Culture Handbook for a German Kindergarten in Finland: Kindergarten ry

This bachelor's thesis concentrated on developing a culture handbook for the case company Kindergarten ry. Its purpose is to support recruitment and organizational communication. Kindergarten ry is a small organization with less than ten employees; therefore, it is of high significance that when hiring employees, they are a cultural fit, rather than solely being a skill fit. For successful new employee socialization, it is essential to share the organization's values and adapt its culture. The concepts of this thesis centered around organizational culture and employer branding, which form the theoretical framework of the study. The culture theory was based on Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory regarding differences between Finland and Germany and Edgar Schein's model of organizational culture. The employer branding theory was concerned with how organizational culture can be used to improve the employer brand and how these two aspects are linked. The research for this product-based thesis utilized qualitative methods in the form of interviews. Two sets of interviews were conducted in December 2021, one set face-to-face with the six employees and the manager, and another in written form with the five board members. Under the guidance of the case company's manager, the culture handbook interconnected theoretical framework, employee and board member assessments, as well as clients' expectations. Subsequently, the resulting handbook was completed in April 2022 and was handed over to the case company. The proposed handbook's and research findings' contents not only provided a clear description of the organization's mission, vision, and values but also implemented a comprehensive strategy for teamwork and organizational communication based on the organizational culture. This facilitates employees' identification with the organization on a more personal level and allows the kindergarten to boost employee retention and satisfaction