Research Based Essay: Cross-Cultural Negotiations

CROSS-CULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS
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Section 1
What is culture? Culture has many different meanings. Many people associate culture with the appreciation of food, art, language and music. According to Taylor, Furnham & Breeze (2014), culture is hat complex whole which includes knowledge, art, law, belief, custom, morals and any other habits and capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. Taylor’s definition hints that culture is associated with societies and therefore different societies have different cultures which make them unique. Elsewhere, Bakir et al. (2015) defines culture as the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from others. From Taylor’s and Hofstede’s definitions of culture, it is clear that culture maps out a group of people from others and it controls their mental actions and decisions. Thus culture is a set of moral beliefs that guide decisions made by individuals.
Comparison of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in USA and China
Hofstede Cultural Dimension

Hofstede’s cores

Schwartz values



USA

China


USA

China

Power distance index (PDI) - this dimension reflects the degree to which less powerful members of the society expect and accept that power is unequally distributed. Individuals in high PDI societies accept a hierarchical order that places each individual in the hierarchy and there is no need for further justification. On the other hand, societies with low PDI attempt to equalize power distribution and seek for justification whenever there are inequalities in power

Scores low (40) meaning that the country advocates for equal distribution of powers among individuals

Scores high of (80) meaning that it is a hierarchical society where people vary in power possession

Self-direction- independent thought and action-choosing, creating and exploring. Individuals demand control and mastery.

High

Average

Individualism versus collectivism (IDV) - in this dimension, there are two sides, individualism in which society members prefer a loosely-knit social framework marked by individual self-care and for immediate family members and on the other side, collectivism which insists on tightly-knit social framework whereby members of a society expect every member to look after group members in return for unquestioned loyalty. In individualistic societies, the image is ‘I' while in collectivism; the impression is ‘we.'

Scores high IDV of (91) meaning that societies are preferred individualism

Scores very low (20) meaning that Chinese societies advocate for collectivism

Simulation-individuals are defined by novelty and challenge in life

High

Average







Masculinity versus femininity (MAS) - masculinity represents society’s preference for achievement, heroism, assertiveness and material rewards or success and this makes a society highly competitive. On the other hand, femininity represents societal preference of cooperatio...