Organizational Culture and

Its Influences on
Different Situation

Prof. Mohammad Khasro MIAH Ph.D.

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Learning Objectives
perceive the relationship between culture
and context
perceive the relationship between
communication and context
understand the different attitudes and
conversational structures of health care
context
summarize the different roles and
behavioral patterns of educational context
evaluate the different management concept
and behavioral modes of business context
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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Organizational Culture
Some of the Definitions of Culture:
Symbols, language, ideologies, rituals, and
myths.
Organizational scripts derived from the personal
scripts of the organizations founder(s) or
dominant leader(s).
Is a product; is historical; is based upon symbols;
and is an abstraction from behavior and the
products of behavior.
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Artifacts and Creations, Values, and Basic

Assumptions (from Exhibit 2.1)
I - Artifacts and Creations
- Technology
- Art
- Visible and audible
behavior patterns

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II - Values
- Testable in the physical
environment
- Testable on by social
consensus

III - Basic Assumptions

- Relationship to
environment
- Nature of reality, time,
and space
- Nature of human
nature
- Nature of human
activity
- Nature of human
relations
4

Cultural Influences on
Context

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By nature all men are alike, but by education widely

different.
Chinese
Saying
Live together like brothers and do business like strangers.
Arab
Proverb
If you are not in tune with the universe, there is sickness
in the heart and mind.
Navajo
Saying

Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Cultural Influences on
Contexts

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Understanding Context

The Health Care Context

The Educational Context

The Business Context

Intercultural Negotiations

Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

While-Class Learning:
Text A
Pre-reading Questions
What kinds of behaviors can be appropriate in the
following contexts.

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Text A: Understanding
Context
communication context: cultural, social,
and physical settings
frame (reference point) :
what specific actions should mean
what behaviors are to be expected
how to act appropriately and effectively

Internalized cultural rules

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Text A
Understanding Context
Three basic assumptions about human
communication:
1. Communication is rule governed
2. Context specifies communication rules
3. Communication rules are culturally diverse

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

1. Communication is rule governed

Communication rules prescribe proper behavior
Social settings stipulate rules
Culture makes the rules

Rules cover both verbal and nonverbal

behaviors
Rules specify what should be said, how it should
be said

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

2. Context specifies communication rules

Diverse contexts,
Different
communication rules
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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

3. Communication rules are culturally diverse

Different cultures, different rules.
Dress
Time
Language
Manners
Nonverbal behavior
Control of communication

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Changing Culture Intervention Points

Hiring and
socialization of
members who fit
in with the
culture

Culture

Behavior

Cultural
communication

Managers seeking to create

culture change must
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intervene
at these points

Removal of
members who
deviate from the
culture

Justification of
behavior
13

HOFSTEDES
CULTURAL
Dominance, independence vs.
MasculinityDIMENSIONS
compassion, interdependence, &
femininity

Individualismcollectivism
Power
distance

openness.
Emphasis on individual goals,
needs, & success vs. group needs,
satisfaction, & performance.
Degree to which people
accept power & status
differences in society.

Confucianism dynamism
Long-Term Orientation

A future oriented perspective

"sacrifice for the future."

Uncertainty
avoidance

Degree to which people are

comfortable with ambiguity
& uncertainty. (Not Risk
Tolerance)

Masculinityfemininity

Dominance, independence vs.

compassion, interdependence, &
openness. (Competition v. Cooperation)

Individualismcollectivism

Emphasis on individual goals,

needs, & success vs. group needs,
satisfaction, & performance.

Power
distance

Degree to which people

accept power & status
differences in society.

Cultural Categories

 2001 Richard D Lewis

Conversational structures and language

Latinos and Arabs: extensive small talk
Native Americans: extensive periods of silence
Asians and Asian Americans: indirection or other
face-saving strategies
Individualistic and low-context cultures: important
to communicate verbally
Collectivistic and high-context cultures: avoid
conversing with physicians during medical
interviews

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

While-Class Learning:
Text C
The Educational Context
1. Cultures influence on the educational context
2. Classroom interaction

a. role behaviors in class

b. classroom discussion and participation

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

While-Class Learning:
Text D
The Business Context
1. Cultural views toward management
a. North American
b. European
c. Asian
d. Latin

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

1.a. North American Management

Styles

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resent interference
strong work ethic
friendly and informal
competitive and aggressive
manager: a high status, a cultural hero

Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

1.b. European Management Styles

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Germany:
1) detailed information and instruction to guide
2) do not need to motivate
3) authoritarian leadership style
France:
1) rules, regulations, and principles
2) authoritarian
3) autocratic
Britain:
1) diplomatic, tactful, laid back, casual, reasonable,
helpful
2) compromise, fair
3) friendly small talk, casual approach to work
Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

1.c. Asian Management Styles

China:
1) harmony
2) kinship, interpersonal connections, face, and power
3) seniority: main source of power, from age and length of
service
Japan:
1) harmonious integration of all members
2) organization: a large extended family
3) acceptance of hierarchy, sense of obligation,
consensual decision making

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Cultural Views Toward Management

Diverse Cultures
North
American

American

European

German

Management Styles

French
British
Asian

Chinese
Japanese

Latino

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Mexican and Latin

American

Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

While-Class Learning:
Text D
The Business Context
2. Business Protocol
a. initial contacts
b. greeting behaviors
c. gift giving

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

a. Initial Contacts
American:
1) socialization is unimportant
2) not interested in long-term relationships
3) trust in counterparts

Chinese:
1) establish contacts
2) socializing is integral
3) long-term business or personal relationships

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

b. Greeting Behaviors
American:
1) informal and friendly
2) shaking hands
3) first names used, except senior persons or formal situations
4) business cards exchanged in business settings

Chinese:
1) slight bow and brief shake of hands
2) social status and rank highly honored
3) business cards
4) family name
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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

c. Gift Giving
American:
1) akin to bribery
2) letters of thanks
3) a small token: flowers, a plant, or a bottle of wine

Japanese:
1) very common
2) do not open gifts
3) flowers, cakes, or candy when visiting

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

While-Class Learning:
Text E
Intercultural Negotiations
1. Pacing
2. Negotiation Styles
3. Variations in Decision-making

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

1. Pacing
America

Latin America

business
lightning speed
conducted

much slower pace

contracts
signed

common during the

first meeting

several trips to
accomplish

decisions
made

middle managers

several people

Some cultures:
Personal relationships take priority over the product or service,
business does not begin until friendships are established.
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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

2. Negotiation Styles

Negotiation styles
Americans Efficiency, directness; ready to bargain or
compromise; logical arguments
British

Similar to Americans, but more silence, interrupt

less; friendly, sociable, flexible

French

Most difficult of Europeans; long-winded; relish

debate, confrontational and competitive

Germans

Not compromise; clear, firm and assertive;

frequently interrupt

Japanese

Long pauses, silence; harmony

Chinese

Avoid conflict; long-term relationships; facesaving; status; indirect, silence; smile

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

3. Variations in Decision-making

Variations in decision-making
Americans Problem solvers; rational thinking and concrete
data, factual inductive
French

Debate; conservative, safe decision-makers;

decisions made by top authorities

Japanese

Level expertise; consensus-building process

Chinese

More authoritative than consensual;

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts

Contrasting Cultural Differences

in Negotiation and Mediation
WESTERN
Low Context (direct)
Communication

ASIAN
High Context (indirect)
Communication

Low Power Distance

Individualism

High Power Distance

Collectivism

Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Masculinity
(Assertive)

High Uncertainty Avoidance

Femininity
(Cooperative)

Short-Term Orientation

Long-Term Orientation

Monochronic Time
Space - far apart

Polychronic Time
Space close

Contrasting Cultural Differences

in Negotiation and Mediation
WESTERN

ASIAN

Risk Takers

Risk Avoiders

Brief Rapport building time (short)

Extensive Rapport building time (long)

Aggressive

Passive

Contract focus

Relationship focus

Win-lose approach

Win-win approach

Informal approach

Formal approach

Show emotions

Hide emotions

Preference for specific agreement

Preference for general agreement

Contract is fixed

Re-negotiation is possible

Individual Decision-making

Group Decision-making

Logical decision-making

Emotional decision-making

All equals

One leader

Face Saving

Face Giving

Inductive logic

Deductive logic

Low Government involvement

High Government involvement

Linear-Active

Multi-Active

Reactive

Thank You

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Chapter 6 Cultural Influences on Contexts