Cross-Cultural Diversity in Business Skills – Lessons Learned from the EWORLD Project

Abstract

Purpose of the article: The main goal of this paper supervised by a US partner is to present part of the results of the global research project regarding the entrepreneurial skills needed for a new business to be successful. This business modelling provides us with different descriptions of successful entrepreneurs in different cultural environments and could prepare future managers or entrepreneurs in a multinational environment for some problems which may be encountered (different meanings, different values or different behavioural patterns). Methodology/methods: More than 140 items and qualities were prepared for the online questionnaire and had to be translated into different languages. The comparison of the behavioural results among the members’ data of different countries was made by each EWORLD member; difficulties were expressed by teams in achieving equal results. Factor analysis was then used to achieve more sophisticated results. Scientific aim: The presented study could answer basic questions about how to prepare ourselves to use crossborder research to acquire comparable data; it could also be presented as a case study of the different business qualities required by the Czech businessman in the light of Slovak, British, Estonian and Chinese prototypes from other EWORLD members. Findings: The whole study, based on the implicit leadership theory, explains how culture and personal values exert influence on entrepreneurial behaviour and future success. Literature sources and current surveys confirm that business behaviour in different time frames could bring about a change in character, demonstrated by the Czech example. Practical research suggests the importance of training in managerial skills in higher education institutions to prepare students for global ventures and match the same points which each prototype shares. Conclusions: This study also has limitations i.e. the sample size and the means of providing research to acquire comparable data. When the focus group was too small or did not represent all of the groups of entrepreneurs, the model would not be transferable to another country as an example for educational activities. The long term vision of this study is to open up discussion and develop more quantifiable and transferable indicators among countries.