Concept 3.1 Western Culture Clusters Europe’s culture clusters 1Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640.

Concept 3.1Western Culture Clusters

Europe’s culture clusters

1Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640

European Union

• Origin: a common economic market to fair trade amongst European countries (West).

• A body with common institutions at economic, social and political levels

• Historically- 2nd WW. • To Bring peace &

prosperity amongst continents at war

• To establish & promote human rights, rule of law & democracy, eliminate all forms of discrimination

• See Exhibit 3.1 p 41 on values among EU citizens


Latin Europe

• Strong Catholic churches, Roman languages• Roman Empire influences • More personal approach to managing &

organising but in a highly bureaucracy • Formalization of hierarchy and procedures-

more efficient. • Reliance on family & personal relationships &

connections to get things done


• Italian management: Dual leadership, a couple

• The leader assumes external roles as well keeping an eye on internal matters . Both complement each other

• In France, 1 leader as top management, fulfilling contractual obligations & preserving status/position. Must be seen as big boss.

• Cultural dimensions of Latin Europe: low in humane orientation practices (degree of concern, tolerance, support)

• Self interest is high but lack of consideration for others

• Collective family consideration-greater loyalty & cohesiveness to their family.


Nordic Europe • Leader still makes final decision• Distinct Nordic features: authority is

not remote, can question their decisions, managers are not expected have all the answers but make effective use of expertise among workers

Germanic Europe• Quite similar with Nordic Europe• Lower power distance• Germany, Austria-adopt longer-term

perspective in strategic decisions• More concerned with getting jobs done

than with work environment & family• Masculine dimensions: ind initiative,

assertive behaviour, explicit communication, results oriented

•Vikings culture and ruling systems•Reinforced cultural contrasting between Northerners & those of the Roman Empire• No over-riding hierarchy, no elaborate systems of control. Large independent communities, own laws & governing bodies•Scandinavians: self-sufficiency, fairness, egalitarianism & democracy.•Business management: boss as team leader & facilitator. Free expressions of opinions on the part of employees & voices are considered in making decisions.


The Anglos• Anglo-Sexon: Citizens of British Isles & immigrants of N

America & Asustralasia• Anglo-Sexon groups-the Angles, Saxons & Jutes. Settled in

Britannia that Romans established & abandoned later. Now, England, a part of UK of Great Britain & Northern Ireland consisting of Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland

• Culturally (Hofstede’s), British are of less power distance, lower uncertainty avoidance but more individualistic, ambitious/aggressive than their counterparts

• Relaxed management approach contrasting Latin & Nordic• Bureaucratic but pragmatic: job separate from personal life• Emphasis on the extent individual concerned contributes

to the task. 6Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640

Selection and RecruitmentLatin countries-applicants must fit in the group norms.

Interpersonal skills, personality and communicative competence. Eg French uses one-to one interview & less references. Particularist approach-skills and knowing how to operate within a web of relationships and hierarchies

British: Universalist approach-objective criteria such as intellect and technical skills.

Germanic cultures-equal concern with technical and candidate long-term career perspectives, involving further mobility.

British: short-term career perspectives, job hopping tendency


Anglos outside EuropeAnglo-Americans• US culture shaped by values

of White Anglo-Sexon Protestants

• Protestant work ethics (Max Weber)-the psychological conditions leading to capitalist civilization-hard work

• Current business drivers are influenced by the intent to achieve & improve personal & societal standards

*The rights of the citizens,equality as well as individual work ethics on achievement (masculinity), assertiveness, competition.*Strict rules, procedures, yet

share commitment among company employees allows considerable delegation and decentralisation.

*Bottom line in the short-term as success indicator8Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640

• British & Americans businesses differ in looking at the future. Americans more optimism. Read Article in Exhibit 3.2

Anglo-Canadians Origin: Indians and Inuit territoryFrench colonization-QuebecBritish took controlCanada became independent in 1867 with clear borders of French-Canadian & Anglo-CanadianFrench & English: official languages


Anglo-CanadiansAnglo-Canadian societyNon-French speaking, of British,

continental Europeans and Asians (Chinese)-charcterised by the way they manage.

More British in a sense less formalised, less driven by individual goals but concern/aware of society as a whole.

Canadian different cultural groups – socially intact and preserving their cultural identitiee

• Dealing with French Canadians – Latin attitudes to management. Memos , schedules are not the norms

• Dealing with Americans: the need and awareness to stand their own ground


Anglo-Australians*Australia & NZ_ UK Colonization. Australian Aborigines & NZ Maoris-their lives changed by the European settlers*Retained Anglo-Sexon identity after independence. *Australia the 1st to welcome the increased ethnic diversity from immigration of other non-European countries-South-East Asia*“ Accepts and respects the right of all Australians to express & share their individual cultural heritage…”

• NZ: largely British ethnicity Anglo-Sexon in nature but more collaborative than in UK or US. Implications; slow decision making. Hierarchical but modest egalitarian approach when dealing witn colleagues.

• More direct & critical than their British counterparts. Humour is away of life


Latin Americans

• Devised by the French in the 19th C to differentiate Anglo-Saxon North America and Spanish/Portuguese South America

• Shared cultural values despite differences bet Central & South American countries

• Strong belief in the Catholic religion of South Americans-importance of family & the distinct gender roles.

• Socially & economically, the gap bet the rich & poor is considerable. Lack of education amongst the poor inhibits progress


Latin Americans• Power with the patrons-daily

life in politics, the church, business

• Benevolent Authoritarian approach-command & need respect.

• With growing middle class, industrialization, authoritarian is less prevalent. Mexico undergoing significant social changes-the assertion, inclusion in decision making causes cultural clashes

• Warm, person oriented in dealing with others-strong Latin American way of doing business.

• Collectivist culture-pride, loyalty, interdepence in families but less value on institutional collectivism (collective distribution of resources & collective actions.

• Read article of Exhibit 3.4


Concept 3.1 Western Culture Clusters Europe’s culture clusters 1Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640.

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Transcript of Concept 3.1 Western Culture Clusters Europe’s culture clusters 1Western Bu Culture_Week 3_3640.