MIB ASSIGNMENT.docx

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MIB ASSIGNMENT

Q-3 Explain various cultural frameworks given by different

or understanding cross cultural differences. Give suitable example to illustratethse frameworks.

Solution

The word 'culture' is derived from the Latin cultus, meaning cult or worship The word culture in

our societ! has man! connotations" artistic# elitist and $iological to name $ut a few In the

conte%t of international $usiness# culture ma! $e defined as learned patterns of $ehavior or

guidelines for $ehavior which are primaril! passed on from parents to their children $ut also $!

social organi&ations# special interest groups# the government# schools# and churches

ultural framewor(s given $! different aupperities for understanding cross cultural

differences are ")

Edward T. all study

Edward T. allwas an anthropologist who made earl! discoveries of (e! cultural factors In

particular he is (nown for his high and low conte%t cultural factors

!. "ontext

igh context

In a high)conte%t culture# there are man! conte%tual elements that help people to understand

the rules As a result# much is ta(en for granted

This can $e ver! confusing for person who does not understand the 'unwritten rules' of the

culture

#ow context

In a low)conte%t culture# ver! little is ta(en for granted *hilst this means that more


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e%planation is needed# it also means there is less chance of misunderstanding particularl!

when visitors are present

$. Time

%onochronic time

M)Time# as he called it# means doing one thing at a time It assumes careful planning and

scheduling and is a familiar *estern approach that appears in disciplines such as 'time

management'

Monochronic people tend also to $e low conte%t

&olychronic time

In +ol!chronic cultures# human interaction is valued over time and material things# leading to

a lesser concern for 'getting things done' )) the! do get done# $ut more in their own time

A$original and Native Americans have t!pical pol!chronic cultures# where 'tal(ing stic('

meetings can go on for as long as some$od! has something to sa!

+ol!chronic people tend also to $e high conte%t

3. 'pace

,all was concerned a$out space and our relationships within it ,e called the stud! of such

spaceProxemics

*e have concerns a$out space in man! situations# from personal $od! space to space in the

office# par(ing space# space at home

The need for space


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Some people need more space in all areas +eople who encroach into that space are seen as a

threat

+ersonal space is an e%ample of a mo$ile form of territor! and people need less or greaterdistances $etween them and others A -apanese person who needs less space thus will stand

closer to an American# inadvertentl! ma(ing the American uncomforta$le

Some people need $igger homes# $igger cars# $igger offices and so on This ma! $e driven $!

cultural factors# for e%ample the space in America needs to greater use of space# whilst

-apanese need less space .partl! as a result of limited useful space in -apan/

(. igh territoriality

Some people are more territorial than others with greater concern for ownership The! see( to

mar( out the areas which are theirs and perhaps having $oundar! wars with neigh$ors

This happens right down to des()level# where co)wor(ers ma! do $attle over a piece of paper

which overlaps from one person's area to another At national level# man! wars have $een

fought over $oundaries

Territorialit! also e%tends to an!thing that is 'mine' and ownership concerns e%tend to material

things Securit! thus $ecomes a su$0ect of great concern for people with a high need for

ownership

+eople high territorialit! tend also to $e low conte%t

#ow territoriality

+eople with lower territorialit! have less ownership of space and $oundaries are less important

to them The! will share territor! and ownership with little thought

The! also have less concern for material ownership and their sense of 'stealing' is less

developed .this is more important for highl! territorial people/
http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/social_distance.htmhttp://changingminds.org/techniques/body/social_distance.htm


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+eople with low territorialit! tend also to $e high conte%t

)*'TE+E,' 'T+

,ofstede's stud! demonstrated that there are national and regional cultural groupings that affect

the $ehaviour of societies and organi&ations# and that are ver! persistent across time

Based on his IBM stud! in 12 different countries# ,ofstede identifies five of these differences in

mental programming# which he calls five dimensions"

!. &ower distance

+ower 3istance Inde% .+3I/ focuses on the degree of e4ualit!# or ine4ualit!# $etween people in

the countr!'s societ! A ,igh +ower 3istance ran(ing indicates that ine4ualities of power and

wealth have $een allowed to grow within the societ! These societies are more li(el! to follow a

caste s!stem that does not allow significant upward mo$ilit! of its citi&ens A Low +ower

3istance ran(ing indicates the societ! de)emphasi&es the differences $etween citi&en's power and

wealth In these societies e4ualit! and opportunit! for ever!one is stressed

$. "ollectivism versus /ndividualism

Individualism .I35/ focuses on the degree the societ! reinforces individual or collective#

achievement and interpersonal relationships A ,igh Individualism ran(ing indicates that

individualit! and individual rights are paramount within the societ! Individuals in these societies

ma! tend to form a larger num$er of looser relationships A Low Individualism ran(ing t!pifies

societies of a more collectivist nature with close ties $etween individuals These cultures

reinforce e%tended families and collectives where ever!one ta(es responsi$ilit! for fellow

mem$ers of their group

3. *emininity versus %asculinity

,ofstede6s stud! suggested that men6s goals were significantl! different from women6s goals and

could therefore $e e%pressed on a masculine and a feminine pole *here feminine values are


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more important .Sweden7 8rance# Israel# 3enmar(# Indonesia/# people tend to value a good

wor(ing relationship with their supervisors7 wor(ing with people who cooperate well with one

another# living in an area desira$le to themselves and to their families# and having the securit!

that the! will $e a$le to wor( for their compan! as long as the! want

Masculinit! .MAS/ focuses on the degree the societ! reinforces# or does not reinforce# the

traditional masculine wor( role model of male achievement# control# and power A ,igh

Masculinit! ran(ing indicates the countr! e%periences a high degree of gender differentiation In

these cultures# males dominate a significant portion of the societ! and power structure# with

females $eing controlled $! male domination A Low Masculinit! ran(ing indicates the countr!

has a low level of differentiation and discrimination $etween genders In these cultures# females

are treated e4uall! to males in all aspects of the societ!

(. ncertainty avoidance

9ncertaint! Avoidance Inde% .9AI/ focuses on the level of tolerance for uncertaint! and

am$iguit! within the societ! ) ie unstructured situations A ,igh 9ncertaint! Avoidance ran(ing

indicates the countr! has a low tolerance for uncertaint! and am$iguit! This creates a rule)

oriented societ! that institutes laws# rules# regulations# and controls in order to reduce the amount

of uncertaint! A Low 9ncertaint! Avoidance ran(ing indicates the countr! has less concern

a$out am$iguit! and uncertaint! and has more tolerance for a variet! of opinions This is

reflected in a societ! that is less rule)oriented# more readil! accepts change# and ta(es more and

greater ris(s

0. #ong-term versus 'hort-term orientation

A long term orientation is characteri&ed $! persistence and perseverance# a respect for a

hierarch! of the status of relationships# thrift# and a sense of shame ountries include hina7

,ong :ong7 Taiwan# -apan and India A short)term orientation is mar(ed $! a sense of securit!

and sta$ilit!# a protection of one6s reputation# a respect for tradition# and a reciprocation of

greetings7 favors and gifts ountries include" Britain# anada# the +hilippines7 German!#

Australia

CRITICISM OF HOFSTEDES MODEL


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Geert ,ofstede6s depiction of enduring and powerful national cultures or national cultural

differences is legendar! If his findings are correct the! have immense implications for

management within and across countries# and for the future of nation states ) including the

prospects for greater European integration ,owever# closer e%amination of his research reveals

that it relies# in m! view# on fundamentall! flawed assumptions This article e%amines four

crucial assumptions upon which his measurements are $ased These assumptions are ;crucial6 in

the sense that each is necessar! for the plausi$ilit! of his identification claims It is argued that

the! are all flawed and that therefore his national cultural descriptions are invalid and

misleading

Assumption " The main dimensions of a national culture can $e identified $! 4uestionnaire

response difference anal!sis

Assumption ?" That ;identified6 in the wor(place is unaffected $! location

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