Title: How school systems influence leadership styles and behaviour

Authors: Véronique Göhlich; Kerstin Bremser

Addresses: Internatinal Business Department, Faculty of Business and Law, Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, Pforzheim, Germany ' Internatinal Business Department, Faculty of Business and Law, Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, Pforzheim, Germany

Abstract: Schooling has an important impact on cross-cultural competencies because school is where pupils deepen their knowledge of culturally acceptable behaviour. The research focuses on how the German school system influences German managers working in a French environment and vice versa. The exploratory study relies on an in-depth interviewing approach. Five German managers working in French companies and five French managers working in German companies were interviewed. Results indicate that the schooling in Germany did influence the leadership style and management preferences of the German managers, qualifying them for global functions with few adaptations. The French managers were less influenced by the French schooling system, but the values related to the French education system were useful for success in German companies. Literature and empirical findings on the relation between schooling and the ability to acquire culturally effective leadership qualities is scarce. This study intends to close the gap.

Keywords: intercultural competence; Germany; France; school systems; leadership styles; leadership behaviour; values; national culture; management styles; cross cultural competence; schooling.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2016.074975

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.12 No.2/3, pp.175 - 192

Received: 20 Apr 2015
Accepted: 25 Apr 2015
Published online: 28 Feb 2016 *

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