Attitudes toward society, organisations, and work in the electronics industry in Finno‐Ugrian countries

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate employees' attitudes toward society, organisations and work in electronic industry of the three Finno‐Ugrian countries from an institutionalist perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey was done in two plants of the electronics industry in Estonia, Hungary and Finland. The survey was conducted in two plants of the electronics industry in Estonia, Hungary and Finland, respectively: one produces telecommunications equipment and the other electrical goods for household use. Data from the three countries were compared by means of the ANOVA‐test. The factors influencing job satisfaction and organisational commitment were identified by using linear regression analysis.

Findings

The results of an empirical study in the three Finno‐Ugrian countries, Estonia, Finland and Hungary, indicate significant differences, as well as similarities, in attitudes toward society, organisations and work in electronic industry of the three Finno‐Ugrian countries. It is argued that the differences in work‐related attitudes are influenced by the respective countries' historical legacy, in particular differences in levels of institutional development.

Research limitations/implications

In order to draw broader conclusions it is necessary to explore alternative explanations and conduct further empirical research in other industries and countries.

Practical implications

Estonia and Hungary are new EU members and their citizens can now seek employment in another member country. The paper gives information about the work‐related attitudes of Estonian and Hungarian employees compared to Finnish employees.

Originality/value

The model developed explains differences between three countries.

Citation

Alas, R. and Edwards, V. (2007), "Attitudes toward society, organisations, and work in the electronics industry in Finno‐Ugrian countries", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 20-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465260710720228