LSS 2503Types of cultures

Relationship orientated cultures

Universalist v Particularist cultures

In the universalist culture, rules, codes of conduct and values are established which can be applied to everybody on any given situation.

Example: UK

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In the particularist culture relationships and circumstances in any given situation decide what is right. The spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law.

Example: China

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Achievement v Ascription cultures

Achievement oriented culturesIndividuals get their status from what they have achieved themselves rather than their position in society

Examples: Austria, Switzerland, UK

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Ascription orientated cultures

People get their status from their position in society and this is linked to family name, connections, wealth, and age.

Examples: Indonesia, Venezuela

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Affective cultures and Neutral cultures

Affective cultures

Openly express their emotions Use physical gestures Encourage physical contact Focus on the person, not their position

Example: Italians

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Neutral cultures Do not show emotions Avoid physical contact Difficult to read Try and remain calm ‘Position’ of a person most important, not

the person themselves

Example: Japanese

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Individualism versus collectivism

Individualism is a culture where the individual is the basis of society: individual rights are valued above the collective rights of a group

Example: USA

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Individualism versus collectivism

Collectivism is a culture where the ‘group’ is the basis of the society: collective rights of the whole group are more important than individual rights.

Example: The USSR

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Specific and diffuse cultures

Specific and diffuse cultures measure how far people get involved with public and private places

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Specific culturesIndividuals are open to sharing their public space but guard carefully their private space. Public and private lives are kept separate as much as possible.

Examples: Austria, Switzerland, UK, USA

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Diffuse culturesIndividuals guard their public and private lives carefully as the two are often closely related.

Examples: China, Spain, Venezuela

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Time Oriented CulturesMonochronic v Polychronic

cultures

Monochronic culturesOn thing is done at a time in an orderly fashion. There is a time and place for everything and interruptions are not well – received.

Example: Germany

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Polychronic Cultures

Multiple tasks can be done at the same time. A meeting can have an open door with phones ringing at the same time. Interruptions are not a problem.

Example: France

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Monochronic cultures Schedules more important than interpersonal relations Appointment time inflexible One task at a time

Examples: Germany, Switzerland

Polychronic cultures Interpersonal relations more important than schedules Appointment times flexible Many tasks handled at same time

Examples: Latin America, Arab culture

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Time oriented cultures Past

Present

Future

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Time oriented cultures

Past oriented societies are concerned with traditional values and ways of doing things. They are slow to change anything with links to the past.

Examples: China, the UK and Japan

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Time oriented cultures

Present oriented societies prefer to live in the present with short-term benefits. The past has gone and the future is uncertain.

Examples can be found in Latin America and some African countries

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Time oriented cultures

Future oriented societies believe they can understand and shape the future. They look for long-term benefits.

Examples: Brazil, USA

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Communication oriented cultures

Human interaction can be divided into two communication systems:

Low context High context

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Low context

In low context communication systems intention or meaning is best expressedthrough clear messages ( spoken or written)

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High context

In high context communication systems intention or meaning is best expressed through the context and non-verbal channels such as pauses, silence, and tone of voice.

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Low context High context Individual values v Group values Self-face concerns v Mutual –face Linear logic v Spiral logic Direct style v Indirect style Person-orientedv Status oriented Self-enhancement v Self- effacement Speaker oriented v Listener oriented Verbal based v Context based

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