Can Portuguese management compete?
Survey of senior expatriate managers in Portugal
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The questionnaire
(as sent out in September 2001)

Instructions
Read each statement and choose ONE response corresponding to how far you agree or disagree (1= STRONGLY DISAGREE…5=STRONGLY AGREE).
Answer by comparision with your experience of managers in other developed economies and based on your personal idea of a "typical" Portuguese manager.
General social and business environment
I enjoy living in Portugal
I enjoy working in Portugal
Bureaucracy is a serious problem here
Portuguese companies usually have a clear business strategy
Company management in Portugal is highly accountable to shareholders
The business environment here is very active and dynamic
Portuguese business and commerce is highly customer service oriented
Business is generally very well organised and efficient
Deadlines and timetables are taken seriously in business in Portugal
It is easy to find well-trained managers in Portugal
We could recruit better managers if we could pay them more
 
Management style
Portuguese managers work well in teams
Portuguese bosses tend to be autocratic in style
Portuguese management style is very informal
The widespread use of academic titles (Dr., Eng., etc) is a nuisance
Portuguese managers work very hard
Managers here prefer to work in a planned way
Managers are good at dealing with problems and unexpected situations
The Portuguese way of dealing with deadlines is to leave everything to the last minute
Managers here prefer to work according to agreed rules and procedures
Creativity and originality in problem solving are strong characteristics here
Decisions agreed in meetings are always accepted and acted upon
Managers are individualistic, rather than co-operative, in their thinking
Managers in Portugal are punctual
Portuguese managers are concentrated and efficient with their time
There is a culture of "presenteeism" (working long hours 'for show')
 
Managers and the market
Portuguese managers carefully analyse their customers' needs
Managers in Portugal understand their competitive markets very well
Portuguese management is dedicated to excellent customer service
Good personal relationships with customers are essential to business culture here
Managers in Portugal tend to be excellent at selling
Portuguese managers are good at dealing with overseas customers and colleagues
Most managers here speak at least one language well other than Portuguese
Managers are good at understanding and adapting to different business cultures
There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit among Portuguese managers
Senior managers are highly focussed on satisfying shareholder needs

Information about you and your organisation

Your organisation is:
Majority Portuguese owned/controlled
Majority overseas owned/controlled

Your organisation employs, in Portugal:
Fewer than 10 people (or you are a single independent)
10 to 99 people
100 to 1000 people
More than 1000 people

Your nationality is:

You are:
Indefinitely resident in Portugal
Only resident for the duration of your post here
Not resident in Portugal

You have been working in Portugal for:
 Less than 1 year
1 to 5 years
More than 5 years

You have lived outside Portugal for (in total):
 Less than 1 year
1 to 5 years
More than 5 years

You speak fluently (mark all those appropriate):
 Portuguese
English
Spanish
French
German
Other

Your job title is:

Your age is:
Less than 30
30 to 40
40 to 50
Over 50

Your highest level of formal educational qualification is:
High school
Degree
Masters
Doctorate


Further comments
Please insert below any further comments - whether about Portuguese management culture or about this survey.