National National culturescultures

B.V.L.NarayanaB.V.L.Narayana

Definitions Definitions • This is based on studies conducted by

Hofstede– Culture is defined as (Kluckhons 1951)

• Patterned way of thinking, feeling and reacting• Acquired and transmitted• By symbols, artifacts, ideas, values, heroes and

practices• Consists of distinctive achievements of human groups

– Is defined as (Hofstede ) as• Collective programming of the mind which

distinguishes one group from another

DefinitionsDefinitions• Consists of values, symbols, heroes, rituals

– Value is a broad tendency to prefer certain states over others—influences selection of actions

– Symbols are words, gestures, pictures, objects that carry complex meanings recognized as such by those who share that culture

– Heroes are persons –real or imaginary– who possess characteristics that are prized in a culture

– Rituals are collective activities that are technically not necessary for desired ends but are considered socially necessary to keep individuals within norms of collectivity

Issues in measurementIssues in measurement• Ecological fallacy

– Use data and inferences from societal level to interpret data at individual level

• Reverse ecological fallacy– Use data at individual level to interpret

at societal level

Dimensions Dimensions • Power distance –PDI

– Extent to which the less powerful members accept and expect that power is distributed unequally

– High level of inequality of power and weakness is accepted

• Individualism IDV – Emphasis on looking after themselves– Low score means collectivism

DimensionsDimensions• Uncertainty avoidance –UAI

– degree of comfort in unstructured situations– high score more open to unstructured situations

• Masculinity –MAS– Distribution of emotional role between genders– Grater score means greater gap between

values of men and women• Long term orientation –LTO

– Acceptance of delayed gratification of material, social and emotional needs

– Greater score means perseverance and parsimony

Some scoresSome scores

Dimensions

AV USA

UK INDIA

GER

ARAB

CHINA

JAPAN

PAK

PDI 55 40 30 77 30 80 80 50 50

IDV 43 91 89 42 62 38 20 41 10

UAI 65 46 30 40 60 68 38 89 67

MAS 50 62 61 56 61 52 50 90 45

LTO 45 20 20 61 25 60 118 76 5

ISSUESISSUES• Role of learning

– Mental frameworks– Is a learned concept– Concept of change in culture– Is the final factor impacting performance– Can convergence occur? Across

countries– Concept of sub cultures

• Implication for railways, RSC

INDIVIDUAL

GROUP

SOCIETAL

ORGANISATIONAL

THE PYRAMID OF CULTURE

THANKS ANY QUESTIONS