Invitation
Cross-Cultural Communication in the Baltic Rim
December 6 and 7, 2007
Keynote Speakers
Professor Geert Hofstede
Professor Kenneth Cushner
At the dates given above GotlandUniversity arranges a workshop conference devoted to methods of analysing cultural differences and communication developed by Geert Hofstede. The conference is an arrangement within the Permanent Baltic Rim seminar at GotlandUniversity. The Baltic Sea region is characterised by a manifested culture border, which was established in the Middle Ages, by the Catholic, western European expansion into the East Baltic territories, whereas the eastern Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian peoples were Christianised from Byzantium, and in due course were brought together in an empire claiming to be a third Rome and the defensor of Orthodoxy.
The deep rooted differences in outlook among the peoples surrounding the Baltic remain an issue. The Baltic Countries are now members of NATO and the EU and the relationship between Russia and Europe is today of crucial significance in the Baltic region. In this context several cross-cultural issues are of interest, e.g. communication styles, stereotypes and the attitudes to the cultural heritage. In order to meet the demands of cross-cultural communication and raise a mutual awareness of subtle difficulties involved, there is a need of identifying and describing cultural differences around the Baltic Sea.
For these reasons, we have taken an interest in Hofstede’s approach to cultural differences. His application of ‘dimensions’ has been widely recognized but not yet extensively applied in the Baltic Rim. Also the method of applying ‘cultural assimilators’ (K. Cushner and R.W. Brislin) seems to be of vital interest in this context. The purpose of the conference is to introduce these approaches to a broader academic public in the belief that they might serve as relevant tools for the challenges that the Baltic Rim is currently undergoing. The conference is planned to include sessions on cultural dimensions in the Baltic Rim and workshops with “the cultural assimilators” and with the participation of international students from the region.
We offer two interesting cross-cultural days on the island of Gotland in Sweden. Travel expenses and board and lodging will be covered by the GotlandUniversity. We need your confirmation by July 1st , 2007. For any questions please contact Stellan Sundh (stellan.sundh@hgo.se).
Programme
Communication in the Baltic Region: Cultural Challenges
Wednesday, December 5, 19.00 -
Optional get-together for participants in the conference at Vinterträdgården, Visby Hotell
Thursday, December 6,
Location: 9.30 – 12.30 E22, 14.00 – 16.30 D 20
9.30 – 10.00 Registration and Coffee
10.00 – 10.15 Opening and Welcome
10.15 – 11.15 Professor G Hofstede: Cultural Borders in the Baltic Region and beyond
11.15 – 11.30 Short break
11.30 – 12.30 Professor Kenneth Cushner: Concepts that cut across the diversity of the Baltic Region: the basis behind the culture-general assimilators
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch at Wisby Strand
14.00 – 14.45 Professor Alexander Naumov: Hofstede’s dimensions of the Russian business culture: dynamics over a decade (1996 – 2006)
14.45 – 15.30 Professor Jens Allwood: On cross-cultural comparisons of patterns of communication
15.30 – 15.45 Coffee
15.45 – 16.30 Associate Professor Rimma Tangalycheva: Cultural dimensions of G.Hofstede in the context of Russian business communication
19.30 Conference Dinner at the Historical Museum of Gotland
Friday, December 7, 2007
Location: D 20
9.00 – 10. 15 Professor Kenneth Cushner: Workshop
10.15 – 10.30 Coffee
10.30 – 11.15 Professor Rita Mårtensson: Corporate branding in cross-cultural environments
11.15 – 12.00 Professor Per Lind: Communication uncertainty as a cultural phenomenon
12.00 – 13.30 Buffet at the County Administrative Board hosted by Ms Marianne Samuelsson, the CountyGovernor of Gotland
13.30 – 14.15 Parallell seminars
Seminar A (Location: XX) Andrius Bielskis: Why is Culture Important in Ethics?
Seminar B (Location XX) Maik Huettinger: National Baltic Values
14.15 – 15.00 Parallell seminars
Seminar C (Location: XX): Mariana Sueldo: Cultural Adaptation of Foreigners in Lithuania
Seminar D (Location XX): Ruta Kazlauskaite and Vida Skudiene: Cross Cultural Differences of HRM perceptions and Work-related Attitudes
15.00 – 15.30 Professor G Hofstede and Professor Kenneth Cushner: Closing panel discussion