Iceland: Countryside Activities

Iceland: Countryside Activities

Iceland’s diversity is reflected in the many contrasts that make up the different parts of the country. Each part has its own unique nature and culture.

On your travels, you might notice that life and culture in Icelandic fishing villages is different to the way of life of the Icelandic farmer.

To give some insight into what each area has to offer, here is a list of interesting places in respect to culture and nature that have not, as yet, been mentioned in tourist brochures. This list is not endless as there are many beautiful places hiding all over the country.

The shining pearls of Iceland are:

Gullfoss, this beautiful waterfall in the south will leave you breathless.

Geysir, Iceland´s very own pressure valve. Part of the Golden Circle.

Blue Lagoon, azure blue waters with healing properties in an ancient lava field.

Látrabjarg, Iceland‘s westernmost point. A puffin haven with spectacular views.

Goðafoss, waterfall of the gods, yet another majestic waterfall in Iceland.

Mývatn, a stunning inland lake in an active volcanic area. A national park.

Dettifoss, the most powerful glacial waterfall in Europe creating a canyon of insurmountable beauty.

Jókulsárlón, the glacial lake on Road 1 with icebergs floating past. Famous as a movie setting.

Enjoy this beautiful country, have a great stay and drive carefully on our roads. Be sure to show respect to the fragile, pristine nature by leaving only your footprints on marked trails and roads so that future generations can also enjoy all the pearls that Iceland has to offer.

The night is coming. Photo by Olga

Some activities in the Countryside of Iceland

Into The Glacier

Langjökull, 311 Húsafell

W-Iceland, tel: 578 2550

Various tours into the magical Langjökull glacier – world´s longest man-made ice tunnel.

The Glacier.is

Litli Kambur

356 Snæfellsbær, tel: 783 2820

Tours to the top of Snæfellsjökull – 1400 m altitude - snowmobile tours - snow tours - sunset tour.

Láki Tours

Nesvegur 5

Grundarfjörður

Snæfellsnes, tel: 546 6808

Whale watching adventures, and Puffin tours. New trips from Hólmavík.

Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón

Höfn, S-Iceland, tel: 478 2222

Magic scenery - boat tours – cafeteria on the premises.

Gentle Giants

Húsavík Harbour

Húsavík

N-Iceland, tel: 464 1500

Whale watching – personal service– 98% success rate – sea angling tours – a family company.

Pólarhestar

Grýtubakki II 601

Akureyri, N-Iceland, 35 km from Akureyri, (near Grenivík). tel: 463 3179

Horse rental - short and longer tours - family run company - pick up service.

Ambassador

Akureyri Harbour N-Iceland, tel: 462 6800

Akureyri whale watching – almost all year round – departures every day – arctic sun tour – Northern Lights tours – good boat and service.

Elding

Akureyri Harbour, N-Iceland, tel: 519 5000

Classic Whale Watching tours. Good chance to see Humpbacks.

Icelandic Sheep, Icelandic Dog, Icelandic Cow

Icelandic Sheep, Icelandic Dog, Icelandic Cow

The Icelandic sheep is special in many ways. For example, leader sheep possessing the qualities of the Icelandic type do not exist anywhere else in the world. There are many stories of how they have rescued both men and other sheep from danger. Icelandic sheep are so-called short-tailed animals, a type which was formerly common in northwestern Europe, but which is now found in only few areas of the world. It is a strong, hardy species that has adapted well to Icelandic conditions. The majority of the national flock has horns, but polled sheep are also common.

Icelandic sheep: Icelandic Sheep: White, polled eve, with tan fibres and a black spot. White, horned ram, with a black cheek. Black, polled eve. Dark-grey, polled eve. White, polled ram. Grey, horned ewe. Homozygous grey, polled ewe. Brown, polled ewe lamb. Brown, horned ewe. Grey-brown, horned ram lamb. Black mouflon, horned ewe. Grey mouflon, horned ewe. Brown badgerface, horned ewe. Black piebald, horned ewe, with dark eyerings only. Black piebald, polled ewe, with dark cheeks and a collar. Black piebald, horned ewe, with a hood. Black piebald, horned ewe, with dark outer socks. Black piebald, polled ewe, with patches. Grey piebald, polled ewe, with patches. Brown piebald, polled ewe lamb, with a hood. Brown piebald-mouflon, horned ram lamb, with an eagle head. Black mouflon-piebald, horned leader wether, with a blaze and socks. Black badgerface-piebald, horned ewe lamb. Black fourhorned ewe. Black piebald, fourhorned ram lamb, with patches. Black piebald, horned leader ram with socks, ehad and nose spots. Brown piebald, horned leader ewe lambs, all with white collars and stockings.

The Icelandic Sheepdog has assisted with guarding and hearding horses, cattle and sheep since it was brought here during the original settlement in Iceland. Research has shown that it is of Nordic origin like the Icelandic sheep and goats. Like the Icelandic goat the Icelandic Sheepdog was close to extinction in the mid 20th century. In the last decades some measures have been taken in reversing this process, both in Iceland and abroad.

The main characteristics of the Icelandic Sheepdog are its pricked ears and curled tail and its many colours.

Iclandic Cows, Dogs and Sheep. Photo by Olga

Light tan dog with a black mask and white collar. Reddish tan and light tan bitches, both with black masks. Black tricolour dog with a blaze. Tricolour and black masked puppies. Black tricolour dog. Reddish brown dog with a black mask. Black tricolour bitch puppy. Proud mther with her puppy, both light tan with black mask. Reddish tan dog with a white collar with a bitch of the same colour and another light tan bitch with a black. Reddish tan puppy with a black mask, six week old. Light tan three year old bitch. Reddish tan puppies, all with black mask. Two bitches, one light tan, the other reddish tan with a white collar. Puppies, some with a blaze and other with half a white face. Light tan two year old dog. A light reddish tan dog on a winter's day. Reddish tan dog with a black mask and a blaze. Light tan bitch with a half a white face. Brown bitch. Light tan bitch with a white collar. Reddish tan dog with a black mask. Reddish tan bitch with a white collar and blaze.

The Icelandic breed of cattle is smaller than cattle in neighbouring countries. It is a hardy and fertile type of cow and produces a great deal of milk. The number of dairy farmers is gradually declining as the productivity of individual farmers increases. There are currently about 1,100 milk farmers in the country. Most milk production and cattle breeding is conducted in the south, west and north-central areas of the country, near the major urban centres.

Light red. Red. Red pied, light. Black. Black pied. Red with white face. Red with white face marking. Black, with inguinal region. Black pied, extensive white. Brindle pied. Grey, blue roan. Brown, white face, socks. Grey. Red brindle. Brindle. White. White, red ears and muzzle. Dun, white dorsal line. Brown grey, white inguinal region. Brown, light. Brown, dark.

The Wilderness Center is an authentic and peaceful hideaway, located right on the edge of Northern Europe´s most extensive wilderness.

North East Iceland

North East Iceland

North East Iceland is filled with gems of all kinds which are harnessed in The Diamond Circle, the North‘s equivalent of the famous Golden Circle in the south, leading you around this vast and beautiful part of the country to its main pearls. There is Goðafoss A, the powerful curved waterfall of the gods, Lake Mývatn B, a nature reserve and birdwatchers’ paradise and setting for the film Game of Thrones, Hverir C, the hissing steamy geothermal hotbed of Earth´s layers and Námaskarð and Dettifoss D, a powerful glacial waterfall in the middle of nowhere.

Then we have the hidden pearls dotted all over the region.

1 Grímsey, the Arctic Circle island where birds outnumber humans and chess is the favourite past-time. The 100 inhabitants live off fishing and the growing tourism industry. This remote island is a birdwatchers’ paradise and has incredibly beautiful skies, both in summer and winter.

2 Dalvík, a thriving fishing village and departure harbour for trips to Grímsey. The beautiful mountain backdrop provides excellent ski slopes in the winter so Dalvík is fast becoming a ski-hub in the area. The Hvoll Folk Museum which has exhibits of two famous locals, the tallest man in the world, Jóhann the Giant and the third president of Iceland, Kristján Eldjárn, as well as other interesting displays, is well worth the visit.

3 Hrísey Island lies in Eyjafjörður and is the second largest island in Iceland (8km2) where the 150 inhabitants are enthusiastic hosts, offering tractor rides, hiking and lighthouse tours. The birdlife on the island is varied and plentiful, the ptarmigan being the main star. The north part of the island is only accessible by permission as it is a private nature reserve. The ferry to Hrísey departs from Árskógssandur on the mainland and the trip takes about 15 minutes.

4 Árskógssandur is not just the ferry port for Hrísey, it is also home to the famous craft beer brewery Kaldi, which sells top quality beer and is also developing a health spa based on beer baths, soaps and shampoos, called the Bjórböðin Spa.

Iceland's flowers. Photo by Olga

5 Akureyri – the capital of the North and Iceland’s second largest town. Akureyri has a wonderful mixture of culture, adventure and nature. The 18 000 inhabitants enjoy their thermal swimming pool, university and selection of good restaurants. Akureyri has a river running through it called Glerá, along which there are lovely walking trails. The renowned botanical gardens are ensconced in the town, providing a space of tranquillity and beauty. The visually-interesting Hof Cultural and Conference Centre on the waterfront plays a vital role in cultural events in town. The Art Museum and Art Alley indicate the strong art culture of Akureyri. There are a number of museums in town, which are all as interesting as the other, such as the Art Museum, Aviation Museum and Memorial Museum, to name a few. Akureyri is the perfect base for trips and tours in the area, being a short distance away from the main attractions, which has contributed to it becoming the cruise destination capital of the north. There are two main shopping areas in Akureyri: Hafnarstræti, whic is a pedestrian-friendly shopping street filled with quaint coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques and Glerártorg, a shopping centre 1,5km from downtown with 34 shops. It is the only shopping centre of its kind outside of Reykjavík. A beautiful iconic building at the top of Hafnarstræti houses the family-run Bautinn restaurant. The main feature of the town centre is the Akureyri church with its two towers and daunting steps rising above the town. The view from the church makes the climb worthwhile.

The high mountains behind Akureyri provide excellent ski slopes, making it the skiing capital of Iceland. Being a seaside town, activities in Akureyri include whale watching, diving and fishing. However, other activities such as horse riding, hiking, skating and bowling are also possible in Akureyri. The 18-hole golf course is the most northerly and hosts the Arctic Open. The layout is varied, interesting and challenging and many a game of midnight golf is enjoyed here during the summer.

Deep into Eyjafjörður lies Hrafnagil, home of the Eyjafjörður Christmas Garden, open all year round and host to the well-known Arctic Handcraft and Design Festival in August.

Getting there: Air Iceland Connect (www.airicelandconnect. is) has scheduled daily flights from Reykjavík (45 min) and direct international flights from Keflavík. There are also buses (6hrs) all year from Strætó (www.straeto.is) operating on the route between Akureyri and Reykjavík. In summer it is also possible to drive the highland road of Kjölur. SBA bus company operates scheduled tours from Akureyri to the northeast and east during summer.

6 Þorgeirskirkja at Ljósavatn is a church built in commemoration of Iceland’s choice to become a Christian nation. The church was built in 2000, celebrating 1000 years of Christianity. Open to the public in summer. Goðafoss is the waterfall into which Þorgeir threw his heathen gods as a symbolic act of dispensing with heathenism.

7 The Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum at Ytri-Neslönd on the shores of Lake Mývatn is a comprehensive private bird collection resulting from one man’s passion, Sigurgeir Stefánsson. The museum provides an opportunity to see and learn about Icelandic birds in and out of season.

8 Dimmuborgir, an area of daunting lava formations and home to Grýla, an intimidating troll matriarch, is made up of volcanic caves, chimneys and pillars resembling fallen citadels and strange creatures. This dark area is on the east side of Lake Mývatn.

9 The Mývatn Nature Baths are the north’s answer to the Blue Lagoon in the south. The water contains a rich blend of minerals, silicates and micro-organisms, giving it the beautiful blue colour and enhancing its healing properties. Situated in a lava field overlooking the beautiful Lake Mývatn, this is a wonderful place to relax and recharge.

10 In Skjálfandi Bay on the north coast lies Húsavík, a thriving tourist destination. The main attraction is whale watching as whales are prolific in the bay during summer, making Húsavík the whale capital of Iceland. The harbour has developed into a thriving hub for whale watchers with restaurants, booking offices and souvenir shops and a whale museum

Húsavik is a pretty town flanked by mountains on one side and the bay on the other. It also has a lovely park beside the river and a wooden church dating to 1907, which takes pride of place on the main road. There is a variety of museums and art galleries in town. Besides the good swimming pool in town, there are two outof- town places to soak in, Ostakarið to the north is an old cheese tub and Kaldabakslaug to the south is a geothermal lake containing gold fish.

11 Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped canyon where legend and nature come together. It is a woodland of birch trees and other plants and has lovely walking trails through the area. The tranquillity here is magnified by the idyllic lake in the canyon, which is home to a variety of birds. Being part of the Vatnajökull National Park, it is a protected area. Legend has it that the canyon’s shape is a hoof print. There is a camping site at Ásbyrgi.

12 Raufarhöfn, dubbed the Arctic Circle Village, is the location of a monumental project taking place on a hillside close to town. The Arctic Henge is a sundial which aims to capture the midnight sun’s rays between the stone gateways and to cast shadows in specific locations. It is a monument to ancient pagan beliefs and was inspired by the Völuspá of the famous Edda poems. It is made up of a series of stacked basalt arches placed within circles. The stone arches provide an interesting view of the horizon from the village.

13 On a farm called Svalbarð, near Þórshöfn, there is a study centre on the leader sheep of Iceland called Fræðasetur um forystufé. These leaders are a special breed unique to Iceland that can predict weather and lead the flock through storms to safety. An interesting glimpse into the hierarchy of the Icelandic sheep.

ÁsbyrgiRaufarhöfn

Mývatn Nature Baths

Húsavík

Goðafoss

BJÓRBÖÐIN: Iceland‘s very first beer spa opened in June 2017. Bjórböðin SPA is located in Árskógssandur in the north of Iceland, 25 minutes from Akureyri. There you will soak away the stress of modern life by relaxing in a bath of warm beer. All the tubs also have a draft beer tap alongside, so that visitors aged 20 and over can help themselves to a cold one while they bathe. We will also have an outside beer hot tub for bigger groups and a new restaurant with beer related food. To book and for directions you can visit the website www.bjorbodin.is

KALDI: Kaldi Brewery is located 100 meters from the Spa. You can have a walk through the brewery, hear the story and you get to taste our variation of beers. The tour takes about 45-60 minutes. From June 1st tours are be available every hour. To book tours in the brewery outside these hours, contact the brewery

Akureyri Museum – Nonni’s House: Family friendly local history museum. Discover Akureyri from the 19th

century to the present day. Various short-term exhibitions. Annual Christmas exhibition. Hands on experience. Nonni‘s House is one of the oldest in town containing the story of a 12 year old boy who lived there and became a world famous writer of children’s books at the beginning of the 20th century publishing books even in Chinese.

Aðalstræti 58 , Akur eyri • Sími/Tel: 4 62 4162

East Iceland

East Iceland

The eastern region of Iceland stretches over 22 721 km2 and has a population of about 12 500 inhabitants. It is an area full of varied landscape, from the rugged plains of the interior to the mountainous, fecund fjords of the coast.

The area is made up of farmers and fishermen, artists and foreign connections, all contributing to the diversity of the region. Authentic design using local raw materials is the hallmark of East Iceland as local designers and artists create a great number of innovative products ranging from reindeer leather skirts to pure woollen mattresses. This region is the only area in the country where you will find Iceland‘s largest mammal, the shy reindeer, roaming the hills of the coastal areas up to Egilsstaðir.

The main routes are tarred, but there are a number of gravel roads down to the fjords. These can be treacherous, especially in winter. Most of them are steep and narrow with blind rises so please drive extra carefully on them. The high mountains, deep valleys and glistening waterfalls create wonderfully scenic views which can easily disturb concentration when driving. Please park in designated areas to capture the view and do not stop in the middle of the road to take photos. It is vital to check weather and road conditions before setting off. Some places are closed over the winter but it is possible to get information from the Information centres or on the website www.east.is.

The main pearls of East Iceland are listed here, but more detail will be given to the hidden pearls of the region. Hengifoss A is Iceland‘s third highest waterfall, 128 m only 34km from Egilsstaðir. Hallormstaðarskógur B , covers 740 hectares and is the largest forest in Iceland. It is found along the shores of the longest lake, Lagarfljót C , also said to contain the infamous Lagarfljóts worm.

Mt. Snæfell D , Iceland‘s highest freestanding mountain at 1883m above sea level dominates the view of Fljótsdalshreppur.

Vopnafjörður is tucked away off the main Road 1 but is well worth the visit over the Hauksstaðaheiði pass on Road 85. The valleys and canyons in the surrounding mountains host well-known salmon rivers where princes and presidents have tried their luck in catching a salmon or two. The Selárdalslaug gives you a chance to see all the wonders of this area.

The eastern region of Iceland stretches over 22 721 km2 and has a population of about 12 497 inhabitants. It is an area full of varied landscape, from the rugged plains of the interior to the mountainous, fecund fjords of the coast.

The area is made up of farmers and fishermen, artists and foreign connections, all contributing to the diversity of the region. Authentic design using local raw materials is the hallmark of East Iceland as local designers and artists create a great number of innovative products ranging from reindeer leather skirts to pure woollen mattresses. This region is the only area in the country where you will find Iceland‘s largest mammal, the shy reindeer, roaming the hills of the coastal areas up to Egilsstaðir.

The main routes are tarred, but there are a number of gravel roads down to the fjords. These can be treacherous, especially in winter. Most of them are steep and narrow with blind rises so please drive extra carefully on them. The high mountains, deep valleys and glistening waterfalls create wonderfully scenic views which can easily disturb concentration when driving. Please park in designated areas to capture the view and do not stop in the middle of the road to take photos. It is vital to check weather and road conditions before setting off. Some places are closed over the winter but it is possible to get information from the Information centres or on the website www.east.is.

Green Iceland. Photo by Olga

The main pearls of East Iceland are listed here, but more detail will be given to the hidden pearls of the region. Hengifoss A is Iceland‘s third highest waterfall, 128 m only 34km from Egilsstaðir. Hallormstaðarskógur B , covers 740 hectares and is the largest forest in Iceland. It is found along the shores of the longest lake, Lagarfljót C , also said to contain the infamous Lagarfljóts worm.

Mt. Snæfell D , Iceland‘s highest freestanding mountain at 1883m above sea level dominates the view of Fljótsdalshreppur.

This region soaks in a geothermal pool in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by beautiful landscape on the banks of the famous salmon-rich river, Selá. This lovely swimming pool has no electricity and is illuminated with candles. It is also wheelchair-friendly.

Bustarfell on Road 85 is a farm and folk museum with well-preserved turf houses dating back to 1770. Take a step back in time to this beautiful ancient manor which makes history come alive showing the farming and lifestyle of the 19th century until the mid-20th century. Most of the relics and artefacts have been donated by a member of the family of the manor.

Café Croft is a cosy coffee shop where traditional cakes and pies are offered, along with special handcrafts from the area.

Moving away from the coast and into the interior on Road 901, stands Möðrudalur, the highest farm in Iceland (469m above sea level) where you can enjoy Icelandic delicacies from the restaurant as you admire the stunning panoramic views. It has a camping ground, guesthouse and an information centre. This remote turf farm serves as an oasis in the desolate plains north of Vatnajökull for those heading into the highlands.

Sænautasel on the Jökulsheiði heath is another turf farm-turned-museum. It was evacuated during the Askja eruption in 1875. This reconstructed farm has a restaurant in the old sheep cote, open from mid-June to mid-September and serves traditional pancakes and coffee by candlelight. It was the source of inspiration for Halldór Laxness‘ famous novel Independent People, with the turf Selárdalslaug Burstarfell.

Laugarfell is located in the eastern part of the Icelandic Highlands, a bit north from Mount Snæfell. There are many interesting tracking paths around Laugarfell and a number of beautiful waterfalls. Laugarfell is open from the 1st of June to 30 of september. Laugarfell offers accommodation for 28 people. Two natural pools are located in Laugarfell and according to old folk tales the water is known for its healing powers. Laugarfell 701, Laugarfell – Tel: +354 773 3323 – info@laugarfell.is – www.laugarfell.is.

The Fenris wolf A giant hound, son of the Half-God Loki and a giantess; destined tohome being a model for the main protagonist‘s abode.

Egilsstaðir is the centre of the East. It is the stop-over point for many visitors to the area whether they come by boat, car or plane. Egilsstaðir has a domestic airport and is the shopping choice for passengers off the Norræna ferry in Seyðisfjörður. There is also a hospital and a college. Being centrally-located in the region, Egilsstaðir is only a short distance from all the main attractions and fjords. Together with Fellabær and the surrounding Fljótsdalshérað, there are about 3500 inhabitants in the area. The mild climate is reflected in the congenial spirit of the locals who are energetic, friendly and innovative. There are numerous museums in Egilsstaðir as well as handcraft galleries and cultural events held in the old slaughterhouse. The local swimming pool is family-friendly with wading pools, hot tubs, a main pool and a waterslide. Tjarnagarðurinn is a lovely park in the heart of the town where Frisbee golf can be played. Walking along the woodchip trails beside the Eyvindará river in the Selskógur forest is a nature lover‘s delight. Vallanes is the pioneer farm for organically – grown produce 10km from Egilsstaður in the Fljótsdalur valley. Egilsstaðir 1-2 / 700 Egilsstaðir www.lakehotel.is / hotel@lakehotel.is +354 – 471 – 1114. The “Field-to-Table” visit is a unique experience offered from May to September and the farm also provides accommodation all year. A definite stop for those interested in healthy living.

Skriðuklaustur was originally the home of Gunnar Gunnarsson, renowned author, but now this unique building houses the Centre of Culture and History in Fljótsdalur dedicated to his works. A lovely coffee shop is situated in the dining room. Archaeological findings in the area are gaining a lot of attention.

The Wilderness Centre, in Fljótsdalshérað on road 9340, is a museum and guest house, offering a variety of activities like, riding, fishing, mountain biking, cable bridge adventure and hiking trails.The amazingly creative depiction of past times on the farm when life was a constant struggle for survival against the forces of nature, is a wonderful surprise in this remote location. An old barn is transformed into a world of informative illusion using cinematic knowledge, light and sound, blended with inherited relics of forefathers. A wonderful mixture of sustainability and adventure. Local food is cooked in front of the guest in the old farmhouse.

Laugarfellslaug is a natural hot spring in the highlands, which is said to have healing properties. It is wonderful to soak in the hot tub, admiring the view, on top of the world at the Laugarfell hostel which accommodates 28 people and is open all year.

Up in the highlands is the controversial Kárahnjúkar hydro-electric dam, the biggest in Europe. It is 97km from Egilsstaðir with a tarred road all the way. The undisturbed view of the highlands and its peaks is breath-taking. Mt. Snæfell can easily be seen from Kárahnjúkar.

Seyðisfjörður can be seen as the artist capital of the East. This beautiful enclosed village is the host to the LungA Art Festival, Art in Light Festival and the Artist’s Residency. It is also the port for the Norræna Ferry to Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

Borgafjörður Eystri is a magnificent fjord tucked away in the mountains of the East. A challenging road down to the village, Bakkagerði is duly rewarded by the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the place. The rugged landscape has lovely walking trails throughits many contours and the bird life is rich and varied, with the puffin being the main attraction in summer. Its claims to fame are the blue flag marina, Lindarkaffi and the well-known annual music festival, Bræðslan.

Skorrahestar is on a fifth-generation run farm, Skorrastaðir, which offers accommodation for 22 people and unforgettable horse riding tours through the amazing landscape of Norðfjörður.

Hildibrand Hotel in Neskaupstaður was once the town‘s original co-op. Besides accommodation, it also offers various activities in the area with a wonderful boat trip into the fjord where the possibility of seeing humpback whales and hearing ghost stories is not unlikely.

The Icelandic Wartime Museum in Reyðarfjörður is a must for anyone interested in war history. The perspective is from soldiers and inhabitants alike and is one of a kind in Iceland.

The French history of Fáskrúðsfjörður is reflected in the FrenchMuseum housed in the beautiful restored historical buildings, the Doctor‘s House and the French Hospital, which are now both part of the Foss Hotel. The museum is an avant-garde exhibition in a tunnel under the main road and well worth a visit. Fáskrúðsfjörður is twinned with Gravelines in France, confirming the shared heritage between the two towns. If you missed out on seeing the northern lights while in Iceland, don‘t despair. Auroras Iceland is a delightful photographic exhibition of the northern lights in Fáskrúðsfjörður created by photographers, Jónína and Jóhanna. Open from 15 May to 30 September.

Stöðvarfjörður is a tiny town with a garden full of beautiful rocks and minerals. Petra’s Stone Collection is said to be the largest private stone collection in the world and well worth a visit.

Havarí Farm is known for its organic vegetarian produce, especially the vegan sausages, Bulsur. The owners, Berglind and Svavar Pétur offer accommodation in the old farmhouse, an artist‘s residency and a very good coffee shop.

The last town in the East is Djúpivogur, a quaint fishing village with an interesting display of 34 huge egg sculptures lining the road along the harbour, called Eggin í Gleðivík. Theseeggs each represent the 34 bird species found in the area. Langabúð at the harbour, is a coffee shop and museum in Djúpivogur‘s oldest building. The Papey Island Tour is an exciting 4-hour boat trip to the island to see Iceland‘s oldest and smallest wooden church. The amazing bird cliffs of the island as well as the nearby skerries provide wonderful bird and seal watching opportunities.

Managerial Theory

Managerial Theory

The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil. – Cicero

However imperfect, theoretical constructs help organize thoughts and learn about subjects. The main economic theories are Adam Smith’s laissez-faire and the invisible market hand, post Depression Keynesianism, and microeconomic and macroeconomic universal principles such as business cycles, demand and supply, Okun’s Law, and so on. The present essay will touch on a brief introduction to some management theories.

While some concepts are fairly straightforward, some nuances can complicate the whole picture. On the one hand, Punanandam (2008) writes that ‘financial distress’ means low cash flow, deadweight losses but still solvent. On the other hand, ‘insolvency’ means that the final maturity amount is lower than the face value of debt, resulting in control and ownership loss. Distinctively nuanced definitions. Financial distress would be the step between solvent and insolvent.

Some theories come from investment banking, wealth, portfolio and asset management; others from knowledge and corporate management. Many managerial theories are psychological in nature. To illustrate, management of one’s own and other people’s emotions, heavily studied by the Psychology department, is also of uttermost importance in the workplace.

The discipline knowledge management (KM) may have appeared in response to the computerization of information, but there may be a new level: wisdom management (WM). To the theoretical body of KM characterized by neo-liberal and positivist approaches, McKenna & Rooney (2005) adds the wisdom dimension. A resource with which the older generations are better endowed, making them in turn, corporately advantageous. The following are the concepts associated with superhuman astuteness:

• Life purpose and how to go about fulfilling it
• Existential crisis resolution
• Superior consulting and decision-making skills
• Multidimensional knowledge
• Harmony
• Ethics of care

Buddhist monks would likely advise one to look for the golden middle; such balance seems to be the elusive wise essence. Wisdom, intelligence, cleverness, adaptability, speed, sharpness, alertness, creativity, experience, persuasiveness, perspective, sustainability, flexibility, broad spectrum, talent … all these terms have some overlap in their meanings.

Two fat women trying to understand managerial theory. Photo by Elena

The Pyramid of Knowledge consists of the following building blocks, from bottom to top: Data ⇒ Information ⇒ Knowledge⇒ Wisdom.

Knowledge trumps information because it can be used for operational rationalization. WM would be in action if the decision makers had access to the collective dialectics, values, and ethics (McKenna & Rooney, 2005). Leaders must have a capacity to motivate their teams to get things done, and wise leaders have a better chance of materializing the condition. Surely, abilities such as interpersonal and intrapersonal insight and self-restraint create an advantage.

McKenna et al. (2009) expands on WM by exposing the set of 5 wisdom principles in the form of prepositions. Preposition 1: reason and meticulous examination. Preposition 2: openness to irrational and intuitive explanations. The third and fourth refer to civility and virtue for the former, practicality for the latter. The last principle has to do with oration, aesthetics “and seek[ing] the intrinsic personal and social rewards of contributing to the good life” (McKenna, 2009; p. 180).

Business and management studies are a relatively new field. In Germany, business studies became an official scientific discipline in 1957, with the famous speech delivered by Erich Gutenberg (Albach & Bloch, 2000).

Challenges to Managerial Theory

The theoretical body of knowledge is colossal, but an academically aware person knows better than to believe anything she or he hears, reads or even sees. Aside from the rule to avoid believing any single experiment before independent replication, theories and premises must be scrutinized and evaluated in lieu of blind acceptance.

Christensen & Raynor (2003) talk about some of the challenges faced by managers. When a goal must be attained, the contradictory messages overflowing the supervisor are striking. Occupying a managerial position means responsibility. One cannot simply try out strategies until finding out which one works. An old wisdom (and a Metallica song) says ‘one man’s fun is another’s hell’, so it seems to be with companies. Even the most reliable, theoretically viable strategy may work for one company, yet bury another. The ensuing problem seems to be one of lack of customization. In the article, a parallel is drawn between the medical and managerial professions, remarking that a physician must first inquire of symptoms and then write a prescription, while academicians ‘prescribe’ generic management theory to companies they have not even seen. The comparison is thought provoking, but seems a bit far-fetched in terms of sameness of the two set-ups. An illustration is given in the form of Lucent Technologies. Given the success that decentralized companies experienced, Lucent followed suit. Integrally different from the rest, the results were catastrophic. Bottom line, the theory must be appropriate to the firm’s circumstances. Mikulecky (2010) also deplores the ‘one size fits all’ structure of management theory.

Challenging the theory. Photo by Elena

A problem with data collection for new theory creation comes in the possibility of over-generalizing results from a few exceptions to all businesses. Non-representative samples and differential circumstances are other common mishaps. Organizational charts are often used to graphically outline the corporate hierarchy. The writer maintains that the pictorials are in fact a very bad representation of what actually goes on inside corporate walls.

But surely there is hope… Although theories are prone to, sometimes severe, limitations, they remain an important part of one’s education and understanding. Guidelines, such as the Occam’s razor, can guide one in choosing which management theories to pay attention to (Meier, 2006). Occam’s razor refers to the scientific principle of parsimony.

Christensen & Raynor (2003) warn that sound managerial theory must have the following three components: establishment of the cause(s), prediction of likely outcomes and either the ability to work in all cases or to identify the cases where exceptions prevail. Similar to choosing the most parsimonious explanation, such guidelines may indeed help cross through the varying theory edifices.

In conclusion, even though one cannot rely a 100% on scientific paradigms, the implications of research are significant. See Brownlie (2008) for a picture of diverse disciplines that benefit from, and contribute to, these key ideas. The author also underscores the distinction between theory and practice, and the importance of the practical aspect. The debates, questioning and doubts are not only to be expected, but also most likely beneficial to the building of a solid theoretical construction.

Defining aspects of an academic article are the abstract and references sections. It shows the reader what the article is about, so that the decision can be taken whether to go on reading or to stop. As many a student knows, these types of articles can be lengthy and quite technical, but the summaries concisely state most of the gist of the work anyway. Of course, it is nevertheless imperative to read the whole thing to really understand what the message is, and that is – if then. The golden rule is that peer-reviewed academic journals, preferably with publication dates in the last 10 years unless classics of their field, make for good residents in bibliographies. Books, proceedings from conferences, government reports and census or statistical data are also acceptable sources for compiling research papers.

References:

• Brownlie, D., Hewer, P., Wagner, B. & Svensson, G. (2008). Management theory and practice: Bridging the gap through multidisciplinary lenses. Special Issue of European Business Review, 20 (6): 461-470.
• Christensen, C.M. & Raynor, M. E. (2003). Why hard-nosed executives should care about management theory. Harvard Business Review, September, 1-11.
• Meier, K. J. (2006). Management theory and Occam’s razor: How public organizations buffer the environment. Empirical Study of Organizations and Public Management, May 4-6, Texas: 1-28.
• Mikulecky, D. C. (2010). A new approach to a theory of management: Manage the real complex system, not its model. In Wallis, S. E., Cybernetics and systems theory in management: tools, view and advancements. Information Science Reference: Hershey, PA.
• Albach, H. & Bloch, B. (2000). Management as a science: Emerging trends in economic and managerial theory. Journal of Management History (Archive), 6 (3): 138-158.
• McKenna, B., Rooney, D. & Boal, K. B. (2009). Wisdom principles as a meta-theoretical basis for evaluating leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 20: 177-190.
• McKenna, B. & Rooney, D. (2005). Wisdom management: Tensions between theory and practice in practice. Knowledge Management in the Asia Pacific (KMAP), Nov. Wellington, NZ: 1-28.
• Punanandam, A. (2008). Financial distress and corporate risk management: Theory and evidence. Journal of Financial Economics, 87 (3): 706-739.