A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Business Administration.

Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1995

The purpose of this research is to increase the understanding of the cross-cultural features of Korean management. To this end, this study attempts to examine how Korean managers manage in foreign countries, and whether or not Korean managerial styles are effective in another cultures, especially in Thai culture. The study uses literature review, interview, and Job Satisfaction Survey. Some literature which studies Korean value and its impacts on Korean management pattern, Thai people's value, Thai social systems and behavior are reviewed. The interviews with Korean managers and their foreign counterparts focus on managerial custom and habits, mistakes made by Korean managers with their foreign counterparts, and conflicts between Korean managers and foreign managers. Some recommendations and advice to improve the performance of Korean and Thai managers are proposed. Job Satisfaction Survey is carried out to assess the level of success of Korean and Western managerial philosophies and personnel management system in different cultural situations. The results of Job Satisfaction Survey indicate that socio-cultural aspects have more influence on satisfaction of employees than management style and management philosophy. Finally, some recommendations for Samsung Group, the sampled Korean company in this study, are addressed.