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Understanding Other Cultures

Understanding Other Cultures. What is Culture?. Culture Scholars have defined culture in more than 160 ways. Culture is learned, shared and transmitted from one generation to the next. Culture is the ‘collective programming of the mind’. What is Culture?. Most anthropologists agree

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Understanding Other Cultures

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  1. Understanding Other Cultures

  2. What is Culture? • Culture • Scholars have defined culture in more than 160 ways. • Culture is learned, shared and transmitted from one generation to the next. • Culture is the ‘collective programming of the mind’.

  3. What is Culture? • Most anthropologists agree • Culture is learned, not innate. • The various aspects of culture are interrelated. • Culture is shared. • Culture defines the boundaries of different groups.

  4. Hofstede Dimensions • Power Distance • Individualism-Collectivism • Masculinity-Femininity • Uncertainty Avoidance • Long-term-Short-term Orientation

  5. Large versus Small Power Distance • Large Power Distance • Employees believe their supervisors are right even when they are wrong. • Employees do not take any initiative in making non-routine decisions. • Small Power Distance • A participative management style of leadership is likely to be productive for this types of organization.

  6. Power Distance

  7. Individualism versus Collectivism • Individualism • People are only supposed to look after themselves and their immediate family. • Organizations emphasize individual decision making. • Collectivism • People belong to groups that are supposed to look after them in exchange for loyalty. • Organizations are likely to rely on group decision making.

  8. Individualism-Collectivism

  9. Masculinity versus Femininity • Masculinity • The degree to which dominant values in a society emphasize assertiveness, acquisition of money and status, and achievement. • Femininity • The degree to which dominant values in a society emphasize people relationships, concern for others, and the overall quality of life.

  10. Masculinity-Femininity

  11. Strong versus Weak Uncertainty Avoidance • Strong Uncertainty Avoidance • Employees tend to stay with their organizations for a long time. • High resistance to organizational change is expected among these employees. • Weak Uncertainty Avoidance • Employees tend to change jobs more frequently.

  12. Uncertainty Avoidance

  13. Long-term/Short-term Orientation

  14. HOFSTEDE Country Comparisons

  15. Matrix: Power Distance/Individualism • Great Britain • USA • Canada Individualism • Spain • France • Italy • Germany • Austria • Sweden • China • Japan • Mexico Power Distance

  16. Matrix: Power Distance/Uncertainty Avoidance • Germany • Austria • Sweden • France • Belgium Uncertainty-Avoidance • Italy • Spain • Greece • Great Britain • USA • Canada Power Distance

  17. Cultural Analysis of the UK

  18. The Role of Time • Every culture has their ‘Time Language’ • Life Rhythm: slow or fast? • Punctuality: valued or not? • Lead Time: long or short? • Time Perspective: Past or Future? • Daily Time: cultural norms?

  19. Fast Magazines Memos/Emails Videos TV Use of First Names in the USA Slow Books Letters Art/Theatre Print Media Use of Formality in other Cultures Life Rhythm: Examples of Fast and Slow Communication

  20. Monochronic/Polychronic Cultures

  21. Orientation Towards Past, Present & Future

  22. High and Low Context Cultures High/Low Context How much of the entire array of communication stimuli is meaningful for the conversation: • Cultural Scale: • Japanese...Arab...Mexican...Italian...French...English... American...German • Professional Scale: • HR…Marketing...R&D...Technical...Engineers...Finance

  23. Regional or Cultural Differences • Child Labor – Good or Bad? • Religious Beliefs – Business Impact? • Expatriates – Trials and Tribulations • Women – Glass Ceiling • Compensation & Benefits – Leveling the Playing Field • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – Where do you Draw the Line?

  24. Child Labor Still Exists • Who? – Walmart, Nike, Disney, Gap, McDonalds. • Where? – 61% in Asia, 32% in Africa, 7% in Latin America. • How Many? ~250 million children between 5 and 14 work in developing countries; 120 million of them full-time. • How Much? – On average, these children are paid about 30 cents an hour.

  25. Major Religions of the World • Hinduism • Caste System • Sacred Cow • Confucianism • Guides Personal and Social Behavior, Jen and Li • Buddhism • Breaking the Laws of Karma • Samsura – Endless Cycle of Rebirth • Islam • No separation of Church and State • Five Pillars of Faith • Sunnis/Shiites Split

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