2. What is culture?
Helps me
decide...
It tells me
what to think
and do
I can show it,
I can see it
3. What is culture?
●“A universal orientation system within a
society, organization and/or group.
●This system consists of distinct symbols
Helps me traditionally upheld in a given society.
decide... ●It impacts the perceptions, thoughts,
evaluations and actions of all its members,
defining their adherence to the society.”
(Thomas)
It tells me
I can show it, what to think
I can see it and do
4. Culture is defined by:
SHARED…
–…norms What is normal -
and expected?
5. Culture is defined by:
SHARED…
–…norms
–…values
What we all value
as important?
6. Culture is defined by:
SHARED…
–…norms
–…values
–…behavioral patterns
What we all do.
7. Cultural relativism
“Cultural relativism is based on the
presumption that one particular culture
holds no absolute criteria for
considering another culture as “low” or
„high“. However every culture may
apply such appraisal upon its own
activities, since its associates are at the
same time both its members and
observers.“
–Claud Levi-Strauss
8. Cultural relativism
“Cultural relativism is based on the
presumption that one particular culture
holds no absolute criteria for
considering another culture as “low” or
„high“. However every culture may
apply such appraisal upon its own
activities, since its associates are at the
same time both its members and
observers.“
–Claud Levi-Strauss
14. Two tastes of cultures:
Low context cultures High context cultures
What You See Is What You Get Read betwen the lines
Hear my words... See my face...
This is what I want! This is what WE need!
1+1 = 2 1 + 1 = 2, but it depends.
See, this is how I feel! (Can you feel how I feel?)
This person is dealing with issues. This person is having issues.
Let’s argue! Let’s find a consensus.
15. Planning
Do we plan based on analysis, or intuition?
Is our plan expressed by numbers, or words?
Is everyone involved in the planning, or is it the sole
responsibility of managers?
16. Competition vs Harmony
Are people more proud of their status, or
professionalism?
Do they work for the benefit of their teams in which
they seek harmony, or for themselves, prospering
amidst competition?
17. Individualism
Do sentences begin with “I”, or “We”?
Are managers managing groups, or individuals?
Is employment more of a relationship, than a contract?
Do tasks prevail over relationships, or the other way?
20. Reward
and promotion
Which is true: that the right
connections guarantee promotion
and academic titles imply a social
standing, or it’s competencies that
do so, with academic titles
indicating dispositions for
expertise?
21. Authority
Is authority rather informal and based on trust, or is it
formally stated and based on competencies?
Does authority have to be constantly won from
subordinates, or does it have to be demonstrated to
them?
Are subordinates consulted, or told?
Is boss a democrat, or a monarch? Are priviledges
disapproved, or expected?
Are inequalities minimized, or expected and
welcomed?
22. Power distance index
India
Austria
high Denmark
Greece Mexico
USA
ly
Ita Malaysi
a Germany
Spain
UK France Israel
Japan Czech
low
23. Power distance index
Malaysi
a
Mexico
high India
France
Greece
Czech
Spain
Japan
ly
Ita
USA
Germany
UK
Denmark
low Israel
Austria
24. Stability
What is the extent into which people feel threatened by
uncertain situations?
Is uncertainty causing much of a stress?
Is the reaction to innovation more of a tolerance, or a
resistance?
What is more motivating, achievement or security?
Are rules to be minimized, or natural and needed?
25. Uncertainty avoidance
India
high Israel Denmark
Canada
USA
Greece
Austral Germany
ia
UK France Korea
Japan Czech
low
26. Uncertainty avoidance
Greece
high Japan
France
Korea
Israel
Czech
Germany
Austral
ia
Canada
USA
UK
India
low Denmark
27. Long term avoidance
Are traditions respected or adapted?
Are there little or plenty of resources for investment?
Are quick results expected rather than perseverance
towards slow results?
Is Truth more concerned about than Virtue?
28. Long term avoidance
high China Japan
USA
India
Austral Germany
ia
UK Sweden Nigeria
low
29. Long term avoidance
China
high
Japan
India
Sweden
Austral
ia
Germany
USA
UK
low Nigeria
30. Some other dimensions
Individual – society relationship
Importance of masculinity in society
Ways of conflict resolution
Ability to perceive, accept others
Time implications in procedures of problem solving (line of consecutive
tasks or parallel run of tasks)
Rationality and emotionality in actions
Decision making
Old age – young age relationship
Formal & top-down vs. informal communication
Importance of rules
Long term vs. short term thinking
