USA Cultural Analysis

1
USA Cultural Analysis

• IB 8180
• Monday Sept. 30, 2003

2
Basic Facts -- USA

• Population 288.4 million (2002)
• 80.7 European
• 12.7 African
• 4.0 Asian
• 0.9 Native Peoples
• 1.6 Other or Mixed Race
• (Note 8.6 listed multiple race on 2000 census)

3
Basic Facts -- USA

• Foreign Born 30.46 million (11.13)
• Non-citizens 14.23 million (5.14)
• 26.75 million primarily speak Spanish
• 46.48 million primarily German ancestry
• 33.07 million primarily Irish ancestry

4
Basic Facts -- USA

• Median Age 35.3 years
• Median Household Income 42,409
• 105.5 million households
• 68 own their own home
• 27.2 of households are one person (25.8)
• Families in Poverty12.1

5
Economic Stats

• There are over 21 million different businesses in
  the US
• In 1999 151,000 new businesses were started.
• 146 million people had jobs, about 6.1 of the
  workforce is unemployed (9/03)

6
Key Historical Context

• A nation of peasants and slaves.
• The self sorting of immigrants.
• A ever larger land isolated from the old world.
• Only internal wars after the revolution.
• Continual demographic change through immigration
  and marriage

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Cultural Dimensions of a Country I

• A rather Universalistic Culture
• The Rule of Law
• Everyone equal under the law
• All men are created equal
• E pluribus Unum
• Do unto others
• The Future is Now
• You (should) control your own fate

8
Cultural Dimensions of a Country II

• A very Individualistic Culture
• The group serves the individuals goals
• Equal opportunity, not outcomes
• The role of due process
• A Culture where Status is Achieved
• The sins of the father are not visited
• The burden of a silver spoon
• The bootstrap pulling hero the entrepreneur

9
Cultural Dimensions of a Country III

• A culture that is Specific
• Different roles for each aspect of life
• Everyone can be someone, somewhere
• First names right away
• A culture that prefers Rationality
• Just the facts
• Cut to the chase
• BUT how do you feel for entertainment

10
Attitudes about Business

• The business of America is business
• A long tradition of relatively free trade
• Little influence of collectivism in the 20th
  century
• Individualism and the entrepreneur
• Social welfare is increased by business success.

11
Attitudes about Business II

• Open for investment
• Foreign Direct Investment wanted
• Little restraint on foreign ownership
• Low trade barriers
• Supportive of the Entrepreneur
• Firm loyalty not expected
• Capital markets set up to nurture new businesses.

12
Attitudes about Business III

• Work activities define you
• What do you do.
• Obligation to the family Bring home the
  bacon--You work hard to give your family what
  they want/desire.
• Moving up is the measure of success.
• Your wealth is a direct reflection of how much
  you have contributed.
• WORK HARD / PLAY HARD

13
Attitudes about Business IV

• Moving at the Speed of Business
• Optimistic and future oriented
• Bigger is better
• Fast fast fast - time waits for no man.
• The Bottom Line
• Money measures business success.
• The quarterly profit estimate
• What have you done for me lately

14
Specific Practices

• Negotiations
• Be direct and clear
• Expect to bargain
• Work for the win win
• The relationship is the deal, nothing else.
• No hard feelings
• It has to be fair

15
Specific Practices II

• Employment
• Motivation based on financial reward first.
• Motivation based on personal status achievement
  second.
• Motivation based on the success of the firm
  third.
• Clear Path-Goal motivation.
• Merit is expected to rule in job assignments and
  rewards

16
Specific Practices III

• Boss has to earn respect.
• People talk with each other openly. Formality
  shows contempt.
• Doors should be open, literally and figuratively.
• Discipline should be private.
• Workers rights in certain areas may be greater
  that anticipated, e.g. whistle blowers

17
Specific Practices IV

• Relationships
• Business is a legitimate topic to mix with golf,
  the club, or any other activity. (Contrast
  Specific relationships)
• No business areas need to be clearly defined.

18
Trends

• Continued pressure toward freer markets and
  global trade, less political realities.
• Belief in the market place relatively strong.
• Few new social requirements on business.
• Favorable tax and regulatory structure should
  continue, although not a free as in the past in
  MA.