What Goes Around Comes Around. Factors Motivating Chinese Employees in Scandinavian Multinational Companies

Abstract: Due to China‟s economic development and potential, the nation is of great significance to Scandinavian countries. With foreign direct investments steadily increasing in China, connections are strengthened and a deeper integration, affecting both societies, is realized. Our thesis strives to explain part of the complexity regarding cross cultural management; how a workforce can be successfully motivated. Our purpose is to investigate what Chinese office workers consider as satisfying and motivating, and if the Scandinavian business culture, characterized as open and non-hierarchical, is appreciated by Chinese employees. The empirical data is collected through qualitative interviews using the research conducted by Frederick Herzberg et al. (1968, 1974, and 1993) and Geert Hofstede (1983, 1991, and 2001) as a base. Our empirical findings amongst employees occupying both managerial and non-managerial positions at two companies within the apparel business describe a more modern Chinese worker, colored by the turbulent history of China, yet increasingly influenced by the West. The outcome suggests that achievement, growth and salary are seen as the most significant factors generating satisfaction among the Chinese workers. It is also indicated that titles, and therefore promotion, are of importance when wanting to create long-term satisfaction at work. The Scandinavian company culture inspires to achievement and personal development, but Chinese and Scandinavian mind-sets are described as diverse, which needs to be taken into consideration when cooperating across borders.