Book Description
Unlike many other books in the field that simply compare managers working at home in their various cultures, International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior describes the approaches of successful managers in interacting with people from a wide range of cultures, including from Asia, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and people from both North and South America.
Customer Reviews:
Great .......2006-08-12
This book is very scientific, deep and practical. Simply great. I'm a Psychologist, Business Consultant for Multinational Corporations and is absolutely useful
Good overview, nicely written.......2005-05-10
Nancy Adler presents a good overview on the topics in international HR Management. It is great as a textbook for class and a perfect starting point for novices who want to get into inter. HRM. The book is not overwhelmingly deep, but it is concise and has an efficient way of conveying the main concepts of culture and communication, synergy, teams, leadership, negotiations. Adler writes well making it easy to understand what she means and a fast read. She uses small cases to illustrate each problem she addresses, which are sometimes a little bit too simplistic for non-students. For me, a great advantage of the book is the comprehensive lists of references per chapter. This makes it easy to go further in topics I am especially interested in. The critique a have with almost all "international version" textbooks is, that it explicitly addresses Americans.
Great Textbook About International Management.......2003-01-26
I have had the pleasure of using Adler's book for several years now. Simply put, it is far more enjoyable to read than the average textbook and is packed with useful information for those wanting to learn.
Adler does a superb job of addressing the various dimensions of culture. She explains culture quite clearly and makes many connections to management practice. But maybe what I like best is that Adler goes beyond explaining. Each chapter contains vignettes discussing different cultural experiences. The short descriptions are interesting and lively. I have also noticed that the quantity and quality of vignettes has improved in the fourth edition.
Overall, the scope of this book seems quite thorough. National culture, workplace behavior across cultures, communication differences across cultures, creating synergy, multicultural teamwork and negotiation, global leadership, and the expat experience are all discussed. My favorite chapters tend to be early in the book (culture, teamwork, and synergy). It appears that these areas represent the author's greatest strength. The research informing each chapter is thorough and quite up-to-date. Maybe the weakest chapter, in my view, is chapter three which deals with communication. I suspect that maybe the author steps a bit beyond her expertise and is not able to touch on the deeper issues of cross-cultural communication (as she touches on the deeper issues in teamwork or other chapters). The result is a good chapter and sound discussion that maybe lacks the richness found in other parts of the book. She sets the standard so high in other chapters and I was hoping for the same here.
I have used this text for several years in intercultural management courses for undergraduate business students. The students seem to enjoy the book and encourage me to keep using it. I guess that is the highest praise we can give any text--students like it.
Social- Business Psychologist, PHD student.......2002-03-24
It was the basic source for my MSc project. Very helpful and very modern in its writing.Nancy Adler reached her destination. Recommendable for cross-cultural social and business analysis
Extremely Useful.......2001-05-08
As a cross-cultural trainer based in the United States, I needed to find a pragmatic book that both students and sophisticated business people would find helpful. At the same time, it had to provide a lot of solid information in an easy-to-read format. Dr. Adler's book is it at ERUdyne! Actually, we have had to replace our copies many times as they keep disappearing after positive reviews from our clients!
My copy is dog-eared. I recommend it to anyone who needs to understand how culture impacts global business organizations today. It contains excellent questions for reflection, charts, summaries and references.
Dr. Adler's book makes a positive difference in one's perception and understanding of the real challenges facing global businesses. It also provides good case studies with a step-by-step guide for addressing global organizational behavior issues. I couldn't ask for more in one text.
Book Description
As U.S. organizations continue to explore overseas business opportunities, they will be challenged to adapt to the new market's local characteristics, legislation, fiscal regime, sociopolitical environment and cultural system. Riding the Waves of Culture shows international managers how to build the skills, sensitivity, and cultural awareness needed to establish and sustain management effectiveness across cultural borders. This revised edition is updated with new research and statistics.
More than an encyclopedia of cultures and customs, this essential guide:
- Describes successful and failed cross-cultural business transactions of multinational organizations such as AT&T, Heineken, Motorola and Volvo
- Offers techniques managers can use to anticipate and mediate some of the difficult dilemmas of international management
- Uses country-by-country graphs, examples, and other comparisons to illustrate how different cultures regard and respond to various management approaches
- Includes a CD-ROM of graphs, charts, and exercises to help readers evaluate their effectiveness as a global manager
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding research results in clear & useful guide.......2007-09-19
I was surprised to have my horizons expanded greatly though I had initially expressed skepticism at another book on diversity. On the contrary, this one contains real, practical, appropriate cultural nuances and advice on particulars for many national and cultural traditions. I heartily suggest it as a cornerstone of a modern cultural analysis of the factors that can contribute to enhancing diversity. Even though a bit dated, their research still is valuable. I cannot wait for the next edition!
Essential reading for executives - and politicians.......2006-02-26
This book is deservedly already an international management classic, and should be required reading for anybody who needs to interact with other nationalities and cultures. Hofstede got there first with his classifications of cultural dimensions, but Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars' are arguably more compelling, and - more importantly - the book is both highly readable and replete with case studies. It gives American and Northern European business people insights into why their assumptions about what motivates people from other parts of the world are wrong, and why so many US-centered initiatives founder on the rocks of unrecognized cultural differences. Send a copy to the White House!
For Business Poeple and Managers.......2005-06-30
This is a shorter, and more condensed version of the authors' earlier book 'Building Cross Cultural Competence'. In this book, the authors' target managers and business people who are looking to understand cultural differences and how to deal with them in a variety of circumstances and situations. Each chapter begins with am introduction to one of the dimensions, a discussion of how the differences manifest themselves and concludes with 'tips' on how to deal, and how to do business, with the different culture explored in that chapter.
The authors use the same six dimensions of culture introduced in their earlier work (universalism vs. particularism; individualism vs communitarism; specificity vs. diffusion; achieved status vs. ascribed status; inner direction vs. outer direction; and sequential time vs. synchronous time), but they present these dimensions in a much more accessible and simple manner with more emphasis on what each dimension actually means for business people and how it affects business-related situations.
This book has become the reference for business people and managers in the area of culture. Simple and very well written without losing credibility; this is a book that will enlighten and guide any manager in dealing with people from other cultures. While in some ways it is a 'western-centric' book (targeted to Western - especially US - managers), it remains very useful for managers from other cultures since the authors have attempted to keep the examples and discussion culturally neutral.
A Great Introduction to Intercultural Understanding.......2004-05-03
At last from Europe, a clear, concise, readable explanation of the critical dimensions of international management. It places culture in a perspective that allows for applications internationally and within the diversity of single nations.
David C. Wigglesworth, Ph.D. is an international/intercultural human resource, management, and organization consultant and president of D.C.W Research Associates International in Kingwood, Texas, USA. He can be reached at dcwigg@earthlink.net
Riding the Waves of Culture.......2003-10-02
An excellent overview of culture and cultural differences. For a more specific look at Americans, read Working with Americans (Stewart-Allen/Denslow)
Customer Reviews:
Is a required textbook for my managing diversity class.......2005-09-21
This isn't a bad book. It was required for a managing diversity class I am taking in graduate school. The content is short readings on various topics generally centering around cultural diversity and discimination. There are group exercises in between some of the readings. The book is very much centered around being used in a group-discussion oriented classroom. I don't think it is worth what is being charged for it, but as far as textbooks go, it is pretty inexpensive.
Book Description
This new edition of a business textbook bestseller has been completely updated to reflect the numerous global changes that have occurred since 1999: globalization, SARS, AIDS, the handover of Hong Kong, and so forth. In particular, the book presents a fuller discussion of global business today. Also, issues of terrorism and state security as they affect culture and business are discussed substantially. The structure and content of the book remains the same, with thorough updating of the plentiful region and country descriptions, demographic data, graphs and maps. This book differs from textbooks on International Management because it zeroes in on culture as the crucial dimension and educates students about the cultures around the world so they will be better prepared to work successfully for a multinational corporation or in a global context.
* The original, best-selling guide to developing cross-cultural skills to succeed in the global economy
* More than 200,000 copies in print, adopted by more than 200 universities worldwide
* This classic has been praised as a 'bible of multiculturalism' (New York Times News Service)
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Book on the Most-Overlooked Facet of Business Today: Cultural Differences.......2006-04-03
As a cross-cultural consultant and graduate business professor, I highly recommend the sixth edition of the MCD book by Harris, Moran, and Moran. I currently utilize the new edition in both my online and onground MBA courses which deal primarily with international management and leadership issues.
The authors had cohesively distilled the topics of business, culture, and management into a readable and usable text that is easily interpreted by students, undergraduates included.
I have followed the authors' work on this series for the past 10 years and have seen nothing but the most relevant information being added to the subsequent editions.
As a consultant and an educator, I recommend the sixth edition of the MCD books without reservation. They are essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the integral effects on culture in this era of globalization.
- Dr. Eileen Sheridan Wibbeke
San Jose, California, USA
Great Reference book for Cross-cultural Affairs.......2006-04-03
The book "Managging Cultural Differences" is a very good reference book for cross-cultural affairs. First of all, the book creates awareness about culture and subsequent cultural differences in an increasingly global world. It also offers the reader an introduction to the concepts of culture and beliefs and most importantly gives a guide on how to behave in foreign countries.
"Managing Cultural Differences" has helped me many times in business, for travels as well as my private life. I use my copy as a reference book.
The best benefit of the book is probably not only the cross-cultural guide but also the explanation of abstract concepts, their theoretical backgrounds and the practical implications thereof. The book also gives suggestions for further readings.
differences.......2006-02-21
This is a good introduction in diversity relating to the global market. It is an easy to medium reading book with many perspectives.
A Great Value for Students.......2004-07-27
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the first edition of this work, the authors proffer an expanded version of a text that has come to be regarded as a classic reference work by students everywhere. Their message is still the same, the understanding of our differences, the celebration of diversity, and the creation of partnerships of long-term benefit.
While many of the chapter headings are still the same or similar, considerable content has been added and the emphasis in the first half of the book is on providing information to enhance the building of global leadership strategies. We see the reemphasis on the development of cross-cultural communication skills and their presentation of both the positive techniques and the pitfalls to avoid.
Much of the thrust of the first half of the book is on cultural synergy which they view as representing a dynamic process that involves adapting and learning, and which involves joint action in which the total effect is greater than the sum of effects when acting independently. Synergy to them creates an integrated solution that does not signify compromise because nothing is given up or lost and it develops the potential members by facilitating the release of team energies..
The remainder of the first half of this text looks at managing transitions and relocations, an all too short chapter on managing diversity in the global workforce, women in global business, and effective performance in the global marketplace.
This latter chapter on effective performance in the global marketplace addresses issues of global leaders and strategic alliances, the psychological dimensions involved in intercultural contracting, the development of human resources, the essential factors of global performance, integrity in business organizations, ethical relativism, cultural changes that are occurring in many countries, and the management of technology transfer.
What puzzled me is that in the entire first section there is only one quotation from Fons Trompenaars and his name never even made it to the index. There are four plus pages on Hofstede's early work and his name can be found in the index.
That aside, for a book that is focusing on global leadership strategies for the 21st century to omit any mention or analysis of Trompenaars seven dimensions and the ground breaking work that he has done seems, to put it mildly, somewhat strange. There would seem to be a need for today's readers to go beyond Hofstede and to transition into the data base and findings of Trompenaars research and its application for effective global strategies.
Further to this, in their discussion of cultural synergy, there is no mention of the Trompenaars/Hampden-Turner concept of reconciliation. To achieve the true culturally integrated solution that the authors are promulgating would seem to require a reconciliation approach such as can be found in Trompenaars/Hampden-Turner's writings.
The second half of Managing Cultural Differences provides data on regional cultural specifics and addresses doing business with North Americans, Latin Americans, Asians and Australians, Europeans, Middle Easterners, and Africans. In these sections, not all countries are considered but for those that are included there is a rich data base and keen insights of considerable benefit.
Overall, this is a good book and judging by previous editions, is one that will be of great value to students keen on understanding the world around them.
David C. Wigglesworth an intercultural/international management, organization, and human resource consultant is president of D.C.W. Research Associates International, 2606 Parkdale Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77339-2476 USA. Tel: 281-359-4234. Email: dcwigg@earthlink.net
Full of misinformation and false [information].......2003-03-27
Here are some of the MOST OBJECTIONABLE texts in this book on India -
India: Geography, Government, and People (adapted with permission from Venturing Abroad in Asia by Robert T. Moran International Management)
Page 444 - 8th paragraph
"There is not enough work for all their people, so poverty is prevalent. With an adult population of 326 million and official unemployment rate of 15 million, the last thing India needs is labor-saving modern equipment. Over the years, India has implemented intensive population control programs but none were successful. The high birth rate has been attributed to early marriage, the emphasis on bearing sons by the Hindu religion, the security of having children to take care of parents in old age, and the low level of education achieved by the rural masses.
Climate and culture contribute to the high incidence of disease and influence the patterns of work. The hot weather season brings constant dust, which results in various infections~ and eye irritations and also limits the outdoor physical activity. The cold, damp rainy season brings on colds, malaria and rheumatism. Their practice of vegetarianism contributes to malnutrition and protein deficiencies. The people of India have a general syndrome known as "weakness" brought on by their constant exposure to epidemic diseases such as cholera and typhus, and the malnutrition factor.
CORRECTION: This are very UNHEALTHY comments and illustrate pure ARROGANCE and IGNORANCE on the authors' part. They have NO MORAL right to blame India's culture and climate for its problems. Like everywhere else, people get used and adapted to the climate. And if they endure more, they should be stronger as they tend to develop immunity! Now, it has been proved that Vegetarian diet is as healthy (if not, more) as meat. For more info, please visit the link below -
[local website]STRANGE and INCORRECT!! - Why would the wealthy and educated with more resources suffer more often with malnutrition and the so called 'Weakness Syndrome' ?? ILLOGICAL!!
Page 445 - 5th paragraph
"Astrologers play an important role in India, as the people believe that nothing is accidental and the universe and all living components have a fundamental order."
Page 446 - 3rd - 4th paragraph
"It can be said that traditional Hindus are a nation of water drinkers"
"Western food is available in all the good hotels."
CORRECTION: Except health harming drinks, Hindus drink every good drink. Again, PURE ARROGANCE and IGNORANCE - good hotel does not mean Western food!!-
Book Description
"This is an important and excellent book for every negotiator." -The Negotiator Magazine
The premier guidebook for conducting cross-cultural business
Doing Business Internationally, Second Edition, is a nontechnical, accessible resource for managing today's multicultural organizations. Revised, restructured, and refocused from its classic first edition, it introduces the revolutionary Cultural Orientations Inventory (COI), a unique and valuable tool for identifying critical skills gaps and practicing style-switching, potentially increasing effectiveness and improving performance.
This fully updated edition revisits the first edition's groundbreaking strategies and techniques, plus presents new tools developed in conjunction with Harvard University, Columbia University, AT&T, and other leading universities and corporations.
- Concentrates on team building, executive development, problem solving, and other essential activities
- Features management and negotiation tips for global leaders
- Provides in-depth analyses of six key global regions
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book for learning more about managing multicultural organisations........2006-08-28
This is an excellent book for learning more about managing multicultural organisations. Already in its second edition after being first published in 1995, it has improved. The COM or Cultural Orientation Model integrates all the cultural dimensions of famous authors Hofstede, Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars, Stewart and Bennett/Rhinesmith, Kluckhohn and Strondtbeck/Hall and Edwart Hall into a cartwheel.
Though the authors are very much pro-convergence (even claiming in Chapter 1 that Global harmonization of consumer buying preferences will dominate certain industry-goods and services-sectors.) as to Globalization they manage to build up a comprehensive argument about the high role of culture in the process of organizational globalization.
Busy international managers could find the approach of breaking the complexities of cultural differences into value orientations a bit theoretical in the absence of case examples and critical incidents. There are some good case studies in chapter 4:A Survey of Cultural Patterns but there are too few of them in the whole book. In fact more of these would have helped in getting a vital point accross that cultural boundaries are not national boundaries. For people involved in designing performance management systems and strategic planning in multicultural organisations this book is highly recommended reading. HR-practitioners in multicultural organizations would also benefit from reading this book.
Which type is to become a global manager?.......2001-01-22
Recently I wrote a book about multinational management published in 1968. After finishing this book, I realized that the conflicts between multicultural and multinational difference are stands still under the similar managerial circumstance, though we are living in the digital-dominated world. So I studied this book compared with its' phenomenon as described in "International Management". Keeping a flexible communication skill in multinational-cultural is the key factor to achieve meaningful outcome. For this, the open-minded, instructive and far-sighted personality required first. When they acknowledged difference not wrong each other, they can start to talk about what they want for negotiation, next proceed to persuade or yield a little. This means the more internationalized people there as a matchmaker, the more the company benefited from them. Then how to get Mr. Right for global manager? They all born naturally? Or trained? Both are all right. Person who has got global brain with digital management skill (as Mr. Bill Gatz called) must appeal to adapt extreme change and more action to cope with international risky problem. They could continue to get or lose by trial and error and learned what's the best, step by step and case by case. There are no standard learning system to teach them. That's not the lost rather than investment for human resources for each company ultimately. If you are would-be-global manager or second-rate reginal manager or have a dream of international manager, read this book and write down and analyze what's your strong/weak point more carefully. Then take into action to the first-rate global manager. If anyone who is in a top-management read, they can set effective multinational goal to come and get. How about students or average person? Of course, they will be fine.
Valuable guide to building a successful worldwide company........1998-10-11
This book should be on the desk of every marketing and human resources manager involved in foreign trade. It is not only for larger companies that have already built a global sales network. It is also for beginners who should consider these cross-cultural factors BEFORE they start selling their goods and services in overseas markets. John R. Jagoe, Director, Export Institute.
Book Description
Much more than simply a list of protocols, Cultural Intelligence helps readers develop a mind-set that can be applied to any number of countries, cultures, and business situations. It is a systematic way to approach the tremendous variety of interactions and challenges that business people must face around the world - much easier and more realistic than documenting every trait of every culture and preparing to cater to each. This book presents a three-stage process for becoming culturally intelligent. These steps involve learning the fundamental principles of cross-cultural interactions, such as what cultures are, how they might vary, and how they affect behavior; practicing mindfulness and paying attention in a reflective and creative way to cues; and developing a repertoire of behavioral skills that can be adapted to different situations. It takes time and effort to develop high cultural intelligence, but this book helps readers with the right attitude begin this rewarding experience.
Customer Reviews:
Well written book........2006-04-24
This is a well-written book, which provides a generalist approach to dealing with cross-cultural issues with many excellent examples. The core idea of the book is based on the Hofstede model. One of the central criticisms of this model has been that nation state and culture are always presumed to be the same. Local culture does not follow political boundaries. The authors seem to be unable to avoid this trap.
Cultural Intelligence gives good insights on how to notice "Cultural Cruise-Control" and change own way of thinking. Providing some practical tools would have added to the value of this book, but this is a good book for international managers and HR personnel involved in multicultural business.
Cultural Intelligence.......2006-03-16
Author presented interesting views and provide readers clear concept of issues in working with people of cultural diversity.
A thorough and very useful guide.......2005-03-07
This is a detailed survival manual for those who are new to working across cultures. Its aim is to help such people to raise their 'cultural intelligence' - their understanding of cultural diffrences and their impact and their skill with tools to recognize and overcome misunderstanding and failures of communication based on differing cultural expectations.
While it is pitched for those who have little or no cross-cultural experience, it contains material which will also be useful to those with substantial experience.
An appendix lists useful sources of specific country information.
Good examples but not best for business purposes........2005-02-14
I learned a lot from this book. It uses examples and case studies to drive home lessons on cultural literacy. If you are looking for a more business oriented book, consider "Doing Business in the New Latin America" by Thomas Becker. I can't make any recommendations regarding other regions.
Outdoes all the rest.......2004-05-11
I have read countless books regarding inter-cultural communications and competence but I have to say that this is eons ahead of all others (including some by the same title). The strongest argument that the authors make here is that there are no patronising sets of rules to follow in different cultures, that one can, using an effective method and basic awareness, communicate across any culture successfully and without the aid of guidebooks and the like. In essence, this is the only book anyone will ever need on this subject...nice work!
Book Description
This new edition of a business textbook bestseller has been completely updated. In particular, the book presents a fuller discussion of global business today. Also, issues of terrorism and state security as they affect culture and business are discussed substantially. The structure and content of the book remain the same, with thorough updating of the plentiful region and country descriptions, demographic data, graphs and maps. This book differs from textbooks on International Management because it zeroes in on culture as the crucial dimension and educates students about the cultures around the world so they will be better prepared to work successfully for a multinational corporation or in a global context.
*This classic has been praised as "the bible of multiculturalism" (New York Times News Service)
*All demographic information fully updated, new case studies added to each chapter, CDROM with additional student resources new to this edition
*Five-hundred page on-line instructor's manual available from publisher packed with exercises, resources, graphics and ppt slides for lectures
Customer Reviews:
2 books in 1 - A Must read for Global Communicators.......2007-05-27
The book is 2 books for the price of 1. Unit 1's 250+ pages is the 'meat & potatos' concept with the most important Chapter 2. If you only read 30 pages, read Chapter 2.
This unit should be standard training for foreign service, country negotiators and global business people to get beyond values like 'honest' / 'dishonest' communication and relate to each other in terms of cultural directness / indirectness (low & high context communication).
Unit 2's 250+ page is more of a reference book with details country by country for use when you need to connect with the relevant country culture.
The 1 down side (4 stars instead of 5) is that SO MUCH is packed in this 1 book as a text book that it is not easily portable to take with you on trips to foreign countries.
Landmark Text Updates Edition - An Excellent Academic Resource.......2007-03-12
The seventh edition of Managing Cultural Differences is a comprehensive updating of this classic text on multiculturalism. As an academic, I have utilized previous versions of this text in my classes and strongly recommend the new edition. This tome of over 700 pages cites concise examples of how leaders must understand the value of culture when conducting business across boundaries. The book is divided into two units, including Cultural Impacts on Business and Regional Culture Specifics which present both general and specific content for global business personnel.
The authors possess a staggering wealth of experience in the global business arena which assists in showcasing their credibility. As an academic, I personally like the Mind Stretching summaries at the end of each chapter. These summaries pose further questions for the reader to ponder before progressing to subsequent chapters. I also enjoy the numerous exhibits from both primary and secondary research sources which provide further illumination on relevant topics.
I recommend the seventh edition of the Managing Cultural Differences text without reservation. I believe that as the era of globalization ensues, every academic institution that deals with global topics should utilize this landmark book.
The "Gold Standard" in International Management Education.......2007-02-28
Managing Cultural Differences has been the "Gold Standard" in international management education for over 30 years. It is the essential reference for the kit of every international executive across the World, and has rightfully been adopted as a primary text by over 400 college and university business programs.
I first became aware of the work of Drs. Philip R. Harris and Robert T. Moran over 30 years ago, when the first edition of Managing Cultural Differences was just a twinkle in their eyes. Since then, this steadily evolving text has always been a part of my library, informing the development of many businesses from Japan and Taiwan to India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
This completely revised 7th edition, which highlights author Sarah Moran, updates the earlier work to include major new sections on the impact of terrorism and state security on cultures, and their inevitable impact on the cultural interchanges within the multinational corporation. In today's homogenized business environment, it is often difficult to appreciate the differences in how international colleagues and competitors see the World. Managing Cultural Differences gives students the base point to appreciate the significance of their counterparts' worldview, with advice on how to address the inevitable conflicts in interpersonal behavior.
The 7th edition contains major new insights into dealings in the Middle East. Because of interminable conflict, many American and European businesses are missing the largest economic boom of this quarter century, fueled by our rising gasoline prices. When the West wakes up to this new opportunity, Managing Cultural Differences (7th Edition) will be there to guide the way through the inevitable smoke and mirrors.
Leadership in business is a key theme throughout the text, showing aspirants how to assume responsibility and avoid unnecessary conflict in today's complex multicultural business environments. As global arbitrage opportunities morph out of East Asia, and into Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, every business leader will need a copy of this encyclopedic guide to inform every decision, which cuts across the cultural divide.
The 7th Edition adds important case studies, with valuable chapter objectives, maps, and end of chapter discussion objectives. There are Power Point (tm) slides corresponding to each chapter outline, and 600 extra pages of instructor resources. The new student resource CD-ROM contains real-life cases, personal inventories, surveys, practice quizzes, and hyperlinked Web resources.
Managing Cultural Differences (7th Edition) is the essential primary text for every international business course.
Average customer rating:
- A map to understanding culture
- Valuable? - Perhaps for somebody who has never had a real eye for other cultures
- Very valueable, if taken as Hofstede has meant it
- A Train Wreck
- A Nemisis of Knowledge
|
Culture's Consequences : Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across Nations
Geert Hofstede
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ASIN: 0803973233 |
Book Description
"An important, sophisticated and complex monograph . . . Both the theoretical analysis and the empirical findings constitute major contributions to cross-cultural value analysis and the cross-cultural study of work motivations and organizational dynamics. This book is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in a historical or anthropological approach to cross-cultural comparisons."
--PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY
--PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY
The
Second Edition of this classic work, first published in 1981 and an international best seller, explores the differences in thinking and social action that exist among members of more than 50 modern nations. Geert Hofstede argues that people carry "mental programs" which are developed in the family in early childhood and reinforced in schools and organizations, and that these programs contain components of national culture. They are expressed most clearly in the different values that predominate among people from different countries.
Geert Hofstede has completely rewritten, revised and updated
Culture's Consequences for the twenty-first century, he has broadened the book's cross-disciplinary appeal, expanded the coverage of countries examined from 40 to more than 50, reformulated his arguments and a large amount of new literature has been included. The book is structured around five major dimensions: power distance; uncertainty avoidance; individualism versus collectivism; masculinity versus femininity; and long term versus short-term orientation.
Customer Reviews:
A map to understanding culture.......2006-11-22
I am currently an expatriate in France, and have also lived in the United States, Mexico, Spain. Hofstede's book is a good guide to better understand culture. As with a map, we recognize that it is not (nor is it intended to be reality) rather a tool to help guide us. The information on cultures in this book is our "first best guess" to understanding business norms in that culture, and then once we get to know the individuals we are working with, we can adapt. We recognize that these "norms" may change depending on the industry, the region, sub-culture, or other various factors. This book is extremely helpful in creating our "first best guess."
Valuable? - Perhaps for somebody who has never had a real eye for other cultures.......2005-10-08
Hofstede's work was and is not really helpful; perhaps fascinating for those who deal with the issues from the comfortable space of their warm home of office in a western country.
For all who want to get a fundamental insight to understanding espec. Asian behavior and cultural differences, I highly recommend to start with: "The Geography of Thought : How Asians and Westerners Think Differently...and Why -- by Richard Nisbett".
That's the stuff that will bring you where Hofstede could never dream to be.
Very valueable, if taken as Hofstede has meant it.......2005-05-11
Although many comments have already been accumulated let me add something, since some of the reviews tend to get out of focus. Hofstede never claimed to have studied cultures in general, he studied effects of culture on work-related values. For this topic his work is still the standard. The starting point is like this: a large company like IBM tries to establish a strong corporate identity shared among all of its worldwide employees ("We are IBM" kind of thing). However, if you ask them a couple of questions about their work-related values, they answer differently. Turns out, the differences can be explained to some degree by the employee's country-of-origin, that is his or her culture. Hofstede then goes on and tries to find dimensions in order to describe the differences between cultures, - and it has to be said again and again - dimensions for "work-related values" and not for culture in general! This observation was and is tremendously important for multinational companies. It means that we are still influenced even when we work at a multinational firm by our cultural traditions and that this cannot easily be exchanged by the company's culture. Of course if you are more interested in other aspects of culture, than Hofstede's books might not the prime choice for you to study.
Hofstede's work is scientifically sound. The choice of IBM as a case is reasonable given his prime motivation. Sample sizes are impressive for all who have tried similar studies (besides, representativity is not a function of sample size but given by the radomness of the sample draw. Sample size has an effect on standard error but this can be taken into account with a test of significance). Quackery is how other people have used Hofstede's data in contexts other than work-related.
A Train Wreck.......2004-11-01
Reading the previous reviews, several things are evident. The West Palm Beach review is nothing more than an ad hominen attack on a previous review. Furthermore, the Palm Beach reviewer mistakes sticking to the subject with "we're the only game in town" argument/counterargument assertion. It is very easy to ignore Hofstede's work completely, start from zero and perform a real cross cultural analysis, 2-3 three countries at a time, starting IN the native language and then making a comparison that speaks in its own voice. This is NOT the same as Hofstede's doing the surveys in English and then translating them twice. The Palm Beach reviewer also falls into the argumentum ad ignorantium fallacy (must be true because it hasn't been proven false) by saying "I mean that no reputable research on cultural values will fail to include Hofstede's work because it has been so influential" as well as appeal to celebrity.
While Dr. Littrell tends to lecture, he fails to address the problems of sample sizes in Hofstede's work. As for Schwartz's work, folks who speak read and write Japanese, Korean or Chinese and who have lived in one of the respective countries for more than 3 years know that Schwartz's "prototypical structure of value systems" as well as his 1997 "Influences on Adaption.." paper don't come near East Asian thinking.
The odd fact is that the Palm Beach reviewer and Littrell both admit that Hofstede's work falls short. The Palm Beach reviewer states," I don't mean that I think it is good" and "I have only read probably half of it" but then gives the book a five star rating. Littrell tangents on Hawkings but then covers for Hofstede by saying, "Theories are not facts".
Well statistics, when done right, reinforce theories enough to become a reliable base for future work but several reviewers clearly point out, with references, the shortcomings of Hofstede's statistical methods which again is odd considering the tone of these two reviewers.
Hofstede's work is useless and his defenders should work harder at dealing with the specific criticisms raised rather than pontificating or making condescending innuendo. Sampling just students or just company employees should ring alarm bells for statistical skewness. Furthermore, it is absolute cultural condescension to assume that a non native speaker of a given language can think like a native by using his own language and bring out a mere handful of qualities that are both universal and consistent across not just a few cultures but all at the same time. The Eurocentric hubris running through this study undermines the credibility of the assumptions and conclusions.
The researcher must not speak for the culture. The culture must speak for itself and this is the main point where Hofstede and his followers have failed completely. For those with critical thinking skills, read the reviews that are negative and the journal responses between McSweeney and Hofstede and then construct your own model. For those who dare, remember, no one man or woman can complete this project by himself because no one in this world has such a Tower of Babel level of experience of the cultures expressed in their native languages.
Universalism is a big lie. That's your starting point. 100% matching of traits across 200 nations will not happen when the study is properly conducted nor will the study's "voice" be censored by one corporate culture with statistically unreliable sample sizes. Understand this and you are on your way to a true understanding of cross-cultural phenomenon.
A Nemisis of Knowledge.......2004-10-01
Hofstede's book is essential reading for anyone interested in cross-cultural studies. The reviewer, Nemesis (Washington D.C.), demonstrates a rather appalling lack of knowledge of the current state of cross-cultural research. The original studies of Geert Hofstede were in fact carried out in English within the IBM Corporation, as Hofstede was an IBM employee at the time. However, since then a considerable number of studies have been completed, with the survey administered in English and in local languages, demonstrating the usefulness and consistency of Hofstede's cultural value constructs. Most responsible cross-cultural research today that uses surveys is carried out with data collection in local languages. The reader is referred, for example, to the extensive body of work on values across cultures based upon the Shalom Schwartz value survey. You can look it up.
In the social sciences, of which business is one, a theory is a model or framework for understanding phenomena. The term generally is taken to mean a framework derived from a set of basic principles capable of producing experimental predictions for a given category in a system. Humans construct theories in order to explain, predict and master phenomena (e.g. inanimate things, events, or the behaviour of animals). In many instances, it is seen to be a model of reality. A theory makes generalizations about observations and consists of an interrelated, coherent set of ideas. A theory has to be something that is in some way testable; for example, one can theorize that businesses progress from local to international markets by always implementing a certain set of processes in a fixed order. Then the process of internationalization of businesses is studied, and the theory is confirmed or revised in a continuous feedback system.
According to Stephen Hawking, a physicist, in A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, "a theory is a good theory if it satisfies two requirements: It must accurately describe a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains only a few arbitrary elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations." He goes on to state..."Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis; you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory. On the other hand, you can disprove a theory by finding even a single observation that disagrees with the predictions of the theory." This also applies to business theories, including Hofstede's, from which one can make definite predictions that have been verified. Theories are not facts, but tools.
Customer Reviews:
Seminal.......2003-06-11
Augsberger writes of the many different ways that cultures interact with each other, and how cultures approach conflict. There are many ways to approach conflict: different approaches to gender conflict, different beliefs on the nature of shame and "saving face", different ideas on what is effective resolution- and all are equally valid, with both good and evil in the different cultures, and the different methods.
On one level Augsberger is highly readable. He begins each chapter with numerous stories and fables from different cultures on the various conflicts- myths which are highly illuminating, teaching about cultures and about the nature of conflict, as only parables can. Interspersed in each chapter are many other stories and sharings from real life.
However, Augsberger may be one of the most intelligent authors I have ever read. He brings in *so* much, from so many different disciplines, that one feels swamped with information, all integrated in web-like structure, much as most of us feel on reading Finnegan's Wake. It's incredibly well-written, with multi-layers to a Biblical degree, but Augsberger's a lot smarter than I am (and I don't say that often), and this book is *thick*. You'll enjoy it, but read it slowly, and gain the depths and the heights of the change he has to offer.
I'd highly recommend Augsberger's Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures, which explores many of these same themes. And B.J. Prashantham's Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counseling as well. B.J. uses his own experiences as an Indian therapist, relating to those within his culture or other cultures in India, providing a very emic perspective on these questions of the nature of conflict and resolution.
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Books Index
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