The Effect of Sweden’s Growing Cultural Diversity in Universities on Team Performance

Abstract

Abstract: The effect of cultural homogeneity/heterogeneity on team performance has been known and recognized for some time, though research conducted in Swedish academia has been lagging behind. This thesis strives to further complement the research field of culturally homogenous/heterogenic teams on team performance by conducting a study in Handelshögskolan, the faculty of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg. This research will apply theory from previous cultural team performance studies, which have for the most part been undertaken in the US and other countries, and apply it to Swedish universities. Findings show that culturally homogenous/heterogenic teams do have an effect on the level of team performance and that cultural mindset does moderate this effect. Culturally homogenous teams affect the level of performance differently than culturally heterogenic teams as well as the different cultural mindsets (individualism/collectivism) also plays a role in the level of team performance. Additionally, findings confirm the prediction that Tenure will have a statistically significant effect on the variables as it was used as a control variable whereas Gender did not have any statistically significant effect. In conclusion, this research shows that as Sweden’s universities are becoming more heterogenic, this type of study will be of importance to understand and develop guidelines on how to deal with this phenomena as this has not been thoroughly researched in Swedish academia.