International Management Flashcards
what is culture?
-a way of solving problems & making sense of the world
challenges;
-no single definition
-shared patterns of thinking, feeling, acting
why is culture important in management?
no single best way of management
managers must;
-understand cultural differences
-predict behaviours
-manage effectively
what are managerial caricatues
exaggerated traits or stereotypes of managers
traits;
-short-term profit focus
-overly hierarchical & nationalistic
-quick results, strict structures, excessive legal controls
what are Hofstede’s cultural dimensions
-individualism vs collectivism
-power distance
-uncertainty avoidance
-masculinity vs femininity
what is individualism vs collectivism?
individualism - independence, competition
collectivism - interdependence, group harmony
how does individualism/collectivism influence communication styles?
Low-Context Communication (Individualistic):
-Explicit, direct, result-driven.
-Perceived as bossy or cold by high-context communicators.
High-Context Communication (Collectivist):
-Implicit, relationship-focused, harmony-driven.
-Perceived as weak or unprofessional by low-context communicators.
what is power distance
High Power Distance:
-Hierarchical and vertical.
-Large gap between power holders and others (e.g., India, Brazil).
Low Power Distance:
-Egalitarian and horizontal.
-Small gap between power holders and others (e.g., Denmark, Norway).
what is uncertainty avoidance?
Definition: How cultures deal with uncertainty and ambiguity.
-High Uncertainty Avoidance:
Stability, formal rules, avoid ambiguity.
-Low Uncertainty Avoidance:
Flexibility, tolerance for unpredictability
how does uncertainty avoidance influence decision-making
-High Uncertainty Avoidance: Decisions guided by rules and long-term stability.
-Low Uncertainty Avoidance: Decisions involve short-term, flexible actions
how does uncertainty avoidance influence attitudes toward flexibility
high: things are predictable & rule-based
low: things are flexible & adaptable
what are cultural traits in China
-Status Symbols:
Luxury goods, formal address, hierarchical seating.
-Reserved Emotional Displays:
Avoid exaggerated gestures or strong emotional expressions in formal settings.
Emotional restraint = maturity and reliability.
what is masculinity vs femininity?
-Masculinity:
Achievement, power, competition, work central to life.
-Femininity:
Relationships, compassion, quality of life.
why is cultural important to international managers?
Relevant to:
-Negotiations and communication.
-Managing cross-cultural teams.
-Aligning corporate culture with employee culture.
Requires Cultural Intelligence (CQ):
-Ability to adapt and understand cultural differences.
