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Business Culture in Canada and the US: Convergence or Divergence Derek Matthews Norwegian School of Management, BI Department of Culture, Communication and Languages
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This is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations. Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision. Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision. Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert your course. Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course. Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO INSURE THE SAFETYOF THIS SHIP. Canadians: This is a lighthouse. It's your call.
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Canadian & US Business Cultures Historical paths Revolution and counterrevolution Literature, myths & symbols Business culture: a few gurus Convergence or divergence
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Historical Paths 1607 Jamestown 1776 -1791 Declaration and War of Independence Constitution, B of R 1861-65 Civil War 1608 Québec 1774 Québec Act GBr solves a crisis 1780’s Loyalists Piecemeal progress 1791, 1840 July 1, 1867 protectionism 1982 Patriation
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Revolution vs Counterrevolution* Law and deviance Economy Centre and periphery Stratification Can / US Identity Literature & Myths * Seymour Martin Lipset, 1990
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Literature & Myths: a little story* Oedipus Telemachus Literature The frontier, rebel, extrovert Survival, victim, introvert *Russel Brown 1979
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x American symbols “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
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Canadian Symbols “Peace, Order and Good Government”
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Revolution vs Counterrevolution Rebellion Individualism Independence Self-reliance Self-confidence Freedom Decisiveness Control of destiny Counter-rebellion Deference Dependence Reliance Caution London calls the shots Divisiveness (Fr/Eng) Survival
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Geert Hofstede: 4 dimensions Individualism vs Collectivism self-interest vs group interest/loyalty Power distance High= respect for authority, inequality, distance Masculine / Feminine M: tough, competitive, gender inequality Uncertainty Avoidance High: avoid ambiguity, systematic, predictable
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Findings: Hofstede Similarities Individualism: 1 US, 2 Aust, 3 UK, 4 Can Power Distance: Low - 38 US, 39 Can Uncertainty Avoidance: Low - 42 Can, 43 US (Differences) Masculine: High - 15 US, 24 Can Observations Ind: rights & merit (US) vs merit (Can) Power distance:? Masc: US - long hours, live to work
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Fons Trompenaars: 6 of 7 dimensions Universalism vs Particularism Affective vs Neutral Specific vs Diffuse Achievement vs Ascriptive orientation Sequential vs Synchronic Inner vs Outer-directed
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Findings: Trompenaars Similarities Universalist (follow the rules/equal treatment) Achievement-oriented (US), Specific (US), Affective (US), Inner-directed (US) Observations Can more universalist (respect vs the law) US: achievers, more expressive, captains of their own fate
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Richard Gesteland Similarities deal-focused, direct, informal, time-conscious, egalitarian Differences Canadians: less expressive, less assertive, slightly more formal and conservative, not as time-obsessed
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Compared to Americans Canadians are less authoritative less decisive less assertive less nationalistic less gun happy Canadians show more respect for authority more caution more reserve more modesty more conservatism
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Convergence: Do we have a choice? American influence Economy US ownership, FTA (’89)/NAFTA (’94) Politics Charter of Rights & Freedoms Pressure to conform (eg Customs & Immigration) Culture Americanization, Media Longest border “Brain drain” - many go
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Convergence: Do we have a choice? Neil Nevitte “Decline of Deference” (1996) World Values Survey (1981- 90) in Europe & NA Political, economic and social orientations 12/12 Rise in: principle of tolerance, support for meritocracy, pride in work, interest in politics, egalitarian spousal relations, egalitarian parent/ch relations Can/US: same direction - 22/25 dimensions except church attendance & job/financial satisfaction Canada led on 16 of 22 13 parallel, 6 converge, 6 diverge
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Divergence? Economy strong gov’t, universal health, welfare state Politics different system Canada for: nuclear test ban treaty, anti-landmine, Kyoto, Int’l Criminal Court, banning biological weapons, remaining in Bosnia... “Brain drain” many stay, many come
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