Cross-cultural Aspects of Decision Making Process in International Companies

The thesis is aimed at examining the influence of cross-cultural differences on the decision-making process in multinational corporations (MNCs). On the basis of the existing theoretical models of national culture and frameworks of the organizational decision-making process the research design is developed which includes the analysis of the relationship between cultural dimensions and the characteristics of the decision-making process in companies as well as the study of the experience of MNCs in managing cross-cultural issues of the decision-making process within a company. The research method combines quantitative (a survey conducted in two countries – Russia and Belgium) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews with top-managers and middle-level managers working in Russian offices of the well-known MNCs) methods. The results of the research allow to provide practical recommendations on managing cross-cultural issues of the decision-making process both on the part of the corporation at the global level and at the level of individual managers.