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Culture in practice

Culture in practice. Gert Jan Hofstede Nov 2007. Niko Tinbergen’s questions. Animal behaviour…? cause function learning evolution How about culture?. 1907-1988. Cause of culture. People have Group-wise social structure Moral feelings (good / bad behaviour, reputation)

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Culture in practice

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  1. Culture in practice Gert Jan Hofstede Nov 2007

  2. Niko Tinbergen’s questions • Animal behaviour…? • cause • function • learning • evolution • How about culture? 1907-1988

  3. Cause of culture People have Group-wise social structure Moral feelings (good / bad behaviour, reputation) Empathy (laughing!) Education (transferring values and practices for group) Groups differ in environment Climate Substenance (hunt/gather, farm, herd) History → divergence of cultures is expected

  4. Function of culture Societies have scarce resources to divide • sexual partners • power • affiliation → rules of the game are called for, to avoid fighting, jealousy, cultural downfall… → most important: Golden Rule, Categorical Imperative →culture enables group to be a ‘virtuous’ reproductive unit (…and identity creates out-groups)

  5. Learning culture Children learn from • Parents, siblings, playmates about • Being a good child, friend,… Team members learn from • Leaders, one another about… • Being late, mobile phones, saying ‘yes’or ‘no’, … blowing bubbles

  6. Culture and the moral circle • Culture is the unwritten rules of the social game • divide scarce resources • balance our individual drives • …with our moral group needs • Culture is how to be a good member of the moral circle. • if not: outcast • does not apply to non-members!

  7. Evolution of culture Time scales: ±10.000.000 years: apes, versatile social mammals ± 1.000.000 years: early humans, fire → language → conquering niches, travelling ± 10.000 years: agriculture → cities → specialization, warfare, empires, multilevel groups ± 1.000 years same ± 100 years industrialization, public / private ± 10 years information age, ‘global village’

  8. Now: Web, EU Is the EU a moral circle?

  9. Lee Mikkelsen Where is our code? Give it now! 1. No. I have a better plan. 3. Mikkelsen to Yap and Tan Here is my plan. What do you think of it? 2. Lee cc: to many bosses Do as we all tell you! Transpacific trouble • Sequel: • Yap and Tan did nothing. • Bosses alerted by e-mail nr 2. forced Mikkelsen to comply. • Mikkelsen bypassed Lee in new work arrangement • Result 6 months later: Mikkelsen now satisfied.

  10. Scrap Story • Kuala Lumpur plant • Chip production • Production: Malay women • 1st line supervision: Male Indian and Malay • Middle mgmt: Malay and Chinese • Upper Mgmt: Chinese • Chinese / US: executive New US executive: “reduce scrap!” Scrap halved by end 1st quarter! Malay woman standing alone 2nd quarter: inventory losses stagger Toilets clog up

  11. Culture as a moral compass • These stories are about proper / improper • common rules-of-the-game are lacking • …and nobody knows this • Adaptability got us here • It will take us further • Enemies to social cohesion • Fear, Ignorance • Irresponsibility of leaders • We need to • know ourselves • know our differences • be one moral group

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