Import/ Export: Sweden: Geert Hofstede

Power distance

Sweden scores low on this dimension (score of 31) which means that the following characterises the Swedish style: Being independent, hierarchy for convenience only, equal rights, superiors accessible, coaching leader, management facilitates and empowers.
Power is decentralized and managers count on the experience of their team members.
Employees expect to be consulted.
Control is disliked and attitude towards managers are informal and on first name basis.
Communication is direct and participative.

Sweden, with a score of 71 is an Individualistic society.
There is a high preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals are expected to take care of themselves and their immediate families only.
In individualistic societies offence causes guilt and a loss of self-esteem, the employer/employee relationship is a contract based on mutual advantage.
Hiring and promotion decisions are supposed to be based on merit only, management is the management of individuals.

Sweden scores 5 on this dimension and is therefore a feminine society.
In feminine countries it is important to keep the life/work balance and you make sure that all are included.
An effective manager is supportive to his/her people, and decision making is achieved through involvement.
Managers strive for consensus and people value equality, solidarity and quality in their working lives.
Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation and Swedes are known for their long discussions until consensus has been reached.
Incentives such as free time and flexible work hours and place are favoured.
The whole culture is based around 'lagom', which means something like not too much, not too little, not too noticeable, everything in moderation. Lagom ensures that everybody has enough and nobody goes without. Lagom is enforced in society by “Jante Law” which should keep people “in place” at all times. It is a fictional law and a Scandinavian concept which counsels people not to boast or try to lift themselves above others.

Sweden scores 29 on this dimension and thus has a low preference for avoiding uncertainty.
Low UAI societies maintain a more relaxed attitude in which practice counts more than principles and deviance from the norm is more easily tolerated.
In societies exhibiting low UAI, people believe there should be no more rules than are necessary and if they are ambiguous or do not work they should be abandoned or changed.
Schedules are flexible, hard work is undertaken when necessary but not for its own sake, precision and punctuality do not come naturally, innovation is not seen as threatening.

The Swedes score 20, making it a short term orientation culture.
Societies with a short-term orientation generally exhibit great respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save, strong social pressure to “keep up with the Joneses”, impatience for achieving quick results, and a strong concern with establishing the Truth i.e. normative.
Western societies are typically found at the short-term end of this dimension, as are the countries of the Middle East.