Coor Oy is a Nordic facility management company operating across multiple regions. Since Coor lacks certain expertise and resources, they rely on suppliers and subcontractors to carry out the work. In this project, our goal was to develop a suppliers’ onboarding concept to ensure every employee is properly onboarded and the onboarding is properly documented. We conducted stakeholder interviews to map the current onboarding process and identify gaps and inconsistencies and designed a new onboarding concept based on information we gathered.
Turning Differences into Strengths
One of the greatest benefits of our team was its diversity. We had students from Finland, Taiwan, Ukraine, Mexico, and the Netherlands, each bringing unique strengths, backgrounds, and perspectives. This variety enhanced our creativity, made our problem-solving richer and led to more innovative solutions. Some team members excelled in technical tasks, while others shined in organizing, leading discussions, or visualizing ideas. By combining multiple ways of thinking instead of everyone approaching the challenge in the same way, we increased both the innovation and efficiency of our work, which helped us design a user-friendly onboarding concept.
Navigating Challenges in Multinational Teamwork
Obviously, diversity also brought challenges. The biggest ones were language and communication barriers. Since none of us were native English speakers and our English skills varied, misunderstandings occasionally occurred.
The differences between high-context and low-context cultures explained the challenges we faced. Our team included students from high-context cultures (from Taiwan and Mexico), where communication tends to be indirect, heavily relies on non-verbal cues, and emphasizes relationships and context. In contrast, students from low-context cultures (from Finland, the Netherlands and Ukraine) usually communicate more directly; what is said is generally what is meant, with fewer assumptions about context. At first, the direct communication style of low context students could seem harsh to those from high-context cultures.
We also noticed differences in work habits and approaches to responsibility. Low-context students often take visible responsibility and show initiative independently. High-context students, however, emphasize group harmony and alignment; their initiative usually develops once trust is established and roles are clearly defined.
However, instead of becoming obstacles, these challenges taught us valuable lessons about multicultural collaboration and how to build a functioning team from a group of strangers.
Keys to Thriving in a Multinational Team
Our experience showed that a few key practices make a big difference in successful multinational teamwork. These small but meaningful practices make multinational teamwork smoother, more productive, and significantly more enjoyable.
1. Invest in team building
Working together becomes easier when you take the time to get to know one another. Good team spirit and cohesion create a safe, open atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves, even when language skills are not perfect. Trust builds confidence and encourages participation. Team building isn’t a one-time activity; it requires regular effort and participation from all team members, but also patience, empathy and flexibility.
2. Communicate clearly and simply
Using simple language, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and summarizing important points help reduce language barriers. Written summaries, shared documents, and visual aids are extremely helpful when spoken language is challenging. Written materials give non-native speakers more time to process information and respond. Also, encouragement plays a huge role. Creating an
environment where mistakes are accepted and clarifying questions are welcomed helps everyone participate fully regardless of their language level.
3. Respect different work styles
Being aware that cultures differ in how they handle time, responsibility, and communication helps avoid misunderstandings and supports better teamwork. Remember, there isn’t just one right way to do things. Clear roles, responsibilities, and instructions are essential to ensure everyone knows what is expected and can contribute effectively. Make sure to involve and support all team members and provide guidance when needed so that the team can work smoothly together.
Skills and Insights Gained from This Project
This project offered me far more than just academic experience; it provided personal growth that I could not have gained in a more homogenous team.
Firstly, I improved my language skills, particularly in professional English. At the same time, I developed a deeper understanding of different cultures, communication styles, and ways of thinking. Engaging with multiple perspectives broadened my own viewpoint and allowed me to see challenges from angles I would not have considered on my own.
Collaborating in the team also strengthened my teamwork skills, including active listening, asking clarifying questions, adapting to different communication styles, and balancing independent work with coordination within the group. Additionally, I learned to value patience, empathy, and flexibility as essential components of effective teamwork.
Most importantly, this project prepared me for future multicultural and international work environments. It demonstrated the value of diversity in designing solutions and highlighted how enriching learning across cultures can be.
Suurin osa Showcasen blogeista on toteutettu osana Laurean opintojaksoja. Koko koulutustarjontaamme voi tutustua nettisivuillamme. Tarjoamme kymmenien tutkintoon johtavien koulutuksien lisäksi myös paljon täydennys- ja erikoistumiskoulutuksia sekä yksittäisiä opintojaksoja avoimen AMK:n kautta!