Bjørn Z. Ekelund
One of the most renowned and established experts in Norway within the fields of collaboration, team development, communication in team and management across functional roles and cultural diversities.
Extensive Research Network and Publications
Since the mid-1990s, Bjørn Z. Ekelund has maintained strong connections with research communities in England, the USA, and Canada. This collaboration has led to numerous conference presentations, articles, book chapters, and books, often focusing on managing cross-cultural differences. Over his career, Ekelund has contributed to five published cross-cultural research studies, spanning from 1997 to 2024.
Key Research Areas
Ekelund’s research addresses several critical areas within cross-cultural studies, including trust in leadership, handling critical incidents, cultural intelligence, violations of psychological contracts, and the employability of people with disabilities. These areas highlight his commitment to understanding and improving how diverse teams interact and perform in various organizational contexts.
Innovation with the Diversity Icebreaker
One of Ekelund’s most significant contributions is the development of the Diversity Icebreaker tool. This innovative tool has been implemented in over 75 countries and is available in 15 languages. Designed to enhance cross-cultural understanding, Diversity Icebreaker reflects core values aligned with Norwegian work culture, such as equality, respect, and trust.
Norwegian Work Culture and the Diversity Icebreaker
The values embedded in Diversity Icebreaker are rooted in Norwegian principles of workplace dynamics, which emphasize equality, respect, and trust as foundational values. This framework encourages involvement, the delegation of responsibility, and the development of employee leadership. It aligns with organizational models that prioritize psychological safety, problem-solving teams, and high levels of autonomy, meeting employees’ needs for personal growth while enhancing their contributions to organizational goals.
Some facts
- Delivered more than 1000 consultant-engagements in more than 20 countries.
- Awarded the “Consultant of the Year 2008” prize for the Diversity Icebreaker international breakthrough.
- Published 6 books and published over 30 scientific articles. The latest book: "Unleashing the Power of Diversity - How to Open Minds for Good" is published on Routledge Publishing - one of the top 10 HR books of 2019 according to acclaimed US HR company, BambooHR.
- Involved in building conflict management competence in the Middle East (project partially funded by the Norwegian Research Council).
- Trained more than 1000 consultants in the use of international psychological assessment tools.
- Expert on Scandinavian culture in the global organizational context.
E-mail: bjorn.z.ekelund@human-factors.no
Mobile phone (+ 47) 908 75 547