THE

CULTURAL CHAPTER 2
CONTEXT
OF IHRM

Chapter 2
 •Learn these key findings and
themes:
• Definitions of culture
• Cultural concepts

Objectives • Results of various intercultural

mgmt. studies:
Hofstede, GLOBE,
Trompenaars, & others
• Reflections on cross-cultural
mgmt. research
• Development of cultures

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Definitions of
Culture

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Kluckhohn & Kroeber def. of
culture
Culture consists in patterned ways of  Thinking
 Feeling
 Reacting

acquired & transmitted mainly by symbols,

constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their
embodiments in artefacts;

The
essential
traditional ideas &
core of consists of
their attached values
culture

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 1. Communication
2. Thought
3. Feeling
Hansen’s 4
4. Behavior
elements of •Standardization of

culture:

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 •A culture has 3 levels:
Schein’s
concept of • Artefacts - visible
• Values – intermediate level of
culture consciousness
• Underlying assumptions –
invisible,

unconscious

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 • Nature of reality and truth
• Time dimension
Schein’s 6 • Effect of spatial proximity

underlying
and distance
• Nature of being human
assumptions • Type of human activity
• Nature of human
relationships

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Intro to cross-
cultural
mgmt.
research

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Goals of cross-
cultural mgmt.
studies

• Describe
• Compare organizational behavior
between countries & cultures
• Explain & improve interaction
between employees,
customers, suppliers or
business in different countries
& cultures

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The
Hofstede
study

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 • Power distance
Hofstede’s • Uncertainty avoidance
5 culture • Femininity vs. masculinity
• Individualism vs.
dimension collectivism

s • Confucianism or long-
term orientation

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 • Great endurance, persistence in
Long-term pursuing goals
cultures • Position of ranking based on status
• Adaptation of traditions to modern
characterized conditions
by: • Respect of social & status obligations
within limits
• High savings rates & high investment
activity
• Readiness to subordinate oneself to a
purpose
• The feeling of shame

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 • Personal candor & stability
• Avoiding loss of face
Short-term • Respect of social & status obligations
without consideration of costs
cultures • Low savings rates & low investment

characterized activity
• Expectations of quick profit

by: • Respect for traditions

• Greetings, presents & courtesies
based on reciprocity

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Figure
2.1

Hofstede study: Power

distance &
individualism vs.

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collectivism
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 • Realization of cross-level studies
Future Consider groups, organizations, &
country levels

Hofstede- • Inclusion of cross-cultural differences

style Consider intracultural variance

• Inclusion of theoretically relevant

research moderators
Consider sex, class affiliation, etc.

issues • Interaction between variables

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The
GLOBE
study

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The GLOBE study questions

• Are there leadership behaviors, attributes & org. practices effective across
all cultures?
• Are there leadership behaviors, attributes & org. practices effective in
some cultures only?
• How much do leadership attributes affect the effectiveness of specific
leadership behavior & its acceptance by subordinates?
• How much do behaviors & attributes in specific cultures influence the
well-being of members in the researched societies?
• What is the relationship between these socio-cultural
variables & an international competitive capacity

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of the various sample societies?
 •
GLOBE’s 8 •
Institutional collectivism
In-group collectivism
culture •
•
Uncertainty avoidance
Power distance
dimensions • Gender egalitarianism
• Assertiveness
• Performance orientation
• Humane orientation

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The
Trompenaars
& Hampden-
Turner study

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7 dimension
of
Trompenaa
rs & H-T
study

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Hall &
Hall’s
cultural
dimensions

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 • High vs. low context
Hall & communication

Hall’s 4 • Spatial orientation

actual distance between people
dimensions when communicating
• Monochrome vs. polychrome time
sequential processes vs. parallel
actions
• Information speed
high or low information flow
during communication

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