Abstract

Electronic-communication is a necessary pre-requisite for employees of the 21st century. Barely can a company in any country exist without making use of e-mail and, in the case of larger companies, the internet and intranet. In this study, a questionnaire methodology was employed to investigate the similarities and differences in attitudes towards communication-technology (CT) between two European countries. The sample consisted of two similar companies, one from the United Kingdom (UK) and the other from Norway. Results indicated that significant differences in attitude towards CT exist between the two cultures. In relation to Hofstede’s cultural framework, CT was found to encourage higher levels of individualism within the Norwegian company, and femininity within the UK one. While CT’s influence within the workplace was found to be beneficial in both companies, employees in the UK company exhibited a more positive overall attitude towards the use of CT.