| 1. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Constructing organizational culture in an international subsidiary: Elekta healthcare services in Greece
- 2024
-
In: International Business Review. - : Elsevier. - 0969-5931 .- 1873-6149.
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: This study analyzes the development of organizational culture in an international subsidiary in healthcare through the interaction of the parent company and local culture. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a single case study on Elekta Greece, a subsidiary of the multinational company Elekta based in Sweden via interviews. Findings: The company creates a unique organizational culture, called the Philotask culture, that takes into consideration the cultural contexts of Sweden and Greece, the value of philotimo, situation in the market, and the type of company and services. Research implications/limitations: The model consists of a context-grounded framework focusing on healthcare. Research in other countries and industries can help to generalize this model. Practical implications: The findings indicate that to develop organizational culture, managers need to consider the local cultural context. Originality/value: This research contributes to organizational culture theory, reporting on the Philotask model that emerged.
|
|
| 2. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-
(author)
-
Current Challenges and Responses of European Cooperatives to a Globalizing World
- 2006
-
In: ISA 2006 XVI World Congress of Sociology, The Quality of Social Existence in a Globalising World, Workshop participation, RC 10: Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006..
-
Conference paper (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- Despite the importance of cooperative business in local and world markets, empirical research addressing cross-border cooperative enterprises remains low. As cooperatives to be successful should contribute to local development and member democracy have cross-border cooperatives seen as a difficult process.This study concerns the Statute for a European Co-operative Society. The aim is to create an understanding of the problems and possibilities relating to the development of cross-border co-operatives in the European Union. A survey is made and an account of the explanations given by actors on the importanse of a Statute on EU-level. Interviews have been conducted to identify opinions on issues concerning the establishment.The following research questions are adressed:*How does a cooperative statute on EU-level affect the development and the conditions within the cooperatives?*What consequences does the statute have on the management, member democracy and the financing of the cooperative business?The results indicate the Statute is influenced by the praxis within the cooperatives and makes possible for the enterprises to adapt to local and national conditions. It is argued, the EU, should create homogenous criteria about the co-operative character and define cooperative identity to facilitate the development of cross-border cooperatives.
|
|
| 3. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-
(author)
-
Do we need balance the power between women and men in co-operatives?
- 2005. - 1
-
In: The Future of Co-operatives in a Growing Europe. - Universitat D Valéncia : CIRIEC-ESPANA. ; , s. 789-
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper concerns women’s representation in co-operatives, identifies if women’s representation influences and contributes to co-operatives´ development and is based on secondary data and on interviews conducted with four women managers. The study carries forward the exploration of a link between representation of women and the character and structure of co-operatives. Relations between the members of co-operatives are meant to anchor cooperatives economic and social values in the political process. Legitimised actors interact in order to secure their view of reality. Women are considered to take into account social issues and want to get power without wishing to control others but influence a sustainable development. They are considered to have a holistic view and try to understand the consequences their decisions have on other people and the development. In order to increase the representation of women in cooperatives, the following arguments are given: the issue of democracy, the issue of resource use, and the issue of interest. The results illustrate that women’s representation is a matter of increasing democracy and widening the basis for decision-making possibilities. It is a means to raise new questions, like social, cultural and environmental issues, and new dimensions of thinking and to consider everyone’s interest economic and social. My observations on the issue indicate that women as en interest group manifest different value dimensions. It is argued, it is particularly important to consider women’s interests and representation in co-operatives and thus create conditions allowing women influence cooperatives successful development and bring cooperative issues into the public eye.
|
|
| 4. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Does national culture influence organizational culture across contexts? : Elekta in Greece
- 2018
-
In: IMP ASIA - The eight meeting of the IMP Group in Asia. - : Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This research deals with the influence of National Culture on Organizational Culture in Healthcare Services. We analyse how the national culture of a firm´s home and host country and the cultural context affect the organizational culture in international marketing of healthcare services. We conducted a case study on Elekta a Swedish invention for radio surgery with a subsidiary, Elekta-Greece EPE, in its real life context. We collected qualitative data in form of semi-structured interviews by interviewing fourteen people during the years 2015-2016 in the host country of the subsidiary. We also used direct observation of the working environment and company documents as data sources. The study shows that the organisational culture of the Business Unit in Greece is flat and managers apply open doors culture trusting employees. Inequality between employees does not exist and the managers empower employees by involving them in the decision making process. Employees work as a team and share responsibilities and experience helping each other. They feel happy to work and perceive the challenges the company meets as their own challenges identifying themselves with the company. The study indicates that the context of the collectivistic and uncertainty avoiding culture of Greece influences managers to empower and motivate employees to work as a team developing good personal relationships in the company trusting each other. The results suggest that a balanced combination of national cultures makes the structure of the organisation flat, employees work as a team applying the Greek Philotimo helping and supporting each other to avoid ambiguity, reduce stress and unite in uncertain situations. We argue that a combination of the small power distance and femininity of the Swedish national culture combined with the cultural context of collectivism and strong uncertainty avoidance in Greece influence the organisational culture of the Business Unit. The local dynamic cultural context and the behaviour of the market, the customers, patients, service providers and the employees transform the organisational culture of Elekta-EPE Greece to a mixture of Swedish culture and Greek culture applying new organisational practices and models adapting to the values of the local context. The research contributes to the International services marketing literature developing a model of internationalization of healthcare services based on national cultural dimensions, organizational culture and contextualization. Managers who aim to establish businesses across borders need to balance the national culture of the head quarter and the one applied in units abroad with the unique context environment they operate to develop new organizational culture and be effective. A further study can include more companies and sectors to focus on the effect of national cultural context on organizational culture across countries.
|
|
| 5. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Emerging Corporate Social Responsibility : Regional Cooperatives in Sweden
- 2010
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study analyses how Cooperative Enterprises approach Corporate Social Responsibility to meet demands from members and other stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews with four managing directors were used to collect qualitative data for a case study of four regional consumer cooperative enterprises in Sweden. The findings show Cooperative Enterprises need a dynamic use of Corporate Social Responsibility approaches in fulfilling social obligations to meet contextual requirements. To legitimate their business cooperative enterprises respond to member demands, proactively invest in collaborations with local and global stakeholders, and transfer responsibilities by putting pressure on others. The research contributes to the literature by showing that the complexity of Corporate Social Responsibility as practised, requires the emergence of collaborative responsibilities. We suggest that in the changing global world collaborations can be an effective instrument for managers to make Cooperative Enterprises visible and transparent, and contribute to sustainable development.
|
|
| 6. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Emerging Corporate Social Responsibility : Consumer Cooperatives in Sweden
- 2009
-
In: Globalization, CSR and business legitimacy in local relationships. - Uppsala : SLU Service/Repro. - 9789186195700 ; , s. IV: 1-IV: 30
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study analyses how Corporate Enterprises (CEs) approach corporate social responsibility (CSR) to meet demands frpm CE members, stakeholders and society. To address this issue, unstructured interviews were used to collect qualitative data in order to conduct case studies in four regional consumer CEs in Sweden. The study shows that CEs adopt collaborative solutions in response to members' demands, collaborate proactively in local and global partnerships to facilitate new undertakings, and put pressure on key stakeholders to take corporate responsibility for social issues. The research contributes to the CSR literature by offering an understanding of how CEs respond to new challenges using different CSR approaches and contribute to emerging CSR that promotes sustainable development for both local and global society.
|
|
| 7. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-
(author)
-
¿Es necesario equilibrar el poder en las cooperativas entre mujeres y hombres?
- 2004
-
In: CIRIEC - España. - Valencia (España) : CIRIEC España. - 0213-8093 .- 1989-6816. ; 50, s. 151-163
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Esta ponencia trata de la representación de la mujer en las cooperativas de Suecia, identifica si la representación de la mujer influye y contribuye al desarrollo de las cooperativas y se basa en datos secundarios y en entrevistas realizadas a cuatro mujeres con puestos directivos. El estudio lleva a cabo el análisis del vínculo entre la representación de la mujer y el carácter y estructura de las cooperativas. Consideramos que las relaciones entre los miembros de las cooperativas fomentan los valores económicos y sociales cooperativos en el proceso político. Los actores legítimos interactúan para asegurar su visión de la realidad. Se considera que las mujeres dan una mayor prioridad a las cuestiones sociales y desean conseguir el poder sin intención de controlar a los demás, sino influyendo en un desarrollo sostenido. Así mismo, es sabido que poseen una visión holística e intentan entender las consecuencias que puedan tener sus decisiones en otras personas y en el desarrollo. Con el fin de incrementar la representación de las mujeres en las cooperativas, a continuación se presentan los siguientes argumentos: la cuestión de la democracia, la cuestión del uso de los recursos y la cuestión de los intereses. Los resultados demuestran que la representación de la mujer es una cuestión de mayor democracia, ampliando la base para la toma de decisiones posibles. Se trata de un medio para plantear nuevas cuestiones (sociales, culturales y medioambientales etc.) así como nuevas dimensiones de pensamiento al considerar el interés económico y social de cada uno. Mis observaciones sobre este asunto indican que las mujeres como grupo de interés manifiestan unas escalas de valoresdiferentes . Sostengo que es especialmente importante considerar los intereses de las mujeres y su representación en las cooperativas, y así crear condiciones que le permitan a influir en el desarrollo cooperativo con éxito, además de facilitar el mayor conocimiento por parte de la sociedad de las cuestiones cooperativas.
|
|
| 8. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Etablering av regional yrkeshögskoleutbildning i Hofors och Sandviken
- 2008
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Denna utvärdering behandlar projektet Etablering av två yrkeshögskoleutbildningar i Hofors och Sandviken. Syftet med utvärderingen är att studera projektmedlemmarnas inställning till etablering av programmen. Utvärderingen bygger på intervjuer och fokusgruppdiskussioner med intressenter inom projektet såväl som inlämnat självutvärderingar och annat material. År 2003 påbörjades ett projekt på Högskolan i Gävle (HiG) för att omvandla två Kvalificerade Yrkesutbildningar (KY) till YrkesHögskoleutbildningar (YH). Information om hur YH-utbildningar bör etableras, planering, resurssökning för projektet och marknadsföring av programmen uträttades därför med stor hast, för att utbildningarna skulle kunna fortgå och ej behöva ligga nere under omformningstiden. Resultatet visar att Serie- och Bildprogrammet är väl etablerat, och trots den snabba starten ej hade några allvarliga problem med studentrekrytering. Avståndet till HiG och en diffus ansvarsbild, samt lärarlagsförändringar har dock skapat arbetsbörda och problem i utbildning och supportverksamhet. När det gäller Internetteknologiprogrammet verkar detta fungerat väl, även om den snabba omvandlingen ledde till en låg rekryteringsnivå under första verksamhetsåret. Det har varit problem med lärarlagets uppbyggnad och stabilitet, vilket tillsammans med kulturskillnader mellan programmets och HiGs lärare har gjort att målsättningen att implementera problembaserat lärande ej uppnåtts i önskad grad. Då vissa kostnader redovisades sent och var högre än förväntat gick denna del av projektet över budget. Vår studie visar att även om vissa problem uppstått på vägen är projektet väl genomfört, utvärderat enligt målen att YH-utbildningarna skulle vara väl etablerade; förbereda för uppdragsutbildningsverksamhet; samt att utveckla ett kontaktnät med näringslivet för de båda programmen. Dock har ingen uppdragsutbildningsverksamhet kunnat genomföras men detta har bedömts ej vara en lämplig målsättning i detta tidiga skede. För IT-teknologiprogrammet finns möjligheter att utveckla sådan verksamhet som ett framtida projekt, men den regionala marknaden för Serie & Bildprogrammet anses vara mindre lämplig för uppdragsutbildning. De uppkomna positiva bieffekterna av projektets genomförande är att KY-utbildningarnas resurser har omhändertagits, lärdomar till framtida YH-projekt har erhållits, HiG har spridit akademisk kultur ut på landsbygden och själv berikats av den akademiska kulturen från Sandbacka Park, samt att studenterna i Hofors har fått hyressubventioner i en lugn studiemiljö och Hofors kommun fått sina lägenheter uthyrda. De negativa bieffekterna inkluderar att oklar ansvars- och resursfördelning skapat stress och extraarbete för lärare och studenter, samt att projektet har gått över budget vilket belastat andra verksamheter. Även om programmen nu är etablerade kvarstår problem vilka i framtiden behöver tas hand om. Denna utvärdering har därför utmynnat i rekommendationer om både framtida drift av programmen såväl som för framtida YH-projekt, vilka kan summeras som att: delprojekt i framtiden ges eget budgetansvar och tydliga ansvarsområden; autonomi ges till YH-programmen för både lärarlagsansvar och resurshantering; den akademiska miljöns etablering och utveckling prioriteras och kommunikationer förbättras; kommunkontakter organiseras; samt uppkomna erfarenheter och kompetenser tillvaratas.
|
|
| 9. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Health care services marketing in a cross-cultural context : Elekta in Brazil
- 2011
-
In: The Impact of Globalization on Networks and Relationship dynamics.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABSTRACTPurpose of the paperThis research deals with the Internationalization of health services focusing on two services characteristics intangibility and heterogeneity. The study analyzes how adaptation/standardization, trust and network development are achieved when marketing a Swedish health care service in Brazil, a culturally distant country to Sweden.Literature addressedThe theoretical framework of the study is based on theories on International Marketing Services, trust, networks and cultural differences. Adaptation/standardization is important when operating in a foreign market for acceptance of services, creating confidence in the foreign market and establishing contacts with the local environment. Networks are needed to get information and gain access to resources the firms need to run their activities. By creating trust long term business relationships can be developed. Using trust and networks can service providers communicate with customers and understand and satisfy their needs.Research MethodWe apply a case study for data collection. A case on a Swedish invention for radio surgery, Gamma Knife in Brazil has been conducted in its real life context. Qualitative data have been collected in form of semi-structured interviews. Direct observation of the working environment and activities in Sweden has also been used as data source. We concentrate on the process of the marketing of the service.Research FindingsThe study shows that cultural adaptation makes service characteristics tangible by increasing the understanding between service providers and local customers. It suggests that foreign company’s service offerings, values and beliefs connected to the quality of the service are to be standardised. This standardisation communicates the offering both of a treatment and also of a learning process and helps the service to be visible and tangible. It further demonstrates that relationships related to the local market are to be adapted to customers´ tastes, habits and preferences to develop trust and networks. The study suggest that a balanced combination of adaptation and standardisation makes services homogenous and tangible increasing the possibility of success for service providers and the acceptance of services by the local customers.Main contributionThe research contributes to the International services marketing literature developing a model of internationalization of health services marketing based on adaptation/standardization, trust and network, to overcome issues of intangibility and heterogeneity of services. Managers should recognize that marketing people-processing services requires development of local networks to gain trust, and legitimacy in the local market. Keywords: Cultural Adaptation, Network, Intangibility, Heterogeneity, Trust, Gamma Knife, Health Service, Brazil.
|
|
| 10. |
- Fregidou-Malama, Maria, 1944-, et al.
(author)
-
Health Services Marketing in a Cross-Cultural Context : Elekta in India
- 2015
-
In: Proceedings of International Conference on Social Media, SEO & Marketing Strategies. ; , s. 29-
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this research is to investigate how culture impacts on international marketing strategy of a Swedish health service in India, a culturally distant country to Sweden. It is examined how confidence in the market is achieved to establish and maintain trust and relationships, and the level of standardization and adaptation for the acceptance of the service in the foreign market is suggested. A case study was conducted in its real life context. An inductive qualitative research method has been applied and data has been collected in the form of semi-structured interviews, direct observation and company documents. We found that the cultural dimensions of power distance and individualism/collectivism have an impact on trust development, relationships and standardization and adaptation. The study shows that innovative image of the service offering and after service maintenance act as means for competition on the private and public market. Standardization of prices and service processes comprising maintenance of service quality, support contracts and service contracts develop commitment and trust. Personal relationships with the government, doctors and involvement with customers are regarded important and should be adapted to and follow local traditions. It is further demonstrated that moral and emotional issues, respect to the human face, hierarchy and social responsibility for regional development are required to develop relationships, trust and networks. It is argued that word of mouth, tactics and diplomacy sustain the possibility of success for service providers and the acceptance of the health service by local customers. The research contributes to the International services marketing literature by developing a model and extending understanding of internationalization of health services marketing from a culture context. For future studies, it suggests a comparison between more culturally distant countries to observe how culture influences development of marketing strategy in international business. The research shows how managers can establish relationships and networks to gain trust and legitimacy in the local market.
|
|
