Beyond Diversity

- Conflicts created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

 

Disagreements and conflicts created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds arise even in the best teams. The ability to manage positively conflicts is a fundamental expertise, essential in the multicultural world. That is why managers’and employees skills of positive conflict management created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds in SMEs seem to be very important. It is an essential element of managers’ knowledge because it helps to resolve conflicts and prevents from new ones. For that reasons the main aim of the project is to give beneficiaries effective and integrated tolls for positive conflict management  in the SMEs sector and provide exchange of experiences between them.

Integrated tools will be based mainly on e-learning system Models of Simulated and Tutorial Universes ‘MUST’ and will contain training programs based on the issue of positive conflict management and created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds including the transferred innovation and elaborated ICT tools.

To make the provided tools most efficient, before constructing them, the consortium will prepare the diagnosis of particular types of conflicts encountered in SMEs, their sources and ways of finding solutions. Integrated tools can be developed and supplemented through an e-learning platform used by managers and training institutions offering their services to SMEs. Whereas elaborated diagnosis can be a basis for developing new solutions of positive conflict management and new source of knowledge. In order to exchange experiences between beneficiaries and provide them further development of knowledge in positive conflict management created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds in SMEs, we will create an e-learning platform to load didactic materials and training tools permitting beneficiaries to open dialogue discuss the issues.

The consortium of the Beyond Diversity project is structured around 5 partners, from different European geo-cultural areas with a different status regarding the EU. This combination will give to the project its European ‘diversity’ and coherent substance. Organizations that are part of consortium, work in a variety of different subject areas, which provides the consortium to be able to accomplish effective execution of the project elements and overall objectives.

Distribution of tasks and roles are made on the basis of organization experiences gained during their current activities and previous work involvement. All partners have a great experience in conducting funded projects which incorporate or involve SMEs, and managing or coordinating LDV Projects, resulting in a well rounded and experienced team experienced in providing learning opportunities to SMEs, Academic establishments and other relevant bodies throughout Europe.

About the project

The main aim of the project is providing  beneficiaries (mostly company managers of SME sector) with effective tools dedicated to positive management of conflicts based on cultural differences in SME sector companies. The project’s aim is also to enable, as well as facilitate further development of both knowledge and skills concerning positive management of conflicts, including experience sharing between interested parties. That is why an e-learning platform will be created, enabling in turn to share training materials, tools, as well as to stimulate discussion and experience sharing.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."