As the business world is becoming increasingly global, cultures of the world interconnect and hence cultural barriers present new challenges and opportunities. In the field of international business research cross-cultural analysis continuously gains in importance.
Hofstede’s systematic study on cross-national cultures in the 1980s is considered one of the most influential contributions to cross-cultural research. Capturing several of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, the project Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) presents a more up-to-date research program dealing with the effects of cultures on organizational processes. Project GLOBE offers additional insights into the relationship between cultural distance and expatriate adjustment by introducing the dimensions Performance Orientation, Humane Orientation and Assertiveness.
The GLOBE authors House et al. (2004) performed a large-scale cross-cultural study in 62 societies across the world during the 1990s. The methodological approach included a survey of approximately 17,000 middle managers. The results were published and edited by House et al. in 2004. The most salient finding was that there exist nine cultural dimensions. Moreover, the authors subdivided each of the dimensions into 2 facets: society as it is and society as it should be, meaning a description of some prevalent practices and personality traits in the society and a concept of an ideal society, according to the respondent.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Expatriation
- Culture
- Definition
- GLOBE Culture Construct
- Cultural Dimensions
- Conceptual Elaboration
- Cultural Distance
- Direction of Assignment
- Analysis of Cultural Dimensions
- Evaluation of Reciprocal Transfers
- Discussion
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The seminar paper aims to explore the significance of cultural distance on organizational processes within the context of globalization and increasing internationalization of business. It focuses on the impact of cultural distance on expatriate adjustment and the challenges and opportunities presented by cultural barriers.
- Expatriate adjustment and its relationship to cultural distance
- The impact of cultural dimensions on organizational processes
- The GLOBE project and its contribution to cross-cultural research
- The importance of cultural empathy and international competency for successful expatriates
- The role of cultural distance in international business research
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of cultural distance and its impact on expatriation, highlighting the increasing relevance of cross-cultural analysis in the globalized business world. It discusses the significance of Hofstede's work and the GLOBE project, which offers further insights into cultural dimensions and their effects on organizational processes.
- Expatriation: This chapter explores the growing need for expatriates in the context of globalization and the strategic objectives of multinational enterprises (MNEs). It emphasizes the importance of cultural empathy and international competency for successful expatriate assignments.
- Culture: This chapter provides a definition of culture and an overview of the GLOBE culture construct, outlining the key dimensions used by the project to understand cultural differences. It includes a table summarizing the definitions of each cultural dimension.
- Cultural Dimensions: This chapter delves into the concept of cultural dimensions, providing a conceptual elaboration and explaining how they contribute to understanding cultural distance. It also outlines the direction of the assignment, focusing on the analysis of cultural dimensions and evaluation of reciprocal transfers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This seminar paper focuses on cultural distance, expatriation, cross-cultural analysis, globalization, organizational processes, cultural dimensions, GLOBE project, cultural empathy, international competency, and international business research.
- Quote paper
- Nina Schwenniger (Author), 2015, Cultural Distance and its Impact on Expatriation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/300639
