characteristics but also uncovers unexpected trends, highlighting the need for adaptive change management strategies that consider cultural patterns and specific organizational contexts. Furthermore, the research contributes to emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness in change initiatives, developing adapted frameworks that integrate cultural variations, and stressing the importance of all stakeholders in cross-cultural change management. This study provides valuable insights and recommendations for practitioners and researchers, opening the way for future research into the dynamic interplay between cultural dimensions and change management.

Citations

• APA

Tran, S. (2024). Cultural Dimensions and Change Management: Approaches in Europe. https://dial-mem.test.bib.ucl.ac.be/handle/2078.2/41720