Social power and leadership in cross-cultural context

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Mittal ◽  
Steven M. Elias
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Social Power ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Power Bases ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how the exercise of power by leaders is impacted by cultural factors. The authors present a conceptual framework to examine the interaction of various cultural dimensions with harsh and soft power bases, thereby delineating the cross-cultural appropriateness of various power bases that may be tapped by organizational leaders. Design/methodology/approach – Compatibility of each cultural dimension with harsh of soft power bases is conceptually examined, in the context of Raven’s power interaction model of interpersonal influence. Findings – Soft power bases are more likely to be activated by managers in cultures that are collectivist, loose, long-term oriented, but low on power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Harsh power bases are expected to be chosen for influencing subordinates in cultures that are tight, short-term oriented, and high in power distance. Research limitations/implications – This is only an initial attempt to look at the exercise of social power in the context of societal culture. The framework can be extrapolated to a more fine-grained examination of the phenomenon. Practical implication – The conceptualization has potential implications for developing training programs aimed at improving managers’ cross-cultural competencies. Originality/value – Using a cross-cultural lens to examine how a leader exercises power contributes to a holistic view of power and culture. A cross-cultural extension of the power/interaction model, as suggested by the authors, adds value to the field of management development thinking and practice.

scholarly journals Cultural influences on normative reactions to incivility: comparing individuals from South Korea and Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanki Moon ◽  
Ángel Sánchez‐Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Social Power ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Occupational Position ◽  
Collective Levels ◽  
Higher Power ◽  
Uncivil Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Antecedents and influences of workplace incivility have recently been studied in many areas of research but there is still a lack of consideration for the impact of culture. Theoretical considerations for the present research are based on the cultural dimensions of power distance and tightness/looseness because the collective levels of power distance are similar between Korea and Spain, but the collective levels of tightness/looseness are different between the two countries. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether individuals’ occupational position affects their normative reactions to incivility differently. Design/methodology/approach Participant (victim)’s (those who react to uncivil behaviors) social power (low vs high) and perpetrator’s (those who exhibit uncivil behaviors) social power (low vs high) were experimentally manipulated; all participants were randomly assigned to one of four perpetrator × victim conditions in relation to hierarchical positions (Ntot = 467). Findings The results suggest that the level of social and personal acceptability was greater either among Koreans than Spanish at a collective level or among people who endorsed higher power distance and tightness values. All in all, the findings highlight cultural influences on the importance of social hierarchy as a factor that can impact the people’s normative reactions to incivility. Originality/value The findings broaden our understanding of the psychology of employees in relation to incivility, by simultaneously considering the influences of culture (power distance and tightness/looseness) and social power.

Cross-cultural application of a practice-oriented acquiescence measure

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Krautz ◽  
Stefan Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Consumer Study ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Analysis

Purpose Extant research shows that acquiescence response style (ARS) is culture-bound and may bias the results of comparative cross-cultural studies. Conventional measures of ARS are difficult to apply in practice. To overcome this limitation, the purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative, practice-oriented measure, namely, pARS. The authors apply Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (Hofstede et al., 2010) to test whether pARS is culture-bound. The cross-cultural study provides a high level of cross-cultural generalisability due to the extensive number of surveyed countries (n=30) and subjects (n=236.089). The authors run multi-level analysis to identify within- and between-country-level predictors. Design/methodology/approach On the individual level, the authors use data of a large-scale cross-cultural study, including 236.089 consumers from 30 countries worldwide. The authors apply several methods to test for the culture-boundness of pARS. First, they apply correlation analysis to replicate existing cross-cultural results and to ensure nomological validity. Second, applying ordinary least square regression, the authors simultaneously test the six Hofstede cultural dimensions (Hofstede et al., 2010) and investigate interactions between the dimensions. Finally, they use multi-level analysis to confirm the stability of culture-bound results, controlling for individual- and country-level variability. Findings The paper introduces an alternative measure for acquiescence (pARS), which is particularly suitable for shorter questionnaires. A large-scale consumer study with 236.089 respondents in 30 countries supports the culture-bound validity of pARS. The authors confirm construct validity and the nomological network of pARS. Contrasting existing studies, multi-level analysis demonstrates that a high level of power distance majorly leads to ARS. Therefore, cross-cultural researchers need to control for ARS in countries high in power distance, especially when paired with high uncertainty avoidance. Originality/value A large-scale consumer study with 236.089 respondents from 30 countries shows that respondents from various countries differ significantly in their level of acquiescence. The study confirms that power distance is the most relevant cultural dimension to explain these differences. Although ARS may bias the results of comparative cross-cultural studies, it is rarely controlled by market research studies outside the academic realm. The present work proposes and establishes the validity of a practice-oriented measure of acquiescence, namely, pARS. pARS is particularly suitable for shorter questionnaires. In contrast to prior approaches, applying pARS does not require adding non-substantive items to the questionnaire.

Meta-analytic comparison on the influencing factors of knowledge transfer in different cultural contexts

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Hua Li ◽  
Xiao Ran Chang ◽  
Li Lin ◽  
Li Ya Ma
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Depth Analysis

Purpose – This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the influencing factors on knowledge transfer through meta-analysis with an emphasis on the influence of cultural contexts. Design/methodology/approach – The approach involved the evaluation and analysis of 69 published empirical studies and the categorization of these studies into two groups based on different cultural contexts as described by Hofstede. A meta-analytic approach was then employed to provide a comparative analysis of the categorized studies. Findings – The results of the meta-analysis of the influencing factors of knowledge transfer are consistent with the results obtained in most previous studies, indicating a maturation of research in this area. Influencing factors such as knowledge ambiguity, tie strength, trust, and common cognition are shown to impact knowledge transfer in different cultural contexts, particularly with regard to the individualism-low power distance and collectivism-high power distance dimensions defined by Hofstede. Research limitations/implications – This analysis was limited to the correlation between the influencing factors and the general performance in knowledge transfer and did not specifically address more detailed dimensions such as efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, this analysis was restricted to the cultural contexts of only two cultural dimensions. However, the review of this broad range of studies provided sufficient data to allow an in-depth analysis of related influencing factors and helped to illustrate and exemplify the influencing mechanisms of culture on knowledge transfer. Practical implications – The results presented in this paper can help managers working in cross-cultural environments to understand the key influencing factors that affect knowledge transfer in the workplace. By understanding these factors, managers can more effectively implement methods and procedures that improve cross-cultural knowledge transfer in the work environment. Originality/value – This paper provides a detailed insight into the influencing factors found between two distinctive cultural contexts and offers a fresh analysis of influencing factors with regard to knowledge transfer in a cross-cultural environment.

Examining the effect of functional diversity on organizational team innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys Esinu Abiew ◽  
Eugene Okyere-Kwakye ◽  
Florence Yaa Akyia Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Innovation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose Underpinned by the information processing theory, this study aims to investigate the relationship between functional diversity and team innovation by examining the moderating role of some selected cultural dimensions (power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity-femininity) in the relationship between functional diversity and innovation. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was used using a structured questionnaire as a tool to collect data from 251 respondents drawn from research institutions in Ghana. Data was analysed using simple regression and hierarchical multiple regression. In addition, a structural equation model was used to conduct confirmatory factor analyses to examine whether the variables in the hypothesized model for the study captured distinct constructs that the variables were designed to measure. Findings The study revealed that functional diversity was positively related to team innovation. The study also found that functionally diverse groups are more innovative when they exhibit low uncertainty avoidance, femininity and low power distance. Practical implications These findings suggest that practices such as team communication, honesty, respect and trust would foster team unity and commitment, which would enable members to share diverse expertise towards the creation and execution of new ideas and improvement of productivity in the country. Originality/value The study examined the relationship between functional diversity and team innovation by examining the moderating role of some selected cultural dimensions (power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity-femininity) in the relationship between functional diversity and innovation.

scholarly journals The more you value, the less you practice: a study on culture and managerial discretion

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-50
Author(s):  
Moustafa Salman Haj Youssef ◽  
Hiba Maher Hussein ◽  
Hoda Awada
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
National Level ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Managerial Discretion ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine cross-cultural differences in managerial discretion and the extent to which variations and interaction of cultural practices and values affect the degree of freedom in decision making that is accorded to executives. This paper offers a holistic approach to investigating culture in addition to acknowledging its paradoxical nature. Design/methodology/approach Using a panel of prominent management consultants to rate discretion across 18 countries, the authors further develop the national-level construct of managerial discretion by empirically investigating the influence of cultural practices and values on CEOs’ discretion. Findings The study reveals that cultural values moderate the relationship between cultural practices and managerial discretion for three cultural dimensions: individualism, uncertainty tolerance and power distance (PD). By adopting the logic of marginal utility, the authors also show that the more a society values individualism, uncertainty tolerance and PD, the weaker the effect of their practices on managerial discretion. Originality/value Few research has attempted to assess both cultural values and practices in relation to managerial discretion. By showing the mechanism in which culture affects the level of managerial discretion, the authors offer new theoretical insights and practical implications, overall contributing to the field of cross-cultural and strategic management. Finally, this will offer CEO’s a new perspective of leveraging culture as a tool, enhancing their decision-making capabilities in the aim of improving organizational performance.

Economic freedom and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason D. DeBode ◽  
Dana L. Haggard ◽  
K. Stephen Haggard
Keyword(s):  
Economic Freedom ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Legal Origin ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Origins ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Business Freedom

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of broad cultural dimensions, as well as those of religion and legal origin, on countries’ economic freedom, i.e., trade freedom, investment freedom, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, as well as a composite measure of economic freedom. Design/methodology/approach Linear regression of publicly available data regarding economic freedom (Miller et al., 2018) on cultural dimensions (Hofstede, 2009), legal origin and religion (LaPorta et al., 1999) for 52 countries was performed to determine the impact of these factors on economic freedom. Findings Results indicated femininity was the cultural dimension associated with the most measures of economic freedom. Short-term-oriented cultures were predictive of greater business freedom, while more restrained cultures were associated with greater business and monetary freedoms. Higher individualism was predictive of greater monetary freedom. Catholicism positively predicted investment freedom and negatively predicted business freedom. French civil law negatively predicted labor freedom, while socialist legal origins positively predicted trade freedom, but negatively predicted business freedom. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the impacts of culture, law and religion on economic freedom. One practical implication of this research is that countries would be wise to emphasize more feminine aspects in their cultures, as these are associated with greater economic freedom. Even minor adjustments that move in the direction of cooperation and fair processes might help increase economic freedoms and the many benefits that stem from such freedoms.

scholarly journals Employee deviant behavior: role of culture and organizational relevant support

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Arzu Kalemci ◽  
Ipek Kalemci-Tuzun ◽  
Ela Ozkan-Canbolat
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Support ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Cultural Value ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Supervisory Support ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to increase the knowledge and understanding of organizational and supervisory support in the context of employee deviant workplace behavior (DWB) by examining the potential associations of employees’ cultural value orientations. This paper aims to: clarify DWB; review perceived organizational support (POS) and perceived supervisory support (PSS); discuss the meaning of employees’ cultural value orientations (individualism–collectivism, power distance and paternalism); use the fuzzy logic model to analyze relationships between DWB and POS, as well as PSS and employees’ cultural value orientations. Design/methodology/approach This research applies a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Findings The results show the role of employee perceived organizational and supervisory support and cultural dimension (power distance and paternalism) configurations on employee DWB. Originality/value The main originality of this study is to further increase the understanding of organizational and supervisory support in the context of employee DWB by examining the potential associations of employees’ cultural value orientations. This study extends the previous research by providing evidence that organizational and supervisory support influences employees’ DWB.

“I'm afraid”: the cultural challenges in conducting ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in Myanmar

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvin Hoi-Chun Hung ◽  
Aung Myo Min
Keyword(s):  
Power Distance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Social Convention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Fieldwork Experience ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Perceived Power

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the cultural issues and difficulties encountered when conducting ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in Myanmar and to discuss the measures to overcome such challenges. It aims to provide insight for foreign researchers seeking to collect rich, meaningful and reliable data while establishing fruitful relationship with Burmese participants.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on results from a research on cross-cultural dispute resolution in a Chinese-invested enterprise in Myanmar. The authors reflect on their fieldwork experience to present examples of cultural challenges, as well as the strategies used to deal with those challenges.FindingsThis paper finds that when conducting ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in Myanmar, researchers should take into consideration “anade” – an important Burmese social convention, perceived power distance between researchers and Burmese participants, roles of cross-cultural interpreters and possibility of cultural stereotypes, especially in a multicultural site. Measures need to be taken to adjust fieldwork arrangement and interview style, reduce perceived power distance and address the impact of prevalent stereotypes. Furthermore, researchers should properly conduct training and discussion sessions with Burmese interpreters to ensure they provide accurate yet culturally informed interpretation.Originality/valueThe cultural challenges in conducting ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in Myanmar remain under-explored. This paper addresses the knowledge gap and discusses various Myanmar-specific cultural issues that await researchers.

A Cross-cultural Contrastive Analysis of Views on Friendship in Chinese and English Proverbs

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 1037
Author(s):  
Wenjun Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Power Distance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Contrastive Analysis ◽  
Human Relations ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Chinese And English

By applying a contrastive analysis, this paper aims at presenting the differences of the views on friendship between China and Americans reflected in proverbs about friendship and friends under the guidance of Cultural Dimensions Theory. Differences are found in the acceptance of the hierarchy in human relations, expectations of loyalty and long-term commitments from friends, and inclination of independence. Power distance dimension, individualism versus collectivism dimension and long-term versus short-term orientation dimension are exploited to account for the differences.

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.

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