Importance and significance of team-work in Finland
The importance and significance of team-work in Finland are at the highest level. Great attention is paid to cooperation and social skills in working life and education.
How does this manifest itself and what is it connected with? There are several reasons for this.
Culture values
Finland has a strong tradition of social responsibility and solidarity. Finnish people tend to value the common interests and well-being of the community above their own individual achievements. You can see this in schools, universities and workplaces, where the emphasis is placed on collaboration, cooperation, mutual assistance and a preference for working together in teams. In a team, everyone contributes to achieving a common goal. Finnish people value collectivism and consider the ability to work in a team an important skill.
Education and scientific research
The Finnish education system actively uses group-work. Students are given tasks that require collaborative problem solving and sharing ideas with other students. This teaches children and young people to work as a team from an early age. With this approach, the learning process is stimulated and cooperation skills between students are developed. Everyone in the team is equal and unique, each member of the group has their own role, each makes an appropriate contribution to the work process. This ensures the most effective result. In scientific research, teamwork is also considered a key factor in successful projects.
Innovation and technology
Finland is the birthplace of many leading technology companies, such as Nokia and Rovio (creators of Angry Birds). Successful innovation is the result from the collaborative work of various specialists, including engineers, designers, programmers, and marketers. If we are talking about the work environment, Finnish organizations often have flat and open management structures in which employees actively interact not only with each other, but also with company management. This promotes fruitful collaboration and the creation of a team culture where sharing knowledge and experience is valued.
Working in international teams
Finland is a country with an open economy, and many companies collaborate with partners and clients from different countries. Working in international teams requires good communication skills, respect for cultural and racial differences, and the ability to work effectively in a group setting.
In Staffgate, there are many foreign workers, most of whom do not speak Finnish. Understanding English at a basic and intermediate level is usually sufficient to understand work tasks and instructions. But sometimes misunderstandings may arise, and colleagues who can explain the tasks come to the rescue and show clearly what needs to be done and how. Whenever possible, we organize workgroups so that worker is never alone at the workplace, ensuring that a colleague who speaks the same language, is always nearly, ready to help and support.
Working with colleagues from different countries allows you to develop respect for differences in cultures, customs and languages, promotes the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices, teaches new approaches to solving problems in a variety of situations, and leads to professional growth. A person becomes more adaptive, tolerant of differences in a multicultural environment, and grows professionally and as a person.
To summarize, the importance of team-work in Finland stems from cultural values as well as practical needs. Group work provides an opportunity to learn the different perspectives and skills of others. It promotes personal development and prepares individuals for success in a variety of work environments. It is a central part of education and working life, helping to achieve common goals effectively and innovatively.