Title: The influence of cultural differences upon cooperation in a European Banking group: results from a study on mutual perception of bank employees across seven countries

Authors: Jan M. Ulijn, Beatrice I.J.M. Van der Heijden, Raymond T. Festen

Addresses: Eindhoven and Delft Universities of Technology (NL), Open University of the Netherlands, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, France; Faculty of Technology Management, Department of Organisation Science and Marketing, Eindhoven University of Technology, PAV. Q 0.25, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. ' Maastricht School of Management (NL), Open University of the Netherlands, University of Twente, The Netherlands; Maastricht School of Management, Endepolsdomein 150, 6229 EP, Maastricht, The Netherlands. ' Deputy IT, Inc., De Bombraak 30, 1035 JK Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: This contribution is aimed to understand how knowledge of cultural differences might be used to enhance cooperation on implementation of ICT in the banking industry. A survey (N = 200 employees) was used to test whether Assertiveness, Responsiveness, Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance are valid dimensions to measure differences between the cultures of Euroba|s member banks. Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance were not validated in the results. Assertiveness and Responsiveness were validated, producing measurements for seven member banks, which were only partly in line with the expectations according to the literature.

Keywords: cultural differences; cooperation; European banking; employee perceptions; bank employees; ICT implementation; information technology; assertiveness; responsiveness; uncertainty avoidance; power distance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2009.022608

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.188 - 206

Published online: 18 Jan 2009 *

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