ABC had organised the monthly talk on Understanding Cross Cultural Perspectives in Training and Coaching by Shobha Naidu on 21st March 2013 @ Christ University
3. • Culture comes from the Latin word "colere",
meaning to build on, to cultivate, to foster.
• Culture is a set of accepted behaviour patterns,
values, assumptions, and shared common
experiences.
• Culture defines social structure, decision-
making practices, and communication styles.
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
4. • Culture dictates behaviour, etiquette, and
protocol.
• Culture is something we learn. It impacts
everyone, and influences how we act and
respond.
• Culture is communication. It is a way people
create, process and interpret information.
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
5. Identifying Cultural Values
Each Individual is:
PERSONALITY (like no other person)
CULTURE (like some people in some ways)
HUMAN NATURE (like all people in some
ways – biological / psychological)
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 5
Bangalore Coaches
6. Cultural Dimensions – Geert Hofstede
POWER DISTANCE INDIVIDUALISM / COLLECTIVISM
This dimension
This cultural dimension
addresses: whether the
describes the relative
Individual or the group is
importance of hierarchy
the focus.
and how it affects
whether society
relationships between
members of a given reinforces individual or
group / society / collective achievements.
organization. the expectations of the
Individuals towards the
group for his recognition
and wellbeing.
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
7. Hofstede‟s Dimensions
Masculinity Index Uncertainty Avoidance
This dimension focuses This cultural dimension
focuses on how:
on:
-the degree to which cultures adapt to change,
and cope with risk,
there is gender uncertainty.
differentiation.
The extent to which the
In countries with high members of a culture feel
threatened by uncertain
„masculinity‟ there is a and unknown situations
reinforcement of the
traditional male role of
dominance.
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 7
Bangalore Coaches
8. H/L Power Distance Countries
China: 80 H US: 40 L
Egypt: 80H UK: 35 L
India: 77 H France: 68 H
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
9. Management South Asia – USA
Hierarchy is embedded in the Indian sub-continent.
There is apparent less hierarchy at the workplace in the
West
IND USA NL PK SL BD
77 40 32 55 68 80
Geert Hofstede, Cultures & Organizations: software of the mind, 1991
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
10. H / L Individualism Countries
China: 20 L Egypt: 38 L
India: 48 M US: 91 H
France: 71 H UK: 89 H
Germany: 67 H
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 10
Bangalore Coaches
11. Values that influence the workplace
South Asia - UK – USA
South Asians are group oriented and tend to be collectivist
Western cultures are more individualist, especially the
USA
IND USA NL PK SL BD
48 95 78 12 50 20
Geert Hofstede, Cultures & Organizations: software of the mind, 1991
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 11
Bangalore Coaches
12. High Context Cultures
(information is implicit and indirect)
Japanese
Chinese
Indian
Arab
Latin American
Spanish
Italian
French
French-Canadian
English
Australian
American
Scandinavian
Dutch
German
Low Context Cultures
Shobha Naidu for Association of
(information iscross-cultural perspectives
Understanding
explicit and direct) 12
Bangalore Coaches
13. HIGH/LOW CONTEXT PROFESSIONS
HIGH CONTEXT Human Resources
Marketing/Sales
Management
Research & Development
Technical
Engineers
LOW CONTEXT
Finance
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 13
Bangalore Coaches
14. High & Low Context
Communication Styles
Low Context High Context
Exchange of info / focus on Info is roundabout & implicit
words & is direct
Meaning in also how you say
Meaning in what you say
things & what is not said
Task & relationship oriented
Task centered
communication
The use of “We” is more
The use of “I” is important important
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 14
Bangalore Coaches
15. „Saving Face‟ in Communication / Behavior
„Yes‟ could mean „maybe‟,„I heard you…‟
The „NO‟ factor.
Poor participation, opting out of
situations, deflecting ownership…
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 15
Bangalore Coaches
16. Employee Perspective
Gautam Chainani’ s presentation at Nasscom July 2007)
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 16
Bangalore Coaches
17. Culture : A Conceptual Framework
Source: Schein, Edgar ‘Organization Culture and Leadership, San Francisco, 2004
So
h rt
Es s
a ie t T rm
e
Tcn a
e h ic l
(P c s e ,
ro e s s
T o &S c re )
o ls tru tu s
E p u e V lu s
sosd a e
(M n g m n S s m ,
a a e e t y te s
Durabilityof Change
AbilitytoInfluence
M a u m n &R w rd )
e s re e ts e a s
B h v ra
e a io l
(W a g u s &in iv u ls d )
h t ro p d id a o
U d rly gA s m tio s
n e in s u p n
(V lu s B lie , A d s N rm )
a e , e fs ttitu e , o s
Ms ot Ln
og
D u
iffic lt T rm
e
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 17
Bangalore S u e S h in E g r H O a iz tio C ltu a dL a e h . S nF n is o J h W y&S n In , 2 0 .
Coaches c e , d a . rg n a n u re n e d rs ip a ra c c : o n ile
o rc : os c 04
18. Swift Trust Deeper Trust
Competence Compatibility
Openness with Benevolence
information Predictability
Integrity Security
Reciprocity Inclusion
Accessibility
„Building Trust in Diverse Teams
TCO International Diversity Management, February 2007
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 18
Bangalore Coaches
19. Asia 1.0 Leadership style
Single Focus Single Focus
EXECUTOR CONTROLLER
Clear Task focused Logical Data Driven
Directive Productive Serious Thorough
ENERGIZER INTEGRATOR
Open Humorous Inquisitive Involving
Informal Adaptive Collaborative Patient
Multi-focus Multi-focused
Asia 2.0 Leadership style
Shobha Naidu for Association Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 19
,of Bangalore Coaches
20. Craig Storti: „The art of coming home‟
64% of American returnees reported culture shock.
64% of Dutch & 80% of Japanese expatriates said they
found coming home more difficult than adjusting
overseas.
Two thirds of returnees complained of suffering from the
“out of sight out of mind syndrome”
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives
Bangalore Coaches
21. „Emerging Trends in Global Mobility
Perspectives on India‟ - Cartus 2008
52% of assignments are outbound
12% of assignments are inbound
30% of assignments are intra – India
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 21
Bangalore Coaches
22. Profile of Assignees – Cartus
Inbound assignees – predominantly male
(83%) and 26% are less than 30
Outbound assignees – predominantly
female (73%) and 63% are less than 30
years of age
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 22
Bangalore Coaches
23. GMAC Global Trends Report
2006
31% of global Assignments lead to faster
promotion.
27% say it makes it easier to obtain a new
position in the workplace.
26% report expatriates change employers
more often.
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 23
Bangalore Coaches
24. Relocation Challenges -
Cartus
Inbound – family adjustment at 46% was
the major cause of assignment failure.
Outbound – family adjustment was
secondary at 14% but cultural adjustment
& communication was higher at 35%
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 24
Bangalore Coaches
25. Sources:
Craig Storti, „Speaking of India‟, 2007
Richard Lewis, „Cross-cultural Communication‟ 2008
Geert Hofstede, Culture‟s Consequences, Sage Publication,
revised 2001
Geert Hofstede, Cultures & organizations: software of the
mind, McGraw Hill, 1996
Edward Hall, „Beyond Culture‟, Anchor, 1977
Shobha Naidu for Association of Understanding cross-cultural perspectives 25
Bangalore Coaches