National cultures B.V.L.Narayana

Definitions This is based on studies conducted by Hofstede –Culture is defined as (Kluckhons 1951) Patterned way of thinking, feeling and reacting Acquired and transmitted By symbols, artifacts, ideas, values, heroes and practices Consists of distinctive achievements of human groups –Is defined as (Hofstede ) as Collective programming of the mind which distinguishes one group from another

Definitions Consists of values, symbols, heroes, rituals –Value is a broad tendency to prefer certain states over others—influences selection of actions –Symbols are words, gestures, pictures, objects that carry complex meanings recognized as such by those who share that culture –Heroes are persons –real or imaginary– who possess characteristics that are prized in a culture –Rituals are collective activities that are technically not necessary for desired ends but are considered socially necessary to keep individuals within norms of collectivity

Issues in measurement Ecological fallacy –Use data and inferences from societal level to interpret data at individual level Reverse ecological fallacy –Use data at individual level to interpret at societal level

Dimensions Power distance –PDI –Extent to which the less powerful members accept and expect that power is distributed unequally –High level of inequality of power and weakness is accepted Individualism IDV –Emphasis on looking after themselves –Low score means collectivism

Dimensions Uncertainty avoidance –UAI –degree of comfort in unstructured situations– high score more open to unstructured situations Masculinity –MAS –Distribution of emotional role between genders –Grater score means greater gap between values of men and women Long term orientation –LTO –Acceptance of delayed gratification of material, social and emotional needs –Greater score means perseverance and parsimony

Some scores Dimensi ons AVUS A UKIN DI A GE R AR AB CHI NA JA PA N PA K PDI IDV UAI MAS LTO

ISSUES Role of learning –Mental frameworks –Is a learned concept –Concept of change in culture –Is the final factor impacting performance –Can convergence occur? Across countries –Concept of sub cultures Implication for railways, RSC

INDIVIDUAL GROUP SOCIETAL ORGANISATIONAL THE PYRAMID OF CULTURE THANKS ANY QUESTI ONS