Summary of Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner's achieved and ascribed cultural dimensions.

1. Cultural dimensions based on how we
relate to other people
Achieved & Ascribed

2. Achieved and ascribed cultures
 Achieved based on what you have done
 Ascribed based on
 Age
 Gender
 Social connections
 Education
 Profession

3. Which is best for business?
 Both orientations work well
 Achieved rewards past performance
 Achieved emphasises technical skills
 Ascribed emphasises political skill
 Ascribed drives future perfomance
 Self-fulfilling prophecy
 i.e time shift
 Firms invest heavily in senior mgmt training

4. Negotiations
 Ascribers require senior personnel
 Ascribers require respect and use of titles
 Senior ascriber often silent
 Achievers have decision authority
 Ascribers report back to mother company

5. Translators
 Achievers
 Translator is a black box
 Ascribers
 Translator is part of the team

6. Seniority
 Achievers title based on technical competence
 Ascribers title based on influence in organisation
 Achievers less likely to use titles
 Ascribers use titles extensively
 Senior achievers can be young and/or female
 Senior ascribers are usually “senior” men

7. Reconciliation
Reward skills &
achievement...
Avoid valuing
only most recent
performance...
Respect
people‘s
experience...
Need to avoid
dangers of
status quo...
Respect
status so
we can take
advantage
of skills

8. The End
Based on the work of Fons Trompenaars & Charles
Hampden-Turner: Riding the Waves of Culture.
Bachelorinternationalmanagement.eu
Michael Medlock MBA