Cultural Perceptions on Multinational; Construction Sites in Sweden

Abstract

The Swedish construction sector increasingly relies on an international workforce, bringing unique challenges to project management. Moving beyond traditional frameworks that view diversity solely through national differences, this study investigates why various project participants interpret identical work situations in fundamentally contrasting ways and how these divergent perceptions shape site reality. Using an interpretivist approach and an exploratory qualitative case study design, this research utilizes twenty-one semi-structured interviews with both native and migrant top management, site supervisors, blue-collar workers and trade union representatives. The data was analysed through a dynamic framework examining the intersection of national, occupational, and organizational cultural layers. The findings indicate that primary challenges stem not from national origins, but from conflicting ways of perceiving everyday professional reality. Project participants attribute vastly different meanings to hierarchy, communication, safety, and individual responsibility. Furthermore, the study uncovers a distinct decoupling between institutionalized procedures and practical site realities driven by productivity pressure. This fragmentation is reinforced by extensive subcontracting chains and job insecurity, which systematically silence vulnerable workers. To address these challenges, this thesis translates these insights into actionable recommendations for managerial actors. It outlines concrete strategies to bridge perceptual gaps – such as implementing verification-based, visual communication, integrating subcontracted foremen into project governance, creating neutral reporting channels, and cultivating a unified project identity through team-building practices. Ultimately, this study emphasizes that managing multicultural teams requires moving past rigid administrative compliance toward developing mutual understanding and operational trust.