Cross Cultural Management
Challenges and opportunities of
doing business in different
countries
Submitted to
Dr. Sayel Sabha
Submitted by
Rashed Salem Almansoori
201620112 1
"Cultural differences"
"For a German and a Finn, the truth is the truth.
In Japan and Britain it is all right if it doesn't rock
the boat. In China there is no absolute truth. In
Italy it is negotiable."
Richard D. Lewis
2
Culture = Human mental
programming
Specific to individual Inherited & learned
Personality
Specific to group
Learned
or category Culture
Universal Inherited
Human Nature
3
Nature of culture
Learned
Culture is acquired by learning
and experience
Shared
People as a member of a group,
organization, or society share
culture
Transgenerational
Culture is cumulative, passed
down from generation to
generation
4
Manifestations of culture
Symbols: words, gestures, objects that carry a
particular meaning which is only recognized by those
who share the culture.
Heroes: persons, alive or dead, real or imaginary,
who possess characteristics which are highly prized
in a culture and who thus serve as models for
behavior.
Rituals: collective activities, considered socially
essential.
Values: basic assumptions about how things
should be in [Link] are convictions regarding
right or wrong, good or bad, important or trivial.
Learned implicitly. Cannot be discussed.
Practices: what is visible to an outsider.
5
First approach to culture
Culture
The way you The way you The way you
live view things communicate
Customs, habits, traditions Beliefs, values Meaning of language
Food & its meaning Spirituality Interaction pattern
Music, clothing Perceptions Communications
Religious practice
practice Attitudes Verbal & non-verbal
Health practice Expectations
Child raising
Family structures
& relationships
relationships
6
Diversity of values &
differences in ranking
USA Japan Arab
1. Freedom 1. Belonging 1. Family security
2. Independence 2. Group harmony 2. Family harmony
3. Self-reliance 3. Collectiveness 3. Paternalism
4. Equality 4. Age/Seniority 4. Age
5. Individualism 5. Group consensus 5. Authority
6. Competition 6. Cooperation 6. Compromise
7. Efficiency 7. Quality 7. Devotion
8. Time 8. Patience 8. Patience
9. Directness 9. Indirectness 9. Indirectness
10. Openness 10. Go-between 10. Hospitality
7
Common problems…
There are a number of problems that all
cultures try to address & bring solutions
to:
relation to nature
relation to others
relation to power
relation to rules
relation to activity
relation to emotions
relation to space
relation to time
8
Cultural answers through different
solutions…
“ Culture, is the mechanism that
allows to select an attitude, an
interpretation, a solution as the one
that makes sense « de facto », when
facing a situation ( decision,
relationship, emotion…)”
9
Universal problems & cultural
responses
Universal Cultural responses
Problems
Relation to nature Domination Subjugation
Relation towards Individualism Communautarism
others
Relation to power Hierarchy Equality
Relation to time Monetary time Living time
Relation to rules Universalism Particularism
Relation towards Do Be
activity
Relation to space Private space Public space
Relation to emotions Exteriorization Neutralize
10
Source:
Source: N.
N. Prime,
Prime, 2001
2001
Culture?
"Collective Programming"
Starts from birth, is reinforced in school & by
education
Relates to values & core beliefs
Displayed in attitudes & behavior
Some visible characteristics:
Customs, behavior
Some less visible ones:
Values, beliefs
11
Behavior & cultural differences
A foreign manager is conducting an annual performance
review with one of his direct reports. He begins the session
by discussing all the areas in which the employee’s
performance meets or exceeds goals. The employee listens
attentively with serious and thoughtful expression.
But when the manager begins to discuss weaknesses and
problem areas, the employee starts smiling. The sterner the
manager’s tone, the broader the employee grins. The
employee does not comment on anything the manager says
or defend or explain. The manager becomes angry because
he believes the employee is mocking him and treating the
evaluation as a joke.
12
Cultural differences:
J. goes to the airport to meet Y. The two men
had talked several times on the phone but had
only met once before. When Y. spots J. in the
baggage area, he enthusiastically embraces
him and kisses him on both cheeks. J. feels
uncomfortable and hopes that nobody he
knows has witnessed this greeting.
Source: CCL, 2002
Cultural differences
When Ms. H presents her proposal at the
meeting, V. reacts strongly. He pounds on the
table and questions her in a loud voice. When
Ms. H casts her eyes down in embarrassment,
V. seems to get more excited. He leans across
the table and jabs his hands towards her face.
Conclusion
“Culture is more often a source of conflict than
of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best
and often a disaster. But if we really want to globalize,
there is no way around them so we better take them for
what they are.”
15