Culture as an individual process: Deficits of national cultural theories in management of cultural diversity

Most prevalent theories in cross cultural management reduce the variability of individual relations to one single category, the national culture. Based on the assumption that the national cultural values determine individual behavior the individual’s behavior in different national cultures becomes predictable. This over simplistic model pretends to provide “easy” answers for a complex world. In this article a new approach to culture is developed where culture is seen as a permanent individual process. The focus is the individual in its complex correlation to the society. This approach leads to a holistic view of a human being as it takes beside the social relations the individual's personality and it’s reflexivity into account.Cross Cultural Management, Cultural Theories, Culture, National Culture, Diversity Management, New Kantianism

Self-Construal Influence on Individual Choice Does Culture Shape our Choices?

Previous research has shown that cultural values and individual preferences for uniqueness and conformity influence one another, and that a theme of uniqueness is prevalent within North American culture and a theme of conformity is prevalent within East Asian culture. The goal of the present research was to examine the causal role of self-construal by investigating whether priming participants with either independent or interdependent self-construal could lead to differences in choice patterns that mirror themes of uniqueness and conformity that is traditionally found between East Asian and North American cultures. It was hypothesized that participants primed with independent self-construal will show a preference for uniqueness and make an uncommon choice. In contrast, participants primed with the interdependent self-construal will show a preference for conformity and make a common choice. To test this hypothesis, 60 participants of varying cultural backgrounds were randomly assigned to either an independent self-construal prime condition or an interdependent self-construal prime condition. The choice of pens by participants was examined as a function of whether the pen appeared unique. The results are that there is no significant interaction between the prime conditions and choice. These results suggest that self-construals do not play a significant role in predicting participates’ choice patterns towards uniqueness and conformity

Prevalence and Patterns of Gender Violence: Major Variables in the Exposure to HIV/AIDS among Women in Nigeria

This study was carried out among 183 women in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. The study was designed to examine prevalence and patterns of gender violence and its relationship with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS among women. Four research questions and two hypotheses were raised. Frequency counts and percentages, Pearson’s r and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results show that cultural belief, traditional values and superstitions were responsible for acts of violence against women in Nigeria. Others are non-assertiveness and fear of marriage breakup. The study revealed that the most prevalent form of violence against women is physical (78%), closely followed by sexual violence (42%). Polygyny (78%) and cultural belief, traditional values and superstitions (75%) were responsible for the exposure of women to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The first hypothesis which states that there will be a significant difference in the perception of gender violence based on type of occupation was accepted and the second which states that there is a significant relationship between prevalence of gender violence and exposure to HIV/AIDS was also accepted. To curb the incidence of gender violence, the study highlighted the need for cultural reorientation, socialization, assertiveness training and legislation. The position of this paper is that violence in all its ramifications is unacceptable, that no Nigerian woman deserves to be physically battered, deprived of sex (as punishment), forced into coitus, or made to suffer psychologically. Key Words: Gender Violence, Exposure to HIV/AIDS, Culture, polygamy and Women

The Role of Cultural Values for Digital Transformation: Insights from a Delphi Study

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has fundamentally changed the competitive dynamics of industries. To cope with an increasingly unstable environment and to fully leverage the opportunities opened by new technologies, organizations need to transform their businesses. Digital transformation initiatives are prevalent throughout industries, yet often experience failure due to inert organizational cultures preventing change. We adopt a value-centric approach to organizational culture to identify cultural values critical for digital transformation success. Our exploratory Delphi study with 25 research and industry experts resulted in twelve identified cultural values. The results point to an ideal combination of two culture types of the competing values framework, emphasizing values that foster innovation and concern for people. With the identification of an ideal target culture for cultural change initiatives, we extend the knowledge in IT-enabled business transformation literature and lay the foundation for future research on the role of culture in digital transformation

Universal pattern of cultural omnivorousness? : A comparison of cultural taste patterns in Estonia and the Netherlands

This paper seeks to examine the character of cultural taste patterns in the Netherlands and in previously formally ‘classless’ Estonia and argue what could be the reasons behind the potential differences. Information from nationally representative survey data collected by Eurobarometer in 2001/2003, 2007 and 2013 from Estonian and Dutch respondents on cultural participation is analyzed and, using multinomial regression analysis, linked to a set of indicators of social background and values. The results show that, although in both countries there are clusters of omnivores and non-consumers, these clusters are influenced differently by the chosen predictor variables. While in Estonia, where values concerned with individual background are prevalent, also individuals’ own class position predicted omnivorousness best, in the Netherlands more socially responsible values such as social equality and solidarity and cultural diversity were of greatest importance in predicting taste patterns. The study exemplified that, in applying familiar theories about cultural lifestyles, it is important to consider specific country context

Revisiting the transatlantic divergence over GMOs: Toward a cultural-political analysis

'Revisiting the transatlantic divergence over GMOs: towards a cultural-political analysis' applies a constructivist perspective to the persistent transatlantic divergence over the regulation of GM foods and crops. Political economy and institutionalism have so far dominated the literature. Notwithstanding their crucial insights, this article argues that to achieve a better understanding of the nature and depth of transatlantic regulatory divergence, one should also study prevalent cultural values and identity-related public concerns regarding food and agriculture. These factors can be identified in public opinion trends and have fuelled Europeans' resistance, while contributing to relative regulatory stability in the US. By conceptualizing cultural contexts as catalytic structures, the article also differs from more explicitly discursive accounts of political mobilization. The cultural politics of agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) relies both on pre-existing values and identities, on the one hand, and on the strategies (and material or other power resources) of political agents

Black Working Class Radicalism in Detroit, 1960-1970

This research examines and explores the cultural aspects of radicalism among Black automobile workers in Detroit in the 1960s from the vantage point of autobiographical experience and a Marxian framework. It considers some of the cultural factors that accounted for the emergence of a revolutionary Black workers\u27 organization. Among those factors were the lifestyles of the factory workers and the roles that kinship and friendship played in building a radical organization. Furthermore, it discusses particular ideas, values, and beliefs that are prevalent in Black culture which dispose Black workers more toward radicalism than their White counterparts. It also examines cultural factors which inhibited radical developments

The Consequence of Malaysian National Culture Values on Hotel Branding

AbstractBranding is prevalent within the hotel industry. Yet most branding constructs were developed in western cultural context. This study attempts to address the relationship between branding and culture. The study outlines the elements that are critical in designing hotel brand experience through a series of in-depth personal interviews with the hotel managers. The results reveal how a great brand experience could be built on the concept national culture values as proposed by Hofstede. A work-in-progress importance of national culture values in hotel branding is offered. This is an initial step towards a framework of culturally relevant hotel branding

Climates Create Cultures

Abstract The circumstances in which societies adapt their cultural values and practices to cold, temperate, and hot climates include the availability of money to cope with climate. Country-level studies have shown that feeling good, doing good, altruistic volunteering, intrinsic work motivation, cooperative enculturation, and democratic leadership are least prevalent in poorer countries with more demanding climates, moderately prevalent in poor and rich countries with temperate climates, and most prevalent in richer countries with more demanding climates. The common denominator is that inhabitants of lower-income countries in more demanding climates emphasize survival values at the expense of self-expression values, whereas the inhabitants of higher-income countries in more demanding climates emphasize self-expression values at the expense of survival values. These findings have practical implications for the cultural consequences of global warming and economic growth, and for the effectiveness of financing for human development

Effects of Culture and Education on Ethical Responses on Our Global Society

Two trends that affect communications are prevalent today: a focus on ethics in the U.S. business operations and an increasingly global society and marketplace. This research project brings together these trends to gain a more in-depth understanding of the impact of culture on ethical education. By surveying students in six countries around the globe, this study was able to get at the divergent cultural frameworks utilized in ethical decision making. The results offer a significant contribution to our understanding of the cross-cultural implications on ethical values in the business context. This understanding provides unique insights into ethics education and the need for a contextual understanding of applied ethics