THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
Welcome
Dear Executive, The Panthéon-­Assas University (France) and Princeton University (USA) are inviting you to participate in an international research project on how non-­French executives experience French management. More than 20 French multinationals are involved. Please carefully read the following text before continuing. Goal of the study We are very interested in learning about your experiences and your perceptions as a foreigner working in a French company. For this purpose, we ask you to fill out this questionnaire of 40 questions. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers, we are merely interested in your opinion. Confidentiality Your answers will be analyzed statistically and anonymously. No individual respondent will be identified in any way and responses will not be shared with any third party. Conforming to privacy laws, you can access your data at any moment by sending an email to yasmina.jaidi@u-­
paris2.fr. By clicking on the 'next' button below you agree to have read and understood these terms. We greatly appreciate your cooperation. Best regards, Prof. Frank BOURNOIS Dr. Yasmina JAIDI Panthéon-­Assas University (France) Prof. Ezra SULEIMAN Princeton University (USA) THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 1. My experience of french management practices and values
In this first part, we would like to ask you some questions about your experience with French management practices and values. 1. What was your main reason for joining a French multinational corporation?
It was the job that interested me
I wanted to work in a French context
Other. Please explain.
2. From your experience, which country is closest to France in terms of management
style? Choose only one answer.
China
Japan
The Netherlands
Germany
Spain
Sweden
UK
Italy
France is unique
USA
Other (please specify)
3. What do you see that this country and France have in common in terms of
management style?
4. Choose a maximum of 4 words that best describe your experience with French
management style.
Innovation
Risk-­taking
Hierarchy
Prudence
Centralization
Team-­player
Merit
Informality
Empowerment
Individualistic
Status-­Quo
Networks
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
5. Could you tell us an anecdote/story that you experienced that in your view typifies
the French management style?
6. If you had to advise a friend considering a position in a French multinational, what
would be your recommendations in terms of do's and don'ts...
Do's
Don'ts
7. What is it that you LIKE about working in a French work environment?
8. What is it that you DISLIKE about working in a French work environment?
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 1. My experience of french management practices and values
Now follow some more questions about your experiences in a French multinational. 9. In which situation do you think that French management culture leads to high
performance?
10. In which situation do you think that French management culture leads to poor
performance?
11. If you were to leave your present position for another company
It would definitely not be a French company
It would be either for a French or a non French company
It would be for another French company
It would be for the same company
12. How much time did it take you to adjust to French management practices (in
months)?
Number of months
13. Considering your adjustment to this company, would you say it was :
Very easy
Quite easy
Quite difficult
Very difficult
Please explain. 14. If you were asked to make up to 3 recommendations to improve management in
your company, what would these be?
Recommendation #1
Recommendation #2
Recommendation #3
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 2. How French executives behave in my company
This part contains questions on how the French executives in your company behave. 15. What percentage of the top 100 positions in your company are filled by French
nationals?
Over 90% French
Over 75% French
Around 50% French
Under 25% French
Under 10% French
Do not know
16. French senior executives in my organization are...
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree, nor disagree
Implicit
Explicit
Emotional
Humane
Autocratic
Encouraging participation
Conceptual
Team-­Integrator
Decisive
Diplomatic
Concerned by the team
Concerned by their image
Ethical
Creative
Inspirational
Arrogant
Collaborative
Individualistic
Modest
Performance-­Oriented
Concerned by their career
Visionary
Agree
Agree strongly
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 3. Action: How things get done in my company
The following questions are about the way that things get done in your company. 17. In my company...
Strongly disagree
Neither Disagree agree, nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
People in position of power socialize easily with others
A good command of French is required to be promoted to top management
The way to be successful is to plan ahead
People are generally assertive
Individualism is more valued than teamwork
A person’s influence is based primarily on his/ her contribution to the company
Employees are rewarded based on factors other than performance effectiveness
People are proud of working here
People are generally tough
Employees are loyal to the company
Employees are rewarded based on performance effectiveness
Meetings are planned well in advance (2 or more weeks in advance)
Employees are encouraged to improve performance
Being innovative is substantially rewarded
Subordinates are expected to obey their boss without question
People are generally very concerned about others
A person’s influence is based primarily on the authority of his/ her position or title
Most work is highly formalized and structured
You can speak your mind to your hierarchical superiors
A good command of English is required to be promoted to top management
18. In your opinion, what should be your company top 2 priorities in terms of increasing
diversity?
Priority #1
Priority #2
19. In your company would you say that being non-­French is:
A disadvantage
Neither an advantage nor a disadvantage
An advantage
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 4. Individual details
Thank you for your answers so far. Now follow some questions about your personal and professional background. 20. What is your gender
Male
Female
21. What is your age
22. In which country were you born?
23. What is/are your nationality/nationalities?
Nationality 1
Nationality 2
24. Can you provide some more information about your company and your position
What is the name of the company you work for
How long have you been with this company (in years)
In which country do you currently work
25. Your main business function
Choose your business function from the list
26. The direct work environment you work in is made up of…
Over 90% French
Over 75% French
Around 50% French
Under 25% French
Under 10% French
27. What is your position level relating to the Group Executive Committee members (N)
N
N-­1
N-­2
N-­3
N-­4
N-­5
Other
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28. Number of years (adding up all periods) spent...
... living in France
... working in a French company
29. How well do you speak the following languages?
French
English
Languages
30. Outside work:
I spend time mostly with French people
I spend time with French and with non-­French people, equally
I spend time mostly with non-­French people
31. What is the nationality of your direct boss?
32. The number of your direct subordinates
Total number
33. Proportion of non-­French subordinates in your team
Over 90% non-­French
Over 75% non-­French
Around 50% non-­French
Under 25% non-­French
Under 10% non-­French
34. What is your partners nationality (if any)?
35. At what age did you stop full-­time education?
36. In what countries did you study?
Country 1
Country 2
37. What was your main area of study?
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
38. On a scale from 1 to 5 would you say that ...
1: not typically very 5: typically 2
3
4
very French
French
... in 2000 management in your company was...
... today management your company is...
... by 2020 management in your company will certainly be...
39. On a scale from 1 to 5 would you say that France of 2013...
1: is not 5: is adapting adapting to the globalized world
is a country that...
2
3
4
well to a globalzed world
THE FRENCH MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE - PRINT
PART 5. Survey end.
Thank you very much for your participation. The first results of the project are expected in June 2014. 40. If you feel that the results of this survey may prove useful to other foreigners
working in French companies, please provide their first name, LAST NAME, and e-­mail
address. They will receive an invite to participate in the survey in the upcoming months.
1
2
3
41. If you wish to receive a short summary of the results, please leave your e-­mail
address below.