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 „MUST” (Models of Simulated and Tutorial Universes) and will contain training program based on the issue of positive conflict management created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds which will include the transferred innovation and elaborated ICT tools.

To make provided tools most efficient, before constructing them, consortium will prepare the diagnosis of particular types of conflicts encountered in SMEs, their sources and ways of solution. Integrated tools can be developed and supplemented by e-learning platform and can be use individually by managers as well as 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 of experiences between beneficiaries and to give them further development of knowledge in positive conflict management created on the basis of different cultural backgrounds in SMEs, there will be created e-learning platform to load didactic materials and training tools onto it and to let beneficiaries discuss about them.

The consortium of Beyond Diversity project is structured around 5 partners, from different European geo-cultural areas and with a different status regarding the EU. This combination will give to the project its European „diverse” and coherent substance. Organizations that are part of consortium, work in different areas, branches, which causes that consortium as a whole will be able to accomplish effective execution of the project.

Distribution of tasks and roles was made on the basis of experiences of each organization, gained during their work and previous projects. Besides that, partners have a great experience in conducting projects related to SMEs, and managing or coordinating LDV Projects. Thanks to that cooperation between organizations providing learning opportunities, SMEs, Academic Community and other relevant bodies throughout Europe, will be ensured.

 

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."