tedx presentation on cultural differences
DESCRIPTION
You can find out more by going to http://culturematters.com or listen to the Podcast at http://culturematters.com/podcast-2 Does Culture Matter when doing Business Internationally? How can You become more Culturally Competent? Fortunately it is a skill that can be learned. But it all starts with Cultural Awareness. Find out more by going to http://culturematters.com Interested in hearing more [Podcast]? Check out the Culture Matters podcast. Real people talk about real experiences Website: http://culturematters.com Podcast: http://culturematters.com/podcast-2 Thank you!TRANSCRIPT
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Why Cultural Differences
are the Management of
PerceptionsOr Why Culture Matters When Working Internationally
How do I do that in only 18
minutes…?
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Who am I ?
Name: Chris Smit Nationality: Dutch“if you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much!”
House: Windmill
Where: Below sea level Clothes: Wooden shoes
and traditional dress
So… What's
the point…
?
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First of All
There is Nothing Good or Bad About Culture.
There are Only Differences
Understanding Cultural Differences are Often the
Determining Factor in Success or Failure in
Business
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“Collective Programming of the Human Mind”
A Definition of Culture
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“It is important for a manager to know the
Exact answers to most of the questions that
his subordinates may ask about their work”
Percentage
In Agreement
18 %
53 %
Management Perceptions
United States
France
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Two Cultural Dimensions
1. Power Distance or Hierarchy
2. Uncertainty Avoidance
From Professor Geert Hofstede
0 50 100
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All Societies are Unequal, but Some are More Unequal
Than Others…
Dealing with Hierarchy
Or All Animals are Created Equally, but Some are More Equal
Than Others…
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NETHERLANDS BELGIUM UK NORWAY CHINA
Which culture scores a) highest b) lowest
on HIERARCHY?
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Weak Hierarchy
Strong Hierarchy
Flat, egalitarian
Steep, hierarchical
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In Germany everything is forbidden, unless it is allowed
Dealing with Uncertainty
In the Netherlands everything is tolerated, even if it is forbidden
In France everything is allowed, even if it is forbidden
In the UK everything is allowed, unless it is forbidden
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Which culture requires a) most structure and detail?b) least structure and detail?
NETHERLANDS URUGUAY BELGIUM UK GERMANY
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Project Management
Time
Act
ion
& Im
ple
men
tati
on
Germany
Dutch
American / UK
France
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To Wrap Things Up
There is Nothing Good or Bad About
Culture. There are Only Differences
What Works in One Culture Does Not
Automatically Work in Another Culture
Understanding Cultural Differences are
Often the Determining Factor in
Success or Failure in Business
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“Everything that irritates
us about others…
can lead us to an
understanding
of ourselves.”
Carl Jung
Final Words
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Want to know more? Visit:
www.culturematters.com
Email:
Twitter:
@chrissmit