FOUNDATION OF

CULTURE

 What did you eat for breakfast?

Can you get any kind of hair-do that you
want?
Did you think about giving up education
after higher secondary?
What is religion for you?

Culture
A set of rules, values, beliefs, behaviour
and concepts that is common to and binds
together the members of a society, passed
on from one generation to another.

Culture
The sum of the values, rituals, symbols,
beliefs, attitudes and thought processes
that are learned, shared by a group of
people, and transmitted from generation to
generation.

Culture
Culture is the collective programming of
the mind which distinguishes the members
of one category of people from another.

Rules
Conformity to good or established usage.
Well regulated condition, conduct, a
principle, a standard.

Values
Moral principles, standards.

Belief
It is a descriptive image or thought that an
individual holds about something.

Behavior
Conduct, manner, mode of action,
response to stimulus. Behavior is an
outcome of psychological and sociological
make-up.

Attitude
A set of consistent reactions to an idea,
situation, thought, object, place or being.

Cultural Group
A group of people demonstrating same
culture is called a cultural group. Cultural
groups can span over nations, regions,
cities, corporates, family and individual.
However, the greatest cultural divide is
based on gender.

Concept of Culture and subculture.

Across the World cultures are

classified under three categories:
Linear-actives- The planners. The one
time-one task people. German and Swiss.
Multi-activesThe
non-planners.
Adventurers. Loquacious. Italians and
Arabs.
Reactives- People with courtesy and
respect. They listen quietly and calmly and
react carefully. Chinese, Japanese and
Finns.

Geert Hofstedes Big Four

Power Distance
Individualism vs Collectivism
Masculinity vs Feminity
Uncertainty Avoidance

Its not just important to

understand the cultural
differences between
cultures but it is also important to
understand why.

Factors that influence culture

The WHY!

Geography
Climate
Humidity
Temperature
Rain
Topography
Altitude

Water Bodies
Rivers
Oceans
Lakes
Deserts (Hot and cold)
Resources

History

The colonizers and the colonies

The invaders and the invaded
The oppressors and the oppressed
The Armies
The Educators
The Politicians and the Businessmen

The chronicles of the World

The Civilizations

Indus Valley Civilization

Mesopotamian Civilization
Nile River Civilization
River Hwang Ho Civilization

The colonial rulers

England
Britain
France
Japan
Spain
USA

The Colonization of the

American continent
04-07-1776- The declaration of
Independence
1782-The Crown retreats

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrialization of the West

1857-The first revolution for

Independence India

The World War - I

1914 1918

1930 The Great Depression

Henry Ford
Adolf Hitler

World War II - 1939 1945

06-06-1944 - The most important day in
the history of man-kind
Birth of the Nuclear age
Birth of a Cultural Stance

15-08-1947 India and Pakistan

gain Independence separately

Industrialization of the East

The Circle of Wealth

Those who dont learn from

their history, repeat it!

Dynamics of Global Population

Trends
Controlling population growth
Rural/Urban Migration
Population Decline and Aging
Worker shortage and immigration

World Trade Routes

Communication Links

Political Economy

Political Systems:
Fascism
Communism
Democracy

The Political environment

A critical concern

The Sovereignty of Nations

Stability of Government policies

Political Parties
Nationalism

Economic Systems:
Socialist
Capitalist
Mixed

Technology

Social Institutions

Family
Religion
School
The Media
Government
Corporates

Global Business Customs

Management styles around the

World
Authority and decision making
Management objectives and aspirations
-Security and mobility
-Work life
-Affiliation and social acceptance
-Power and achievement

Management styles around the

World
Communication styles
-Face to face communication
-Internet communications
-Formality and tempo
-P-time versus M-time
-Negotiations emphasis

Gender bias in International

business

Business Ethics
Corruption
Bribery
-Bribery and extortion
-Subordination and lubrication
-Agents fees
Ethically and socially responsible
decisions

Cultures Influence on
Strategic Thinking

Required Adaptation

Open tolerance
Flexibility
Humility
Justice/fairness
Ability to adjust to varying tempos
Curiosity/interest
Knowledge of the country
Liking for others
Ability to command respect
Ability to integrate oneself into the environment

Required Adaptation
Degree of Adaptation
Imperatives, Electives and Exclusives
Pre and post departure trainings

Relationship Oriented versus

Information oriented cultures
Information-oriented cultures

Relationship-oriented cultures

High-context
Collectivism
High power distance
(including gender)
Bribery more common
High distance from
English
Linguistic indirectness
Polychronic time
Face-to-face
Background
Reduce transaction costs

Low-context
Individualism
Low-power distance
Bribery less common
Low distance from English
Linguistic directness
Monochronic time
Internet
Foreground
Competition

Thank You