Global teams are today’s reality: how does cultural diversity affect business?

It is estimated that in 2023 there will be more than 200 thousand foreigners living in Lithuania. In addition to raising families and working, they are also developing innovation and contributing to the technological progress in the country. Juozas Vidas Gražulevičius, Professor at Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, who leads a multicultural research group, says that different cultures bring different approaches to work situations, professional skills and ways of solving problems.

“Cultural diversity enhances the ability to deal with complex situations, as a diverse team tends to approach a problem from multiple perspectives. Of course, differences can be challenging, but their advantages, such as a propensity to innovate or better problem solving, outweigh the disadvantages,” he notes.

An international team means more possibilities

At the Chemistry of Materials Research Group of the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology, headed by Prof. J. V. Gražulevičius researchers from Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Sakartvelo, Iran, India, Pakistan and Nigeria are working alongside locals. Every year, the team also accepts Erasmus+ bilateral exchange students from France and Spain.

When starting its operations in Lithuania, Continental initially faced a challenge, as the plant was rapidly becoming operational and needed to ensure smooth production. The company not only had to recruit people but also develop their competencies and prepare them for the fast pace of production.

“We have built a strong team of over 800 people from nearly 30 different countries, who are now in Lithuania manufacturing complex, high-value-added products focused on comfort, safety, and the future of mobility. This blend of expertise and cultural perspectives has contributed immensely to our success,” notes Mr Kolb.

Businesses stress that, whether national or global, cross-cultural cooperation is crucial, as all teams are very diverse, and employees often interact with colleagues from different regions.

“Different people, different characters, different strengths and talents make up cultural diversity. We work in 56 countries and have 516 locations, so cultural diversity is what our corporate culture thrives on,” says Mr Kolb.

Focus on family when integrating international staff

In most cases, the university’s ability to find researchers from other countries is facilitated by the long-standing contacts it has established with researchers abroad. Meanwhile, company business representatives say that attracting talent requires developing strategies, building internal skills and using people with experience from different countries to fill gaps.

“We try to select our candidates carefully, sparing no time for detailed remote interviews. In the selection process, we involve trusted researchers from abroad, which helps attract excellent staff a great deal. Informal communication and joint trips to scientific conferences facilitate integration,” says Prof. J.V. Gražulevičius.

When attracting professionals from abroad to Lithuania, employers first identify the main countries where these professionals are prevalent and then adapt their recruitment strategies accordingly. Mr Kolb, representing the company, which is a main partner of KTU WANTed Career Days 2024, says that Continental has developed a relocation package that includes moving expenses, migration support and language courses.

“We are also working with various public institutions to promote Lithuania and Kaunas as living destinations, addressing support needed about education, health services, settlement, and the most relevant questions. These questions become particularly important if the arriving employees have children, so we try to ensure comfortable conditions for the whole family,” says Mr Kolb.