Transition and cultural changes in Albanian banking sector (case of Vlora region)

Abstract

This paper is designed with the aim of discovering key elements of the Albanian business culture and tracking the changes it has gone through in this era of globalization. The paper is undertaken in Albania in the banking sector and involves 11 companies of Albanian banking market. A combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques are used in order to achieve its objectives. The theme can help us to get an idea of what happens to the Albanian culture when being influenced by other cultures. The geographical scope of this article is limited in south of Albania, in Vlora Region. Vlora is a city where the foreign influence is mostly felt, because of its geographical position and because of foreign investments The article studies the dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, collectivism vs. individualism, relationship vs. rules, masculinity vs. femininity, affective vs. neutral, ascription vs. achievement and orientation towards human nature., time oriented, . In these dimensions there are the most shifts from the genuine Albanian business culture. The general aim of this article is to provide an insight into the Albanian business culture and its involvement in this era of globalization.