theories of culture-09

8/3/2019 THEORIES of Culture-09

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THEORIESTHEORIES

OFOF

CULTURECULTURE


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WHAT ARE THEORIES OFWHAT ARE THEORIES OF

CULTURE?CULTURE?

MOSTLY RESEARCH BASEDMOSTLY RESEARCH BASEDFINDINGS WHICH CROSS,FINDINGS WHICH CROSS,CULTURAL BOUNDARIESCULTURAL BOUNDARIES

DO NOT HAVE UNIVERSALDO NOT HAVE UNIVERSAL

ACCEPTANCE.ACCEPTANCE.


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MAJOR THEORIESMAJOR THEORIES

1.1. HOFSTEDEHOFSTEDE -- Believed thatBelieved that

Work related values are notWork related values are notUNIVERSALUNIVERSAL

When similar values are imposedWhen similar values are imposedacross the globe in a corporation,across the globe in a corporation,basic values remain intact.basic values remain intact.


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CONTDCONTD

Interpretations of H.Q.rules areInterpretations of H.Q.rules aredetermined by local values.determined by local values.

Resultantly, insisting on uniformityResultantly, insisting on uniformityacross globe can lead to problems ofacross globe can lead to problems ofefficiency and morale.efficiency and morale.


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CONTDCONTD

The Major dimensions of culturalThe Major dimensions of culturaldifferences aredifferences are

Power DistancePower Distance -- Degree to whichDegree to whichless powerful people accept thatless powerful people accept thatpower is distributed unequally.power is distributed unequally.Greater the PD, people blindly obeyGreater the PD, people blindly obey

instructions Eg.Korea,Japan,Mexico.instructions Eg.Korea,Japan,Mexico.


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ContdContd

Uncertainty AvoidanceUncertainty Avoidance -- Degree toDegree towhich people feel threatened bywhich people feel threatened by

ambiguous situations. High AVambiguous situations. High AVcultures seek high security andcultures seek high security andstrongly believe in experts andstrongly believe in experts and

their knowledgetheir knowledgeEg.Germany,Spain,Japan.Eg.Germany,Spain,Japan.


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ContdContd

IndividualismIndividualism -- Tendency to care forTendency to care foroneself and the family only. Stressoneself and the family only. Stresson individual needs andon individual needs andachievements. Ready to challengeachievements. Ready to challengeauthority and go to court forauthority and go to court for

claiming their Rights Eg .U.S.A.claiming their Rights Eg .U.S.A.


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ContdContd

MasculinityMasculinity -- Dominating Values areDominating Values are --Success, Money and Things. GreaterSuccess, Money and Things. Greater

important to earnings, achievementimportant to earnings, achievementrecognition Eg. Japan.recognition Eg. Japan.


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2.2. KLUCKHOHNKLUCKHOHN--STRODTHBECKSTRODTHBECK--Based on "PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOURBased on "PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOUR

AND THINKING in different cultures.AND THINKING in different cultures.Major indicators areMajor indicators are--

Nature of peopleNature of people--Good/Evil/MixedGood/Evil/Mixed

Relationship to natureRelationship to nature--DominantDominant/Harmony / Subjucation/Harmony / Subjucation


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ContdContd

Relationship to othersRelationship to others--HierarchicalHierarchical/Collectivist /Individual/Collectivist /Individual

Modality of human activityModality of human activity--DoingDoing/Being/ Containing./Being/ Containing.

Focus of HumanityFocus of Humanity--FUTURE/FUTURE/PRESENT/ PASTPRESENT/ PAST

Concept of spaceConcept of space--Private /publicPrivate /public/mixed./mixed.


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ContdContd

Short comingsShort comings--

Research not done for managementResearch not done for managementuse.use.

Variations/orientations not specifiedVariations/orientations not specified

preciselyprecisely Subjectivity in interpretation.Subjectivity in interpretation.


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33. Hall. Hall -- Theory based on culturalTheory based on cultural

context. Characterized bycontext. Characterized by --High Cultural context and LowHigh Cultural context and LowCultural context.Cultural context.


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ContdContd

Characteristics High context Low contextCharacteristics High context Low context Relationship Deep, Personal shorter durationRelationship Deep, Personal shorter duration Involvement/ / personal bondsInvolvement/ / personal bonds Long lasting not valuedLong lasting not valued Communication Fast/cheap/ Explicit/lessCommunication Fast/cheap/ Explicit/less Effective dependent onEffective dependent on

receiverreceiver for Underfor Under

standingstanding Agreement More spoken Always written andAgreement More spoken Always written and than written bindingthan written binding Responsibility. Person in Authority diffusedResponsibility. Person in Authority diffused takes responsibility hence difficult totakes responsibility hence difficult to

pinpinPointPointresponsibilityresponsibility

Affinity Insiders/outsiders distinction lessAffinity Insiders/outsiders distinction less Clearly distinguished clearClearly distinguished clear Cultural change Slow FasterCultural change Slow Faster


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4.4. ANDRE LAURENTANDRE LAURENT Culture, StatusCulture, Statusand Functionand Function

Basically an attempt at confirmingBasically an attempt at confirmingsome basic assumptions aboutsome basic assumptions aboutManagers and their workings. This isManagers and their workings. This isspecially related to the Social statusspecially related to the Social status

and its impact on working ofand its impact on working ofmanagers.managers.


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REFLECTED BYREFLECTED BY

BYBY PASSING AUTHORITYPASSING AUTHORITY

ACTING AS EXPERTS / FACILTATORSACTING AS EXPERTS / FACILTATORS


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5.5. LORANGES CROSS CULTURALLORANGES CROSS CULTURALRESEARCHRESEARCH

He tried to link the culturalHe tried to link the culturalbackground of a manager and keybackground of a manager and keyelements for being successful Egselements for being successful Egs --U.S.A.U.S.A.--Ambition. ;Ambition. ;

FrenchFrench--to be seen High potential.to be seen High potential.GermanGerman--Creative.Creative.


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6. TROMPANNAR6. TROMPANNAR -- Focused onFocused onParadoxes.Paradoxes.

Talks of Relationship patterns such asTalks of Relationship patterns such as

Universalism vs Particularism.Universalism vs Particularism.

Group vs IndividualGroup vs Individual Collectivism vs IndividualismCollectivism vs Individualism


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CONTDCONTD

Feelings and RelationshipsFeelings and Relationships

Emotional vs NeutralEmotional vs Neutral Specific vs diffused (Degree ofSpecific vs diffused (Degree of

InvolvementInvolvement

Achieved vs Inherited.(Status)Achieved vs Inherited.(Status)


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ContdContd

Sequential vs Synchronized (TimeSequential vs Synchronized (Time

Management)Management) Go along vs Controlling (RelationshipGo along vs Controlling (Relationship

with Nature).with Nature).

theories of culture-09

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