Sifarish, Sycophants, Power and Collectivism: Administrative Culture in Pakistan

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasir Islam
Keyword(s):  
Power Distance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Strict Adherence ◽  
Administrative Roles ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Administrative Culture ◽  
High Propensity ◽  
And Gender

This article analyses some of the major attributes of Pakistan’s contemporary administrative culture. The article uses Hofstede’s famous four dimensional model of national cultures as an analytical framework. Hofstede’s fourfold typology – power distance, individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity/femininity – is used as a point of departure for a more elaborate description and analysis of the traditions, values and norms that characterize Pakistan’s governing system. The author uses secondary data from official documents, newspapers, magazines and scholarly literature to support Hofstede’s initial findings. A brief account of the colonial antecedents and post-colonial evolution of the administrative institutions is given to provide the context in which the system operates. The main conclusion is that Pakistan’s relatively high collectivist orientation, high propensity toward uncertainty avoidance, high power distance and masculinity largely account for many traditions and practices including strict adherence to hierarchy, centralization, corruption, nepotism and gender differentiation in administrative roles.

scholarly journals Research on food-related chronic diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean: Are we building the evidence for gender-equitable approaches?

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Teralynn Ludwick ◽  
Daniela Neri
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Noncommunicable Disease ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Transformative Research ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
And Gender

Objectives. Gender continues to be largely neglected in the global response to the noncommunicable disease epidemic. The objectives of this study were to examine current practice and barriers faced by Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) researchers in addressing gender in research on healthy food environments, and to identify future topics for gender-sensitive and gender-transformative research. Methods. This study involved: 1) a descriptive, three-part survey to investigate to what extent LAC researchers are integrating gender considerations in research for healthier food environments and 2) a participatory workshop to coproduce ideas for future gender-sensitive and gender-transformative research. Results. Fifty-four participants, from 19 countries, attended the workshop. Of those 54, 41 of them responded to at least one section of the three-part survey, including with 26 of the 41 responding to the section on gender. Of these 26, 17 (65.4%) had collected sex-disaggregated data and 14 (53.8%) had conducted gender analysis in recent research on food environments. Few participants had integrated gender-related findings in their recommendations and solutions. Challenges included data and methodological limitations (e.g., lack of preexisting evidence, working with secondary data), knowledge and capacity gaps, subject sensitivity, and biases. Participants identified research topics for enhancing gender equity that included food preparation norms and domestic responsibilities; differential participation of women and men in food production, distribution, and retail; and employment and school policies. Conclusions. The findings from this study suggest that gender inequity is not being well addressed in food environment research from the LAC region. The analytical framework presented here can serve as an important starting point and resource for catalyzing future gender-transformative research. Complementary efforts are needed to overcome other challenges raised by the participating researchers, including capacity gaps, resource and data limitations, and publishing barriers.

An Examination of the Link between Leader Motivating Language and Follower Interactional Justice

2021 ◽  
pp. 232948842110112
Author(s):  
Albi Alikaj ◽  
Doreen Hanke
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Interactional Justice ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Interpersonal Justice ◽  
Informational Justice ◽  
Power Distance Orientation ◽  
Motivating Language ◽  
The Relationship

The study examines the relationship between leaders’ use of motivating language and their workers’ perceived interactional justice, that is, interpersonal and informational justice. The study also examines the influence of workers’ levels of power distance and uncertainty avoidance orientations on these relationships. We test the proposed model by conducting structural equation modeling using data from a sample of 505 participants. The findings show a positive relationship between leaders’ use of motivating language and their workers’ perceived interpersonal and informational justice. Furthermore, the study confirms our hypotheses that workers’ power distance orientation negatively moderates the relationship between leaders’ use of motivating language and workers’ perceived interpersonal justice and that workers’ uncertainty avoidance orientation negatively moderates the relationship between leaders’ use of motivating language and workers’ perceived informational justice.

Gender budgeting in public financial management: a literature review and research agenda

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232110317
Author(s):  
Tobias Polzer ◽  
Isabella M Nolte ◽  
Johann Seiwald
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Gender Budgeting

Gender budgeting calls for including a gender perspective at all levels of governmental budgetary processes. While the literature on gender budgeting is interdisciplinary and covers a wide geographical range, it remains fragmented. This study uses a literature review to examine the current discourse on gender budgeting and to elicit avenues for future research. Our review shows that studies focus either on emerging economies, such as India or South Africa, or on countries in Europe. Drawing on an analytical framework, we find that most studies scrutinize the ex ante stages of gender budgeting, whereas less is known about the concurrent and ex post stages. Moreover, because little is known about the outcome and impact of gender budgeting, governments do not know what instruments function best in different settings. Given their ex ante focus, most studies on gender budgeting often either remain descriptive or analyse secondary data. Despite scholars from different disciplines contributing to the field of gender budgeting, several ‘blank spots’ remain, particularly in public sector accounting. Points for practitioners While current gender budgeting projects tend to focus on the ex ante stage of gender budgeting, future practitioner attention needs to focus on the equally important concurrent and ex post stages, which have received less attention thus far. An increasing number of governments worldwide are implementing gender budgeting projects. Governments need to evaluate the outcome and impact of these projects in a timely fashion, aiming at reducing structural inequalities related to gender. Gender budgeting is willingly adopted in times of prosperity and stability or when the scope of projects appears manageable. To avoid negative impacts on their achievements, policy makers need to put gender budgeting on the political agenda and institutionalize it in times of instability and crisis.

Outside the Head and Outside Individualism-Collectivism

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marika Lamoreaux ◽  
Beth Morling
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Cultural Traits ◽  
Meta Analyses

Cultural differences and similarities can be documented not only at the level of the psyche (people’s motivations, beliefs, emotions, or cognitions) but also via shared, tangible representations of culture (such as advertising, texts, architecture, and so on). In this report, the authors present the results of some exploratory meta-analyses of cultural products. Data were sufficient to analyze a variety of cultural traits: positivity, modernity, high (vs. low) context, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance, as well as other dimensions. Thus, this article documents cultural products that measured traits other than individualism-collectivism, the trait the authors analyzed in an earlier article. The data reinforce the value of studying cultural products and fit with recent calls to branch out from the familiar, individualism-collectivism construct into new axes of cultural difference.

Internationalization of emerging multinationals: the Latin American case

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 588-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Losada-Otálora ◽  
Lourdes Casanova
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emerging Multinationals ◽  
Internationalization Strategies ◽  
American Case ◽  
Key Resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework that challenges the condescending view of multinationals of emerging countries. In this paper, it is showed that emerging multinational companies (EMNCs) developed valuable resources that leveraged their internationalization strategies. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory approach was used to investigate the internationalization strategies of EMNCs. A qualitative study was built on secondary data sources, particularly analysis of cases of the internationalization of Latin American companies. Findings – The internationalization strategies deployed by EMNCs are similar to the strategies of traditional multinationals (firms of developed countries). Similarly, EMNCs exploit, acquire or defend their resources in foreign markets. Additionally, the selection of each strategy depends on the availability, transferability and substitutability of the resources involved in the internationalization. Research limitations/implications – The traditional approaches that study the role of resources in the internationalization of the EMNCs have some shortcomings. It is worth conducting additional research including the approach developed here to advance in the comprehension of the behavior of EMNCs. Practical implications – Managers must identify and develop key resources to invest abroad. Additionally, managers need to take into account the characteristics of the resources of their firms to select an adequate strategy abroad. Originality/value – This paper shows that EMNCs are not resource laggards. Consequently, theoretical and empirical evidence is provided to advance the development of comprehensive theories of the internationalization of EMNCs. This paper offers academics and practitioners with a new focus to analyze the internationalization of EMNCs which are recognized as a driving force of the global economy.

Emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intentions: an exploratory meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Miao ◽  
Ronald H. Humphrey ◽  
Shanshan Qian ◽  
Jeffrey M. Pollack
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Meta Analyses

Purpose The topic of entrepreneurial intention, which refers to a person’s degree of interest in creating a new business venture, has received close scrutiny in the entrepreneurship literature. The empirical results regarding the relation between emotional intelligence (EI) and entrepreneurial intention were nevertheless mixed across studies. Based on fit theory and trait activation theory, the purpose of this paper is to explain the fundamental reason for the mixed findings in the extant literature thus far. Design/methodology/approach Random-effects meta-analyses, based on 12 studies (along with 12 effect sizes), were performed to not only investigate the overall relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention but also to examine the moderators (i.e. individualism (vs collectivism), masculinity (vs femininity), power distance, long-term orientation (vs short-term orientation), uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence (vs restraint)) that influence this relation. Findings The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that EI is positively related to entrepreneurial intention; the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention is stronger in long-term-oriented cultures; and the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention does not significantly differ based on a culture’s level of collectivism, masculinity, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence. Originality/value This meta-analysis advances the current understanding of the relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention from cross-cultural perspectives.

The influence of culture in entrepreneurs’ opportunity exploitation decision in Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Liu ◽  
Frida Thomas Pacho ◽  
Wang Xuhui
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Formal Institutions ◽  
Entrepreneurial Opportunity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opportunity Exploitation ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
Risk Taking Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the impact of culture (using individualism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance) on entrepreneurial risk taking behavior which leads to the opportunity exploitation decision. Moreover, it also uses risk taking behavior of entrepreneurial as the mediation variable between culture and opportunity exploitations decisions. Design/methodology/approach The study took place in Tanzania, which is allocated in East Africa and is one of under researched countries. In total, 140 entrepreneurs who own venture of 5-99 employees were able to be interviewed using a survey questionnaire. In this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the direct and indirect relationship of culture in entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decisions. Findings After hypothesis testing, the empirical results showed that Tanzania’s culture has an impact on entrepreneurial risk taking behavior, which influences entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decision. It also showed culture through individualism and uncertainty avoidance measurements affect entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation decisions. The empirical results on power distance were insignificant. Research limitations/implications This study is a wake-up call to policy makers and formal institutions such as government authorities, education institutions and religion institutions. Thus, culture has an ability to influence the behavior of entrepreneurs and so the performance of ventures if it is consistent and well structured. Therefore it should be not taken for granted. Data for our study are based on only two cities and therefore the results should not be generalized as the whole country’s inference. Generalizability is questioned because the data are from only two cities in Tanzania and therefore future research should include more cities to be able to validate the generalizability. Practical implications This study is a wake-up call to policymakers and formal institutions such as government authorities, education institutions and religion institutions. Thus culture has an ability to influence the behavior of entrepreneurs and so the performance of ventures if it is consistent and well structured. Therefore it should be not taken for granted. Data for our study are based on only two cities and therefore the results should not be generalized as the whole country’s inference. Social implications In the country which has well-structured culture, influence the behavior of entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities. Originality/value This is the first empirical study to use SEM for exploring the culture of individualism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance impact on entrepreneurial opportunity exploitation in Tanzania.

scholarly journals An assessment of the moderating role of employees’ cultural orientations amongst foreign manufacturing multinational companies in Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice A. Dimba ◽  
Robert Rugimbana
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Uncertainty Avoidance ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Cultural Orientations ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Orientation: This article investigates the question, of whether culture really matters in implementing international strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices.Research purpose: Specifically, this study sought to investigate the extent to which employee cultural orientations moderate the link between SHRM practices and firm performance in large foreign manufacturing multinational companies in Kenya. Motivation for the study: Large foreign multinational companies have generally applied SHRM practices without adaptation when trying to improve employee performance even though resource based perspectives argue for the consideration of employees’ cultural orientations. Research design, approach and method: SHRM practices were conceptualised as independent variables measured through distinct practices. Organisational performance as a dependent variable was measured using constructs of image, interpersonal relations, and product quality. Cultural dimensions adopted for this study were power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism or collectivism, and masculinity or femininity. The above conceptual framework was tested by the use of both quantitative and qualitative techniques with data from fifty (50) large foreign multinational companies operating in Kenya. Main findings: Findings indicated that the relationship between SHRM practices and firm performance depend to a greater extent on employee cultural orientations when power distance is considered. Power distance (PD) refers to the extent of people accepting that power in institutions and organisations when distributed unequally. The greater the PD, the greater the acceptance of this inequality. Practical/managerial implications: The study supported the notion that the relationship between SHRM practices and firm performance is moderated by power distance through motivation but not by the other three bipolar dimensions namely, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity or Femininity and Individualism or Collectivism. Contribution/value-add: This is the first large-scale empirical article that has focused on the moderating role of employees’ cultural orientations in large foreign manufacturing companies operating in Kenya.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document