Culture

Sub-topics

1. What is culture?2. Culture is made up from …3. Basic dimensions of culture4. World Values Survey5. Organizational cultures – how are they

formulated?

What is Culture?

What is Culture?

• A series of basic meanings that have been: - Made up - Discovered - Created … by a specific team / group of people that has learned

to deal with its problems and adjust to its environment … become more of a team because the way perceiving

and analysis of problems have been successfully implemented, are considered to be valid and are taught to new members

2. Culture is made up from …

Culture

Values

Heroes

Myths

Stories

CeremoniesTraditions

Behaviors

Order

Beliefs

3. Basic dimensions of culture

• Content• Time• Inter-personal space• Language – communication• Religion – values

3. Content

• High content - Implied, formal, hierarchical, typical ways of

communicating• Low content - Verbal and written forms of communication• Highest: Chinese / Koreans / Japanese• Lowest: Germans / Swiss / Scandinavian

3. Time

• One-dimensional - Emphasis on time, adoption of a very tight,

precise schedule• Multi-dimensional - Time is fluid, precision is not important

3. Basic dimensions of culture in Hofstede-Bond

• Power Distance: between members of family, work, government, organizations

• Individualism / Collectivism: how close are the relations between people, society

• Masculinity / Feminity: competitive versus compassionate

• Risk Avoidance: creation of rules and order?• Confucianism: respect towards hierarchy,

tradition

4. World Values Survey

• International research effort to record values and perceptions in many countries world-wide

• Began in 1981, today it covers 97 countries, 90% of the world’s population

• A questionnaire with more than 300 questions on perceptions about work, equality, sexual orientation, religion, political parties

4. Questions

• How important are the following in your life: - Family - Friends - Work - Free time - Politics - Religion

4. Questions

• What do you consider to be the most important aspect at work:

- The salary / wage - Security - (Paid) leave - Like it - Be involved with people you can

communicate with

4. Dimensions

• X axis (horizontal) – Survival and Freedom of Expression, emphasis on the latter when

- Social and political freedom is important - Acceptance of differences - Autonomy in personal and working life is

important - Trust in people

4. Dimensions

• Y axis (vertical) – Traditional and Logical Values, emphasis on the latter when the following are not important:

- Religion - Patriotism - Respect towards older people - Traditional family values - Allegiance

4. Dimensions

5. How are organizational cultures formulated?

• Founders

• Philosophy

• Selection

• Criteria

• Top Manage

ment

• Socialization

• Culture

5. Organizational Culture

• Common perceptions, accepted meanings among members of the organization

• Establishment / enactment: an organization is immortal, when it acquires its own life it separates itself from its members

• Establishment / enactment comes before culture