scholarly journals Agile and generic work values of British vs Indian IT workers: a culture-clash case

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla A.J. Bastiaansen ◽  
Celeste P.M. Wilderom
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
It Professionals ◽  
Feedback Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Service ◽  
It Workers

PurposeAfter deciding to become agile, many information technology (IT) units struggle; they underestimate the needed managerial expertise to alter their current culture toward an agile one, particularly when cross-cultural (f)actors are involved. Given that work values are the key to an organizational culture, the study derived a set of agile work values of culturally diverse IT professionals together with a set of well-known generic work values. Consequently, the authors illustrate that managers in charge of the transition to an effective agile culture must pay serious attention to the specific value constellations of its often highly diverse workforce.Design/methodology/approachA literature review resulted in an initial list of agile work values. Then, mainly through a Delphi round, 12 agile-specific work values were established. These were survey rated, along with the validated set of 18 generic work values, by 102 British and Indian IT professionals in a digital service and consulting firm that was requested by its client to become agile. The observations made in 14 feedback group-interview-type dialogs enriched the surveyed data further.FindingsIn the current exploratory study, four generic value dimensions were complemented by two agile-specific ones: team communication and shared responsibility. Among the British and Indian (on-site and offshore) workers, only 2 of the 30 current work values were shared while 7 significant value differences were found, explaining the noted employee bitterness, productivity losses and client disengagement. This situation was reflected in the many discrepancies between the professionals' ideal agile way of working and how their unit was currently functioning.Originality/valueThe multi-method study shows an over-optimistic approach to becoming agile in a common cross-cultural context; insights are gained on how to optimize agile ways of organizing IT work when British IT workers collaborate with Indian IT workers. It may benefit many agile practitioners and managers working with(in) cross-culturally mixed and partly remote teams.

scholarly journals The role of culture in student discipline of secondary schools in cross-cultural context: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirma Sadamali Jayawardena
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
School Context ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Student Discipline ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe present study is a systematic review that identifies future research avenues on culture and discipline in secondary schools in a cross-cultural context.Design/methodology/approachThe literature, as published in top management, education and psychology journals, was reviewed around culture and discipline in secondary schools. This systematic literature review (SLR) used several preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and categorised the studies published during the period 2014–2020.FindingsThe author identified six major themes: (1) punishment, (2) restorative practices (RPs), (3) racial disparities, (4) competitiveness, (5) school climate and (6) secondary school student discipline in a cross-cultural context. Further, the author suggested several future research avenues under these emerging themes.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of this study is limited to culture and discipline in a secondary school context. The findings provide a solid foundation for researchers in the areas of culture and discipline in secondary schools.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, this study can be considered as the first SLR conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify several under-researched areas in the field of culture and discipline in secondary schools in a cross-cultural context. The study provides several future research insights.

Perceived employability development of Western self-initiated expatriates in local organisations in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Makkonen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Resource ◽  
Career Trajectories ◽  
Perceived Employability ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Non Local ◽  
Negative Feelings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the subjective perspectives on the development process of perceived employability (PE) among Western self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) working for a local organisation in China. Design/methodology/approach – This empirical qualitative study is based on 23 in-depth interviews of Western SIEs, both repatriated and those who seek to continue their careers in local Chinese organisations in China. Findings – This study adds to the current understanding of PE development by highlighting how the long-term PE development of Western SIEs is not only impacted by the perceptions of lost and acquired resources, but also by the host-country cultural context, which contribute to the levels and development of PE as a personal resource. Practical implications – The findings of the study are highly relevant because today’s labour markets and the employability of skilled professionals are increasingly shaped by international career contexts. These are also emerging number of individuals who independently seek career opportunities in cross-cultural career and labour market settings. The findings also help explain why SIEs in cross-cultural career settings often express negative feelings when asked to review their assignments. Originality/value – This study is one of the first to explore the career trajectories of Western SIEs, and to address the dynamic aspect of PE from the perspectives of the conservation of resources theory and non-local employees in cross-cultural career settings.

Moderation of Doing and Mastery orientations in relationships among justice, commitment, and trust

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Jiang ◽  
Paul J. Gollan ◽  
Gordon Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Cultural Value ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Justice Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether and how two individual value orientations – Doing (the tendency to commit to goals and hold a strong work ethic) and Mastery (an orientation toward seeking control over outside forces) – moderate: the relationship between organizational justice and affective organizational commitment, and the mediation role of organizational trust in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected data from 706 employees working in 65 universities across China, South Korea, and Australia. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses were employed to examine the cross-cultural equivalence of the measures. Hierarchical regressions were performed to test moderating effects of the two cultural value orientations. Findings – Results from the full sample showed that Doing and Mastery moderated the distributive justice-commitment relationship and the procedural justice-trust relationship. Comparisons between countries demonstrated limited cross-cultural differences. Practical implications – The present study adds to the understanding of the impact of individual and cultural differences on the relationship between justice and commitment, helping managers understand how employees’ reactions to justice are influenced by cultural value orientations. Originality/value – This study is a pioneer in empirically integrating the value orientation framework (e.g. Doing and Mastery orientations) and justice research in a cross-cultural context based in the Asia Pacific region. It also advances cross-cultural justice research through using a mediation-moderation combination.

Study on Chinese Brand cultural archetype: theory building and cross-cultural comparison

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-80
Author(s):  
Yingwei Liu ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Chunyan Nie
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Essential Difference ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Cultural Comparison ◽  
Brand Culture ◽  
Power Enhancement

PurposeThe essence of “Chinese element” has been pinpointed as the representation of national cultural archetype resource of China, which reflects to the overall power enhancement of China. Applying the Chinese national cultural archetype resource, which will be used for promoting the Chinese Brand internationalization, aims for the consumers' approval with the hope of integrating and spreading the unique cultural advantage of Chinese brand. The recognizing of Chinese brand's cultural archetype in this paper has constituted the basis of Chinese brand's cultural archetype strategy.Design/methodology/approachBased on the Grounded Theory, this paper has collected and analyzed the value symbols, character images and theme stories of Chinese narrative advertisements and constructed the cultural archetype framework of Chinese brands. This paper makes a comprehensive application of Charmaz's constructivist analysis and the main axis analysis and inspection method advocated by Strauss, with the aim of building a more objective and systematic theoretical framework for the Chinese brand cultural archetype.FindingsIn this framework, it revealed: (1) Chinese brand's cultural archetype can be divided into 12 concrete archetypes according to individual's relationship with self, the other, community and nature; (2) Consumers' different ways of self-categorization are attributed as the essential difference among various archetypes. This paper also compared and analyzed the differences between Chinese and Western cultural archetypes from three perspectives, formation of social structure, pedigree of myth and character's feature.Originality/valueThis paper has certain innovative significance to the theoretical construction of the archetype of Chinese brand culture. First, based on the cultural perspective, this paper applied the cultural psychological connotation of archetype to the brand research across culture, which is more conducive to the researchers' investigation of the cultural psychology of consumers in the cross-cultural context? Second, based on the identification and comparative study of Chinese brand culture archetype, it provides a new expansion and supplement for the research on brand internationalization and globalization in emerging countries.

The convergence of value (quality) recognition approaches

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-27
Author(s):  
Yeongsu Kim ◽  
Dong‐Kee Rhee ◽  
Sangsuk Lee
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Exchange Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Management ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cross Cultural Management

PurposeThis paper aims to answer the following question: do the customer behaviors in evaluating a product's quality converge in terms of low‐ and high‐context culture? The paper is designed to examine how customers in different cultural contexts recognize the quality of a product according to three quality recognition approaches; these are exchange, sign, and experience approaches.Design/methodology/approachIn order to verify whether the worldwide quality recognition methods were converging or diverging, almost 300 exchange students in South Korea were surveyed. The survey examined how the 20s perceive quality of a laptop, analyzing each approach individually in order to observe whether the quality recognition methods were converging. Especially, when examining the experience approach, the value was segregated into two parts: extrinsic and intrinsic value.FindingsIt is found that only the experience approach is converging, which indicates that even within different degrees of cultural context, there are still cultural differences in quality recognition approaches.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations such as limited product uses, dividing the nations simply into two groups which are Western and Eastern are evident in the study. More elaborative future studies are suggested including, dividing nations in terms of cultural context and using more products.Originality/valueThis paper shows that the value recognition approaches are heterogeneous across cultures, and therefore more cultural‐based knowledge is required in cross‐cultural management.

Multiple reference effects on restaurant evaluations: a cross-cultural study

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1441-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soyeon Kim ◽  
Jae-Eun Chung ◽  
YongGu Suh
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Multiple Reference

Purpose This paper aims to explore multiple reference effects with regard to customers’ post-consumption evaluations in a cross-cultural context. The authors propose to test an integrative model of three types of reference effects (disconfirmation, attractiveness of alternatives and self-image congruity) and their relationship to customers’ evaluations associated with satisfaction and loyalty. Additional insight into the link between reference points and customer satisfaction is provided by examining the moderating influence of the cultural orientation of customers: South Korean (an Eastern, collectivist and high uncertainty avoidance culture) versus American (a Western, individualistic and low uncertainty avoidance culture). Design/methodology/approach The data for this study were collected through a Web-based survey. Based on a sample of 723 Korean and American consumers, multi-group analysis of structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model and the moderating effect of culture. Findings Overall, the results indicated that American customers’ use of reference points in their post-consumption evaluations is significantly different from that of Korean customers. Specifically, disconfirmation had a stronger effect on Korean customers than on their American counterparts, whereas the attractiveness of alternatives had a stronger effect on American customers than on those from Korea. Moreover, self-image congruity was found to be equally important in both cultures. Research limitations/implications Owing to the comparison of American and Korean participants in this study, these results may not be applied to customers from other countries. Moreover, the study is limited to post-consumption evaluations in restaurants and generalization of the results to other industries may be ill advised. Thus, further research is required to replicate the results and include customers from different countries in more diverse consumption settings. Practical implications The findings provide useful guidance for efficient marketing strategies to generate positive consumer outcomes across borders. Marketers must consider the interaction of cultures and customers to better understand customer perceptions and evaluations about their experiences. This understanding will enable the marketers to more effectively communicate with their target markets and allow them to tailor advertising to different segments of their customer base contingent upon their cultural orientations. Originality/value Although the role of reference effects has begun to attract considerable interest among consumer behavior researchers, much of this research has been conducted in a single cultural context. Because the global economy is becoming increasingly cross-cultural, it is valuable to conduct international consumer research to further the understanding of consumers’ post-consumption evaluation processes using multiple reference points from a global perspective.

The pains and gains of blended learning – social constructivist perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soma Pillay ◽  
Reynold James
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Social Constructivist ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Management ◽  
Cultural Setting ◽  
Cross Cultural Management

Purpose – Using the case of a cross-cultural setting, the purpose of this paper is to compare perceptions of students towards face-to-face learning and blended learning. A social constructivist perspective is used which implies that cultural data are in fact social constructs made on the basis of the participants’ own cultural thought patterns and the concepts and categories to which they are socialised within learning organisations. This paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Perceptual evidence forms the primary qualitative and quantitative data for this study. The paper uses social constructivist approach with empirical data in developing the notion that cross-cultural management is a process whereby people, through social interactions, acquire participative competence for working in cross-cultural settings. Findings – Perceptual data emerging from this study point out that considering the learning objectives of a cross-cultural context are paramount when engaging in cross-cultural management curriculum and teaching design. Such social contexts, while complex and challenging, is often a perfect opportunity where cross-cultural competence can be developed. Originality/value – The value of the study lies in the original insights it offers into student experiences and the challenges to adopt a “one size fits all” strategy in a cross-cultural setting.

Employer perceptions of self-initiated expatriate employability in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Makkonen
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employer Perceptions ◽  
Employer Perspective ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer an employer perceptive on the employability of self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) by contrasting SIEs with other identified staffing groups available for the staffing of MNC subsidiaries in China. Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews with 24 Westerners with direct staffing responsibilities in subsidiaries of western MNCs located in China. The employability of each identified staffing group was assessed using the person-to-environment fit approach from four-fit perspectives (person-to-job and to-group, organisation and cultural context). Findings – The study revealed how from the employer perspective SIEs do not form a heterogeneous group, but instead there are two groups with different fit profiles. The study illustrates how western SIEs are an uncommon and under-used staffing group in cross-cultural staffing settings in China due to their low employability in comparison to alternative staffing groups. The study also revealed the prevalent bipolarity (the Westerners vs the Chinese) and heterogeneity within the identified staffing groups. Research limitations/implications – The study recognises the lack of employer perspective in SIE literature and also that SIEs are an under-represented group in the staffing literature. Practical implications – The findings help explain how MNC staffing is culturally bound and how the staffing process should incorporate more than just an assessment of job-related qualifications. The findings also help explain the challenges SIEs can experience in cross-cultural career settings. Originality/value – The study is one of the first to provide an employer perspective on SIE careers and contrast SIEs to the other alternative staffing groups available to MNC subsidiaries in China.

Getting to Yes in the cross-cultural-context: ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ – a critical review of principled negotiations across borders

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Schoen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Western World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Negotiation ◽  
Lower Likelihood ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Negotiation Literature

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implicitly assumed universality of the best seller negotiation literature Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury. Design/methodology/approach Existing cross-cultural negotiation literature was systematically searched for findings indicating either a higher or lower likelihood of successfully applying the authors’ advice in different cultural environments, as defined in the Hofstede framework or The Globe Study. The findings were aggregated, categorized into a matrix, synthesized and analyzed. Findings This paper finds that the assumed universality of the method of Getting to Yes and its single principles is not supported by research. Instead, a dichotomy of the four principles’ applicability along the Individuality dimension of Hofstede was found. Hence, the western orientation of Getting to Yes is reality, inhibiting its use in non-western cultures. However, in one principle – Invent options for mutual gain – the findings refute a successful application in western cultures. Additional findings and research gaps are presented. Practical implications Practitioners should apply Getting to Yes with caution, if at all, in a non-western environment. For the teaching of negotiations, alternative approaches for conducting negotiations in the non-western world are needed. Originality/value Although widely used in research, scholars only addressed sporadic comments concerning the limitations of Getting to Yes across cultures. Often the universality of Getting to Yes is either implicitly or explicitly assumed in research and practice. This paper approaches this topic systematically by providing evidence that Getting to Yes is not universal and conceptually sees negotiations through a western shaped perspective that provides considerable implications for research, practice and teaching.

Does it pay to act feminine? A cross-cultural study of gender stereotype endorsement and cognitive legitimacy in the evaluation of new ventures

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Golshan Javadian ◽  
Maria Figueroa-Armijos ◽  
Vishal K. Gupta ◽  
Meisam Modarresi ◽  
Crystal Dobratz
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Gender Stereotype ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Cultural Study ◽  
Binary Approach ◽  
Stereotype Endorsement ◽  
Cognitive Legitimacy

PurposeDoes gender stereotype endorsement play a role in the customer's cognitive evaluation of new ventures owned by women entrepreneurs? The authors’ cross-cultural study integrates literature on gender stereotype endorsement and cognitive legitimacy to address this research question.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a two-study experimental design and analyze our results by cultural context to test our hypotheses: one drawn from college students in Iran and one from working professionals in the United States.FindingsThe authors’ comparative results suggest that the evaluation of feminine versus masculine characteristics of women entrepreneurs varies depending on the evaluator's (in this case the customer's) endorsement of gender stereotypes and the cultural context. Specifically, the authors found that a new venture owned by a woman entrepreneur who displays feminine characteristics is perceived as more legitimate when the customer endorses feminine stereotypes, regardless of the country.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ research contributes to the literature on cognitive legitimacy and women's entrepreneurship by unveiling the cultural conditions and factors that allow women entrepreneurs to benefit from acting in a stereotypically feminine way. The authors use a binary approach to gender. Future research should extend our findings to also include a non-binary approach.Originality/valueThis study contributes to women's entrepreneurship research by unraveling the implications of gender stereotype endorsement, legitimacy and culture in customer evaluation of ventures owned by women.

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