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CHRP-Lecture-19

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CHRP-Lecture-19

Uploaded by

dhanashree kamaraj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CULTURE DYNAMICS –

CULTURE ASSESSMENT
(Assessing Culture; 9 Dimensions of Culture;)

Lecture 19
Assessing Culture:
Hofstede’s Cultural Differences Dimensions
Individualism or Collectivism
– Individualistic societies value development of & focus on individual
– Collective societies value group relationships
Power Distance
– Extent to which society is hierarchical & how power is distributed
among its members
Uncertainty Avoidance
– Extent to which society feels comfortable with ambiguity & values &
encourages risk-taking. People from high uncertainty avoidance
cultures, such as many Latin American cultures, Mediterranean
cultures, and some European (e.g.,Germany, Poland)) and Asian
cultures (e.g., Japan, Pakistan) tend to have greater need for formal
rules, standards, and structures.
Assessing Culture:
Hofstede’s Cultural Differences Dimensions….2

Masculine Vs. Feminine


– In masculine cultures, such as Mexico, Italy, Japan, and Australia,
tough values – such as achievements, ambition, power, and
assertiveness – are preferred over tender values – such as quality
of life and compassion for the weak. For instance, men are
expected to be assertive, tough, and focus on material success,
whereas women are expected to be modest and tender, and focus
on improving the quality of life for the family.
– In feminine cultures, such as most of Scandinavian cultures,
genders roles are fluid and flexible: Men and women do not
necessarily have separate roles, and they can switch their jobs
while taking care of the family. Not only do feminine societies care
more about quality of life, service, and nurturance, but such tender
values are embraced by both men and women in the society.
Assessing Culture:
Hofstede’s Cultural Differences Dimensions….3

Long-Term Orientation Vs. Short-Term Orientation


– Based on the teachings of Confucius, long-term orientation deals
with a society’s search for virtues. Societies with a long-term
orientation, such as most East Asian societies, embrace future-
oriented virtues such as thrift, persistence, and perseverance,
ordering relationships by status, and cultivating a sense of shame
for falling short of collective expectations.

– Societies with a short-term orientation foster more present- or


past-oriented virtues such as personal steadiness and stability,
respect for tradition, and reciprocation of greetings, favors, and gifts.
Countries with a short-term orientation include Norway, the United
Kingdom, and Kenya.
Hall’s Model of Cultural Differences

Time
– Importance or sense of time in daily activities
Space (Distance)
– Amount of physical distance individuals attempt to maintain between
themselves & others. This is referred to as Personal Space.
Material Goods/Materiality
– Emphasis or inferences on possession of goods to signify power,
success & status
Friendships/Relationships
– Importance of friendships in conferring status
Agreements
– Considers how agreements are reached
In the Eye of the Beholder

9 Dimensions of Culture
• Performance Orientation
• Assertiveness
• Future Orientation
• Humane Orientation
• Institutional Collectivism
• In-group Collectivism
• Gender Egalitarianism
• Power Distance
• Uncertainty Avoidance
In the Eye of the Beholder

Successful global leaders were found to be


• Charismatic/value-based (able to inspire and motivate
others based on firmly held core beliefs)
• Team-oriented (able to build teams and implement
common purpose among team members)
• Participative (involve others in making and implementing
decisions)
• Humane-oriented (supportive, considerate, compassionate
and generous)
• Autonomous (independent and individualistic)
• Self-protective (ensure safety and security)
Cross-Cultural Management and Organizational
Behavior in Africa (Example)
Modern African Management Principles
• Collective Solidarity: Employee teams work most effectively, achieving cohesiveness and
solidarity, by working toward a common purpose
• Group Significance (Ubuntu): Ubuntu means that humanity is a shared value in which
personhood exists within a group context, only insofar as a person values others.
• Harmony and Social Cohesion: Emphasis is placed on maintaining peace and keeping
conflict to a minimum by promoting internal, communal, and familial harmony
• Consensus: Emphasis is placed on collective decision making.
• Consultation: Group participation is strongly emphasized, as are mutual understanding,
joint problem solving, and honoring the collective wisdom of all team members.
• Local Time (or “African” Time): In Africa, time standards are ambiguous, and thus require
flexibility on the part of non-African managers.
• Paternal/Maternal Leadership: African firms are often structured like African families and,
therefore, organizational leaders (managers, supervisors, and owners) tend to behave with
paternal (or maternal) responsibility toward their staff members
• Age and Authority: Advanced age is inherently equated with authority, business wisdom,
rank, title, and experience. Thus, an older person automatically holds a certain level of
superiority, regardless of rank, title, or education.
Thank You

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