scholarly journals Should Management Practice Adapt to Cultural Values? The Evidence Against Power Distance Adaptation

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaka N. Rao ◽  
Jone L. Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Supervisory Practices

Purpose We focus on the cultural concept of power distance to test whether or not culture-practice fit or universal supervisory practices are associated with team collaboration, innovation, current and future team performance. This test is possible because power distance is conceptually deconstructed and scales developed that reliably and validly differentiate between the societal level values and workplace practices. Next, drawing on these measures, we test the culture-fit-vs.-universal practices hypotheses in a sample of ethnically similar employees dispersed across the United States and India. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a survey administered to employees and their supervisors in a Non-Western Multinational Corporation. Findings We find support for the universal-practices perspective in this study. Those Indian and local managers who were low in interpersonal power distance, regardless of their subordinates’ societal power-distance cultural values had better team collaboration, innovation, and future performance. Trust in fellow team members was found to mediate these relationships. Originality/value Findings from this study contribute to our understanding of power distance, and also provide insight into the central question of when and how management practices should be adapted to local cultures.

Welfare effects of forestry best management practices in the United States

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1674-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changyou Sun
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Welfare Loss ◽  
Equilibrium Displacement Model ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Welfare Losses ◽  
State Forestry

State forestry best management practice (BMP) programs have been widely developed and implemented to prevent nonpoint source water pollution in the past three decades. The unanswered question is how forestry BMPs have affected the welfare positions of consumers, mills, loggers, and forest landowners. A Muth-type equilibrium displacement model was constructed to examine welfare changes of these stakeholders. The model considered a two-stage vertical production system with variable proportion production technology and imperfect market structure. Industrial mills experienced little welfare loss from forestry BMP regulation. Consumers had the largest absolute welfare loss, and loggers had the largest relative welfare loss in the base scenario. The supply elasticity of harvesting services had the greatest impact on the relative incidence of welfare losses between landowners and loggers, and in the long run their welfare losses were comparable. These results may help to improve future state forestry BMP guidelines and design incentive systems for increasing implementation rates.

Culture matters: The influence of national culture on inclusion climate

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Stoermer ◽  
Anna Katharina Hildisch ◽  
Fabian Jintae Froese
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organizational Innovation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper develops a conceptual model in order to increase our understanding of the influence of national culture on the relationship between organizational diversity and inclusion management and inclusion climate. Design/methodology/approach Based upon a comprehensive review of diversity and inclusion management literature, we develop a conceptual model. Findings The model delineates how national culture influences the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion management practices in establishing an inclusion climate. In particular, we propose that low power distance, high collectivism, low uncertainty avoidance, low masculinity, high long-term orientation, and high indulgence cultures serve as a fertile context for creating an inclusion climate. Furthermore, we discuss how cultural tightness-looseness amplifies or attenuates the effects of national culture. Research limitations/implications The paper extends our understanding of the antecedents and boundary conditions of creating an inclusion climate. Future research could provide empirical evidence for the proposed relationships. Practical implications The model creates an awareness of the ease or difficulty of establishing an inclusion climate through diversity and inclusion management practices across cultures. Recommendations for developing inclusion climates in various cultural settings are provided. Originality/value Our multi-level model enhances our understanding of how the cultural context, i.e. national cultural values and cultural tightness-looseness, influences the emergence of an organizational inclusion climate which is further suggested to positively influence organizational innovation.

Power distance and landlord-tenant practices across countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-640
Author(s):  
Hassan Gholipour Fereidouni ◽  
Reza Tajaddini
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Financial Variables ◽  
Alternative Measures ◽  
Market Variables

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether cultural dimension of power distance, which is the extent that inequality is expected and accepted in societies, can explain underlying differences in landlord-tenant practices (LTP) across countries. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a sample covering countries from different regions. They apply the ordered probit regressions to estimate the relationships between the explanatory variables and LTP. Findings The results show that hierarchical societies demonstrate more pro-landlord practices. This finding is robust to alternative measures of power distance and different sample sizes. In addition, the authors find that countries with larger rental sectors and larger numbers of landlords with mortgages demonstrate more pro-tenant practices. The results also show that differences in LTP across countries are not significantly influenced by legal origin. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, very limited studies have investigated the determinants of LTP across countries. In addition, while cultural values such as power distance have been used to explain the economic, social and financial variables, less, if any, number of studies have used them to explain the variation of real estate market variables such as LTP.

Why does performance management not perform?

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Pina e Cunha ◽  
Daniel Veiga Vieira ◽  
Arménio Rego ◽  
Stewart Clegg
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ask why poor performance management practices persist in Portugal, in the middle of claims to increase productivity. Design/methodology/approach An inductive micro-practice analysis is used to understand barriers to management practice that do not require massive institutional changes. Findings The practice of performance management in Portugal typically displays three weaknesses: (1) insufficient planning (2) process and integrity issues, and (3) a non-meritocratic logic. Research limitations/implications The paper discusses the important topic of persistence of bad practices, showing how institutionalized patterns might be difficult to eradicate even they are suboptimal. Practical implications The authors identity key issues in the functioning of performance management, therefore helping managers in developing remedies to improve the quality of their practice. Originality/value The paper explains the persistence of bad management practice whose continuity hinders not only organizations’ effectiveness but also that of their members.

scholarly journals Improving Best Management Practice Decisions in Mixed Land Use and/or Municipal Watersheds: Should Approaches Be Standardized?

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1402
Author(s):  
Jason A. Hubbart
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Mixed Use ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Best management practices (BMP) are defined in the United States Clean Water Act (CWA) as practices or measures that have been demonstrated to be successful in protecting a given water resource from nonpoint source pollution. Unfortunately, the greatest majority of BMPs remain unvalidated in terms of demonstrations of success. Further, there is not a broadly accepted or standardized process of BMP implementation and monitoring methods. Conceivably, if standardized BMP validations were a possibility, practices would be much more transferrable, comparable, and prescriptive. The purpose of this brief communication is to present a generalized yet integrated and customizable BMP decision-making process to encourage decision makers to more deliberately work towards the establishment of standardized approaches to BMP monitoring and validation in mixed-use and/or municipal watersheds. Decision-making processes and challenges to BMP implementation and monitoring are presented that should be considered to advance the practice(s) of BMP implementation. Acceptance of standard approaches may result in more organized and transferrable BMP implementation policies and increased confidence in the responsible use of taxpayer dollars through broad acceptance of methods that yield predictable and replicable results.

scholarly journals Management, productivity and firm heterogeneity in international trade

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (82) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Serrano ◽  
Rafael Myro
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Key Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Firm Heterogeneity ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Quality ◽  
Good Management Practice

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the relevance of management and productivity in the behaviour of firms in international trade. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey of Spanish manufacturing firms, the authors use a management quality index to serve as a proxy for the good management practice of the firm. Findings The results demonstrate that exporter and multinationals firms are more productive and better managed than domestic firms. Furthermore, in the periods in which switcher firms decide to export or to invest abroad, they are better managed but are not more productive than in the rest of the periods. Finally, results indicate that regardless of its positive relationship with productivity, management also has a direct impact on the firm’s probability of exporting and involving in foreign direct investment. Originality/value This paper aims to reconcile the recent international trade literature, which focusses on the role of productivity heterogeneity in international trade, with the international business literature, concentrated on depicting the key management practices that impact internationalization.

A Note on Assessment of Transportation Infrastructure Data Management Practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-150
Author(s):  
Isaac C. Oti ◽  
Nasir G. Gharaibeh
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transportation Infrastructure ◽  
Data Stewardship ◽  
Modeling Data ◽  
Diverse Data ◽  
Departments Of Transportation ◽  
Transportation Agencies

The amount of data being maintained by state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local transportation agencies is increasing steadily. Although data provide opportunities to facilitate decision making at transportation agencies, there are challenges involved in managing large and diverse data. This article provides an assessment of the maturity of three data management practice (stewardship, storage and warehousing, and integration) for 16 transportation data groups based on a survey of 43 DOTs in the United States. The assessment results show that data management practices at the monitoring and operations phases of transportation infrastructure life cycle are likely more mature than those at other phases. Inventory data, in particular, has the most mature data management practices. On the other end, real estate data and travel modeling data have the least mature data management practices. A comparison of the practices indicates that data stewardship is more mature than data integration and storage and warehousing practices.

Transferring Management Practices

2020 ◽  
pp. 274-292
Author(s):  
Philippe D’Iribarne ◽  
Sylvie Chevrier ◽  
Alain Henry ◽  
Jean-Pierre Segal ◽  
Geneviève Tréguer-Felten
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
The Third ◽  
First Case ◽  
Local Practices ◽  
Emerging And Developing Countries

Transferring ‘good practices’ and management ‘tools’ is a recurring challenge for companies working internationally, particularly in emerging and developing countries. As regards management tools, distinguishing what is part of universal rationality from what should be adapted to the local universe of meaning is particularly tricky. This chapter discusses two cases of Total Quality implementations which highlight the key influence of cultural contexts. In the first case, a Japanese company failed in transferring their methods in the United States, in the second one, a French multinational company succeeded in transforming the Moroccan subsidiary’s management. Drawing lessons from both examples, the third part provides some clues to significantly improve management practice transfers. While companies are concerned with ‘knowledge management’, they lack an operational method for dealing with cultures. However, scrutinizing successful local practices will reveal the characteristics of the local culture and provide replicable solutions.

Social network behavior inappropriateness: the role of individual-level espoused national cultural values

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjul Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
The United States ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Network Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level

PurposeThe purpose of the current study is to investigate the effects of individual-level (espoused) cultural values (collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and long-term orientation) on the individuals' acceptability of inappropriate social network behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs survey data collected from 482 social network users (261 in the United States and 221 from India).FindingsResults show that individuals with high power distance, masculinity and long-term oriented cultural values are more accepting of inappropriate social network behaviors of others, while those with strong uncertainty avoidance cultural values have high degree of social network behavior inappropriateness, which is defined as the extent to which behaviors of social network users are considered unacceptable by others.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper highlights the need for more academic research on the intersection of culture and social network behaviors. This study emphasizes the need for adopting an interdisciplinary approach to understand individuals' social network behaviors.Practical implicationsThe paper offers recommendations to global organizations pertaining to the need for creating social network policies in such a way that encourages their global workforce to openly, yet respectfully, share their ideas using social networks.Originality/valueUsing an interdisciplinary approach, the present study extends our understanding of a recently proposed social network behavioral inappropriateness construct and explains how differences in cultural values may lead to differences in individuals' social network behaviors.

Examining the Influence of Power Distance on Psychological Safety Within Healthcare Teams

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 194-198
Author(s):  
Divya Krishnakumar ◽  
Rachel Caskey ◽  
Ashley M. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Power Distance ◽  
Psychological Safety ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Power Differential ◽  
Cultural Constructs ◽  
Healthcare Teams ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes

Cultivating good teamwork practices within healthcare teams is important for providing effective patient care and preventing adverse health outcomes. Psychological safety is one factor which is instrumental in developing a positive team environment, which fosters effective teamwork. The historically hierarchical nature of healthcare ascribes status to individuals based on profession, and this power differential is a contributing factor to a team member’s psychological safety. This study seeks to identify relationships between cultural backgrounds and teamwork in healthcare through examining how power distance influences psychological safety within healthcare teams. A cross-sectional questionnaire containing the Psychological Safety Scale and the Personal Cultural Orientation Scale was fielded to sets of Internal medicine teams working in a health system located in the Midwest region of the United States ( n=17). Levels of power-distance and psychological safety were similar amongst leaders and their team members. Upon comparison, there was no correlation found between power distance and psychological safety. Moderate to significant correlations were found between other deep cultural constructs.

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