WP16 Pan European Questionnaire

2. WP16 Pan European Questionnaire Partners Meeting ROVIGO 4-6 May 2006 Sakis Karamoschos, ANEM

3. Basic Characteristics PAN EUROPEAN SURVEY • TYPE • ADDRESSING TO INTERREG SERVANTS • VIA E- MAIL • NUMBER 200 QUESTIONNAIRES

4. SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH Extracting and articulating the influence of cultural differences, as described by persons with vast knowledge and experience on cultural aspects of management & cooperation of INTERREG projects

5. Main objective: Collect Information on how: • different cultures, • different values, • attitudes, • attributes and • behaviour patterns affect INTERREG projects’ planning and implementation

6. Addressing to: • INTERREG III project managers and promoters, • management and co-ordination officers, (INTERREG Secretariats & INTERACT points and secretariats) and • national policy makers involved in interregional/ transnational spatial planning processes.

7. Scope: Sending a semi-structured questionnaire to a pre-selected sample of 200 INTERREG officers The level of experience is the principal criterion for choosing the final participants Criterion:

8. Method: • Web search • Creating a database with the main INTERREG structures • Collecting information on INTERREG II servants • Communicating with the structures- locating the most experienced personnel • Sending out the questionnaire

9. Structure of the questionnaire • Interviewer details • Related experience • Manifestations of cultural differences • Influence on INTERREG projects • Possible Solutions

10. Interviewer details(1/2) This section contains principal data such as: • Name • Specialty/ Degree Title • Area of expertise (main fields of activity) • Institution • Contact Details • Current Position / Occupation

11. Interviewer details(2/2) • What are his/hers main job tasks (what do you do in your job)? • Years in this position • Previous Experience (years, position, institution)

12. Related Experience • Which spatial development EU instruments have he/she had experience with? (INTERREG II , INTERREG III, INTERACT, OTHER EU PROGRAMME (please specify)) • Which are the fields that his/her experience is mainly related to? (Project design and planning , Project evaluation, Project management, Technical support on project implementation ) • Geographic Location of previous experience

13. Manifestations of Cultural Differences (1/5) • How do he/she interpret the term “cultural differences” in relevance with the planning and implementation of INTERREG projects? Please explain by giving examples • Based on your experience, do planners have different attitudes and skills as a result of differences in planning traditions?

14. Manifestations of Cultural Differences (2/5) • What is the degree these cultural differences manifest themselves in the way (lead) partners approach an INTERREG project? Please rate the degree these cultural differences are expressed in the following activities. Scheduling Cooperation Planning Managing Keeping deadlines Communication Organisational Issues Programming Quality of deliverables Strategic Planning

15. Manifestations of Cultural Differences (3/5) • Is there a relation between the tension/ degree of manifestation of cultural differences and ….. : • project progress (phase of the project) • type of participating partners (research institutes, public actors, private actors etc) • Including actors presenting previous transnational experience • type of activities included in the project

16. Manifestations of Cultural Differences (4/5) • What are the main cultural differences emerging in INTERREG projects in the different stages, namely: • project generation • pre-start up • start up • implementation • closure? • At which stage are the cultural differences more intense?

17. Manifestations of Cultural Differences (5/5) • What do different project members and INTERREG program managers see as the main objective of INTERREG projects, cooperation or content? • Which challenges have you encountered as far as cultural differences are concerned within the framework of partners’ cooperation in INTERREG projects? You can refer to specific examples • Which country/ countries present more “stiff” cultural behavior causing difficulties in the proper implantation of INTERREG projects? / Which country/ countries present more “flexible” cultural behavior facilitating the proper implantation of INTERREG projects?

18. Influence on INTERREG projects(1/2) • How much do cultural differences influence the following fields when implementing an INTERREG project?

19. Influence on INTERREG projects(2/2) • How would you rate the effect of cultural differences in each instrument included in the majority of INTERREG projects? Please score each of the following instruments? • Scientific meetings (workshop, conferences, symposia, etc) • Training seminars/ workshops • Short visits and study tours • Studies, researches, reports • Scientific publications • Information/ Dissemination activities • Research activities • etc

20. Possible Solutions(1/2) • How can cultural differences be managed in INTERREG projects (theoretically)? • Which is the most suitable way to manage cultural differences in INTERREG projects? • Has INTERREG smoothen/ reduced the cultural differences among the countries? How? Please explain • Does more knowledge and insight/understanding about cultural differences in an INTERREG project, lead to a better management?

21. Possible Solutions(2/2) • What are good ways to manage INTERREG projects (depending on/differentiated to different objectives, different partners, etc.)