1 A Cross-Cultural Study of Leadership Attitudes in Three Baltic Sea Region Countries Dr.Audra I.Mockaitis Vilnius University Department of Marketing Laura Šalčiuvienė Kaunas University of Technology Department of Marketing

2 Aims of the Study Comparison of leadership attitudes in Lithuania, Estonia and Poland –Aspects: Supervision and Control, View toward Authority, Commitment, Conflict Avoidance, Decision Making, Leadership Styles and Initiative –Question: Are there differences in attitudes among respondents in three seemingly ‘close’ countries? The relationship between national cultural values and leadership dimensions –Question: Do cultural values influence attitudes toward leadership in these countries? If yes, to what extent?

3 Methodology Cross-cultural methodology ‘rules’: –Sampling strategy –Etic dimensions –Reliability analysis –Isolation of variables Variables –Independent: Hofstede’s cultural dimensions –Dependent: Leadership dimensions (22 items on 10 dimensions)

4 Results LithuaniaEstoniaPoland Control Supervision View toward Authority Commitment Conflict Avoidance Decision Type Participation in Decisions Initiative Task vs.Relations Orientation Leadership Style

5 Results F1F1 F2F2 Control *** *** Supervision * View toward Authority *** *** Commitment5.020 * * Conflict Avoidance *** *** Decision Type *** ** Participation in Decisions Initiative *** *** Task vs.Relations Orientation *** *** Leadership Style *** *** ***, p<.001 **, p=.001 *, p<.01

6 Conclusions Culture matters even in apparently ‘similar’ countries Culture is the main explanatory factor for attitudes Hofstede’s dimensions are useful for predicting attitudinal differences and similarities

7 Indices on Hofstede’s dimensions IDVPDIUAIMAS Lithuania Estonia Poland Highest index score in Hofstede’s database Lowest index score in Hofstede’s database 61185

8 Factor Solution of Leadership Aspects Factor and Items Loadings Factor and Items Loadings Control (  = 0.86) Clear Job Leader Clarifies Leader Instructs Commitment (  = 0.62) Accept Group Decision Group Incentives Orgztnl Commitment Participation in Decisions (  = 0.43) More participation Participative Decisions Better Initiative (  = 0.73) Personal Success Organizational Success View twd Authority (  = 0.67) Top Mgmt Control Privileges Acceptable Manager is Expert Superior Knowledge Supervision (  = 0.63) Supervision Necessary Need for Instructions Supervision Favorable Decision Type (  = 0.76) Intuitive Decision Maker Intuitive Decisions