Adaptations of a Global Organizational Culture in China, the UK and the US: Does Social Culture Make Any Difference?

[[abstract]]This research examined the extent to which organizational subunits of a single organization adapted the organizational culture to different social cultural contexts, and the implications of such adaptations on individual level outcomes. Patterns of observed organizational culture significantly differed in Hong Kong compared to the US and the UK, although most differences were in degree rather than in kind. Respondents indicated no significant differences in job satisfaction, role clarity,stress, turnover intentions or motivation although respondents from Hong Kong reported significantly higher role conflict. Individuals from the UK indicated a higher turnover intention

Scientific mindfulness: a foundation for future themes in international business

We conceptualize new ways to qualify what themes should dominate the future IB research agenda by examining three questions: Whom should we ask? What should we ask and which selection criteria should we apply? What are the contextual forces? We propose scientific mindfulness as the way forward for generating themes in IB research

Sex differences in self-construal and in depressive symptoms: predictors of cross-national variation

Sex differences in aspects of independent versus interdependent self-construal and depressive symptoms were surveyed among 5,320 students from 24 nations. Men were found to perceive themselves as more self-contained whereas women perceived themselves as more connected to others. No significant sex differences were found on two further dimensions of self-construal, or on a measure of depressive symptoms. Multilevel modeling was used to test the ability of a series of predictors derived from a social identity perspective and from evolutionary theory to moderate sex differences. Contrary to most prior studies of personality, sex differences in self-construal were larger in samples from nations scoring lower on the Gender Gap Index, and the Human Development Index. Sex differences were also greater in nations with higher pathogen prevalence, higher self-reported religiosity, and in nations with high reported avoidance of settings with strong norms. The findings are discussed in terms of the interrelatedness of self-construals and the cultural contexts in which they are elicited and the distinctiveness of student samples

Social Beliefs as Determinants of Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help among Ethnically Diverse University Students

English The present study examined the role of pancultural social beliefs, as measured by the Social Axioms Survey (SAS), in predicting attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help in an ethnically-diverse sample of Canadian university students (N=400). The result of a hierarchical regression showed that the collective contribution of the six SAS factors was significant in explaining help-seeking attitudes. Overall, gender, age, ethnicity, perceived stress, and two SAS factors (Social Cynicism and Interpersonal Harmony) emerged as the significant predictors of help-seeking attitudes. There were also gender and ethnic differences in help-seeking attitudes, perceived stress, and across the six SAS factors. Français Non disponibl

Culture’s influence on the perception of OCB as in-role or extra-role

Abstract The relationship between dimensions of individual level culture-related variables (social axioms) and the categorization of organizational citizenship behaviours (OCB) as in-role versus extra-role was explored within a Canadian sample. In order to appropriately address levels-of-analysis issues, this study focused on the relationship between two variables at the same level of analysis: individual social beliefs and individual perceptions of what constitutes OCB. Results indicate that the extent to which each of the OCB dimensions were viewed as in-role versus extra-role varied considerably among participants and that this variation could in part be predicted by social beliefs. The implications of understanding culture's effect on employee work behaviours and attitudes are discussed.

Social Beliefs as Determinants of Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help among Ethnically Diverse University Students

English The present study examined the role of pancultural social beliefs, as measured by the Social Axioms Survey (SAS), in predicting attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help in an ethnically-diverse sample of Canadian university students (N=400). The result of a hierarchical regression showed that the collective contribution of the six SAS factors was significant in explaining help-seeking attitudes. Overall, gender, age, ethnicity, perceived stress, and two SAS factors (Social Cynicism and Interpersonal Harmony) emerged as the significant predictors of help-seeking attitudes. There were also gender and ethnic differences in help-seeking attitudes, perceived stress, and across the six SAS factors. Français Non disponibl

Self-Construals in Situational Context: Disaggregating Behaviours and Intentions Using Sinha et al.’s (2002) Decision-Making Scenarios

The present study examined the influence of independent and interdependent self-construals and social context on decision-making using a set of hypothetical scenarios. Following the methodology of Sinha et al. (J Psychol 37(5):309–319, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590244000124), a sample of Canadian undergraduate students was presented with 16 decision-making scenarios. Scenarios were divided into two clusters depending on interaction target: nine scenarios related to conflict between personal needs versus family and friends, and seven scenarios related to conflict between personal needs versus community or society. Participants were asked to choose one of five responses: collectivist behaviour with collectivist intent, individualist behaviour with individualist intent, collectivist behaviour with individualist intent, individualist behaviour with collectivist intent, or a mix of collectivist and individualist behaviours and intentions. Participant self-construal was measured orthogonally using Singelis’ (Personal Soc Psychol Bull 20(5):580–591, 1994) Self-Construal Scale. The results suggest that a complex mix of self-concept, situation, and interaction target influenced participant behaviours and intentions. Biggest differences were observed between participants who scored high on one construal and low on the other: those who were more independent were more likely to choose individualist behaviours and intentions, and those who were more interdependent tended to choose more collectivist options. Interdependent self-construal was found to curtail individualist intentions, but not behaviour. Both independent and interdependent participants made collectivist choices towards family and friends as opposed to the greater community. The results have implications for studying the influence of self-concept and cultural norms on behaviour