CH 8

1
CH 8

• Cultures Effects on the Work World

2
Relevant Considerations to be Covered

• Correlations
• Ecological
• Individual
• Key Cultural Dimensions
• Individualism/collectivism
• Power distance
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Masculinity/femininity
• (Asia) Confucian dynamism
• Leadership
• Paternal authoritativeness
• Cultivation of trust

3
Correlation Mathematical concept that
communicates an association between two variables

• An association does not imply causality
• Ecological correlations
• Concepts that describe a culture
• Concepts that reflect norms and values
• Behaviors that are expected in one country are
  unacceptable in another
• Individual correlations
• Concepts, characteristics that relate to an
  individual
• Individual level analysis can reveal people whose
  characteristics harmonize or conflict with
  ecological

4
Hofstedes Dimensions1

• Individualism /Collectivism
• Power distance
• Uncertainty Avoidance
• Masculinity /Femininity
• and
• Confucian Dynamism

5
Hofstedes Dimensions Individualism vs.
Collectivism

• Individualism
• Personal goals
• Choices
• Temporary group membership
• Collectivism
• Group goals
• Integrated efforts
• Group membership for life

6
Hofstedes Dimensions Power Distance

• Amount of distance in status hierarchy between
  groups
• High power distance Status distinctions are
  accepted and high status individuals are expected
  to exert their power
• Low power distance Distinctions are less rigid
  and less explicit

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Uncertainty Avoidance

• Concern with predictability
• Attitude toward risk taking
• Comprehensiveness of rules
• Stability/change

8
Masculinity /Femininity

• Masculinity in this context refers to
  assertiveness, competitiveness, rational
  (task-oriented rather than feeling-oriented)
  approach to decision-making, hierarchy (Japan)
• Femininity is associated with values of
  cooperation, collaboration, decision-making that
  takes peoples feelings into account, shared
  power (Scandinavia)
• The distinction reflects the amount of emphasis
  (on a continuum) placed on particular factors

9
Confucianism

• Kong Fu Ze (500B.C.) Civil servant
  teacher/philosopher
• Jesuit priests later renamed him for their
  convenience
• Guidelines for everyday life
• Unequal status relationships lead to a stable
  society (father/son, teacher/student, older
  brother/younger brother)

10
Confucianism

• The family is typical of all social organizations
  
• A person must find an identity within the group
• The primary group membership is within family
• Maintaining harmony within the group is important
• Face dignity, respect, and prestige

11
Confucianism

• Value of working hard, mastering useful skills
  and education, persevering and being thrifty

12
Confucian Dynamism

• Subsequent to Hofstedes early studies, research
  specific to Asia (Chinese Culture Connection)
  emerged as a result of the economic advances of
  some Asian nations (notice the incentive!)

13
Confucian Dynamism

• Results of this research suggest that cultural
  values with emphasis on specific aspects of
  Confucian thought are foundational to the
  cultures of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea
  and Singapore, the five countries identified as
  The Five Dragons
• The emphasized aspects of The Five Dragons
  cultures were
• Persistence
• Ordering relationships by status and maintaining
  the order (reciprocal relationships)
• Thrift
• Having a sense of shame (particularly regarding
  breaching the above 3 values)
• Although 22 countries were found to have cultural
  values generally based in Confucian philosophy,
  the Five Dragons emphasized only specific
  aspects, de-emphasizing protecting face, respect
  for tradition, etc., qualities which might
  conceivably have impeded economic development and
  progress

14
Leadership
15
Paternal authoritativeness
16
Cultivation of Trust