Cultural Frameworks

Group Presentations

Present your team’s analysis of the misunderstanding in the scenario you read. What was your discussion like? Did your team members all agree on the problem? What solutions might you suggest for this situation?

Final Project1. National Identity: What does it mean to be “an American”? What is

the US “national identity”?

2. Cultural Profile: Describe Americans according to the T/H-T dimensions. Provide recommendations for doing business with Americans.

3. Socializing Influences: How are Americans socialized? What are the most important sources of values for American children?

4. Regional Identity: Is Austin typical of Texas? Is Texas typical of the US? What regional patterns can you identify from your research?

5. Demographics: What cultural sub-groups characterize Austin? What characteristics do various groups exhibit?

6. Cultural Evolution/Influence: What issues (political, social, ethnic, generational, religious, etc.) are currently shaping American culture?

Using Cultural Frameworks

Models of Culture

E. T. Hall The Silent Language

• Culture Defines Boundaries – Dividing Line between What is Normal and What is Not (Consensual Sex vs. Rape in US and Mid-East)

• Culture Is Subconscious• Perceived as “Real” or “Normal”• Recognized Only when Severely

Challenged

Spencer-Oatey, H. (2000). Culturally Speaking : Managing Rapport through Talk across Cultures. London, Continuum

• Culture Dictates – Expectation of Behavior from Others– Interpretation of Meaning in Others’ Behavior

So what happens when cultural norms are not shared?

Hofstede, Geert, (1991)

• Values - broad tendencies to prefer certain states of affairs over others

• Three Levels of Culture - Rituals (ways of greeting and paying

respect) - Heroes (admired persons who serve as an

example for behavior) - Symbols (words, color or other artifacts that

carry a special meaning)

Different people may see the same event differently

Trompenaars/Hampden-Turner, (1998) Riding the Waves of Culture

Culture is made of Basic Assumptions:• Universalism vs. Particularism• Analyzing vs. Integrating• Individualism vs. Collectivism• Time as sequence vs. Time as

synchronization• Achieved status vs. Ascribed status• Equality vs. Hierarchy

Universalism/ Particularism

Security, PredictabilityNo Bold Action

Self-DeterminismAnarchy

Analyzing/Integrating

Analytical, ScientificParalysis by Analysis

Holistic, ComprehensiveLack of Clarity about Specifics

Individualism/Collectivism

Efficient, DecisiveInadequate, Unsupported

Thorough, ConsensualIndecisive, Unchanging

Time:Sequence/Synchronization

SynchronicEfficiency, AccomplishmentIgnores Nuance/Complexity

PolychronicSees Multiple Opportunities

Difficulty Setting Course of Action

Achievement/Ascription

Encourages ExcellenceWinning Valued over Humanity

Noblesse ObligePromotes Incompetence

Equality/Hierarchy

Everyone Is ValuedLacks Direction/Clarity

Decisions Made EfficientlyGood Ideas Not Heard

Affective/Neutral

Problems Clear/ResolvableEmotion over Reason

Logical/RationalDifficult to Read

Discussion

Based on these cultural parameters, how would you describe the conflicts in the intercultural scenarios you analyzed earlier?

Exercise 3Imagine that your team is a bi-cultural group as described below. Using the T/H-T

handout, predict the challenges for your group working on a project.

• Team 1: Denmark and Italy – Achievement/Ascription

• Team 2: Switzerland and Venezuela - Universalist/ Particularist

• Team 3: Canada and Korea – Individualism/Collectivism

• Team 4: USA and China – Short Term/Long-Term Focus

• Team 5: Germany and Spain – Low/High Context

• Team 6: Spain and Japan – Affective/Neutral

• Team 7: Great Britain and Germany – Analyzing/Integrating

Break

DiscussionReflect on the cultural models we have

discussed. • Where do you fall on the continua in the

Trompenaars/Hampden-Turner model? • Do you believe you are typical of people from

your country of residence? • What factors are responsible for variation

within your country of residence?• How helpful do you think the model is in

predicting the behavior of people in your country of residence?

Cultural Difference Affects Business

• Relationships Between Companies and their Representatives

• Business Systems

• Business Processes

• Areas of Emphasis

For Next Time

Schedule meeting with instructor for next class

Memorize Trompenaars Cultural Features

Review:What Have We Learned So

Far about Cultural Interaction?

• Cultural Models Identify Differences in Expectation and Behavior

• They Don’t Account for Individual Variation

Homework 2Due for Session 5

Reflect on the cultural models we have discussed. Based on the Trompenaars model:

• Austrian and U.S. students: Create a profile of Chinese culture.

• Chinese Students: Create a profile of Austrian culture using the German values where necessary. Interview Austrian students to learn differences between German and Austrian culture.

You will hand in a written cultural outline and present your findings in class.