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
Individualism is when an individual is different than everyone else in their actions, thoughts, and opinions. The government can punish those who act differently than how the rest of the populace acts. They can give the person a trial or secretly deal with the problem. This involves the disappearing aspect of a dystopian society. Clarisse is a character in Fahrenheit 451 and she is different than everyone else.
Collectivism holds that man must be chained to a collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called ‘the common good’. In my opinion, this society is similar to that of a communist nation. The rulers of this society disestablish the word “I”, and establish the word “We” to classify an individual. They deprive people of a unique name and give them a name similar to that as a machine that does not have a soul.
People that have conformity have the mindset of “Everybody is doing it so I should too. ” Individualism is the complete opposite of conformity. Individualism is the belief or action of where one simply does not care what one thinks.
The articles in this essay will give three different insights on how American culture is perceived based on observations and first hand experiences. Jennifer Price, “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History,” used the trend of the pink flamingo to describe a time of new and vibrant change that has shaped its culture to be strong and optimistic. Richard Rodriguez, Days in Obligation, gives his first hand experience of being a part of two different cultures to give a comparison between total opposite places, who have their own traditions and customs. Scott Sanders, Stay Put: Making a Home in a Restless World, presents his belief of ideas are more important to the American people than the places which they live in. All of these writers all give substantial information of their viewpoints which combined makes up the identity of American culture.
America has had a tumultuous existence, replete with war, progress, and ideologies. The most formidable of these is individualism, or the shift of society’s focus from the group to the individual and a growing emphasis on their personal needs and desires. Despite wide criticism, it has become the societal norm, spanning all generations, genders, races, and walks of life. Individualism, while indeed centered on the individual, is more accurately described as the changing and shifting relationship between the individual and society.
Individualism is when a person has achieved non-conformity, self-reliance, free-thought, confidence, and finding one’s self through nature. Although individualism may be achieved in society, it cannot be fully achieved until one removes himself from society. Chris McCandless did exactly that; he removed himself from society by backpacking and hitchhiking throughout the United States to test and achieve individualism. McCandless’s last great adventure was to Alaska to fully obtain individualism, unfortunately, he died trying to find his spiritual belonging and individualism. Many people would think it was absurd that Chris left his family and threw his life away, and they would think that he was not justified in leaving society, however, Chris McCandless was justified in leaving society because by doing so he could achieve non-conformity and self-reliance without being oppressed.
Individualism is the principle of being independent and self-reliant. He believes that he, himself, matters individually, not just the group as a
Individualism versus Collectivism: This element of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions describes if the primary function of a person in a society is more being an individual or part of the group of a society. In individualistic societies people follow their own interest very strictly and are relatively loose on societal morals. Competition in these societies is normal, the ideology exists that people who compete the best are rewarded financially. Examples for strong individual societies are: Canada, Australia and the United States.
Nature was introduced in romantic novels and poems. In the poem ‘’Thanatopisis’’ by William Cullen Bryant he described death to something that was peaceful and to be embraced. He believed that you become one with nature, one with earth once you die. But in the poem ‘’Devil and Tom Walker’’ by Washington Irving he described death to be evil, sinful. He believed death to horrifying and something to not be embraced.
Collectivism is when there’s total social and environmental control in a society and no one is allowed chose for them self. Individualism is when one has to chose to do something by him or herself. Throughout the novel Anthem, the allegory of the battle between collectivism and individualism is a huge part of Equality’s life. Collectivism is a part of the novel Anthem based on how humans interact with one another and the
Due to the constant contact between various people of the nation, there is some kind adaptation of one kind of culture from other. The impact of such contribution of culture is known as the culture legacies. Each national history and culture unfolds in its own particular way. Sometimes it could be the explanation for people’s previously inexplicable behaviors. In Chapter six of Outliers, Gladwell claims that cultural legacies “play such a role in directing attitudes and behaviors that we cannot make sense of our world without them”(175).
To better understand this, I will use Hofstede Dimensions of National Culture to examine the various facets of cultural
There are many different definitions of workplace culture. Charles Handy an Irish author/philosopher specialising in Organisational Behaviour and Management famously said that, “Culture is the way we do things around here,” but if someone was on the outside looking in how would you explain that to them. Would you have to be working there a long time yourself before you could see “how things work around here”. Because culture in an organisation is what makes it unique, it’s the personality, the attitudes, and the way we interact and relate to each other these are the things that attract the best and Brightest talent to a company. So, if an organisation has a “strong, positive, clearly defined and well communicated culture with strong core values” (Deloitte) that company is onto a winner.
Though different, collectivism and individualism both have value within their contexts and show the values of their people. Collectivism values the individual’s membership and participation in the group as a whole. Contrarily, individualism esteems the individual’s ability to separate himself from the group and think for himself. Though often not recognized, both of these dimensions can exist within a society and add depth to its
Likewise, some cultures believe in collaboration of individuals in the firms while some stimulate competition between the individuals. Similarly, long term goals are desired in some cultures as compared to short term goals. In other words, cultural background results differences in managing the organizations. Miroshnik (2002) stated that behavior and thinking approaches are under the influences of culture in any society. Organization can achieve its goals if manages satisfy or confirms proper behaviour of the individuals