FOUNDATION OFCULTURE

What did you eat for breakfast?Can you get any kind of hair-do that you want?Did you think about giving up education after higher secondary?What is religion for you?

Culture

A set of rules, values, beliefs, behaviour and concepts that is common to and binds together the members of a society, passed on from one generation to another.

Culture

The sum of the values, rituals, symbols, beliefs, attitudes and thought processes that are learned, shared by a group of people, and transmitted from generation to generation.

Culture

Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another.

Rules

Conformity to good or established usage. Well regulated condition, conduct, a principle, a standard.

Values

Moral principles, standards.

Belief

It is a descriptive image or thought that an individual holds about something.

Behavior

Conduct, manner, mode of action, response to stimulus. Behavior is an outcome of psychological and sociological make-up.

Attitude

A set of consistent reactions to an idea, situation, thought, object, place or being.

Cultural Group

A group of people demonstrating same culture is called a cultural group. Cultural groups can span over nations, regions, cities, corporates, family and individual.However, the greatest cultural divide is based on gender.

Concept of Culture and sub-culture.

Across the World cultures are classified under three categories:Linear-actives- The planners. The one time-one task people. German and Swiss.Multi-actives- The non-planners. Adventurers. Loquacious. Italians and Arabs.Reactives- People with courtesy and respect. They listen quietly and calmly and react carefully. Chinese, Japanese and Finns.

Geert Hofstedes Big Four

Power DistanceIndividualism vs CollectivismMasculinity vs FeminityUncertainty Avoidance

Its not just important to understand the cultural differences between cultures but it is also important to understand why.

Factors that influence cultureThe WHY!

GeographyClimateHumidityTemperatureRain

TopographyAltitude

Water BodiesRiversOceansLakesDeserts (Hot and cold)

Resources

History

The colonizers and the coloniesThe invaders and the invadedThe oppressors and the oppressedThe ArmiesThe EducatorsThe Politicians and the Businessmen

The chronicles of the World The Civilizations

Indus Valley CivilizationMesopotamian CivilizationNile River CivilizationRiver Hwang Ho Civilization

The colonial rulers

EnglandBritainFranceJapanSpainUSA

The Colonization of the American continent04-07-1776- The declaration of Independence1782-The Crown retreats

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrialization of the West

1857-The first revolution for Independence India

The World War - I 1914 1918

1930 The Great Depression

Henry Ford

Adolf Hitler

World War II - 1939 1945

06-06-1944 - The most important day in the history of man-kind

Birth of the Nuclear age

Birth of a Cultural Stance

15-08-1947 India and Pakistan gain Independence separately

Industrialization of the East

The Circle of Wealth

Those who dont learn from their history, repeat it!

Dynamics of Global Population TrendsControlling population growth

Rural/Urban Migration

Population Decline and Aging

Worker shortage and immigration

World Trade Routes

Communication Links

Political Economy

Political Systems:

Fascism

Communism

Democracy

The Political environmentA critical concern

The Sovereignty of Nations

Stability of Government policies

Political Parties

Nationalism

Economic Systems:

Socialist

Capitalist

Mixed

Technology

Social Institutions

FamilyReligionSchoolThe MediaGovernment Corporates

Global Business Customs

Management styles around the World

Authority and decision makingManagement objectives and aspirations-Security and mobility-Work life-Affiliation and social acceptance-Power and achievement

Management styles around the World

Communication styles-Face to face communication-Internet communications-Formality and tempo-P-time versus M-time-Negotiations emphasis

Gender bias in International business

Business EthicsCorruptionBribery-Bribery and extortion-Subordination and lubrication-Agents feesEthically and socially responsible decisions

Cultures Influence on Strategic Thinking

Required AdaptationOpen toleranceFlexibilityHumilityJustice/fairnessAbility to adjust to varying temposCuriosity/interestKnowledge of the countryLiking for othersAbility to command respectAbility to integrate oneself into the environment

Required Adaptation

Degree of Adaptation

Imperatives, Electives and Exclusives

Pre and post departure trainings

Relationship Oriented versus Information oriented culturesInformation-oriented culturesLow-contextIndividualismLow-power distanceBribery less commonLow distance from EnglishLinguistic directnessMonochronic timeInternetForegroundCompetition

Relationship-oriented culturesHigh-contextCollectivismHigh power distance (including gender)Bribery more commonHigh distance from EnglishLinguistic indirectnessPolychronic timeFace-to-faceBackgroundReduce transaction costs

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