Demystifying Leadership in Iceland

This book explores the nature and uniqueness of leadership in Iceland within a business and economic context. Starting with an analysis of Iceland's geographical location, historical development and societal culture, the authors critically examine the major elements of the Icelandic business environment from an individual to a global level, and from economic prosperity to financial collapse. They particularly focus on leadership and human resource management within this unique societal culture and discuss the specific issues that are unique to Iceland, i.e. entrepreneurship, gender egalitarianism, equality, low power-distance, reflecting on, and orienting within contemporary leadership theories. The book covers a variety of analytical methods and cases, providing a unique introduction to leadership in Iceland, and opening avenues for further research into this relatively new phenomenon.

Introduces the uniqueness of Icelandic business leadership Places a major emphasis on gender equality and power distances Provides interesting case studies to illustrate the paths in development of leadership

Autorentext

Dr. Inga Minelgaite is an Assistant Professor at the School of Business, University of Iceland. Her main research field is (cross-cultural) leadership and gender. Inga is also interested in emerging fields of leadership such as neuroscience of leadership and followership. Inga has fifteen years of experience working in senior and top management positions in various sectors of business and in multiple countries. Inga is a North-East-Central Europe Area Manager for the Global Preferred Leadership and Cultural Values and a member of a number of other research networks. Dr. Svala Guðmundsdóttir is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair for the School of Business at the University of Iceland. Her research has focused on cross-cultural adjustment, cultural intelligence, and the national culture of Iceland, along with local human resources. For the past nine years she has been teaching change management, human resources as well as international relations at B.S., M.S., and in the MBA program. Dr. Árelía E. Guðmundsdóttir is an Associate Professor at the School of Business within the University of Iceland, where she teaches an elective course on Future of work and Leadership. Her research areas are leadership, gender equality, and career development. Árelía has published books and articles on leadership, gender equality, employment relations, career and self-development. Árelía has worked as a consultant for major Icelandic organizations for over twenty years and has participated in public debate in both Icelandic and UK media on her field of expertise.

Dr. Olga Stangej is a Visiting Researcher at the Institute for Quality Management and Business Administration (IQB-FHS) at the FHS University of Applied Sciences St. Gallen, Switzerland. She is also a founder of the Baltic Institute of Family Business. Olga has been simultaneously engaged in academic research, business and management teaching, consulting, and practice. Her research, educational activities, and projects lie in the field of management with a particular focus on leadership and family business.

Inhalt
Part I. Leadership and Culture.- Introduction.- Societal Culture in Iceland: From the Past to the Present.- Leadership in Iceland: A Historical Context.- Organizational Culture in Iceland: Welcoming the Uncertainty.- Beyond the Daily Catch: Expected Leader Profile in Iceland.- Part II. Transforming Leadership: An Entrepreneurial Perspective.- Small, but Mighty: Icelandic Business Environment Before and After the Financial Crisis of 2008.- Born to Enterprise? Entrepreneurial Intent Among Icelanders.- What's Next? From Tourism Bubble to the Future of Business Leadership in Iceland.- Part III. Transforming Leadership: Gender Issues.- Gender and Leadership in Iceland: The Journey to the Top of the Global Gender Gap Index.- Before and After: Effect of Gender Quota on Icelandic Landscape of the Boards of Directors.- The Untold Story of Gender Quota Effects in Iceland.- Part IV. Leadership in Action: Specific Cases.- Moving Icelandic Companies Global Through Visionary Leadership: The Case of Alvogen.- A Comedian Who Changed the Leadership Script in Reykjavik: The Case of Jón Gnarr.- Navigating Leadership in the Fishing Industry: the Case of Iceland.- Sports Leadership and the Biggest Small Nation in the World.