<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Academic research regarding cross-cultural management has gained fundamental importance in today’s globalised business world. Within this field, this paper examines cultural synergy and friction of Austrian and Korean business culture. Austrian companies have a high export orientation and have shown strong interest in doing business with Korea, which has been identified as an exceptionally attractive location for subsidiaries of foreign MNEs. Applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process, Korean employees in Korean subsidiaries of Austrian companies were surveyed regarding their satisfaction levels in different job aspects as well as their preferences regarding alternatives in the criteria leadership style, work teams, and tasks and responsibilities. The study found synergy between the preferences of Korean employees and Austrian management in the importance placed on challenging projects and chances for personal achievements at work, as well as the lack of desire for close personal relations with superiors and colleagues. The latter represents a unique finding, contrary to what had been suggested by the relevant literature. Additionally, the research found areas of cultural friction regarding the importance assigned to consultative decision-making, a relaxed use of time, and freedom when performing work tasks. Overall good satisfaction levels of Korean employees in the subsidiaries were reported.</p></abstract>

Academic research regarding cross-cultural management has gained fundamental importance in today’s globalised business world. Within this field, this paper examines cultural synergy and friction of Austrian and Korean business culture. Austrian companies have a high export orientation and have shown strong interest in doing business with Korea, which has been identified as an exceptionally attractive location for subsidiaries of foreign MNEs. Applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process, Korean employees in Korean subsidiaries of Austrian companies were surveyed regarding their satisfaction levels in different job aspects as well as their preferences regarding alternatives in the criteria leadership style, work teams, and tasks and responsibilities. The study found synergy between the preferences of Korean employees and Austrian management in the importance placed on challenging projects and chances for personal achievements at work, as well as the lack of desire for close personal relations with superiors and colleagues. The latter represents a unique finding, contrary to what had been suggested by the relevant literature. Additionally, the research found areas of cultural friction regarding the importance assigned to consultative decision-making, a relaxed use of time, and freedom when performing work tasks. Overall good satisfaction levels of Korean employees in the subsidiaries were reported.

AHP Analysis of Cross-Cultural Friction and Synergy in Korean Subsidiaries of Austrian Companies

Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Academic research regarding cross-cultural management has gained fundamental importance in today’s globalised business world. Within this field, this paper...

AHP Analysis of Cross-Cultural Friction and Synergy in Korean Subsidiaries of Austrian Companies

Published Online: Dec 05, 2018

Page range: 107 - 136

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vjeas-2018-0005

Keywords
cross-cultural management, employee satisfaction, Korean business culture, Austrian management style, AHP

© 2018 Sabine Schatzer, Jung Ho Kim, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

AHP Analysis of Cross-Cultural Friction and Synergy in Korean Subsidiaries of Austrian Companies

Published Online: Dec 05, 2018

Page range: 107 - 136

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vjeas-2018-0005

Keywordscross-cultural management, employee satisfaction, Korean business culture, Austrian management style, AHP

© 2018 Sabine Schatzer, Jung Ho Kim, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
cross-cultural management, employee satisfaction, Korean business culture, Austrian management style, AHP