Organizational Culture Vs National Culture Essay

755 Words4 Pages

Organizations can be translated as a group of people who interact with each other to achieve certain goals (McShane & Glinow, 2008). A good understanding of how a moving organization will greatly help managers to manage their organizations with effective methods. Of the many things that interact within an organization, there is one factor that is difficult to ignore, namely cultural factors. There has been considerable research showing that national culture has a strong influence on organizations (Adair, Okumura, & Brett, 2001). Other opinions also confirm that national culture has an important role in shaping organisation behaviour (Aldhuwaihi, 2013). Yoon (1996) even asserted that although cultural values and social norms are important for social …show more content…

The national culture is the first program that is embedded in us, the value is the deepest component of the program. At the time of our adult values are usually embedded so well that it is very difficult to change.
In an in-depth study of the national cultural dimension, Hofstede (2010) has summarized several dimensions of national culture as follows.
a. Power Distance Index (PDI)

A level of trust or acceptance of an unequal power among people. A culture in which some people are considered superior than others because of social status, gender, race, age, education, birth, achievement, background or other factors is a form of high power distance.
b. Individualism (IDV)
Individualism is the opposite of collectivism, i.e. the rate at which individuals are assimilated into groups. From the individualist side we see that there is a loose bond between individuals. Everyone is expected to take care of himself and his immediate family. Meanwhile, from the collectivist side, we see that from birth people have been integrated into a group.
c. Masculinity

Open Document