Invisible Factor of Cooperation B2B: Impact of Culturally Determined Perceptions of Women’s Roles on Relations Between Polish Managers and Foreign Partners
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24917/20833296.212.310.24917/20833296.212.3Keywords:
cultural barriers, cross-cultural communication, gender stereotypes, international cooperation, internationalization, intercultural management, qualitative researchAbstract
The aim of the study was to verify whether culturally determined differences in the perception of women’s roles influence the process of cooperation between managers of Polish enterprises and their foreign partners. The research process was conducted to answer two fundamental research questions: “What limitations and benefits associated with differences in the perception of women’s roles occurred in communication between employees of Polish enterprises and their foreign partners?” and “During the course of the cooperation, were there any changes in the perception of the role of women in business by contractors from different cultures?” The study, based on secondary analysis of existing data, conducted using a qualitative method, confirmed the influence of cultural differences in the perception of the role of women on the process of communication with foreign partners. Its results and the conclusions drawn from them may prove valuable for companies seeking to adapt their communication strategy in international business networks to existing cultural differences in the perception of the role of women.
References
Akram, F., Murugiah, L., Shahzad, A. (2017). Cultural aspects and leadership effectiveness of women leaders: A theoretical prospective of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(1), 25–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2017.0501.0021.
Alhejji, H., Hamlin, R.G., Aldosemani, T. (2025). Exploring female managers’ perceptions of the behavioral effectiveness of male managers: Evidence from Kuwait. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 40(4), 639–657. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2024-0332.
Araújo -Pinzón, P., Álvarez -Dardet, C., Ramón -Jerónimo, J.M., Flórez -López, R. (2017). Women and inter -organizational boundary spanning: A way into upper management? European Research on Management and Business Economics, 23(2), 70–81.
Baroudi, S., Hojeij, Z. (2025). Female leadership in the Arab world: An ethnographic study of educational leaders. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 28(2), 402–421. DOI: https://doi.org/10 .1080/13603124.2021.2013545.
Bartosik -Purgat, M., Rakowska, W. (2025). Cross -cultural business -to -business communication – the experiences of Polish companies with the Chinese and Americans. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 20(13), 74–95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-01-2022-0013.
Borowska -Beszta, B., Bartnikowska, U., Ćwirynkało, K. (2017). Analiza wtórna jakościowych danych zastanych: przegląd założeń teoretycznych i aplikacji metodologicznych. Jakościowe Badania Pedagogiczne, 2(1), 5–24.
Bullough, A., Guelich, U., Manolova, T.S., Schjoedt, L. (2022). Women’s entrepreneurship and culture: Gender role expectations and identities, societal culture, and the entrepreneurial environment.
Small Business Economics, 58(2), 985–996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-020-00429-6.
Cundiff, N.L. (2022). Gender and organizational culture: Perceptions of leadership style and effectiveness. Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, 41(1), 50–63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21423/awlj-v41.a342.
Czerniejewska, I. (2006). O stereotypie kulturowym, czyli jak widzimy innych. W: A.W. Brzezińska, A. Hulewska, J. Słomska (red.), Edukacja regionalna. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, 261–294.
Dimitrova -Grajzl, V., Gornick, J., Obasanjo, I. (2022). Leader gender, country culture, and the management of COVID-19. World Medical & Health Policy, 14(4), 773–797. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002 /wmh3.547.
Eden, L., Gupta, S.F. (2017). Culture and context matter: Gender in international business and management. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management, 24(2), 194–210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108 /CCSM-02-2017-0020.
Esnard, C., Grangeiro, R.D.R. (2025). Cultural barriers to women’s progression in academic careers: A France -Brazil comparison through the lens of the Queen Bee Phenomena. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 66(2), 210–218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.13078.
Eurostat. (2024; 2025, 18 stycznia). Positions held by women in senior management positions. Pozyskano z: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_05_60/default/table.
Feenstra, S., Stoker, J.I., Lammers, J., Garretsen, H. (2023). Managerial stereotypes over time: The rise of feminine leadership. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 38(6), 770–783. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-10-2022-0331.
Fitzsimmons, S., Özbilgin, M.F., Thomas, D.C., Nkomo, S. (2023). Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda. Journal of International Business Studies, 54(8), 1402–1422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-023-00642-x.
Gesteland, R.R. (2012). Cross ‑Cultural Business Behavior: A Guide for Global Management. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School Press.
Glinka, B., Czakon, W. (2021). Podstawy badań jakościowych. Warszawa: Polskie Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne.
Gorynia, M. (2012). Ewolucja pozycji gospodarki polskiej w gospodarce światowej. Ekonomista, 4, 403–425.
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G.J., Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York: McGraw -Hill.
Hutchings, K., Metcalfe, B.D., Cooper, B.K. (2010). Exploring Arab Middle Eastern women’s perceptions of barriers to, and facilitators of, international management opportunities. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(1), 61–83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190903466863.
Jogulu, U., Franken, E. (2023). The career resilience of senior women managers: A cross‐cultural perspective. Gender, Work & Organization, 30(1), 280–300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12829.
Kawa, J. (2013). Metodologia, metodyka, metoda jako podstawa wywodu naukowego. Studia Prawnoustrojowe, 21, 169–188.
KUKE Grupa PFR. (2022; 2025, 17 sierpnia). 30 lat polskiego eksportu. Hity eksportowe, kierunki ekspansji, szanse na przyszłość. Pozyskano z: https://api.kuke.pl/files/attachments/e0e963d4-267e-11ec9df6-00abcd082070/raport-30-lat -polskiego -eksportu.pdf.
Küpper, A., Dauth, T. (2021). Top management gender diversity and internationalisation in different institutional contexts: Evidence from Germany and Poland. Journal of East European Management Studies, 26(4), 706–737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0949-6181-2021-4-706.
Li, Y., Wang, X., Wang, Y. (2025). The impact of gender norms on women’s leadership advancement: An empirical study in China. Economic and Political Studies, 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080 /20954816.2025.2532242.
Marczewska, M. (2018). Stereotypy etniczne we współczesnym polskim dyskursie publicznym. Res Historica, 46, 283–300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17951/rh.2018.46.283–300.
McKinsey & Company. (2024; 2025, 23 sierpnia). Women in the Workplace 2024: The 10th ‑anniversary report. Pozyskano z: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured -insights/diversity -and -inclusion/ women -in -the -workplace.
Menderak, R., Menderak, Ł. (2024). Stereotyp w praktyce zarządzania międzykulturowego polskich przedsiębiorstw – wybrane aspekty. Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Częstochowskiej. Zarządzanie, 54, 96–111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17512/znpcz.2024.2.07.
Ministerstwo Rozwoju i Technologii. (2024, 12 sierpnia). Rekordowy udział Polski w światowym eksporcie. Pozyskano z: https://www.trade.gov.pl/aktualnosci/rekordowy -udzial -polski -w -swiatowym-eksporcie/.
Polski Instytut Ekonomiczny. (2023; 2025, 19 sierpnia). Polki wiceliderkami UE w zajmowaniu stanowisk kierowniczych. Pozyskano z: https://pie.net.pl/polki -wiceliderkami -ue -w -zajmowaniu -stanowisk-kierowniczych/.
Snaebjornsson, I.M., Edvardsson, I.R., Zydziunaite, V., Vaiman, V. (2015). Cross- cultural leadership: Expectations on gendered leaders’ behavior. SAGE Open, 5(2). DOI: https://doi .org/10.1177/2158244015579727.
Sobocka- Szczapa, H. (2019). Metodologiczne aspekty zarządzania wiedzą. W: R. Seliga (red.), Wybrane aspekty zarządzania i ekonomii. Łódź–Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Społecznej Akademii Nauk, 17–48.
Tomaszewska, M. (2023). Wpływ stereotypów na postrzeganie kobiet w roli menedżera. Edukacja Ekonomistów i Menedżerów, 68(2), 79–94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33119/EEIM.2023.68.5.
Tremmel, M., Wahl, I. (2023). Gender stereotypes in leadership: Analyzing the content and evaluation of stereotypes about typical, male, and female leaders. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. DOI: https://doi .org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1034258.
Związek Przedsiębiorców i Pracodawców. (2023; 2025, 18 sierpnia). Najlepszy czas Polski. 1992–2022. Pozyskano z: https://zpp.net.pl/wp -content/uploads/2023/07/14.07.2023-Raport -ZPP-19922022.-Najlepszy -czas -Polski.pdf.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Entrepreneurship – Education
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 4.0; Attribution– NoDerivs).
