The old Swedish encyclopaedia Nordisk familjebok said: “ The Smålandian is by nature awake and smart, diligent and hard-working yet compliant, cunning and crafty, which gives them the advantage of being able to move through life with little means.” Its people got the reputation for being thrifty and innovative with a straightforward approach to problem-solving - especially when it came to business challenges. Småland became known for its high level of entrepreneurship. The IKEA key values of togetherness, renew and improve, and cost-consciousness grew from this background.
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Above all, they learned how to work hard together to survive and make progress. They learned to do it “here and now.” They learned to use the scarce resources and make the best out of them. Smålanders learned to find practical and sometimes unconventional solutions to the many problems of daily life. The mass emigration tells us more about how miserable Småland was than how promising the USA seemed.īut tough conditions are the most fertile soil for creativity and ingenuity. Imagine leaving behind everything and everyone you know for the complete unknown. In some parishes in Småland as many as 80 percent left their homeland. Between 18, over a third of the Swedish population emigrated to America. Småland is a harsh and stony region that has left its marks on the area’s culture. The Smålandish environment and culture is built into the IKEA way of doing things and is the basis of the IKEA culture and values.
IKEA and Ingvar were both born in Småland in southern Sweden. But our culture is influenced by a history that goes further back. The characteristics of that area and its people have played a big part in making us who and what we are today. Our roots are in the region of Småland in southern Sweden. It is about being our best self and bringing out the best in each other.Our heritage – our history has shaped who we are Our Småland rootsĮvery family has its roots. People who ‘walk the talk’ and lead by example. We look for people’s values before competence and experience. We see leadership as an action, not a position. Trusting each other, being positive and forward-looking inspires everyone to contribute to development. Giving and taking responsibility are ways to grow and develop as individuals. We like to question existing solutions, think in unconventional ways, experiment and dare to make mistakes - always for a good reason. We are not like other companies and we don’t want to be. Finding solutions to almost impossible challenges is part of our success and a source of inspiration to move on to the next challenge. Whatever we are doing today, we can do better tomorrow.
We are constantly looking for new and better ways forward. We are informal, pragmatic and see bureaucracy as our biggest enemy. It is about being ourselves and staying close to reality. SimplicityĪ simple, straightforward and down-to-earth way of being is part of our Smålandic heritage. We constantly challenge ourselves and others to make more from less without compromising on quality. Cost-consciousnessĪs many people as possible should be able to afford a beautiful and functional home.
We have the possibility to make a significant and lasting impact - today and for the generations to come. We want to be a force for positive change. We are strongest when we trust each other, pull in the same direction and have fun together. Togetherness is at the heart of the IKEA culture.
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