Cultural diversity in Asia

R.Lakshmi Ramya T21081

What is Cross-Cultural Management?

CCM is a fairly new field that is based on theories and research from: Cross Cultural Psychology International Business

Organizational Behaviour
Human Resources Anthropology

Goals for Cross-Cultural Management

Cross Cultural Management seeks to

understand how national management practices

cultures

affect

identify the similarities and differences across cultures in various management practices and organizational contexts

increase effectiveness in global management

Culture
Characteristics of culture include:
Learned Shared Trans generational

Symbolic
Patterned Adaptive

Management Approaches Affected by Cultural Diversity

Centralized vs. Decentralized decision making

Cultural Diversity

Informal vs. formal procedures

Safety vs. risk

High vs. low organizational loyalty

Individual vs. group rewards

Cooperation vs. competition

Sort-term vs. long-term horizons

Stability vs. innovation

Priorities of Cultural Values

United States 1. Freedom 2. Independence 3. Self-reliance 4. Equality 5. Individualism 6. Competition 7. Efficiency 8. Time 9. Directness 10. Openness Japan 1. Belonging 2. Group harmony 3. Collectiveness 4. Age/seniority 5. Group consensus 6. Cooperation 7. Quality 8. Patience 9. Indirectness 10. Go-between Arab Countries 1. Family security 2. Family harmony 3. Parental guidance 4. Age 5. Authority 6. Compromise 7. Devotion 8. Patience 9. Indirectness 10. Hospitality

Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and comprises 30% of its land area. With approximately 4.3 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.

Introduction
Managing Asian cultural diversity can be very complex for Western companies. Each country has its own culture, history, ideology, language and philosophy A strategy in Taiwan may not work in China, and vice versa.

1.Diversity of Asian Cultures

-Countries and Regions -Ethnicity -Religion -Language -Generational Differences

Countries/Region in Asia
Afghanistan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China East Timor India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Korea North Korea South Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar (Burma) Nepal Oman Pakistan The Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen

Various cultures of every ethnics and nationalities in Asia

Languages in Asia
Asia is home to several language families and many language isolates. Most Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken. For instance, according to Ethnologies, more than 600 languages are spoken in Indonesia, more than 800 languages spoken in India, and more than 100 are spoken in the Philippines. China has many languages and dialects in different provinces.

Religions in Asia
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. According to estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world

Cont
The religions in Asia are Abrahamic religion Taoic religion Dharmic religion Iranian religion Shamanism and Animism Sanamahi

Respect for Ancestors

Many Asian cultures venerate and even worship ancestors. This belief has been incorporated into Asian religions and belief systems.

2.Erroneous Assumptions about Asian Cultures

Common Stereotypes Latest Asia Megatrends Changing Asian Cultural Identities Women's Status

Stereotyping from the Cultural Extremes: Brugha and Dus research

How Americans see the Chinese in community avoid confrontation (keep in harmony) respect for authorities and seniors Chinese Culture How Chinese see Americans individualism face confrontation (arguments and debates) respect for achievements

U.S. Culture

3.Comparison of Key Asian Cultural Concepts

The Greater China:
Chinese culture and American culture have quite different norms and values. The normal distribution curves for the two cultures have only limited overlap. When looking at the tail ends of the two curves, it is possible to identify stereotypical views held by Chinese about Americans and Americans about Chinese.

Japan Korea Singapore Others

Comparing Cultures as Overlapping Normal Distribution

Chinese Culture
U.S. Culture

Cultural Groups
Asian cluster Relationship
Individualism

Japan China Indonesia Hong Kong Singapore

x
x x x x x x
21

Communitarianism
Specific relationship Diffuse relationship Universalism Particularism Neutral relationship Emotional relationship

x
x x

x
x x x

x
x x x

x
x x x

Achievement
Ascription x x x

4.Cultural Impact on Asian Management Issues

Leadership and Management Style Work Ethics and Integrity Innovation and Creativity

5.Common Challenges in Managing Asian Diversity

Communication and Feedback Regional Collaboration Coaching and Development Motivation

6.Strategies for Effective Asian Management

Managing Value Polarities Toward a Culture Learning Organization Building a Culturally Competent Workforce

Benchmarking Practices for Global Effectiveness